Author: IGIHE

Rwanda High Commissioner to Kenya shares Rwanda’s progress to peace

{The Rwanda High Commissioner to Kenya James Kimonyo has shared Rwanda’s experience of rebuilding the foundations of peace noting that the country has made commendable progress following the 1994 genocide against Tutsi as a result of good leadership.}

He was speaking during the international Conference on Peace, Security and Social Enterprise held at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi on Wednesday.

“Before colonization in Africa, Rwandese were speaking one language and living in harmony. The arrival of colonialists saw divisions where ethnicity was determined by one’s physical features, Tutsis and Hutus. After 1962, politics of identity became hate and in 1994 before genocide, our society was deeply divided fuelled by hate media, false reporting and killing each other”, he said.

“Rwanda has made considerable progress on the road to reconciliation and is focusing on economic development. In the last decades, Rwandans have come a long way on the arduous road toreconciliation. The government, to ensure total reconciliation, had to; eliminate reference to ethnicity in identification documents, the legal process of investigating genocide and restoring justice was executed by traditional courts called ‘gacaca’ to speed up justice, re-introduction of community work in an effort to re-build the country and above all promoting economic growth”, he added.

Mount Kenya University Rwanda founder Prof. Simon Gicharu who also attended the conference urged leaders and the public to think about preventive measures against all forms of disunity. “Higher learning is not about profit making, but instilling positive change among young people who are our future leaders to be dynamic and positively influence others. The world spends billions of dollars on conflicts instead of key sectors like education which is one of the pillars of development making the world a better place”. He said.

The Rwanda High Commissioner to Kenya James Kimonyo , Mount Kenya University Rwanda Chairman and Founder Prof. Simon Gicharu, Kenya cabinet secretary, Joseph Ole Nkaisery, the Chairman National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Mr. Francis Ole Kaparo with members of staff from Mount Kenya University and other Kenya government dignitaries and Rwandan students studying in Kenya, Thika main campus were among the participants in the international Conference on Peace.

May 19, 2017
Rutsiro: MTN donates 24 laptops to GS Kavumu

{MTN Rwanda through MTN Foundation has donated 24 laptops to Groupe Scolaire Kavumu in Rutsiro district.}

The laptops with three months free internet were handed to the school’s management yesterday.

Zulfat Mukarubega, the Chairperson of MTN Foundation said they will keep giving back to communities especially where they see there is need.

“Laptop donations are part of our continuing program which has so far provided laptops worth Rwf 720 million,” she said.

The headmistress of Groupe Scolaire Kavumu, Nyirabasinga Anastasie appreciated the support saying it will boost quality education.

“We express gratitude from our hearts for the support to our school. We had only one computer,” she said.

GS Kavumu students expressed delight saying the laptops will enhance their studies.
The donated laptops will be used to build our knowledge. We had few machines that it was not easy to share them,” said Mutuyimana Vincent, a student.

The mayor of Rutsiro district, Ayinkamiye Emerance lauded MTN Rwanda and requested it to keep the support as only three of 103 schools in the district have computers.

May 19, 2017
Rwanda awaits Pope’s response on visit

{The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo has said that Rwanda is awaiting for a response from the Pope following a recent invitation sent by President Paul Kagame requesting him (Pope Francis) to visit Rwanda. }

Mushikiwabo who was presenting the MINAFET 2017/2018 budget draft, was also responding to questions raised by Members of Parliament on whether Pope accepted the invitation.

“Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, I would like to know whether Pope agreed to visit Rwanda. It would be a good act. Would you mind sharing with us the progress,” asked the chairperson of parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget and National Patrimony, Mukayuhi Rwaka Constance.

In response, Minister Mushikiwabo said that president Kagame invited Pope but has not yet responded.

“The president of the Republic asked him to visit us in Rwanda and sent an invitation letter following our visit to Vatican. They have not yet replied but we also await for the newly appointed Papal Nuncio in Kigali. He will arrive here in June 2017. It will help us to hold on talks with Vatican through its embassy in Kigali,” she said.

