Author: IGIHE

The meeting focused on increasing the productivity of smallholder farmers through easing the access to seeds and fertilizers as well as promoting citizens’ well-being.

Among the reasons that were given justifying the scarcity of seeds and fertilizers was the rise in the dollar value that leads to high market prices and the fact that 80% of fertilizers are imported from abroad.

It is expected that by 2020, Rwanda will have a fertilizer industry that will contribute to enhancing agriculture and meet the ever-growing food demand.

Rwanda has so far partnered with private institutions including Morocco’s OCP group, one of the leading exporters of phosphate fertilizers and launched ‘The Caravan’, a mobile soil-testing laboratory to enhance soil fertility, plant growth, and increased crop yields.

OCP Africa founded in 1920, is one of the leading exporters of phosphate rock, phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers in the world. It will invest Rwf 5.4 billion in the project and will own 57.4% of the shares in the ‘Caravan’ company which will be named “Rwanda Fertilizer Company’. 30% of the shares will be owned by Agro-Processing Trust Corporation (APTC) and Rwanda will own the remaining 12.6%.

Jean Claude Izamuhaye, Head of Department, Crop Research and Technology Transfer at Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) says the problem of seeds scarcity is gradually being solved.

“The problem is being addressed and starting in 2020, we will implement initiatives aiming at increasing seeds and fertilizer accessibility especially for high-altitude farming. By the beginning of July next year, we expect to be fully sufficient in seeds.”

He added that seeds that are prepared within the country will only be distributed in the original districts they were prepared in.

Currently, 305 farmers in Rwanda practice seed multiplication and that leads to sustained agricultural production.

Growing selected forage seeds and manufacturing fertilizers started in Rwanda in 2007. Locally prepared seeds include maize, beans, Irish potatoes, rice and wheat and are used for domestic and international consumption. After the initiative was put in place, farmers complained about the scarcity and high prices of seeds.

During the meeting, farmers said they face the constraint of not being involved by policymakers during the process of formulating policies and that leads to low agriculture yield. Only 23% of farmers in Rwanda are involved in decision making.

One of the resolutions of the meeting was that the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) will be informing farmers about real market prices of seeds and fertilizers as a way of building agribusiness capacities and increasing agriculture yield.

The seven officials departed on the evening of Tuesday, December 17th, 2019. Among them are Dukundimana Esperance, the director of administration and human resource, Rugomboka Daniel, Council Affairs Specialist, Mwangange Mediatrice who was in charge of education, Karasira Donat, the Director of Finance, Gahunde Gilbert, the Good Governance Director and Kayitesi Marie Claire, the officer in charge of disaster management.

Dukundimana and Kayitesi were recently arrested for the negligence of public property where they were charged of rendering to waste thousands of cement bags in the district warehouse. However, they were later released as investigations continue.

In 2017, Dukundimana had also been incarcerated along former Mayor of Rubavu District, Sinamenye Jeremie who was charged with impeding electoral procedures for candidate Mpayimana Philippe.

IGIHE reporter in Rubavu District could not get their comment on the cause for their resignations as they refused to respond to several communications but a snap visit to the district established the seven offices were closed.

During the delivery forum attended by local leaders and stakeholders from Rubavu district, Minister Shyaka said that there are lingering corruption and discrimination problems that are hindering the development of the district and the country at large.

He said that it is saddening to realize that corruption is deeply rooted in the district to a point that Rubavu is immediately linked to corruption.

He reproached Rubavu residents of lagging behind in ‘Ndi Umunyarwanda’ program which aims at building a national identity and fostering a Rwandan community that is based on trust and unity.

He said that if nothing is done about the ongoing discrimination between ‘Abagoyi’ and ‘Abagogwe’ it will destroy the country.

“We have experienced enough the vice of discrimination and we know the dark history of our country. The blatant discriminatory behavior should stop because that is what led us to genocide before.”

It is rumored that discriminatory practices are as frequent with local government officials as well.

Research about unity and reconciliation in Rwanda in 2015 showed that 27.9% of Rwandans still have a sense of belonging to particular ethnic groups and Rubavu district leads the rating at 74.4%.

Four children were found in Mataba commercial center selling sugarcane while nine were carrying sugarcane loads.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for Northern region, some of the children are involved in harsh labor to gain some money and others are sent by their parents.

