Author: IGIHE

The youth movement with volunteers across the country is actively engaged in supporting government efforts of educating and influencing positive behaviors in order to fight and prevent the spread of the pandemic.

The awareness campaign on the virus has so far been conducted in different parts of Nyarugenge District, especially in bus terminals, bus stops and business centers like markets and trading centers.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for Central region said that generally people are complying with the directives and regulations put in place to fight against the spread of Coronavirus but there are some individuals who breach them, either knowingly or unknowingly.

“There are some people who do not comply with coronavirus prevention guidelines especially social distance and the curfew. The youth volunteers are working with the Police to educate people in different places so that they understand well and respect all directives,” CIP Umutesi said.

She added: “The youth volunteers are using public sound systems to send the message to public places on respecting the one meter space between people in markets, bus stops, sanitizing or washing their hands and to wear face-masks. They are educating and encouraging them to use cashless payment to prevent the spread or catching coronavirus through currencies.”

Nailla Uwamahoro, the youth coordinator in Nyarugenge District said that they deliver the message in public places to reach many people who reside in City of Kigali.

“The Police have been delivering these messages but our role is to add our voice and to further reach many people in our communities and public areas. We believe it will have fruitful results.

The awareness campaign has, too, been taken to Nyabihu and Burera districts. The youth group, which started in 2013, currently has over 300, 000 members across the country.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Marie Uwimana, 28, was arrested in Mudende Sector following a tip-off by residents.

“She used to sell cannabis in different homes, residents got to know her as a drug dealer and gave information to the police. We worked with other security organs to trace for her.

We later located and arrested her on Sunday selling cannabis to one of her customers called Samson Harerimana, who managed to escape. Uwimana was at the time found in possession of 408 pellets,” CIP Karekezi said.

He commended the role of the public in breaking chains of drug dealers.
The spokesperson warned of increased crackdown on dealers and called for strengthened efforts through information sharing.

CIP Karekezi reminded that the police will continue to work closely with partners including the public to break chains of drug trafficking, which he said it fuels other crimes that undermine development, peace, and human health.

Article 263 of Rwanda penal code stipulates that any person who, unlawfully, produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offense, with a sentence upon conviction, ranging between 20 years and life in prison, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.

The minerals were seized on Sunday from the house of one Wellars Nimuragire, 56, the suspected illegal dealer.

According to the Police spokesperson for Eastern region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the minerals were unlawfully collected from different mining concessions in a neighboring country before smuggling it into Rwanda through a porous border post.

“Police had received information from residents after they saw Nimuragire smuggling sacks of minerals into the country,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

He added: “After receiving information that there are people engaged in illegal mineral trade, police reacted and arrested Nimuragire with 296kgs of cassiterite minerals.”

The minerals were to be sold to other illegal mineral traders, he said.

CIP Twizeyimana noted that the illegal selling and buying of minerals is connected with illegal mining, which is a risky and dangerous to people’s lives.

“All these seized minerals are from illegal miners, who mine and steal them during the night. There is a need to adhere to mining rules and regulations and ensure that minerals are from legal mining cooperatives or licensed people. This will minimize irregularities that expose illegal miners to hazards and cause environmental degradation as well as fraud,” CIP Twizeyimana emphasized.

He added: “Most cases of death in mining concessions that are recorded are linked to illegal mining especially at night and under other risky circumstances. We urge people engage in mining activities only when they are legally authorized, have operational license using the right and protective tools in the right time and place.”

CIP Twizeyimana commended residents, who provided information on the illegal acts and further called for strengthened partnership and information sharing on any suspected unlawful acts.

“We urge people go through right channels to conduct legal mineral trade and mining, contrary to that they will be wasting their money especially in such cases when minerals are impounded and offenders arrested to answer before courts of law.”

Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a license commits an offence

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.”

The substances were seized Saturday from seven distillers and sellers in Ruhashya, Tumba and Rusatira sectors.
About 620 litres of illicit brew were seized from two dealers in Tumba, Cyimana Cell in Ubumwe Village.

In Rusatira Sector, Kiruhura cell, Kiruhura Village two people identified as Danatille Uwimana, 37, and Jean Marie Vianney Habimana, 26, were found with 185 litres.

