Author: IGIHE

The federation that oversees Moto riders nationwide, has identified 7 Cooperatives namely Gecomo, Korandebe Motari, Koranumucyo Motari, Nyamocoop, Cyinyoni, Twiyubake and GCM Gatsata whose members will be beneficiaries of this initiative.

Based on FERWACOTAMO’s selection criteria of the most vulnerable households, 1,500 riders have been identified and will each receive Rwf 10,000 into their MoKash Savings Account.

Mitwa Ng’ambi, CEO of MTN Rwanda said, “We believe it is the responsibility of all organisations to assist where they can during the pandemic. With the necessary restriction on movement to curb the spread of Covid-19, we acknowledge motorists to be one of the groups most affected. In partnership with NCBA and Huawei, we saw it important to assist as much as we can. This is one of various initiatives we have put in place to support Rwandans during this difficult time.”

Accessible via MTN Mobile Money (by dialling *182*5#), MoKash is a Savings and Loan product offered by NCBA and MTN. MoKash provides 30-day term loans at 9% interest. Through MoKash, customers can also open savings accounts with interest of up to 7% per annum.

Lina Higiro, CEO of NCBA Bank Rwanda said, “The Moto is synonymous to Kigali living. In this time of crisis, it is a privilege to partner with MTN and Huawei to not only support, 1,500 Moto rider families during these challenging times, but to introduce an easy digital mobile savings option to cushion unlikely events like these in the future.”

Commenting about the partnership, Country Director of Huawei Rwanda, Mr. Toni Yangshengwan said, “We realise the need to support our fellow country people who have been hit hard by the impact of Covid-19 and take the responsibility to reach out to those we can in our capacity. I would like to thank MTN Rwanda and NCBA for this initiative and partnership, as I am sure it will help many. We encourage everyone to follow the guidelines given by the Government of Rwanda. Together, we will win.”

Thanking NCBA, MTN and Huawei, Daniel Ngarambe, Chairman of the FERWACOTAMO Association said, “We are humbled, and deeply appreciative by the generosity and tripartite partnership formed to support our most vulnerable members through this difficult time.

NCBA, MTN and Huawei remain committed to stand ready to leverage their core expertise, technology and infrastructure to support and align their interventions and responses with the efforts of the Government of Rwanda to contain and mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

The substances were seized from three distillers and dealers on Friday in the three districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge.

In Nyarugenge, Nyamirambo sector in Rugarama cell, Munanira village, one Pascal Ntamwemezi, 36, was caught with 240 litres of illicit brew.

In Gasabo, Bumbogo sector in Kinyaga cell, Oliver Kubwimana, 58, was found with 540 litres.

Louise Mukarutesi, 50, of Nyenyeri village in Bwerankori cell, Kigarama sector in Kicukiro District, was arrested withe 120 litres.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the targeted and successful operations were informed by credible information from local residents.

“All the three arrested suspects had illegal distilleries in their houses. They had also created bars in their homes selling the distilled substances but were also supplying other local bars,” explained CIP Umutesi.

She 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.

This came after the government, on May 1, announced that schools would reopen in September in a bid to fight the coronavirus pandemic during the cabinet meeting that was assessing Rwanda’s progress in bringing COVID-19 to its knees.

Claudette Irere, Minister of State in the Ministry of education in charge of ICT and TVET Education, said that higher learning institutions would resume while primary and secondary students will start again this academic year.

“For some higher learning institutions, we know that some were left with a few months to finish their academic year, therefore, they will resume once schools reopen while for primary and secondary education, we took them home abruptly and with all this time they will have spent at home, the best thing to do is to start the year afresh,” she said.

The Minister also clarified that teachers will continue to get their monthly salaries.
“Teachers working for public schools will still be paid their monthly salaries because they will still be engaged in helping students on our various learning platforms and also get different training.”

“For teachers in private institutions, who were the most affected during this time, we encourage and will help the institution owners to seek help with the government fund allocated for the private sector.”

This help should mainly be used for the teachers’ welfare during this time and added that the government will closely follow up on use of the money.

According to the Minister of State, the time between now and September is going to be used to build more classrooms to have a convenient student-teacher ratio.

