Those arrested also include people, who were either found drinking in these shops or holding social gatherings like drinking and watching movies in homes.
They were arrested in Kimironko, Kibagabaga, Kicukiro and Kinyinya.
“We were partying and the music was loud. We knew about the directives but thought that since we live in the same neighborhood, it was okay. Now we know that we are here at the Police station for a reason; we violated the rules for this period; we didn’t do the right thing,” said one of the arrested.
Beatrice Niyonshuti said that she repented from inviting people in her shop to drink; at least seven people were arrested in her shop.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera warned of continuous operations to arrest anyone, who disregards and violates the instructions meant to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
“We commend the ownership and high spirit of members of the public, who report such violations in their communities, which facilitates enforcement,” CP Kabera said.
“When you buy your drinks, go home and take it from your house, don’t invite a friend or a neighbor, because that’s prohibited and anyone found in such violations will be arrested. This also goes to owners of shops selling foodstuffs and other basic needs, who turn them into bars,” he warned.
In this period, bars are closed; visits and social gatherings are prohibited and so are unnecessary movements.
Rotary Connects the World. Rotarians are asked to strengthen the many ways that Rotary Connects the World, building the connections that allow talented, thoughtful, and generous people to unite and take meaningful action through Rotary service – Rotary President Mark Daniel Maloney’s theme for 2019-2020.
Through volunteering, our 1.2 million members make lifelong friendships that transcend political and cultural boundaries and foster global understanding and respect.
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads uncertainty and hardship around the world, Rotary members and participants are innovating, caring for those affected, and showing that even at a distance, there are ways to help. Its members have mobilized their efforts worldwide to promote proper handwashing techniques, to provide guidance on how to stay healthy, and to supply training and vital medical equipment to health care providers. They are helping health authorities communicate lifesaving information about COVID-19 and donating protective gear and other supplies to clinics and hospitals that are under strain.
Looking at the spread of COVID-19 around the world, we appreciate all measures taken by the Government of Rwanda to reduce the spread of the virus and prevent new cases. With the recent lockdown, efforts have doubled to further contain this pandemic. Necessary sanitary equipments were delivered around the Country to protect essential workers on duty and the population.
Rotary Club Kigali has been monitoring closely all recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Rwanda to sensitise its members and take appropriate actions to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak by providing necessary assistance to our communities.
Rotary Club Kigali following its “Service above self!” motto, was prompt to join Rwandans and Friends of Rwanda in this journey for fighting the spread of the Coronavirus. In collaboration with Kipharma, Rotary Club Kigali made a donation to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) – the Government agency which coordinates epidemic preparedness and response in the country with 960 litters of hand sanitizer and 160 handwashing portable stations. This donation is to be dispatched to hospitals and health centres in need.
“We are committed to supporting our communities in these trying times. We are ready to support the Ministry of Health in its mandate to provide the necessary care. We have been doing so through the years in our efforts to eradicate polio worldwide, in bringing medical expertise for complicated cases through various international medical missions, etc.
It was therefore natural and important that we do our part in the fight against this pandemic.” Eddy Sebera, President of Rotary Club Kigali.
Rotary Club Kigali intends to pursue actions contributing to the eradication of the Coronavirus in the coming months and urges everyone to do the same by preventing the spread and giving a helping hand to those in need. #stopCovid19 #gumamurugo
The 30 short videos in 6 languages (English, French, Portuguese, Swahili, Hausa, and Chinese) are produced by African staff of StarTimes currently working away from their hometowns.
They played in the specific scenes to illustrate the right behaviors against possible infection. Follow the guidance and experience from international professional organizations such as the WHO, StarTimes would like to raise public awareness about the virus and to communicate the effective basic advice.
“Although we are overseas now, we are always concerned about our family, our compatriots, and our motherland. Therefore, to help our people through the TV to better understand the COVID-19 virus and to optimize self protection, we have recorded, produced and broadcast the themed videos.” Said Brice from Burundi, one of the main actors played in the videos.
Apart from the DVB broadcasting, these videos are also available on the APP StarTimes ON, official Facebook page and Youtube account of StarTimes for a better exposure to audiences on diverse platforms.
As soon as the outbreak started, rumors have been spreading, fake news has been circulating on social media and people have been acting irrationally. Fear and ignorance are the main dangers for communities. As a leading media group based in Africa, it is StarTimes’ role to disseminate accurate and scientific information to fulfill the social requirement. Alongside with the programme StarTimes Daily —— COVID-19 Report providing viewers with update and data about the pandemic in Africa and in the world every weekday, the series of videos further support African people with scientific knowledge to protect themselves.