“Most of the time children buy sugarcane at lower price and sell them with a profit, it attracts many children to be involved in such illegal activities, and others are sent by their parents to feed their families, practices that must not be tolerated,” said CIP Rugigana.

He added that, there are times children are found with their parents going to markets, carrying heavy loads, which contravenes with children’s rights and affects their development.

CIP Rugigana warned residents against engaging minors in harsh labor like rice farming, mining, rearing cattle among others, saying that such acts are against the law and those involved will be arrested and brought to justice.

“We will keep on conducting different operations to fight against child labor and ensure children enjoy their holidays. We are urging parents to give proper guidance to their children for a better future, in accordance with their rights as provided by the law” the spokesperson said.

Rwanda has put in place several measures to end child labor, which has resulted into majority victims being withdrawn from child labor activities and returned to school.

“Several campaigns are being conducted to sensitize the public against child abuse and other violations children’s rights. Child protection is a collective responsibility; everyone should understand that whoever exploits or deprives a child of their rights will face the wrath of the laws,” he emphasized.

Article 6 of law No. 71/2018 of 31/08/2018 relating to the protection of the child defines a child as “any person under 18 years of age.”

“Parents and guardians should remember their responsibility of looking after their children and avoiding any form of abuse that makes children escape from their homes,” the spokesperson added.

Article 6 of the law regulating labor in Rwanda, prohibits subjecting a child below the age of 18 to any form of works, which are physically harmful to the child; work underground, underwater, at dangerous heights or in confined space; work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools or which involves manual handling or transport of heavy loads; work in an environment, which exposes the child to temperatures, noise levels or vibrations damaging his/her health; work for longer hours or during the night or performed in confined spaces.

Gen. Nyamvumba made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing the ‘Police High Council’ at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru.

The High Council was also attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza and Deputy IGPs; Juvenal Marizamunda of Administration and Personnel, and Felix Namuhoranye of Operations.

The Police High Council is the supreme organ of RNP that brings together its leadership, commissioners, regional and district commanders, seniors and junior officers as well as representatives of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) in the force.

In his address, the Minister, who commended Police for its professional approaches to ensuring safety and security of people living in Rwanda, said, however, that there is a need to increase training, discipline, and service delivery as key factors for Police professionalism.

“Although a lot has been achieved, there is still more to be done in the direction of preventing and eliminating crimes,” Minister Nyamvumba said.

He further challenged the officers to aim for “quality services” to the people and to strengthen the police-public partnership for effective community policing implementation.

“As the country continues to host various events and international meetings; harmony, peace, safety, and security remain key factors. Physical and intellectual preparations are fundamental to the proper discharge of the mandate to keep our country and the people safe and secure,” he reiterated.

The policing landscape, he said, warrants the security institutions to adopt new and advanced technological skills and equipment to facilitate police operations.

Gen. Nyamvumba pledged the government’s commitment to supporting and equipping the force to achieve its mandate of making “people in Rwanda safe, involved and reassured.”

He further called for “personal scrutiny and exemplary character” in fighting corruption within and outside the institution, and other forms of high impact crimes.

IGP Munyuza, said: “This Police High Council has come at the time when we are ending the year. Although a lot has been done to ensure the security and safety for all, we need more efforts in preventing crimes like assault and battery, theft, drug abuse and child abuse that we continue to observe.”

The Police Chief reminded officers that safety and security of the people is their overall responsibility, and urged them to foster a stronger partnership with the people and aim for service excellence in their units.

“Rwanda National Police is committed to promoting professionalism through capacity building, partnership with the community, infrastructure development and quality service delivery.”

The Police High Council, which is held quarterly, evaluates the implementation of resolutions taken in previous meetings, identifies successes and challenges, and devises new strategies to further improve law enforcement and security.

It particularly sets priorities to be undertaken to further professionalize the force in light of the evolving policing landscape.

AIF received the award on December 5th, 2019 at the Sarit Expo Center in a ceremony that was held in Nairobi, Kenya and brought together leaders of organizations that deal in food and beverages.

