IGIHE

Author: IGIHE

  • Kagame, Mack Sall awarded ‘Super Grand Prix Builder’

    President Pail Kagame and his counterpart of Senegal Mack Sall have been nominated by The Africa Road Builders committee to receive the annual award of Super Prix Grand Bâtisseur (Super Grand Prix Builder) for transforming livelihoods of their citizens.

    The Africa Road Builders committee is chaired by Adama Wade. It has selected president Kagame and Macky Sall based on reports of media and experts in issues related to road infrastructures, transport and sustainable development. Considered reports also incorporated the survey of journalists with expertise in development issues over the past five years.

    President Kagame has been recognized for the order and cleanliness that characterize the roads of Kigali city where its good condition left the United Nations ranking Kigali as “the cleanest city in Africa”.

    President Macky Sall has been recognized for various projects including railyway that will connect Dakar city and Diamnido as the committee organizing the award unveiled to Financial Afrik.

    The awards will be presented in the annual summit of African Development Bank slated on 22nd to 26th May 2017 in India in Mahatma Gandhi Conference Centre located in Ahmedabad of Gujarat state.

    The Selection Committee has encouraged presidents Kagame and Macky Sall to do more for their respective countries and for the development of Africa.

    Super Grand Prix Builder award was last year bestowed to Ivory Coast president, Alassane Ouattara.

    It was launched by Babacar Ndiaye who was the president of African Bank of Development (BAD) between 1985 and 1995 to encourage young generation’s commitment in strengthening efforts in road and transport infrastructures as he did during his leadership.

    President Paul Kagame and his counterpart of Senegal Mack Sall during the World Economic Forum in Kigali last year.

  • Stance against corruption unwavering-Ombudsman

    The Chief Ombudsman Aloysia Cyanzayire has said that various reports on corruption including Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and the global Corruption Perception Index show that Rwanda has taken commendable steps in improving services delivery using technology, revising and passing laws along with collaboration with citizens in fighting the vice.

    In an interview with IGIHE, Cyanzayire has however unveiled that information on sex related corruption cases is still a challenge where the latter stood respectively at 19% in 2011, 17.4% in 2012, 14.3% in 2013, 25% in 2014, 18.1% in 2015 and 15.4% in 2016.

    She has said that a lot needs to be done despite the government internationally recognized efforts in fighting against corruption.

    “Providing information on corruption still faces some challenges though progress has been made and being addressed through mobilization and is promising as people get better understanding of the dangers of the vice. We have sensitized people on the importance of providing corruption related information, placed suggestion boxes at all district headquarters and hospitals, an email and passed a law protecting whistleblowers,”said Cyanzayire.

    A whistleblower can send SMS to toll free line of 1990, send an email at rwanyaruswa@ombudsman.gov.rw; or click GARAGAZA RUSWA through the website www.ombudsman.gov.rw.

    He/she can also click Good Service Delivery System through website www.ombudsman.gov.rw and follow instructions to reveal bribery information, call free line of 0788432516 if it is sex related corruption or visit the Ombudsman office in Kimihurura, Gasabo district ,Kigali city (KG 4AVE02).

    Rwanda’s fight against corruption has gained international recognition with a stern stance against the vice, ranking as the 4th least corrupt country in Africa and 44th worldwide in 2015.

    The Chief Ombudsman Aloysia Cyanzayire

  • UN body warns region against signing trade deal with EU

    A United Nations think-tank has warned the East African Community against entering into an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union arguing that it will neither spur economic growth nor bring wealth to the region’s citizens.

    The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) says in a report that if the EPA is signed, local industries will struggle to withstand competitive pressures from EU firms, while the region will be stuck in its position as a low value-added commodity exporter.

    “If the EAC-EU EPA is fully implemented, the region risks losing trading opportunities with other partners, industrial output, welfare and GDP,” the 45-page report seen by The EastAfrican says.

    The report titled Analysis of the Impact of the EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement on the EAC Economies is yet to be made public and is expected to be discussed by the Council of Ministers in the “days to come,” according to sources at the EAC Secretariat.

    The report, commissioned by the EAC Secretariat, is likely to further polarise the position of the Community’s members on the EPA, which Kenya and Rwanda have already signed.

    The two countries were opposed to the commissioning of the study that was requested by Tanzania towards the end of last year.

    Uganda said it would only sign the EPA if there was consensus among the EAC members while Burundi refused to sign the agreement until the EU lifts sanctions imposed on Bujumbura in 2015.