Kids in Primary 6 (P6) will learn courses such as Mathematics, Languages, and Science.
The main reason of choosing P6 is that Kids in primary six are required to go through their courses earlier in order to get prepared for the National Exams that take place at the end of their primary level.
Students in primary six can follow their courses on a program that will be passing Live on BTN TV which is found on StarTimes Decoder Monday to Samedi 9:00 am to 10:00 am and from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and on StarTimes ON App anytime free of charge when you have data on your smartphone.
Currently, students can follow MATH for Primary 6, on topics such as converting decimals to percentages; SCIENCE for Primary 6, TOPIC: Animal kingdom, where you can learn about vertebrates and invertebrates animals, all in the comfort of your home with StarTimes ON APP.
This is after one Alexis Hakizimana, 25, was arrested recently in Ngororero district, Matyazo sector, Matare cell in Kamasorori village, who was impersonating local authorities and defrauding unsuspecting residents.
“Hakizimana, who was masquerading as the district agronomist, was telling residents that he is compiling a list of those, who will benefit from the government support in this period of the Coronavirus pandemic,” said CIP Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region.
Hakizimana was taking Rwf1, 000 from each resident he registered as “registration fee.”
“We have so far identified 80 people, whom he had already duped by the time of his arrest,” CIP Karekezi said.
“Information on Hakizimana’s criminal acts was reported to local leaders by residents. Local leaders called the Police, Hakizimana was located and arrested.”
CIP Karekezi called up the public to be vigilant, not to listen to anyone and to report such individuals to be arrested.
“Don’t be duped; anyone supported by the government is not required to pay anything. If someone comes to you requesting for money so as to get any service, report to the law enforcement organs or local leaders,” he advised.
Sharp downward revisions to economic growth forecasts in the wake of the pandemic point towards sickening levels of unemployment, but Modi urged Indians to maintain the discipline shown in the first three weeks of the lockdown.
“That means until May 3, each and every one of us will have to remain in the lockdown,” Modi said in a televised address to the nation.
“From an economic only point of view, it undoubtedly looks costly right now; but measured against the lives of Indian citizens, there is no comparison itself.”
India’s neighbour, Pakistan, with a population of 205 million, extended its lockdown, due to end on Wednesday, by two weeks. Nepal extended the lockdown of its 30 million people until April 27. Nepal has 16 cases of the virus and no deaths but worries about a spillover from India.
Modi spoke as the latest government data showed the number of people infected with coronavirus in India had reached 10,363, with 339 deaths.
Although the numbers are small compared with hard-hit Western nations, health experts fear that is because of India’s low levels of testing and that actual infection levels could be far higher.
Lacking testing kits and protective gear for medical workers, India has only tested 137 per million of its population, compared with 15,935 per million in Italy, and 8,138 in the United States.
The sacks of dry food were delivered last week to the main governmental distribution center in Kicukiro District, and they were handed to the Kigali stores manager by H.E. Dr. Ron Adam who said that since the beginning of the COVID 19 crisis, too many people in Kigali became jobless in the services industry and construction as well as the motorcycle riders.
“I am glad to take at least a small part in the Government’s effort to give basic food to those in need in Kigali”, said Ambassador Adam.
The Embassy of the State of Israel to Rwanda promised to continue working with her sister country Rwanda to strengthen bilateral cooperation for the good of the citizens of both countries.
“We take this opportunity to comfort Rwandans during this period of 26th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. We stand with Rwandans, pray for the healing of survivors and for Never Again!”, a statement from the embassy reads.
Twenty six years down the road, sports, especially football, has been a springboard from where several genocide survivors have excelled nationally and globally.
When genocide broke out, Ange Poela Igihozo was just one year old. She says she commemorates and pays respects to all relatives who died before knowing them.
Igihozo, who is diehard of Kiyovu and Liverpool of England says that playing football in local teams and in Europe, has been so important in her life.
“At seven years, I started supporting SC Kiyovu and at eleven11 years in 2005. I fell in love with Liverpool FC when they won the champions league title after beating AS Milan on penalty shootouts.”
Igihozo studied at Ecole Secondaire Remera Mbogo in Rulindo, where she played volleyball and basketball for which she was team captain, before joining and playing for Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA). She is also a fan of Los Angeles Clippers in the United State and Patriote Basketball Club.
She says sports add to the enrichment of human virtues.
“What I have come to appreciate most in sports, it inculcates in you a team spirit, purpose, striving to win and selflessness.
