Author: IGIHE

#SocialMediaBlackout: South Africans tweet despite boycott call

{A call for South Africans to boycott social media for a day to protest against high data costs has ironically seen #SocialMediaBlackout trend.}

Musician and activist Ntsiki Mazwai had urged South Africans to log off and not buy data to pressure mobile providers.

Discontent over internet service charges in the country last year led to the #DataMustFall campaign.

But it appears that many users could not help but check their social media accounts despite the boycott plea.

“Data costs are obscene and are not affordable for people on the ground,” said Ms Mazwai, quoted in Eyewitness News.

“We want to bring attention to this issue; we want to engage government and cellular network companies.”

Amid public anger over the issue, South African President Jacob Zuma at this year’s State of the Union address said “lowering of the cost of data is uppermost in our policies and plans”.

Globally, South Africa is mid-ranking when it comes to data prices: Expensive compared with many European countries, cheap though compared with the rest of Africa.

In its annual report, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ranks South Africa as 85th out of 178 countries for mobile broadband prices, based on 500 MB of pre-paid mobile data.

The ITU puts the monthly cost at $7.76 (£6.1), or about 1.37% of personal income. In Niger, the cost is nearly $8 – but that represents almost a quarter of incomes.

Source:BBC

June 21, 2017
Egypt court halts verdicts on islands transfer deal

{Ruling on transfer of Tiran and Sanafir comes a week after parliament backed plans to hand them back to Saudi Arabia.}

Egypt’s top constitutional court has ruled to halt all verdicts on an islands transfer deal until it makes a decision on the constitutionality of the agreement, state media said.

Wednesday’s ruling came a week after Egypt’s parliament backed plans to hand over two uninhabited Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia under an accord that has attracted widespread public criticism.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi must still ratify the agreement.

Parliamentary leaders and government lawyers say the House of Representatives is the only entity allowed to rule on matters of sovereignty, but it has been opposed by one court.

On Tuesday, an Egyptian court ruled that previous judicial decisions in favour of transferring the two islands were invalid, according to a judicial official and a lawyer.

The government says the two islands, Tiran and Sanafir, belong to Saudi Arabia but had been leased to Egypt in the 1950s.

On Tuesday, an administrative court ruled that all judicial decisions taken to date by the urgent matters court would be considered invalid.

“The ruling signifies that the land is Egyptian,” said Khaled Ali, a lawyer who argued in the administrative court that the islands belonged to Egypt.

The verdict would affirm that any attempt to transfer the islands would be considered unconstitutional “even if the president ratified the agreement”, Ali said.

The deal sparked rare street protests after it was signed last year, with President Sisi accused of having sold the islands to Saudi Arabia.

“Now, the ball is in the president’s court,” Ali said.

Source:Al Jazeera

June 21, 2017
Uganda, Russia sign pact to develop nuclear power

{Uganda and Russia Tuesday signed a pact on development of uranium into nuclear power for “peaceful purposes.”}

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Uganda’s State minister for Minerals Simon D’Ujanga and Russia’s deputy director-general of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, Nikolai Spasskiy in Moscow.
The signing was made at the side-lines of ATOMEXPO, an international exhibition of the nuclear industry.

The annual expo since 2009 brings together several players to discuss matters related to the nuclear energy industry.

“The Memorandum is the first agreement in the area of peaceful uses of atomic energy to be signed between the countries. It envisages the bilateral cooperation in wide range of spheres: development of nuclear infrastructure in Uganda, programmes for raising public awareness of nuclear technologies and its application, radioisotopes and radiation technologies’ application in industrial, medical, agricultural sectors,” reads a statement issued by Rosatom’s press team.

{{Uranium extraction}}

Rosatom is a Russian state-owned nuclear corporation which runs uranium extraction and production and other nuclear activities in Russia and globally.

Other areas of collaboration under the pact include, radiological and physical security, fundamental and applied researches, human resource training, and nuclear research centres based on multifunctional research reactors.

“The joint working group of Russia and Uganda will define the scope of work for implementation of the initiatives mentioned.

The parties agreed to cooperate in the feasibility of implementing common projects referred to,” the statement further reads.

The Uganda-Russia agreement comes barely a month after Uganda’s ministry of energy team led by Undersecretary Prisca Boonabantu travelled to China at the invitation of Zhonguan Engineering Corporation (CZEC), a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), as part of the ongoing discussions with Beijing to help Kampala develop peaceful nuclear at about $3 billion (UShs11 trillion).