    Sources say Rwanda and Kenya have already said they will not discuss the report at the next Council of Ministers meeting.

    The EU-EAC EPA promises duty-and-quota free access to EU markets for East African goods in exchange for a gradual opening up of the region’s markets to European products.

    However, UNECA says the removal of taxes on capital goods from Europe will cause the EAC accumulated revenue losses of $1.15 billion per year. The market would be opened up over a 25-year period and capped at 80 per cent market access.

    The UNECA findings are in direct conflict with a 2014 report by the European Commission, which shows that the region will experience an economic boom due to improvements in market access to the EU.

    But according to David Luke, co-ordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre at UNECA, the deal with Europe will be calamitous unless EAC countries are able to clearly define what their infant industries are, as well as identify sub-sectors they intend to protect.

    “While the EPA purportedly intends to respect regional integration programmes, they are adding to the complexity of the task. Additional burdens are created through provisions that complicate or contradict the agreements African states have with each other or are about to make,” Mr Luke said.

    Rwanda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs, Francois Kanimba, said the report is a “political tool” and a step back in long-term negotiations to secure a positive deal with the EU.

    A rose flower farm in Kenya. The EU accounts for 31 per cent of Kenya’s export market, especially for cut flowers, tea, fresh vegetables and coffee. The EPA deal is expected to ensure continued duty-free and quota-free access to the EU for all EAC exports.

    Source:The East African

  • World Bank Report names Rwanda among resilient economies

    In its report released last week, the World Bank names Rwanda and six other African nations as countries that have exhibited economic resilience in recent past that saw them post annual growth rate above 5.4% in 2015-2017.

    The six others include Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and Tanzania.

    The report, dubbed Africa’s Pulse, a bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies conducted by the World Bank, points out that the aforementioned economies registered upswing in economic performance partly on account of strong domestic demand.

    “These countries house nearly 27% of the region’s population and account for 13% of the region’s total GDP,” it said in a press statement issued last week.

    Rwanda’s economy grew by 5.9% in 2016, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).

  • Rwanda, DRC sign joint oil search deal

    Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have signed a five-year joint exploration agreement for oil under Lake Kivu.

    The agreement was signed mid April by Rwanda’s Minister for Natural Resources Vincent Biruta and DRC Minister for Hydrocarbons Aime Ngoi-Mukena.

    The agreement, seen by The East African, covers the joint exploitation of oil resources should any hydrocarbons be discovered under the shared cross-border area of the lake.

    Rwanda and the DRC also agreed to exemption of duties and taxes paid on equipment, materials and chemical reagents imported exclusively for exploration activities.

    “Both parties recognise the right of the operator to erect facilities for hydrocarbon resources exploration in or around Lake Kivu in the territory of either party,” the agreement states.

    “All the technical data and geological data obtained by the operator during this exploration activity belong to both parties,” the agreement adds.

    The agreement comes shortly after Kigali awarded Ngali Energy — a subsidiary of the Rwanda Ministry of Defence — oil exploration rights.

    Ngali Energy has since set up a base camp in Gisenyi, Rubavu on the shores of Lake Kivu.

    Neither Ngali Energy nor Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board officials were available for comment, but reliable sources said that Ngali was in the process of outsourcing an experienced foreign company to conduct geochemical surveys under the lake.

    “Ngali has the financial resources but not the expertise and equipment to carry out a geochemical survey on Lake Kivu. That is why they are outsourcing,” a source at the Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board said.

    Mr Biruta said: “If they need geophysicists, they hire them. They can even hire a company to provide the required expertise. What they have is the financial capacity,” he said.

    He added that the government expects better results from the oil survey, after Vanoil — a Canadian firm — provided “insufficient results” before its contract was terminated in 2013. Further setbacks were registered earlier this year, when negotiations with Chinese firm BGP suddenly collapsed.

    BGP is currently conducting geochemical and seismic surveys in Kenya, and has previously worked in Uganda, Tanzania and DRC.

    Under the Rwandan law governing petroleum exploration and production activities, an exploration licence is valid for three years while a production investor is given a licence valid for up to 25 years.

    A gas extraction barge on the shores of Lake Kivu in Karongi District, Western Province. Photo/Cyril Ndegeya

    Source:The East African

  • RNP to celebrate 17th anniversary

    Preparations for the upcoming 17th anniversary of Rwanda National Police are in high gear as the force plans to kick off celebration activities earlier than usual.

    In an Interview with the Commissioner for Community Policing, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Celestin Twahirwa, he said that this year’s countrywide activities will be directed toward crime prevention, human security and supporting the country’s development priorities.