An announcement that was published on December 17th, 2019 confirms that NutriPro flour manufactured by Tropikal Brands Afrika in partnership with AIF has been awarded during the Food Industry Excellence Awards for the milled, cereals and pulses product of the year.

AIF has also been awarded for its approach to develop local maize and soy farming to a much higher standard. Doriane Nzorubara, Head of Strategy and Programs at AIF received the award in the sustainability category rewarding AIF’s value chain centric initiatives.

Other nominees in the awards included National Foods Ltd from Zimbabwe, Mjengo Ltd and Capwell Industries Ltd from Kenya.

Tropikal Brands representative, Victoria Kutima commended the company’s contribution to increasing local crops yield especially crops needed in the East African Community.

Tropikal Brands, Head of Brands development in East and Central Africa, Simon Kabue said that the company aims at manufacturing products that match the market’s demand. “With improved technology processes, we manufacture products that meet international standards in nutrients, preservability including NutriPro porridge flour.”

The partnership between Tropikal Brands Afrika and AIF complements a previous one with World Food Programme (WFP) where AIF will be distributing porridge flour in relief camps in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan similar to Super Cereal flour which is provided by humanitarian agencies and complements breast milk.

In addition to its contribution to humanitarian agencies, AIF also manufactures ‘Shisha Kibondo’ flour for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in Rwanda.

AIF was founded in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, Royal DSM, a Dutch multinational active in the fields of health, nutrition and materials, The Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), The Department for International Development (DFID) and The International Finance Corporation (IFC).

AIF was founded on May 31st, 2017. The industry has a production capacity of 45 tons of flour per year and employs more than 300 staff while it purchases raw produce from 24,000 farmers. AIF’s goal is to reduce rates of malnutrition and stunting in children from 38% to 32% by 2020.

The rooms were inaugurated on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, in different districts and are an addition 1,776 built in the fiscal year 2018/2019, including 1,686 primary and secondary school classrooms and 90 in nursery schools.

Also, 1,452 toilets were inaugurated and are expected to address sanitary challenges that have been rampant in schools.

The Minister of State in Charge of Primary and Secondary Education Dr. Munyakazi Isaac presided over the inauguration of the classrooms in Gisagara District.

He said the classrooms will help address a number of challenges that hitherto faced learners.

“The classrooms will facilitate our children to study well with no congestion and pupils will walk shorter distances from their homes to schools which will help keep them from dropping out of schools. In the meantime, we are looking for a way to increase the school hours, and stop the double-shift system.”

The three-day training started on Tuesday, December 17th, 2019 and will focus on how the hate propaganda and politics led to the Holocaust, and Genocide against Tutsi, the statements genocide deniers use to minimize the crime of genocide as well as how to deal with the consequences of genocide.

The training will bring together experts from Rwanda and others sent by ‘Mémorial de la Shoah’.

More than 50 people are expected to attend the training from CNLG, IBUKA, an umbrella organization that connects the groups that aid survivors of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and AEGIS Trust, a British NGO which campaigns for the prevention of genocide worldwide.

Beginning the sessions, Dr. Bizimana Jean Damascene, CNLG Executive Secretary said that staff from the four organizations will learn a lot from each other.

“The training will benefit IBUKA and AEGIS TRUST staff as they will learn in detail what jumpstarted the Genocide against Tutsi and the Holocaust and identify comparisons. That knowledge will help them know how to deal with consequences brought about by genocide including trauma.”

The training is part of partnership agreements signed between CNLG and Memorial de la Shoah in 2018.

Bruno Boyer, Head of International Relations at the Memorial de la Shoah says that besides sharing testimonies and the history of the Holocaust available at the Shoah Memorial, delegates from the Memorial de la Shoah will also learn about the Genocide against Tutsi.

“We need to learn about the history of genocide but also work together to prevent genocide, crimes against humanity and mass atrocities worldwide.”

Memorial de la Shoah museum is located in Paris, France and has a very detailed of the Holocaust including France’s roles in deporting French Jews. Since last year, the memorial has created a showroom detailing the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

The training is taking place for the first time and is expected to reach other members of the Rwandan society such as History teachers, students, researchers among others.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the major consequences of genocide and is among the most important topics that will be discussed during the training in order to find ways of overcoming it.