In Karama and Gatovu cells of Ruhashya Sector, 205 liters were seized from three separate homes.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for Southern region, said that the targeted and successful operations were informed by credible information from local residents.

“The suspects had illegal distilleries in their homes. They were distributing to local dealers and selling them in bars in their homes,” explained CIP Twajamahoro.

He added: “Besides having illegal distillers, which were unhygienic and producing the poisonous substances, they were doing it and selling them in the period when all bars are closed. At the time, Police and local leaders found them selling the substances to consumers.”

Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) specifies that “only food-grade processing aids recognized as safe for human consumption shall be used during the manufacture.”
All drinks with an alcoholic content exceeding 45 percent as well as all those without the standard mark (S-Mark) issued by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) are classified as narcotics.

Article 263 of the new penal code partly states that “any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offence, with a sentence ranging from seven years to life in prison, upon conviction, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.

To address such a challenge, StarTimes has launched an interactive e-shopping platform of premium selection named StarTimes GO. A programme of the same name will be on air on 6 channels including TV1, BTN TV, Flash TV, ISANGO STAR TV, ISIBO TV, and Prime TV from 18th May 2020, offering an access to the no-touch “TOP” shopping experience, namely through integrated services available via TV, Online and Phone-call. The newly born e-shopping service will generally cover pan-Africa area.

With the slogan “Better Life, Let’s GO”, the program frequently displays smart equipments such as TV set, solar power system and decoder, and the category will be expanded gradually.

The hosts of the programme will explain the feature, quality, usage of each product and show the differences in one series, and the audience shall know the specific information without risky physical contact with salesperson.

Aside from the safety consideration, a fact that makes your choice even wiser is that most products available are priced lower than market price. And by purchasing decoder and TV set, StarTimes ON (the streaming media APP) membership shall be complementary on three devices, enabling the audience to access content anytime and anywhere.

From picking to ordering to receiving the goods, the client does not need to leave home at all. A call at 0788156600（or WhatsApp at 0784033202）to the StarTimes call centre can have your order made directly; the OTT platform StarTimes ON can also help you pick and order product safely.

The payment can be made in a no-touch way such as mobile payment. And the installation service is also available after payment, together with a swift delivery to home, which will be arranged through the 3 level marketing system built by StarTimes.

“We know that a healthy environment is important for pandemic control,” said Deng Sanming, the CEO of StarTimes in Rwanda, “thus we innovated a safe platform as well as a modern shopping method in order to help people keep safe in the difficult time.

The awareness activities, according to RYVCP leadership, were initiated to supplement the government efforts and Rwanda National Police (RNP) in particular, to fight and prevent the spread of Coronavirus especially in business centres like markets and trading centres.

On May 15, awareness activities were conducted in different markets in Nyabihu and Burera districts.

Jean Baptiste Bunezero, the District Youth Coordinator for Nyabihu said that the outreach activities on their first day, were conducted in the markets of Kora, Gasiza and Gashusha in Bigogwe, Rambura and Rugera sectors, respectively.

“Our public awareness campaign aims at educating people that go to markets on safer and healthy practices as recommended by our government, to prevent them from either spreading or contracting Coronavirus,” said Bunezero.

He added “Traders and people who came to these markets were educated on how to wear face masks, those who don’t have them asked to acquire them first; how to wash hands and doing it regularly even in their homes and communities; social distancing and urging them to avoid unnecessary movements.”

The outreach activities, Bunezero said, will be expanded to other business centres in Nyabihu.

In Burera, the district youth coordinator, Gervais Ngemba said that they started the campaign in business centres in the sectors of Butaro, Gahunga and Kagogo.

“In partnership with the Police, local leaders and other security organs, we took the awareness campaign on prevention of COVID-19 to Gahunga, Rusumo and Mugo markts and many other places including trading centres,” said Ngemba.

“We want Rwandans to understand the importance of washing hands with soap, planning their shopping carefully to avoid unnecessary movements, social distancing and wearing face mask at any time they leave their homes,” Ngemba explained.
The youth volunteers are also measuring body temperature at entry points of markets and trading centres.
“Thousands of people who came to these business centres washed their hands, exercised social distance and went home with face masks.

We believe that continuous awareness will influence positive actions as recommended by our leadership for everyone to be safe from Coronavirus,” Ngemba said.