    It will be the seventh time RNP is holding the annual event, which are community oriented, since 2010.

    “This year’s activities that start on May 16 under the context of ‘Police Week’ will include countrywide human security and awareness campaigns. Precisely, we will distribute Solar Home Systems (SHS) to 3000 households in remote areas and 30 health centers in every district. Our distribution plans is to have 100 homes in every district connected across the country,” said ACP Twahirwa.

    “When families are connected, according to ACP Twahirwa, there is improved security in neighbourhoods due to security light, students can easily do their revision at night, social activities like Umugoroba w’ababyeyi (A village roundtable programme that transforms communities), fire risks caused by kerosene will reduce as well as improving standards of living through other businesses that are facilitated by solar energy,” he noted.

    Other activities that are planned include launch of the construction of a football pitch in Gasabo District, and holding several anti-crime awareness campaigns that will focus on fighting crimes like drug abuse and trafficking, Gender Based Violence, house break-ins, environmental crimes Genocide ideology, corruption, human trafficking and road traffic related offences among others.

    Through partnership with citizens, RNP has recorded a tremendous progress in ensuring public safety. It is in the same line that, since 2010, RNP has been engaged in human security activities such as awarding best performers in community police. Awards ranged from vehicles to motorcycles, and even financial support.

    Others mainly directed to vulnerable families, included construction and renovation of houses, paying health insurance premiums; giving heifer; planting trees among others.

    “Such activities are aligned with ensuring prevention of crimes rather than responding to crimes and their consequences. In prevention, we need to get to the source of causes of crimes. Policing trends have now shifted to human security activities; security goes beyond just dealing with crimes but also the welfare of the people and this is what we are emphasizing when we are involved in such activities,” said ACP Twahirwa.

    The Police Week will climaxed with ‘Police Day’ on June 16, the date the Force was created in the year 2000.

    The RNP was created as a merger of the former Gendarmerie Nationale, Communal Police, and the Judicial Police Inspectors, three uncoordinated entities that had the police mandate at the time.

    According to ACP Twahirwa, as a norm, RNP will be joined by the general population in various activities geared towards showcasing the “importance of partnership in policing.

    “Together with the entire country, we will be celebrating the milestone achieved in the last 17 years of dedicated policing to ensure safety of our country. This landmark, that has made Rwanda one of the safest countries in the world, can be traced in RNP’s priority areas of capacity building, community policing, crime prevention and reduction strategy, international cooperation and welfare and infrastructure development, among others,” ACP Twahirwa said.

    He hinted on some of the achievement that the world has recognized among them include Rwanda being one of the safest countries globally, which he attributes to the existing level of partnership at all levels.

    Source:Police

  • Businesses to pay royalties to musicians

    Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in collaboration with Rwandan Society of Authors (RSAU) have announced that people have been restricted to use artists’ songs for personal interests without payments , a decision to go into effect by July 2017.

    The decision will also be extended to other artistic works to protect intellectual property and enhance owners’ progress like other businesses.

    The CEO of RDB, Clare Akamanzi has said that artistes’ work has to be considered as his/her property and valued.

    “We want artists generate income from released copyrighted content. We want to extend areas of intellectual property in the country where radios, hotels using artists’ music have to pay royalty fees. It will enhance the progress of the producer while generating income for the country,” she said.

    She however explained that the amount such initiative will bring in the country’s GDP is not established noting that it contributed 10% to GDP of some countries like the United States.

    Hotels, bars, nightclubs, radio stations, TV stations, transport agencies will have to pay fees in order to play copyrighted local music. Super markets among others using music for commercial purposes have to sign payment agreements with the Rwanda Society of Authors (RSAU) by July.

    The CEO of RSAU, Bwiza Nadine said the cost is cheap as the minimum payment can be Rwf 200 per annum depending on how the artistic creation is used.

    She explained that foreign countries playing Rwanda’s music will also pay.

    “Other countries playing Rwanda’s songs will pay because we have agreements with some of them including Kenya and Nigeria. We will also do the same for their songs played in Rwanda,” she said.

    The decision is based on the law N° 31/2009 of 26/10/2009 protecting intellectual property and follows recent allegations of Rwanda’s female artist Kayirebwa Cecile who accused RBA and Contact FM of uing her songs for private interests not benefiting the owner.