A report published by the Ministry of Health and CNLG at the beginning of 2018 shows that PTSD among genocide survivors is above 30%. Alarming numbers that CNLG strives to treat.

And today, StarTimes serves 30 million users in 37 countries. This phenomenal growth has made StarTimes Africa’s most dynamic TV operator.

This has been made possible thanks to StarTimes’ innovation and dedication to providing the best content to its users. Moreover, StarTimes made a priority of giving back to the community by supporting local NGOs, African movie industry and innovators.

{{WildAid and StarTimes establish a partnership }}

WildAid, an NGO committed to conserving wildlife, and StarTimes formally established a partnership in Beijing to create awareness on the dangers of poaching and decimating wildlife.

Illegal wildlife trade is a multi-billion dollar global industry largely driven by consumer demand around the world. WildAid and StarTimes work together to raise awareness on wildlife conservation across StarTimes’ broadcast network in Africa.

StarTimes Group Vice-President, Luis Lu, explains that: “As a bridge between China and Africa, StarTimes now joins the fight of protecting Africa’s wildlife. Through its Network, StarTimes will help to make sure that every African people know how priceless their wildlife is.”

{{Pan-African Online Film Festival (PAOFF) }}

StarTimes launched the first edition of an event called the Pan-African Online Film Festival (PAOFF) aimed at encouraging African local online film creation by giving them a platform to reach online users.

First launched in Nigera, PAOFF is a competition awarding prizes to movies, short films and music videos based on a fan’s voting system.

In Kenya, StarTimes partnered with the Kenya Film Commission. The Commission has identified StarTimes ON as a strategic platform where shortlisted films will be uploaded for viewing and public voting ahead of the 9th edition of Kalasha International Film and TV Awards.

Mr. Timothy Owase – CEO Kenya Film Commission noted that “this will boost the audiovisual industry in the country, empower filmmakers and make filmmaking a rewarding venture. The partnership opens a broader market for our local filmmakers to showcase their talent with the platform also ensuring that our content can traverse our borders thus exerting a great sphere of influence in the region.”

{{Exclusive TV shows}}

In 2019, StarTimes did offer high quality original TV shows.

In Kenya, Hello Mr. Right was renewed for a season 2 after becoming a hit when first aired in December 2018. After Nigeria and Zambia, the dating show conquered Kenya and is now being adapted in Cote d’Ivoire.

Kenyan talk show star Vinie Chipukeezy didn’t find love while traveling with Ugandan actor Roger Mugisha in Tanzania. But they lived a real adventure exploring local food, scenery, culture, history and specialties, and experience the charm and mysteries of Tanzania in the show Dream Destination.

“Dream Destination is not a VIP tour. It is about discovering a new culture, facing challenges, protecting wildlife and nature. And it is about two people who didn’t know each other but who had to travel together along this magnificent journey, where they learned about Tanzania as well as about themselves,” explains StarTimes’ head of Media Division, Lily Meng.

And learning how to live together was the ultimate purpose of Ça passe ou ça casse, a new TV show filmed in DRC during which families would come to the studio to talk about their problems and try to find a solution.

{{Original TV series}}

In 2018, StarTimes produced its first TV series, Alagbara, in Nigeria.

Lily Meng said at that time that “the Yoruba TV series Alagbara marks a milestone for StarTimes. We are now a TV series producer. We started in Nigeria because Nollywood is the heart of African movie industry but we want to produce series and movies in all Africa. We aim at providing our subscribers with exclusive content telling local stories in their daily language.”

In 2019, StarTimes produced several original TV series, in Nigeria but also in DRC.
From Alagbara season 2 to Memuna and Paper Boat, StarTimes delighted Nigerian subscribers with creative and exciting series.

Congolese viewers also enjoyed La Fille du Serpent and, during Christmas season, three more TV series, Zosuruna, Zanga Mbongo and La Vengeance aux Deux visages.

Lily Meng says that “StarTimes is committed toward supporting the development of local capacities. There is a lot of potential in Africa, a lot of talented people who are only missing an opportunity to show what they can do. We want to give them this opportunity.”

{{FIBA World Cup 2019}}

StarTimes broadcast last September the 18th FIBA Basketball World Cup hosted by China. Basketball fans were delighted to be able to follow the competition during which Angola, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Nigeria kept the African flag flying.