“When I was growing up, there was no television but I followed the games on Radio Rwanda. I realized that I was good at running and so I decided to try and exploit the talent,” she recalls.
Igihozo said that sports, especially football helped her to heal their wounds of Genocide and believes even others who were affected by the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis in which over a million innocent people lost their lives.
“After the death of my family members, I don’t remember much but in the end, everyone within 400 meters was dead. I have never forgotten my father. When I grew up, I used to pray every day with my family and remember my family members who died. In the past I was asking myself why my family who had prayed were now all dead. Where are they now?
“But I had confidence that my family and friends who perished were in heaven. I realized that if I was ever going to see my family again or get closer again was through prayer.
“In the Bible, it says that there is only one way to heaven, Jesus Christ. If you are to get to heaven, it can only be through Jesus Christ. For me Jesus Christ is the way to heaven and the way to God.” she said.
Her father was killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, something that changed her life. Her then expectant mother struggled to raise them without any meaningful source of income.
The 27-year-old Igihozo says she was told that the Interahamwe would taunt his father for being thin and tall and accused him of collaborating with Inkotanyi, as the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) was then known.
Her father, Charles Cacana was killed 13, April, 1994 in Nyamirambo. He was working for Minitrap and was killed alongside 12 other relatives. A total of 18 close family members were killed during the genocide
Igihozo says that the memories of Genocide still haunt him and his surviving family member but understands that it is imperative to move on. She survived with three brothers, six sisters and mother.
“Life has not been easy. Some time back, even getting a meal was a problem. But our Mama started to fend for us and now we are doing well.
“Our Mama is our hero. She took care of us and provided for our needs, grooming us into women and men that are able to survive under easy and difficult life situations..
“It is hard to forget the 1994 Genocide, and we must all unite and honor the victims. But we must move forward and build our country. We must learn how to forgive those who wronged us if we are to move forward. We should all make sure it never happens again.”
In an interview with Rwanda Television on April 11th, 2020, Dr. Ngamije Daniel, Minister of Health confirmed that 11 more coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospital.
“So far, 118 patients have tested positive for coronavirus. Among them, 7 were discharged last week and 11 others will be discharged today.”
Ngamije said that currently, health institutions have tested 8000 people who were suspected of carrying COVID-19 or who have been in contact with patients who tested positive. However, due to the fact that some patients were tested more than once, at least 11,000 tests have been conducted.
Rwanda will remain with 100 patients after discharging 11 today. All patients are being treated and are in stable condition. “Although we have prepared in advance an intensive care unit, all the patients remain in a stable condition.”
Ngamije urged Rwandans to keep observing guidelines from the Ministry of Health to prevent further spread of the virus.
RIB stated that a few suspects have already been apprehended while further investigation proceeds.
Most of the cases received by RIB during the commemoration period are related to genocide ideology, use of ethnic slurs, intimidating or threatening survivors and other criminal acts done out of spite against survivors.
Umuhoza Marie Michelle, RIB spokesperson told IGIHE “Currently, we are investigating 39 cases related to genocide denial and a few suspects have been arrested.”
Prof Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu, President of Ibuka said that denialism should be criminalized to prevent the matter from escalating further.
“Denialism is one of the stages of genocide and should never be tolerated. We have survivors whose cows were hacked to death or whose crops were destroyed by neighbors who still perpetrate genocide ideologies. We must act before the same people resort to more severe crimes.”
Some of the victims who have filed complaints include Uwamahoro Maritha, a resident of Kirehe district who says that a few hours before commemoration activities started, unidentified criminals hacked down her plantain field. The same scenario happened on April 7th in Ruhango district to Nyiramporampoze Chantal.
In Nyarusange sector, Muhanga district, Gashogi Innocent, a genocide survivor claims neighbors uprooted his cassava and yam plantation.
Last year, RIB reported that crimes portraying genocide ideology had considerably reduced compared to the two previous years.
In 2019, during the commemoration period, RIB received 72 cases related to genocide ideology and denialism while 69 suspects were arrested.
Among the 72 cases, 25 were from the Southern Province, 27 from the Eastern Province, 3 from the West, 7 from the North and 10 from Kigali
During the commemoration period in 2018, 72 crimes related to genocide ideology were reported compared to 117 crimes in 2017.
Law Nº 59/2018 pertaining to the crime of genocide ideology and related crimes states that convicts of genocide ideology and perpetration are liable for 5 to 7 years of imprisonment and a fine between Rwf 500,000 and a million.
