Author: IGIHE

6 things you need to start saying to yourself every morning

{Enough of telling yourself the wrong things, enough of believing it’s impossible, enough of trapping yourself with your negative thoughts about yourself; because if you don’t come out of that trap, you’d never have breakthrough.}

Now start saying these things to yourself:

{{1. “I’ll be the best I can be”}}

Make a stand to be the best you can be today, to give your best today and nothing other than your best. Greatness starts with giving your best, so wake up every morning and tell yourself: “I’ll be the best I can be”.

{{2. “I have greatness in me”}}

Greatness first starts from the inside before it begins to manifest; so if you don’t see your greatness, you can never become great. See greatness in you and say it every morning.

{{3. “Nothing is impossible”}}

Never wake up feeling downcast and believing life is difficult and some things are just impossible. It’s only impossible when you say it’s impossible, wake up with the mindset that all things are possible, and you’ll see yourself doing the impossible. Saint Francis of Assisi said: “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

{{4. “If I fail,I’d try again”}}

Never let failure hold you bound, even if you have failed before, try again. Wake up every morning and say “I’ll keep trying till I get there”.

{{5. “Today is a great day to start”}}

Today is the day to start; not tomorrow. In other words, kick procrastination out of your life and see today as the best day to start.

{{6. “I’d keep searching”}}

Benjamin Franklin said: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Start seeking for knowledge, start searching for it and never remain constant. Knowledge always proffer the way to the top.

So wake up every morning with the zeal to gain knowledge that day.

Source:Elcrema

Jake

May 27, 2017
Statement on Cabinet Decisions of 26/05/2017

{On Friday, 26th May 2017, an Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting chaired by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Paul KAGAME, convened in Village URUGWIRO.}

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Rwanda and Commander-inChief of Rwanda Defence Force, pursuant to the powers conferred upon Him by laws, informed the Cabinet Meeting that on 07/04/2017, He promoted Officers of the Rwanda Defense Force as follows:

– 26 Officers were promoted from the rank of Lieutenant to the rank of Captain;

– 381 Officers were promoted from the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to the rank of Lieutenant.

1. The Cabinet Meeting approved minutes of previous Cabinet Meeting held on 26/04/2017.

2.The Cabinet Meeting was briefed about the Status of Worst Forms of Child Labour, the Cabinet Meeting requested relevant institutions to closely monitor the issue, denounce it and hold accountable culprits of such Worst Forms of Child Labour.

3. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following items:

– The Revised Umuganda Policy and Strategy 2017-2022;
– Joint Venture Agreement between the Government of Rwanda and PRODEV Bugesera about Gashora Vegetable Project in Bugesera District;
– Joint Venture Agreement between the Government of Rwanda and a private company about the operation and management of the National Lottery;
– Concession Agreement (CA) between the Government of Rwanda and Rwanda Mountain Tea about Giciye III Hydro Power Plant Project and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA);
– RDB to accept the donation of 27.8 ha of land adjacent to Virunga National Park by African Wildlife Foundation as purchased from Serena Group;
– Granting land equivalent to 11.7 ha located in Kigali Innovation City (KIC) to Cooper Pharma East Africa (2ha), L.E.A.F-Pharmaceuticals (2.5ha), African Institute for Mathematical Science(6ha) and Biomedical Center of Excellence of University of Rwanda (1.2ha);
– Special fiscal and non-fiscal Incentives to strategic investors, namely Investment Corporation of Dubai and Cooper Pharma East Africa.

4.The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Draft Laws:

– Draft Law determining organization, powers and functioning of the High Council of the National Public Prosecution Authority;
– Draft Law determining the organization, functioning and competence of Public Prosecution;
– Draft Law establishing the National Fund for Environment (FONERWA) and determining its mission, organization and functioning;
– Draft Law governing the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda;
– Draft Law governing Radiation Protection in Rwanda.

5. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Orders:

– Prime Minister’s Order appointing Lt. Col. Deo RUSIZANA, Vice President of the Military Tribunal;
– Prime Minister’s Order appointing Capt. Gerald NTAGANIRA, Judge in the Military Tribunal;
– Prime Minister’s Order appointing Prosecutors at Intermediate Level. These are:
1. Ms. MUREKATETE Bertille;
2. Ms. MUKANKUSI Grace;
3. Mr. RUDAHUSHA Didier;
4. Ms. UMUHOZA Marie Michelle.
– Prime Minister’s Order appointing Ms. KAYITESI Claudine, Prosecutor at Primary Level;
– Prime Minister’s Order on deliberate resignation by Mr HABIMANA Casimir, who was a Prosecutor at Intermediate Level;
– Prime Minister’s Order on deliberate resignation by Mr. RUHAZI BIZI Tony, who was a Prosecutor at Primary Level;

– Prime Minister’s Order allocating land located in Mwendo Cell, Gashora Sector, Bugesera District, Eastern Province to Rwandan Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA/AGRI), for investment;

– Ministerial Order transferring land located in Mwendo Cell, Gashora Sector, Bugesera District, Eastern Province from the Rwanda Agriculture Board’s public domain to its private domain.

6. The Cabinet Meeting approved the agrement of Prof. Dr. RATLAN PARDEDE, Ambassador designated to represent the Republic of Indonesia to Rwanda, with residence in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

7. The Cabinet Meeting approved the agrement of Mr. Elman Abdullayev, Ambassador designated to represent Azerbaijan to Rwanda, with residence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

8. The Cabinet Meeting approved Mr. FODE NDIAYE, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative as well as United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, with residence in Kigali.

9. The Cabinet Meeting approved Mr. AHMED BABA FALL, the New UNHCR Representative in Rwanda, with residence in Kigali.

10. In A.o.B:

a) The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources informed the Cabinet Meeting that Rwanda will host the upcoming Seventh Session of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) Governing Body from 28th October to 3rd November 2017. This year’s theme is: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Role of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.”

b) The Minister of Public Service and Labour informed the Cabinet Meeting that the Continental Celebration of Africa Public Service Day (APSD) will be held in Rwanda at Kigali Convention Center (KCC), from 21st to 23rd June 2017. This year’s theme
is: “Entrenching a Citizen-centered Service Delivery Culture: Partnering with the Youth for Africa’s Transformation.”

c) The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion informed the Cabinet Meeting that the International Day of Families and Day of the African Child events will be celebrated on 16th June 2017. The two events will be held at District level while at the National level, they will be celebrated at Rusizi District. The International Day of Families’ theme is: “Umugoroba w’Ababyeyi Program: The road to a family fit for Rwanda”; while the Day of the African Child’s theme is: “Building our future, preserving progress on child protection”. Celebrations will be preceded by a Child Month running from 15 th May to 16th June 2017.

d) The Minister of Health informed the Cabinet Meeting that:

– Rwanda will host the WHO Africa Health Forum from 27th to 28th June 2017 under the theme: “Putting People First: The road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa.”

– MINISANTE has undertaken different measures to prevent Ebola Virus Diseases, following the WHO notification on the ongoing Ebola Virus Diseases outbreak in Likati Health area, Province of Bas-Uele in DRC.

e) The Minister of Natural Resources informed the Cabinet Meeting that the National Environment Week is scheduled from 27th May to 5th June 2017. This year’s theme
is: “Connecting People to Nature”.

f) The Minister of Infrastructure informed the Cabinet Meeting that Rwandair launched its maiden direct flights to London on this Friday 26/05/2017; en route to London, it will be making stopover at Brussels, Belgium.

g) The Minister of State in MININFRA in Charge of Energy and Water informed the Cabinet Meeting that the Third International Workshop on Monitoring and Development of Lake Kivu Resources will be held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Bugesera District, from 29th to 31st May 2017. This year’s theme is: “Hidden Treasury of Lake Kivu.”

{ {{This Statement was signed
By
Stella Ford MUGABO
The Minister in Charge of Cabinet Affairs}} }

May 27, 2017
President Kagame earns infrastructure award

{President Paul Kagame and his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall have received Africa Road Builders Babacar Ndiaye Award 2017 presented to heads of states that have outstandingly promoted the building of transport infrastructures. }

Leadership promoting unity and safety while enhancing youth development are among other criteria qualifying nominees for this award.

The award conferred to Kagame was received by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Amb. Claver Gatete while the one of Maky Sall was handed to the representative of Senegal in African Development Bank (AfDB), Papa Amadou SARR in the 52nd AfDB annual summit held in Ahmedabad city of India on Wednesday.

Babacar Ndiaye who presents the award lauded both heads of state for their transformative vision and requested others to emulate their deeds to realize Africa’s development.