{{UEFA Euro 2020}}

Early August, StarTimes acquired UEFA National Team Football broadcasting rights between 2019 and 2022. This includes UEFA EURO 2020 which will be played from 12th June to 12th July next year and UEFA Nations League 2020/21.

{{Bundesliga Football School}}

StarTimes in collaboration with the German Bundesliga, have rolled out a project dubbed “Bundesliga Football School” and targeted at developing young football talents and coaches in Ghana.

The event’s approach is to join with national soccer associations, soccer leagues and professional clubs to encourage talented young soccer players at the local level.

Experts and licensed coaches from the youth training centres of Bundesliga clubs with assistance from selected Ghanaian coaches ran training sessions of 100 soccer players (boys and girls) between the ages of 13 and 17 during a week. Workshops were also conducted for Ghanaian coaches to learn Bundesliga’s methods of developing young talents.

Former German captain and a 1990 FIFA world cup winner, Lothar Matthäus was also in Accra to encourage the young talents and share his footballing experience.

Head of Marketing at StarTimes Ghana, Mrs. Akofa Banson said that “StarTimes, the brand that introduced affordable pay-tv to Ghanaians 3 years ago is seeking to give back to Ghanaians with this Football school project through our partnership with Bundesliga.”

{{StarTimes’ awards}}

In 2019, StarTimes achievements were recognized in many countries. It was chosen in three different countries as best pay-TV provider: Kenya (KUZA Awards 2019), Uganda (People’s Choice Quality Awards) and Ghana (Business and Financial Services Excellence Awards).

StarTimes was also acknowledged as an innovative company. StarTimes ON was awarded with the Africa Best Content App prize during the DIAA 2019 Award of Excellence, and the East Africa Youth Development Agency selected StarTimes as Leader and best company in Digital and Innovation. More recently, early December, the 3rd Digital Tech Excellence Awards recognized StarTimes as the Best Digital TV Solutions Provider.

Along with a team of researchers led by Prof. Kebin Li at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in partnership with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D. student, Nyamwasa Innocent showed that compost, a mixture of organic residues made of manure and animal carcasses is detrimental to crops as it attracts soil insect pests.

A previous ‘ScienceDirect’ report complements it showing that soil insect pests are the leading threat to the production of major crops in East Africa.

Prof. Kebin says that due to their cryptic nature, soil insect pests are very hard to monitor.

“They have anti-predator physiology that makes them invisible to the human eye and hence difficult to fight against. Soil insect pests only appear at night to maximize survival and reproductive success and in daylight, they hide under the ground where they lay their eggs.”

The research showed that it is very difficult to spot soil insect pests including moths and preying mantids that have the ability to camouflage and resemble twigs or leaves.

Nyamwasa said that the pests are attracted by the odor and moist compost matter before it has been used in fields and lay eggs on the compost. Once farmers use compost on their crops, the eggs laid by pests develop into insects and damage crops.

One of the crops that are vulnerable to pests’ attacks is groundnuts given that seeds grow underground and easily give way to pests who usually lay their eggs under the surface.

A 2017 research showed that soil insect pests feed on roots and that there are at least 60 insects per square meter.

A resident of Nyamagabe district reported that the pests in his field simulate a very strong odor matching that of the plants they feed and that renders them undetectable.
The second phase of the research showed that compost odor especially cow dung attracts pests and identified ways of combatting them.

Nyamwasa says the second phase of the research was very difficult to execute since it required making a lot of laboratory tests and applying final products in fields to measure the results especially at night because that is when the pests are more active.

To address the issue of pest-infested fields, the team has discovered alcohol-based solutions that can melt the protective wax covering some of the pests’ bodies and hence lead to their death. One soil insect pest lay between 150 and 200 eggs and only one insect is enough to cause irreparable crop damage.

The research has already been approved by experts from the United States and Austria who said that once the research is published in international scientific journals, the alcohol-based solutions will start being used by farmers.

The team plans on claiming copyright of the research findings in a way that they will be able to control who will make money from it.

Nyamwasa advised Rwandan farmers to avoid preparing compost near fields in order to avoid pests’ attacks. He added that farmers should adopt crop rotation practices and include crops such as maize which make it hard for the pests to reproduce.