The invitation to Pope to visit Rwanda followed the visit of President Kagame to Vatican in March 2017 where Pope Francis apologized on behalf of the Catholic Church involvement in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

May 19, 2017
Efacec for new electricity substations to rural areas

{Efacec, a Portugal-based company, has been sub-contracted by STEG, the winning consortium of the international tender launched by the Republic of Rwanda, for the construction of three new 200kV substations for the distribution of power to the country’s rural areas of Rwabusoro, Mamba and Rilima.}

The technical abilities and skills of Efacec’s High Tension Substations area was the reason behind being chosen by the tender’s winning company – STEG International Services, from Tunisia – to implement the project of engineering, supply, supervision and commissioning of the three new substations on a turn-key basis. This contract is worth approximately 10.5 million euro and has an 18 months’ execution deadline.

The construction work will be fundamental to give flow to the 80MW produced in Mamba’s Biomass Power Station for the national electricity grid. Currently 25% of Rwanda’s households have power. This project is part of the government ambition to bring electrical energy to 70% of Rwanda’s families, by 2018.

According to Ângelo Ramalho, Efacec’s CEO, “being chosen for this project attests, once again, Efacec’s skills. We are proud of this new act of trust bestowed to our company. We’ll continuously work in order to bring power to all the parts of the world”.

The partnership established with STEG results from an ongoing project that Efacec has in Tunisia for STEG: the execution of a substations contract.

Efacec Power Solutions (EPS) is a Portuguese company with a strong international presence that produces products for power transmission and distribution (adapters, service, high and medium voltage switchgear and automation gear) for the Energy, Environmental, Industry and Railway sectors and develops solution for Electrical Mobility, namely an energy charging system.

EPS develops its activity in strategic markets, such as Spain, Central Europe, United States, Latin America, Brazil, Maghreb, Southern Africa and India.

May 19, 2017
Rwandans to be facilitated accessing South Africa Visa

{The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo has expressed optimism that South Africa will remove barriers for Rwandans requesting for a Visa to travel to the country.}

The Minister who was talking about Rwanda-South Africa relations as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented its 2017/2018 draft budget to parliamentary standing Committee on Budget and National Patrimony said heads of states from both countries agreed to remove barriers.

“I can say that we have good relations but there are some areas in which we need to improve especially facilitating Rwandans to obtain South African Visa has not yet been normalized. South Africa informed us that it is devising ways of addressing the matter. Apart from clashes with South Africa over accommodating enemies of Rwanda which saw the deterioration of relations, even people from other countries find it difficult to enter their country. Many countries are asking it to open its doors as a country seeming to play a leading role in Africa’s development,” she said.

“We are happy to understand that South Africa is willing to facilitate entrance. On other hand we have in Rwanda many investors from South Africa. RwandAir flies to South Africa every day,cooperation at RwandAir level is good and has been lauded by SA investors in Rwanda. They invest in mining and infrastructures. Other activities between our countries are going smoothly,” she added.

Minister Mushikiwabo said both countries’ heads of states agreed to remove barriers.

“The situation has improved but we are still assessing it to see how our people can benefit from equal visa opportunities. We hope it will be possible but can’t confirm when because we cannot exert pressure on a country. What we do is to explain how the situation is. I don’t find reasons for its failure,” she added.

May 19, 2017
First Lady Jeannette Kagame and Margaret Kenyatta to participate in Kigali International Peace Marathon

{First Lady Jeannette Kagame and her Kenyan counterpart, Margaret Kenyatta will participate in the Kigali International Peace Marathon on Sunday 21st May 2017. }

The annual marathon will be held for the 13th time and feature Run for Peace section reserved for dignitaries from Rwanda and abroad.

A total of 6,000 participants are expected in the upcoming Kigali International Peace Marathon.

Madam Margaret Kenyatta will be attending Kigali International Peace Marathon one year after Jeannette Kagame attended the marathon dubbed ‘Beyond Zero Campaign’ held in Nairobi in March 2016. The latter was meant to campaign for reducing child and maternal deaths.

The office of the first Lady has announced that she is ready to host her Kenyan counterpart in the Kigali International Peace Marathon.

May 19, 2017
MINEDUC wants Rwf 8 billion to renovate, build new classrooms

{The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) has requested for a Rwf 8 billion budget to fund construction of new classrooms and repair the old ones across the country. }

The request was made yesterday as MINEDUC presented its draft budget for 2017/2018 to the parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget and National Patrimony.

MINEDUC State Minister for Primary and Secondary School, Isaac Munyakazi said they plan to direct efforts towards renovating classrooms in critical conditions.