    The CEO of RDB, Clare Akamanzi

  • Dr Saber to advocate for continued support to refugees in Rwanda

    UNHCR representative in Rwanda, Azam Saber has told IGIHE that the matter of refuge fund reduction is worrying, promising to find a solution.

    “We have the matter of inadequate funds but we are working hard to convince donors to keep pouring in funds in Rwanda because it is used effectively,” he said.

    Saber explained that they ensure good management of food donations in Rwanda despite their scarcity promising the support won’t be reduced.

    “You have to spread this message that food is security and part of basic health needs. It would be hard to protect refugees without food; it would pose a serious health threat and theft of food among themselves,” he said.

    Refugees funds remain insufficient despite the rise of the number of people in need of emergent support as only USD 984 million is available amidst needed USD 4.4 billion by July 2017.

    To cope with the crisis it has been decided to reduce refugees’ fund by a half in some countries including Rwanda.

    UNHCR explains that USD 102.4 million is needed to support refugees in Rwanda but only USD 13.5 million was availed by 4th April 2017.

    Syria and Iraq are experiencing chaos leaving citizens unable to work for survival. The crisis adds to refugees hosted in various countries including Rwanda which accommodates over 164,000 from various countries including Burundi, DRC, Afghanistan, Angola, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.

    Each refugee in Rwanda is supposed to receive a monthly support of Rwf 6300.

    According to the United Nations Refuge Agency (UNHCR), a total of 20 million people from countries including Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are faced with hunger.

    War, terrorism, political chaos and climate change are among causes boosting the number of refugees and starving people across the world.

    Dr Azam Saber

  • Brussels Airlines flies to Mumbai, India

    Belgian giant carrier, Brussels Airlines, has blessed enthusiast travelers with yet another comfort flight from the capital of Europe to Mumbai, India’s economic metropolis.

    The maiden Flight SN601 took off from Brussels Airport on March 30, 2017, inaugurating Brussels Airlines’ first connection to India with five flights weekly.

    The new route is already proving to be successful among Brussels Airlines customers. Brussels Airlines’ new scheduled flight is indeed good news for the tens of thousands of people who travel between India and Belgium each year and is vital for several economic industries (pharma, diamond, maritime industry, etc). From now on, they can fly directly again between Brussels and India. Also on the airfreight side, demand is high.

    With its very first service to India, Brussels Airlines is not only targeting direct passengers, but also travelers who want to fly via Brussels to other destinations in the Brussels Airlines network. The flight schedule allows for smooth connections from and to destinations in Europe, Africa and North America. In India, Brussels Airlines cooperates with Star Alliance partner Air India to ensure connections via Mumbai to several other destinations in India.

    Service adapted for Indian passengers

    For the new service, Brussels Airlines added an additional Airbus A330 to its fleet, bringing the long haul fleet to a total of 10 aircraft. The launch of the route has also led to additional employment. In total, more than 200 direct jobs have been created including for pilots, cabin crew, ground staff, cargo, sales and support services.

    In the last weeks, the Brussels Airlines staff followed special workshops to better understand the Indian culture. In order to service its Indian guests in their local languages, the airline hired and trained 17 Indian cabin crew members.

    The new flight is added to the carrier’s over 90 other premium European and African destinations and New York JFK, Washington D.C. and Toronto. In partnership with its international partners, Brussels Airlines also offers long-haul codeshare flights to the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Thailand.

    brussels_to_india.jpg

  • Medical practitioners urged on exemplariness as MINISANTE remembers

    The Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba has requested health practitioners to be exemplary in the process of executing their duties, unlike colleagues who participated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

    The message was echoed yesterday as MINISANTE paid tribute to its 37 employees killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

    The commemoration was attended by MINISANTE staff, employees from institutions under its responsibility and partners.

    “It is shameful to have a doctor or a nurse participating in genocide, killing people yet his/ her duties are sustaining health. Some of these health practitioners involved in genocide were university lecturers and are being tried in courts,” she said.

    He asked nurses to uphold moral values and respect for patients and humanity.
    “We require employees of the Ministry of Health to be keen on their job, patients and preserve achievements,” she said.

    37 genocide victims have been identified as employees of MINISANTE and its agencies that were killed during the pogrom.

    The executive secretary of Ibuka, Ahishakiye Naphatal has requested doctors to transform history because some colleagues tarnished the image of their profession.

    The commemoration was preceded by a visit to Rebero Memorial where MINISANTE staff laid wreaths in honor of genocide victims.

    MINISANTE staff visited Rebero Memorial in honor of genocide victims.The Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba during the commemoration yesterday.