The chairperson of the Africa Road Builders Committee Adama Wade highlighted that president Kagame was nominated based on excellent achievements like execution of various substantial development projects for Rwandans and Africans in general.

The award is an additional accolade to Kagame’s other additional decorations and recognition for maintaining order and cleanliness that characterize the roads of Kigali city which has earned international repute. PresidentSallhas been recognized for implementation railway project that will connect Dakar city and Diamnido.

The award is presented annually during the African Development Bank summit.

The previous one was bestowed to Ivory Cost president Alassane Ouattara in May 2016.

May 26, 2017
RwandAir makes maiden London flight

{Rwanda’s aviation carrier, RwandAir has continued to demonstrate its commitment to a continued growth aviation services in the country as it has already made a maiden flight from Kigali International Airport directly to Gatwick airport in London.}

The carrier’s Airbus 330-300 named ‘Umurage’ (Legacy) which took off today at 12:45 is expected to land in London at 20:20 hours.

Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the Deputy CEO in Charge of Corporate Affairs at RwandAir has unveiled that the flight to London is meant to connect Rwanda with Europe and promote trade between both countries.

The CEO Kigali Heights Development, Karera Denis one of passengers on the maiden flight of RwandAir London route has described the step as a great opportunity to expanding business.

“This is a key to unlocking business opportunities. Doors for business are open as long as airbuses are available with open skies,” he said.

The initial cost for passengers flying from Kigali-London is set for USD 450.

RwandAir flight to London follows the Kigali – Mumbai route launched in April 2017.

This will see RwandAir making flights to 22 destinations on various continents. It is expected to make three flights to London per week.

RwandAir is will receive a new airbus Boeing 737-800 Next Generation on Sunday from Washington.

May 26, 2017
Tunisia opens trial over 2015 Sousse beach killings

{Twenty-six people, including six policemen, are on trial over a 2015 beach attack that left dozens of tourists dead.}

A Tunisian court held on Friday its first public hearing in the trial of 26 people in connection with an attack on a beach resort that killed dozens of foreign tourists in 2015.

Six of the defendants are policemen accused of failing to assist a person in danger.

The remainder, all Tunisians, are accused of “terrorism offences, murder and conspiracy against the security of the state”, the prosecution said.

The June 26, 2015 attack saw Seifeddine Rezgui, a 23-year-old student armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and grenades go on a rampage in the Port el-Kantaoui resort near Sousse, killing 38 holidaymakers, 30 of them British tourists, before being shot dead by police.

He acted alone during the attack but had accomplices who supported him beforehand, authorities said.

It was the second of two deadly attacks on foreigners claimed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) armed group that year, devastated Tunisia’s once-lucrative tourism sector.

Security was tight at the Tunis courthouse for the trial opening.

The examining magistrate finished his investigation in July last year, but defence lawyers said they would ask for an immediate adjournment at the opening hearing to give them more time to study the prosecution’s case.

Ines Harrath said her client, Achraf Sandi, was charged with “belonging to a terrorist group and using weapons”, but was “neither a Salafist nor a terrorist”.

She said he had been arrested “because his brother, who is on the run, is accused of involvement in the case”.

There has been widespread criticism of the Tunisian police force’s response to the killings.

British judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, who held an inquest into the deaths of the Britons among the holidaymakers, said in February that the police response had been “at best shambolic, at worst cowardly”.

“Their response could and should have been more effective,” he said.

Andrew Ritchie, a lawyer representing 20 victims’ families, read out a January 2015 report by a British diplomat, saying there had been “little in the way of effective security to prevent or respond to an attack” at the beach.

Source:Al Jazeera

May 26, 2017
Corbyn: We have to admit ‘war on terror’ is not working

{As election campaigning restarts following Manchester attack, UK opposition leader addresses root causes of ‘terror’.}

Britain’s foreign policy and intervention in wars abroad had fuelled the threat of “terrorism” at home, the leader of the UK’s main opposition party said on Friday, as a political truce after a Manchester suicide attack came to an end.

Less than two weeks before a general election, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also vowed to reverse Prime Minister Theresa May’s police cuts and give the security services more resources if they needed them, saying Britain could not “be protected on the cheap”.

Although Corbyn said he did not want “to make a narrow party political point”, opponents accused him of exploiting Monday’s bombing by Salman Abedi, a Briton born to Libyan parents, who killed 22 people, including children, at the Manchester Arena after a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.