“Part of this year’s budget will be used to build and renovate classrooms. We however gave priority to very old classrooms which can fall on students in case it rains.There, we have no choice. They are many in different parts of the country,” he said.

Munyakazi explained that 4023 classrooms shall be replaced or renovated within two years but in case funds do not allow, at least 3676 classrooms will be renovated.

MINEDUC also plans to build new schools worth Rwf 2 billion in Nyagatare and Gatsibo districts where some students still trek long journeys to reach schools.

The chairperson of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget and National Patrimony, Mukayuhi Rwaka Constance asked whether MINEDUC can’t find sponsors other than waiting for the budget.

“There are parents, religious organizations and non-governmental organizations that helped build 12-year basic education classrooms. They can still give support,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary in MINEDUC, Mulindwa Samuel explained that they thought about partners while proposing the budget.

He said they have reduced the cost of building one classroom from Rwf 8 to 5 million where the remaining three million will come from partners’ contribution.

May 18, 2017
The fourth edition of the Capital Market University Challenge 2017 kicks off

{The Capital Market Authority (CMA) launched the fourth edition of the Capital Market University Challenge 2017 which will be conducted from 17th May 2017 up to 9th June 2017, open to undergraduate students in universities and other higher learning institutions in Rwanda.}

The Challenge will be conducted as part of public education and awareness aimed at inculcating in the youth in universities the culture of saving and investment in general and through capital market in particular. The University Challenge started in 2012 targeting undergraduate students in all universities and other higher learning institutions in Rwanda.

Activities in the competition this year will include two categories namely Quiz to test students’ knowledge on the capital market industry and Essay writing on the theme of “Growing the youth through capital market”. On Wednesday, 17th May 2017, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) officially launched the third edition of the “Capital Market University Challenge” at Adventist University of Central Africa.

This year the challenge will be carried out by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) in collaboration with the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE), Economic Policy Research Network (EPRN) and the international Association Students in Economic and Commercial Science (AISSEC).

The Executive Director of Capital Market Authority, Robert Mathu noted that “The Capital Market University Challenge is aimed at introducing the youth to the Capital Market and the culture of saving while they are still in universities. We also aim to interest them to the industry as future professionals.” He added that the event will attract students from various Universities across Rwanda and it will be an occasion for students to showcase their knowledge on the capital market industry through an interactive competition.

Moses Asiimwe who participated in the previous Capital Market University Challenge stressed that “As a proud past winner, I would encourage all students in colleges to invest their efforts in the contest and start saving and investing through the capital market”.

{{Preliminary stage}}

The Capital Market University challenge’s preliminaries will be taking place in provinces of the country as follows; in the Northern Province; College of Agriculture, Animal sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UR CAVM) the preliminary is scheduled on 20th May 2017, in the Southern Province will be hosted by UR CASS on 20th May 2017, Eastern Province to be hosted in UR Nyagatare campus on 24th May 2017 and in the West Province the challenge will be hosted in ULK Gisenyi Campus on 24th May 2017, in the City of Kigali it is scheduled on 26th May 2017 at Adventist University of Central Africa and the last day of the challenge will take Place at Kigali Serena Hotel, in Kigali on 9th June 2017.

The quiz winner will get 10,000 shares of a company listed on the bourse, while the essay category’s top prize is 5,000 shares of a listed company.

May 18, 2017
DRC: New cabinet sworn in amidst jeers and whistling from opposition

{The newly appointed cabinet of the Democratic Republic of Congo, led by Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala has been sworn into office in spite of jeers, whistling and the blowing of vuvuzelas by opposition members.}

Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala’s government of national unity has been described by the opposition as undermining a previous agreement.

President Joseph Kabila struck a deal with the country’s main opposition bloc to allow him stay on in office after his mandate expired last November provided elections were held by the end of 2017.

Talks to implement the deal however broke down in March this year when Kabila refused to commit o the bloc’s choice of prime minister.

In spite of the rejection his government faces from the opposition, Prime Minister Tshibala says he is committed to work for the country’s best interest.

In his address, the outlined the four priority areas of his new government of national unity which he said “are deeply entrenched in the political accord of December 31, 2016 and its terms.”

The first line of action of the new government Tshibala said is “to organise credible, free, transparent and peaceful elections, at an agreed date”.