Olivier Rukundo, 33, was arrested on April 30, in Byimana sector, Mpande cell with 37 kilograms of cassiterite and coltan minerals.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that Rukundo was “mining, buying and selling minerals illegally.”

“Police had information that Rukundo heads a group of illegal miners, and use the cover of the night to mine cassiterite and coltan in Kanyarira,” said CIP Twajamahoro.

He added: “Licensed mining companies in the area had also reported Rukundo as the main character in the area, who carries out illegal mineral trade and in most cases buying them from their casual employees.

On Thursday, we had credible information that he had brought a new consignment. When Police searched his house, they recovered 37kgs of casetirite and coltan, and he was immediately taken into custody.”

Rukundo admitted to the crime saying that he was using other people to enter in the concessions at night but also conniving with casual miners of the firm to steal and bring the minerals to him.

CIP Twajamahoro said that illegal mining activities in this area were contributing largely to environmental degradation and affecting legal mineral business especially for the licensed owners of the concession.

He warned residents against such unlawful acts and urged them to report those who break the law.

The Increase, as it has been reported since the last few days, has been attributed to cross-border truck drivers and their assistants. All the active cases are in isolation in stable conditions, according to the Ministry of Health’s daily report.

The Ministry of Health also reported five new recovered patients, putting total recoveries at 109 while active cases are now 140 and zero deaths.

The new numbers come at a time the government partially reopened some businesses while some activities including prayer congregations, weddings, and school remain closed.

“The prevention measures announced by the government of Rwanda must continue to be rigorously observed, especially frequent hand washing and staying at home. In addition, face masks must be worn in public and multi-family compounds,” the Ministry of Health daily report reads.

“Withholding information related to contact tracing or COVID-19 symptoms jeopardizes public safety and will be punished in accordance with the applicable laws,” the report reads.

The key symptoms of COVID-19 are dry cough, shortness of breath, and fever.

Automated screening is available by dialing *114#. Symptoms can also be reported to the medical professional, or as follows; toll-free number 114, WhatsApp number +250788202080, Email: callcenter@rbc.gov.rw.

The warning follows fake messages circulating on social platforms.

Rwanda National Police spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that individuals behind such forgeries will be located and brought to justice.

“It has been observed that some people forge or alter messages issued by Rwanda National Police to those cleared to go for essential services in this period when movements from homes are restricted to prevent the spread of Coronavirus,” said CP Kabera.

“These misleading forgeries will not go unnoticed. Anyone caught in such criminal acts will face the appropriate consequences as the law stipulates,” he added.

Forgery, under article 276 of the penal code, attracts imprisonment of between five and seven years and a fine of between Rwf3 million and Rwf5 million or one of these penalties.

He reminded those cleared to go for essential services to use the pass for the intended purpose rather than seeing it as an opportunity to engage in other “unnecessary and non-essential acts.”

The essential services that can be requested online are:

Shopping for food, banking services, pharmacy, medical, funeral, and emergencies.

The applicant can log on to www.mc.gov.rw or dial *127# and follow the prompts.

Nshuti comes as a replacement for Oliver Nduhungirehe who was removed from cabinet in April, under accusations of letting his personal opinions prevail over those held by the government.

Nshuti previously served in different positions in the government.

Nshuti was formerly the Minister of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives, and Tourism; he served as Minister of Finance as well as Minister of Public Service and Labour.

Nshuti holds a Ph.D. in Finance. He also holds a Masters degree in Business Administration in Accounting.

He has also served as the Chairman Board of Promoters assigned to set up Umutara Polytechnic (University).

Nshuti served as the Chairman Board of Governors, which was tasked to turn round the School of Finance and Banking (SFB).

Umutara Polytechnic and SFB have since merged with other public Higher Learning Institutions to form the University of Rwanda (UR).

Heavy rains recently caused a landslide in Nyange, leaving the Muhanga-Ngororero-Karongi road unoccupied.

This meant that those wishing to travel through these roads use the Muhanga-Huye-Nyamagabe-Nyamasheke-Rusizi and Rutsiro-Rubavu-Kigali roads.

Apart from that, other roads across the country were blocked by the effects of the rains, including Kigali-Gicumbi, Muhanga-Ngororero-Mukamira.