“No government can prevent every terrorist attack. But the responsibility of government is to minimise that chance, to ensure the police have the resources they need, that our foreign policy reduces rather than increases the threat to this country,” Corbyn said in a speech in the capital, London.

“Many experts, including professionals in our intelligence and security services pointed out the connections between wars that we’ve been involved in or supported … in other countries, such as Libya, and terrorism here at home.”

{{Corbyn edges higher in polls}}

May’s Conservatives are leading in the opinion polls before the June 8 election and were widely expected to cruise to a landslide win when she called the vote in April.

But one survey on Thursday suggested their lead had been cut to just five points after she was forced to backtrack on a plan to force elderly people to pay more for their social care.

Corbyn, a socialist and veteran anti-war campaigner, said foreign policy was not solely to blame for “terrorism” but he would shy away from the interventionist approach that has seen the UK join military action in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan in recent years.

“We must be brave enough to admit the ‘war on terror’ is not working,” he said, vowing only to deploy troops when there is a clear need and a plan to secure a lasting peace.

His stance puts him not just at odds with May, who says he would put Britain’s security at risk if he won power, but also many in his own party, including former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair who led Britain into wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I think his timing is incredibly disappointing and crass given there is a live police operation,” Security Minister Ben Wallace told BBC radio. “I don’t think the substance of what he says is correct at all.”

Corbyn, who has already pledged 10,000 extra officers, also promised to reverse police cost-saving measures, many brought in by May in her former role as interior minister. Britain now has fewer officers than in 2001.

Amber Rudd, the interior minister, rejected suggestions cuts had hindered the authorities’ ability to prevent Monday’s attack.

“We must not imply that this terrorist activity wouldn’t have taken place if there had been more policing,” she said.

Source:Al Jazeera

May 26, 2017
Zambia ‘expels’ South Africa’s Mmusi Maimane

{South Africa’s main opposition leader has been expelled from Zambia to prevent him from attending the treason hearing of his detained counterpart.}

The decision was taken to ensure Mmusi Maimane did not put “undue pressure” on the judiciary, a Zambian diplomat said.

Mr Maimane said his expulsion showed Zambia was becoming a dictatorship.

He had planned to show solidarity with the southern African state’s main opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, during his court appearance on Friday.

A court is due to rule whether he should be tried for treason.

Mr Maimane was “aggressively confronted” by police when his plane landed, and he was “forcefully” prevented from entering Zambia, his Democratic Alliance (DA) party said in a statement.

The Zambian government’s behaviour was “shameful” and South Africa should lodge a diplomatic protest with it, the party added.

There has been mixed reaction in South Africa to Mr Maimane’s intervention in Zambia’s affairs, but many have applauded him for highlighting Mr Hichilema’s plight, reports the BBC’s Pumza Fihlani from the main city, Johannesburg.

Mr Hichilema was arrested in a raid by armed policemen on his home in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, in April.

He was charged with treason after his convoy allegedly refused to make way for President Edgar Lungu’s convoy, while both were travelling to a ceremony in western Zambia.

Zambia’s top diplomat in South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba, said Mr Maimane’s presence in court would have undermined “the sanctity, integrity and independence of the judiciary”.

“It was imperative that the due process of the law was respected without undue pressure or interference,” he told journalists.

Mr Maimane condemned the “trumped up” charges against Mr Hichilema and believed he was being unfairly prosecuted, the DA said.

Mr Hichilema has asked the court to throw out the charges, but the prosecution wants him to stand trial in the High Court.

Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of death.

Last year, Mr Lungu narrowly beat Mr Hichilema in disputed presidential elections.

Source:BBC

May 26, 2017
Search for children abducted from school in Nigeria

{Nigerian police are searching for six children abducted from their school on the outskirts of the main city, Lagos.}

The abductors freed four other children after “profiling” their parents, police said, apparently referring to the fact that they were not regarded as wealthy.

The men came through a swampy forest bordering the state-run Model College school, and cut a hole in the fence to enter, police said.

Schools in Lagos have been hit by several kidnappings for ransom.

Four children were abducted from the same school in October 2016, and three from another school in Lagos in March this year. They were later freed.

Lagos police spokesman Olarinde Famous-Cole condemned the abductions as “dastardly” and said an operation was under way to rescue the girls and apprehend the kidnappers.