He cited arresting the country’s declining economy and the improving the living conditions of the population as the second and third priority action points respectively of his government.

The final priority of the new government “will be to improve security throughout the country.”

Political tensions remain high in the Democratic Republic of Congo as President Kabila’s opponents believe he intends to delay elections until he can organise a referendum to allow himself run for a third term.

The president has however denied the accusations, saying the delays in organising elections are due to challenges with registering millions of voters as well as budgetary constraints.

Head of the DRC’s Electoral Commission (CENI) Corneille Nangaa however says the ongoing violence in central Congo could further delay the planned elections as well as affect the credibility of the polls.

“Elections must take place, but not just anyhow,” Nangaa said. “If we organise the election hastily without preparing what is necessary because we must stick to the date, we risk having non-credible elections and that will probably lead to violence that we saw recently.”

Nangaa said militiamen have ransacked six of the electoral commission’s headquarters in the troubled Kasai region – where an insurrection which began last July has led to hundreds of deaths – and beheaded three staff members.

Nangaa told Reuters that while the elections could technically be held later this year as scheduled, there might be no voting in the troubled areas.

“I don’t think we have much of a choice. The most important thing is to pacify that area and enroll as we’ve done elsewhere,” he added.

Nangaa also cast doubts on the feasibility of holding presidential, legislative and provincial elections together this year as called for by the accord. But some analysts say, a further delay could rekindle anti-Kabila protests which resulted in dozens being killed last year.

Source:Africa News

May 18, 2017
Tanzania:Dar, Arusha rule the roost as fakes rock insurance sector

{Arusha and Dar es Salaam are the country’s two cities reported to be notorious in having the highest number of vehicles with counterfeit insurance cover stickers glued on their windscreens.}

A statement from the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) explains that more than 10 per cent of all vehicles cruising on the country’s roads and landscape do not have genuine insurance covers, but cleverly faked replicas, which is against traffic regulations and national laws.

TIRA Commissioner of Insurance, Dr Baghayo Saqware stated in the statement that the influx of forged protection comes from a network of racketeers including underwriters of local insurance firms.

“Usually, motorists and car owners collude with officers of insurance firms so that they can be given cheap faked stickers or use single cover for multiple vehicles, sometimes motorcycle insurance is used on motor vehicles and even stickers for small private cars are glued onto heavy commercial vehicles,” pointed Dr Saqware.

With the number of active motor vehicles being estimated to be around 400,000, it seems more than 40,000 cars are running around full of risk, without the necessary or valid insurance covers, in the wake of myriad road accidents.

According to the recent World Bank (WB) Collection of Development Indicators, the number of car distribution in Tanzania places the country at seven cars per every 1,000 people and at the estimated population of 50 million residents; the number of vehicles should be around 400,000.

Dar es Salaam Region, with around 120,000 vehicles roaming the city, accounts for 30 per cent of the country’s total number of cars but also leads in having the highest number of fake insurance stickers followed by Arusha, according to TIRA.

To serve the vehicles, there are 31 insurance companies in Tanzania, and between them, over 100 brokers and 500 agents. The national coffers reportedly collect more than 700 billion/- revenue from insurance firms every year, despite the lost returns from fake vehicle covers.

TIRA, other than conducting thorough inspection of motor vehicles here, was on the other hand launching their new digital portal known as Motors Insurance Stickers (MIS) mobile application or ‘TIRA-MIS’ which has been hatched to manage motor insurance stickers and their respective cover notes and therefore solve the influx of fake covers.

According to Mr Eliezer Rweikiza, the TIRA Northern Zone Manager, local insurers, brokers and agents will be able to use this portal to complete and submit relevant information regarding motor insurance stickers and their affiliated cover note, issued at a particular time on-line.

Mr Aaron Mlaki, the Manager in-charge of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for TIRA, said that all vehicle owners and motorists will be able to verify details right from the palms of their hands.

Using the ‘TIRA-MIS’ portal, all stakeholders are able to verify the issued stickers and respective cover notes on-line by clicking the link ‘Validate Motor Insurance Sticker’ or sending a short message to 15200 with a word STICKER followed by the respective ‘Motor Insurance Sticker Number.’

The verification can also be done online upon signing onto the MIS-TIRA website at this link ‘mis.tira.go.tz’ and following instructions.

Source:Daily News

May 18, 2017