Nuclear discussions with Rosatom commenced last October shortly after the launch of the Uganda-Russian Joint Permanent Commission, an inter-governmental framework for economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

The discussions followed a meeting between Rosatom’s regional vice-president for Sub-Saharan Africa Viktor Polikarpov and President Museveni on providing professional training in nuclear infrastructure development.

Source:Daily Nation

June 21, 2017
Kenya:IEBC on the spot over tainted candidates

{Religious leaders on Wednesday called out the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, again, accusing the polls body of being timid in dealing with aspirants accused of corruption in their past dealings.}

At a press briefing at the ACK Guest House in Nairobi, the clerics from various Christian and Muslim denominations said the electoral commission created a “huge setback” in the fight against graft when it allowed aspirants fingered by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to contest.

{{Concerns }}

“This DRG (Dialogue Reference Group) notes that the IEBC received a record of integrity concerns regarding specific candidates from the Ethics and Anticorruption Commission. However, the IEBC went ahead and cleared the same individuals to contest for positions in the coming elections,” the clerics said under a joint religious grouping on election concerns.

The electoral body has been under the spotlight since the EACC submitted a list of 106 politicians flagged for having unanswered questions on their integrity.

The IEBC, though, claimed that the decision to block any candidate will depend on whether those aspirants have exhausted options to appeal.

In the end, most of those on the list were allowed to contest in the upcoming elections.

But the clerics say the commission as being complacent when it failed to blacklist the candidates identified, and want Kenyans to hammer the final nail on their political ambitions.

{{Setback }}

“We find this to be a huge setback on the war against corruption. However, we do not give up, and appeal to you Kenyans: make use of your ballot by voting out every person who has integrity questions on their character.”

Ahead of elections, when the IEBC, candidates and political parties have been embroiled in questions about the readiness of the electoral body and how candidates have failed to respect the code of conduct, the clergy came forth with a series of comments.

They accuse the commission of not doing enough to tame politicians who have had “rampant violation” of the code set by the IEBC.

“This denotes strong failure on the part of the IEBC to enforce the law as it is today,” they said.

“Kenyans are waiting for the IEBC and the law enforcement agencies to implement their mandates by bringing to justice any and all individuals found to be breaching the electoral law.”

{{Warning }}

Both the IEBC, police and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission have recently warned politicians from inciting voters, engaging in violence or generally breaking election laws.

But it is in the implementation of it that clerics had issue with.

On Wednesday, the IEBC was due to hear petitions from various aspirants who had complained that their rivals were breaking the very law.

But the decision on penalties to be meted out would be known later.

The religious leaders included representatives from the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, the Hindu Council of Kenya, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Council of Churches of Kenya, National Muslim Leaders Forum, Organisation of African Instituted Churches, Seventh Day Adventist and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims.

Source:Daily Nation

June 21, 2017
RDF investigates Rusizi grenade attack

{The spokesperson of Rwanda Defense Force (RDF), Lt Col René Ngendahimana has said that investigations have started following last night’s grenade attack in Bugarama sector, Rusizi district where eight people were injured. He has conveyed condolences to affected residents assuring them of strengthened measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again. }

“The incident took place around 20:00 hours when approximately three or four gunmen attacked residents who were sharing a drink at a bar. They threw two grenades among them. Unfortunately, one person died of the fatal shooting while eight others who have been injured are receiving treatment,” he said.

“We have not yet identified masterminds of the attack, where they came and fled but the incident took place in the same region where a similar incident happened in the past as people coming from Burundi shot dead residents,” he added.

The dead woman has been identified as Kandenzi Vestine, 52.

Two people were shot dead in the same region near Rwanda, Burundi border in March 2017 where after attackers fled to Burundi.

Lt Col Ngendahimana appealed to residents to report suspected criminals in time and closely cooperate with security personnel.

June 21, 2017
South Africa leaders to learn from Rwanda’s home grown solutions

{A delegation from South Africa led by the Prime Minister of Free State Province, Ace Magashule arrived in Rwanda to learn from home grown solutions and seeking ways of strengthening cooperation between Rwandans and Free State residents in various sectors. }

Elias Sekgobelo “Ace” Magashule was accompanied bygovernment leaders and private investors who are in Rwanda for a one week visit. On arrival yesterday, they held talks with Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and taken through various development programs.

The CEO of RGB, Prof Shyaka Anastase said that the delegation has come to discuss governance especially Rwanda’s resilience following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

“They will learn from unity and reconciliation, homegrown solutions, implementation of policies and resilience process but especially our politics rooted on harmony, complementarity and its contribution to sustainable development,” he said.

He said Rwanda is delighted to receive the guests who will have opportunity to visit various institutions.