“We want to be the voice of our government in our respective communities because the measures are meant for us to stay safe.”

Rwanda National Police spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera commended the role of youth volunteers in security, health and development activities.

“Over the years, youth volunteers have been central to community policing; raising awareness on fighting and preventing crimes, supporting disadvantaged Rwandans in varied human security activities and the overall community security and development programmes,” said CP Kabera.

He added: “Raising awareness to influence positive attitudes on COVID-19 is, therefore part of of their usual actions of patriotism and individual responsibility which should define everyone to achieve the intended results.”

The youth group, which started in 2013, currently has over 300, 000 members across the country.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the Central region, the suspect identified as Chantal Uwamaliya, 25, was arrested in Kanombe Sector for allegedly circulating counterfeit money amounting to Rwf25, 000.

“Uwamaliya is a telecom banking agent in Kanombe, she tried to fleece her fellow agents with fake currency notes,” CIP Umutesi said.

She added: “Her criminal actions came to light after one of her colleagues realised that a note of Rwf5,000 she got from her was counterfeit. When other agents also checked the notes they allegedly received from Uwamaliya, they found they were also fake, which prompted them to call the Police.”

The suspect currently detained at Kanombe Police station, claims that she was duped by a client, who gave her fake notes amounting to Rwf25, 000 in the denominations of Rwf5, 000, which she was trying to spend to avoid losses.

“Circulating fake money knowingly is equally a crime punishable by law,” said CIP Umutesi.

The article 269 of penal code states: “Any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years and not more than seven (7) years.

CIP Umutesi warned against such fraudulent tendencies and called for vigilance and information on anyone they suspect to be behind these criminal acts.

Rwanda has been relatively unscathed by the pandemic so far, registering a few hundred cases. The country is gradually coming out of a nationwide lockdown and Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer Clare Akamanzi views it as a time to embrace a new digital future.

{{Q: How has your team adjusted?

A: }} We’re doing things we were not planning to do this year. All our efforts have gone into the mobilisation of the private sector to fight the pandemic – such as shifting manufacturing capacity towards the production of personal protective equipment, keep revenue streams open and protect jobs.

The sources of growth [in the future] are not going to be the same. We have to rethink how hospitality and tourism are going to recover. We will probably have to focus more on domestic tourism, adjust our agriculture policies to be able to provide food security. But information and communications technology (ICT) and digital inclusion, as well as e-commerce, will be boosted.

{{Q: How has your strategy evolved?

A:}} This is not a time to look for new investors. We have focused on maintaining communication with existing investors and investors that have already expressed a level of commitment in Rwanda, while we wait to resume investment promotion activities.

{{Q: Will investment promotion increasingly rely on digital services ?

A:}} Covid-19 will lead to a more digital society. At the Rwanda Development Board we are already providing many services digitally. Investors can register a local company and get tax certification online, they can also apply for a mortgage, an environmental impact assessment and an investment certificate digitally.

After the crisis is over, we should insist on keeping everything digital, thereby saving money on physical services. It’s a new way to connect with the world – a new normal. Marketing functions will be online, supply chain functions will be online. It’s been a good lesson for IPAs – like the Rwanda Development Board – on how to become more digital.

{{Q: What leadership have you provided during the crisis?

A:}} The most important thing is to keep communicating with staff, investors and other stakeholders; manage expectations, share information and keep people comfortable and engaged and committed.

Another important element is solidarity. We need to be transparent about the challenges we’re facing, but also emphasise that we’re in this together. It’s also important to be an advocate of the private sector to the government and a voice for the policy adjustments the private sector needs.

{{Q: What do you expect over the mid-to-long-term?

A}}: Countries around the world have come to realise they’re heavily dependent on others for supply chains, and this has led to a standstill. Many countries are now leaning towards more domestic supply chains. That’s not an option for every country though; a diversified supply chain base might be a more feasible option for them.

From an investment promotion perspective, it’s interesting to think of positioning Rwanda as one of those alternatives. We’re a landlocked country, right in the middle of the African continent. We’re not a manufacturing base for low-end products, but high-end electronics, mineral processing and jewellery. We need to think about how Rwanda can improve its proposition to investors willing to relocate.