Source:BBC

May 26, 2017
Second-hand cars to get more expensive in new EAC age limit

{Kenyans may have to dig deeper into their pockets to buy second-hand cars popular with the majority if proposals to lower the age limit for used-vehicle imports are implemented.}

A report has recommended the slashing of the age limit for imported cars to five years by 2021, in a raft of measures intended to promote local assembly in the region.

{{8 years }}

Kenya only allows imports of second-hand cars not older than eight years while Tanzania has set its limit at 10 years.

Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan do not have any such limits.

On average, cars in the region are 15 to 20 years old.

Second-hand imports are highly popular with a majority of middle-income Kenyans as they are cheaper.

New cars are out of reach for the majority, with most dealers only focusing on a few wealthy buyers, the government, big companies and aid agencies.

The EAC report argues that the disjointed policies on age limits among the EAC member states are flooding regional markets with old cars and stifling the growth of new car manufacturing.

{{2.2 million
}}

“Lack of clear policy on age limits has been identified as a factor contributing to increased imports of used vehicles, while also posing adverse impact on environment, safety and health,” states a policy brief on the report that was submitted to a summit of the EAC heads of state last week.

Under the proposals, EAC countries would harmonise the age limits for used car imports at eight years by 2019.

This limit would then be lowered to five years by 2021.

Imported used cars make up about 85 per cent of the 2.2 million on the road in the region.

Under the proposals, EAC countries would harmonise the age limits for used car imports at eight years by 2019. This limit would then be lowered to five years by 2021.

Used car imports make up about 85 per cent of the 2.2 million cars on the road in the region.

The report, carried out by the EAC secretariat and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), estimates that the region loses about $2 billion in foreign exchange every year on importing cars.

It is argued that with more stringent limits on the cars coming in the EAC, a window will open up for local manufacturing to thrive, to meet growing demand.

The report also recommends that the EAC invests in two large-scale assembly plants that will produce cars with a price range of between Sh516,200 ($5,000) to Sh1 million ($10,000).

The region should aim to produce 500,000 units per year by 2027.

“It is expected that the growing economy and expansion of the middle class will continue to spur the demand of vehicles in the EAC region,” says the policy brief.

Currently East Africa has an average motorisation level of 15 vehicles per 1,000 people, lower even than the African average of 44 vehicles per 1,000 people. Whether these proposals will be implemented remains to be seen.

EAC partner states have been trying to harmonise age limits on cars for more than a decade with little success.

Source:Daily Nation

May 26, 2017
Gunmen kill 26 Coptic Christians in Cairo

{Masked gunmen attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians on a visit to a monastery south of the Egyptian capital on Friday, killing at least 26 people, officials said.}

The assailants sprayed the bus headed for Saint Samuel monastery in Minya province with gunfire before fleeing, provincial governor Essam el-Bedawi told state television.

{{Weapons}}

“They used automatic weapons,” he said.

Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed told state television that 26 people were killed and another 25 wounded.

Bedawi said police were fanning out along the road where the attack took place and had set up checkpoints.

The shooting followed church bombings in December and April claimed by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group that killed dozens of Copts.

The jihadists threatened more attacks against the Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s 90-million population.

Suicide bombers with the jihadist group struck a Cairo church on December 11, next to the seat of the Coptic pope, killing 29 people.

{{Bombers }}

On April 11, bombers attacked two churches north of Cairo on Palm Sunday, killing 45 people, in the deadliest strike in living memory against the Copts.

The Copts’ Pope Tawadros II had been leading a service in one of the two churches attacked that day.

The bombings prompted President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare a three-month state of emergency.

The Egyptian affiliate of IS has also killed several Copts in North Sinai, forcing dozens of families to flee the province in January.

Friday’s shooting came after a historic visit to Egypt by Roman Catholic Pope Francis to show solidarity with the country’s Christians.

In his late April trip, Francis visited one of the bombed Coptic churches and condemned violence carried out in the name of God.

{{Jihadists }}

Egypt says it has identified those behind the church bombings, saying they were part of an extremist cell based in southern provinces, offering a reward for their capture.

Sisi has defended the performance of his security forces and accused jihadists of trying to divide Egyptian society by attacking vulnerable minorities.

However, rights groups accuse the former army chief of crushing even peaceful opposition to his rule.

A pro-state daily, Al-Bawaba, said on its website that an edition critical of security provisions after the church bombings had been banned from publication.

Source:AFP

May 26, 2017