During discussions, SA delegation was curious to know contributions of different home grown solutions and how they can be applied in SA. Their attention was drawn on Girinka program, performance contract among other activities making Rwandans confident in national development.

Premier, Ace Magashule said the most essential is cooperation between citizens of both countries especially Africans.

“Africa was isolated for long. It is time for Africans to closely cooperate. Rwanda’s achievements inspired our province to come here to learn from various areas especially self-reliance and developing home grown solutions. I think such mindsets should guide the entire African continent to live independently,” he said.

“We have learnt a lot of things that we will implement and follow up until they turn into tangible results as we return home. These include Girinka program. We tried it but failed over lacking follow up and evaluation which is done here,” he added.

Magashule said they are delighted as they expect to meet President Paul Kagame during their stay and invited Rwandans to visit South Africa to see what they can learn from Free State.

Free State is one of nine provinces of South Africa including Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape.

It has the area of 129 825 square kilometers and is home to 2, 861, 600 citizens. Bloemfontein is its capital city.

Each province has own structural leadership including parliamentarians, ministers among others led by Prime Minister.

June 21, 2017
Rwanda implements 14 doing business reforms

{As part of continued strong agenda to boost investment and private sector growth, Rwanda has implemented 14 Doing Business Reforms within seven months.}

The efforts follow the recent World Bank Doing Business rankings, which rank 190 economies on the ease of Doing Business which ranked Rwanda as the 2nd easiest place to do business in Africa and 1st in East Africa. The report however indicated that Rwanda lost marks regarding construction permits, access to electricity and protecting investors.

Rwanda Development Board (RDB) revealed in a press conference yesterday that the reforms completed over the last 7 months aimed at further improving Rwanda’s doing business environment for stronger private sector growth.

“Rwanda has consistently implemented bold reforms to make our business environment even more attractive for investment and to establish Rwanda as one of the most competitive economies globally” said Hon. Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer at the Rwanda Development Board.

“We are strongly committed to continue implementing such reforms as we aim to provide a strong foundation for the growth of SMEs, which are the backbone of our economy,” she added.

This year, 14 reforms were implemented in 7 indicators, such as; Dealing with construction permits, Protecting minority investors, Starting a business and Paying Taxes. The new reforms are expected to contribute significantly in the effort to attract increased private local and international investment.

The key reform that was completed this year is the passing of the new company law. The Company law of 2009 was repealed and replaced to incorporate global best practice trends in corporate regulation. The provisions of the new law will enhance the rights of minority shareholders. For instance, shareholders owning 5% shares in a company are now able to call for a shareholder meeting and place items on the agenda.

The law introduces flexible reporting obligations and lean management structures for SME’s. Small private companies are not required to have a company secretary, accountant or auditor.

They are also permitted to opt out of the requirement to prepare audited accounts and other disclosure requirements.

This is believed to be extremely important as small businesses which make up the vast majority of Rwandan businesses and are vital component in building a strong economy, often do not have the resources to undertake complex financial and accounting reporting.

The law also enhances corporate disclosure and transparency where directors and majority shareholders must disclose any personal material interest that they might have in a transaction that a company is undertaking, and directors must disclose their remuneration and benefits to the shareholders.

An additional important reform for SME’s is the streamlining of criteria for businesses that are required to purchase an Electronic Billing Machine. The Ministerial Order that governs the use of EBMs was amended to clarify that only VAT registered businesses are required to purchase an EBM hence reducing the cost burden on SME’s.

Another significant reform that was introduced is a reduction in the time and costs to obtain a construction permit. The requirements for businesses to get construction permits have been streamlined and modernized. The online Construction Building Permitting System (BPMIS) has been upgraded with new and improved features that will facilitate quicker processing of applications and easier access to information. The reforms will also address the common complaint raised by businesses of the high costs involved in getting a construction permit. A risk based assessment has been introduced which will see low risk buildings benefitting from abridged permit requirements. As such, costly requirements such as geotechnical tests will be waived for this low risk category.

Other key reforms will lead to; reduction in the time to transfer commercial and industrial properties from 30 days to 1 day through the use of the online land system, reduction in the number of procedures and documents required to trade across borders, reduction in the Electricity tariffs for industries and free access to Judicial decisions on the judiciary website.

Most of the reforms this year built on gains made in the Government’s continuing business reforms agenda, with a continued strong adaptation of automation and online services to enhance efficiencies in the delivery of public services by reducing cost, time and procedures.

Over the course of the next few months, Rwanda Development Board plans to engage key stakeholders to create awareness on the reforms, encourage use of the reforms and identify further areas for future reforms.