On the morning of April 30, 2020, the Rwanda National Police announced that all roads were opened.

“The Rwanda National Police has informed them that the Muhanga-Ngororero-Mukamira road is now used,” reads the statement on The National Police Twitter Wall.

He added that the Kigali-Gicumbi road is also used.

The National Meteorological Agency, Meteo Rwanda, recently announced that between 21 and 30 April 2020, heavy rainfall is expected in the country compared to previous days.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations (Minema) said heavy rains on the night of April 25, 2020, caused disasters, killing three people, injuring three others and destroying 215 houses.

The rains also damaged crops on 66.3 hectares, 11 roads, and its six bridges as well as two water pipes, killing five small animals.

Heavy rains on April 17, killed three people, injured two others, and destroyed many properties.

On April 22, a torrent of rain fell across the country, killing over 12 people and injuring 18 others, while destroying various properties, including 32 houses.

This move comes after several petroleum transporters were reportedly stuck in Kigali with their truck drivers at a loss on how to offload the fuel.

The drivers, mainly from regional countries, say that they have spent days with trucks loaded with petroleum and cannot return to their countries of origin. When importers explained their lack of storage, they said it is due to the low demand caused by the COVID-19 lockdown which stopped traffic and affected previous stocks.

One driver, Yusuf Salim, from Tanzania said that he has to pay for a parking fee of Rwf1000 per day and has so far spent three weeks in Kigali.

“This parking fee was reduced from Rwf2000 but it is still a challenge since we also have other expenses such as food and other needs,” Salim said.

Local petroleum importers on their side said that the Covid-19 pandemic caught them off-guard after ordering more products, and now they have to spend more on the maintenance of transporters.

“We have to pay $100 per day to the suppliers for their hired trucks that are spending extra days waiting to be offloaded. This is because we have nowhere to store their fuel; as the previous orders did not get consumers,” said Joseph Akumuntu, the chairperson of Petroleum importers in Rwanda.

The Minister of Trade, Soraya Hakuziyaremye said that the government will discuss ways of supporting Petroleum transporters to resolve the challenge of expenses caused by difficulties of finding storage facilities.

“We have received their complaints and we are considering providing customs facilitation where they can store this petroleum at some of the privately-owned petrol station storage facilities,” Hakuziyaremye said.

Rwanda has a capacity to store over 110 million liters of petroleum products per year, and the local market demand of about 600 million liters per year.

According to Minister Hakuziyaremye, the domestic economic impact of Covid-19 on the petroleum sector shows that a drop in local market demand for petroleum products has affected the sector by 50% and this is expected to continue.

“We, like any other country, have been affected negatively by low demand for petroleum products. We shall do an economic impact assessment on this area as we find ways of easing business for fuel importers, “Hakuziyaremye said.

On Wednesday, the trade ministry deployed a task force to evaluate the situation of the petroleum transporters and importers who are currently stationed in Gatsata and Rusororo sectors in Kigali.

This is brought to you by Rush Foods, a company that offers an extensive service of food and package delivered at your doorstep in Kigali.

The company that prides itself on maintaining the highest quality of services also delivers different supermarket goods and drinks to customers who need the service anywhere in Kigali.

Rush foods have announced that the company is committed to helping Rwandans who are not able to move during the Coronavirus outbreak.

“We want to contribute our part to the wellness of Rwandans in these challenging times, and this is why we have decided to waive delivery fees for people who buy food and drinks using our services anywhere they are located in Kigali.” says the Chief Executive Officer of Rush Foods, Naeem Ali.

Rush Foods services are available on the Rush Foods application which is available on Android and IOS. All you have to do is to install the application, follow guidelines and you can receive your order anywhere in Kigali.

Other services that are offered by Rush Foods include parcel and medium package delivery to people around Kigali.

Rush Food Chief Executive Officer, Naeem Ali noted that sometimes people want to send packages to their friends and family, but they are not able to because of conditions imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We also help those people where we charge them only Rwf 1000 for package delivery, which is a very low price compared to the transportation cost he/she would pay.” He further added

Rush Foods began its operations in Rwanda in 2018.