June 21, 2017
Rusizi: One killed, eight wounded in grenade attack

{Unidentified people threw grenade among residents who were sharing drinks at a bar in Gihigano village, Ryankana cell, Bugarama sector of Rusizi district, Western Province last night leaving eight injured and shot dead an old woman Kandenzi Vestine, 52 before escaping. }

Gihigano is in the next to another village where three people were shot leaving two of them dead in March 2017.

The two attackers in civilian clothes are said to have immediately fled to Burundi.

The injured have been taken to Islamic Bugarama health center.

The acting executive secretary of Bugarama sector said the incident took place last night around 8 pm.

The police spokesperson in Western Province, CIP Theobald Kanamugire has said he is going to follow and will give details later.

June 21, 2017
Governor Munyentwari urges Karongi residents on crime prevention

{The Governor of the Western Province, Alphonse Munyentwari has called upon residents of Karongi District to equally take a leading role in ensuring their communities are free of all forms of insecurity and lawlessness.}

He was speaking on June, 19, at a meeting that brought together representatives of various women, youth and people living with disabilities’ groups.

“Ensuring peace and security is not a one institution function, but concerted efforts of all Rwandans at all levels” the Governor said.

Governor Munyentwari was flanked by the Regional Police Commander (RPC), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Emmanuel Karasi.

“You can decide to stand up for your generation and be agents of change in your neighborhoods by reaching out to the youth and your other members to fight crime,” the Governor said.

The RPC, on his part, asked leaders of the three special groups to work with Rwanda National Police in crime detection and prevention through information sharing.

He reiterated the role of the community in shaping the conduct of young people.

“Parents, religious leaders and society at large should work in unison to help young people from indulging in crimes and mould them into responsible citizens,” ACP Karasi said

He hailed the contribution community leaders and residents, who work with security agencies to fight lawlessness and called on others to follow the examples.

Source:Police

June 21, 2017
The story of music is the story of humans

{How did music begin? Did our early ancestors first start by beating things together to create rhythm, or use their voices to sing? What types of instruments did they use? Has music always been important in human society, and if so, why? These are some of the questions explored in a recent Hypothesis and Theory article published in Frontiers in Sociology. The answers reveal that the story of music is, in many ways, the story of humans.}

So, what is music? This is difficult to answer, as everyone has their own idea. “Sound that conveys emotion,” is what Jeremy Montagu, of the University of Oxford and author of the article, describes as his. A mother humming or crooning to calm her baby would probably count as music, using this definition, and this simple music probably predated speech.

But where do we draw the line between music and speech? You might think that rhythm, pattern and controlling pitch are important in music, but these things can also apply when someone recites a sonnet or speaks with heightened emotion. Montagu concludes that “each of us in our own way can say ‘Yes, this is music’, and ‘No, that is speech’.”

So, when did our ancestors begin making music? If we take singing, then controlling pitch is important. Scientists have studied the fossilized skulls and jaws of early apes, to see if they were able to vocalize and control pitch. About a million years ago, the common ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans had the vocal anatomy to “sing” like us, but it’s impossible to know if they did.

Another important component of music is rhythm. Our early ancestors may have created rhythmic music by clapping their hands. This may be linked to the earliest musical instruments, when somebody realized that smacking stones or sticks together doesn’t hurt your hands as much. Many of these instruments are likely to have been made from soft materials like wood or reeds, and so haven’t survived. What have survived are bone pipes. Some of the earliest ever found are made from swan and vulture wing bones and are between 39,000 and 43,000 years old. Other ancient instruments have been found in surprising places. For example, there is evidence that people struck stalactites or “rock gongs” in caves dating from 12,000 years ago, with the caves themselves acting as resonators for the sound.

So, we know that music is old, and may have been with us from when humans first evolved. But why did it arise and why has it persisted? There are many possible functions for music. One is dancing. It is unknown if the first dancers created a musical accompaniment, or if music led to people moving rhythmically. Another obvious reason for music is entertainment, which can be personal or communal. Music can also be used for communication, often over large distances, using instruments such as drums or horns. Yet another reason for music is ritual, and virtually every religion uses music.

However, the major reason that music arose and persists may be that it brings people together. “Music leads to bonding, such as bonding between mother and child or bonding between groups,” explains Montagu. “Music keeps workers happy when doing repetitive and otherwise boring work, and helps everyone to move together, increasing the force of their work. Dancing or singing together before a hunt or warfare binds participants into a cohesive group.” He concludes: “It has even been suggested that music, in causing such bonding, created not only the family but society itself, bringing individuals together who might otherwise have led solitary lives.”

Source:Science Daily

June 21, 2017