Author: IGIHE

In 2000, Rwanda embarked on ‘Vision 2020’, a long-term development blueprint that was to see the country transitioning from a low-income country to a middle-income country and where at least every citizen would have an income of $1240, almost a million Rwandan Francs a year.

From a GDP and Income Per Capita point of view, the country’s economy has remarkably improved but it is clear enough that achieving what was planned in the two remaining months of 2019 will be impossible.

In 1990, Income per Capita was $374, $146 in 1994 and $225 in 2000. In 2010, Income per Capita was $579, $728 in 2015, $774 in 2017 and $788 in 2018 per year. Taking this data into consideration, there has been a 1.7% increase in the average income earned by each citizen.

On this Tuesday, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana explained in detail to the parliament of Rwanda the state of the economy as of September 2019.

Talking about the ‘Vision 2020’ goal where every Rwandan citizen was supposed to be earning $1240 per annum, Deputy Uwanyirigira Gloriose asked Dr. Ndagijimana if this is idea is still conceivable taking into consideration 2020 is only two months away.

“My question is whether this goal is still achievable as planned. The reality on ground shows that a citizen earns at least Rwf 2000 per day but if we take into consideration the recent increase in food prices where for example a kilo of beans increased up to Rwf 1000, there is no hope of citizens staying on the same healthy diet.”

In his remark, Deputy Rwigamba Fidele said the ‘Vision 2020’ goal is clearly not achievable in these two remaining months but enquired Dr. Ndagijimana to explain which measures were being taken to reach it.

“We clearly won’t attain that goal for now but the path we are taking is a promising one. Nevertheless, Dr. Ndagijimana should expound on measures being taken as we transition to a middle-income country.”

Dr. Ndagijimana agreed that there was still a long way to go for every Rwandan citizen to be earning $1240 per year. He related this matter to the fluctuations in the economy the country has experienced over the years. “For us to achieve this goal, the country’s economy should have been growing by 11.5% per year yet from 2000 until now, this happened only once.

The highest our economy increased by was 9% but every year we usually experience between 7% and 8% growth.

Dr. Ndagijimana concluded saying that the Income per Capita statistics for 2019 have not yet been announced and that it will be challenging to reach the 2020 goal as it was planned.

“We are joining efforts to achieve the ‘Vision 2020’ is the shortest possible delay but it is an unrealistic objective to attain by 2020.”

However, Dr. Ndagijimana added that according to the 2017 National Strategy for Transformation (NST 1), Rwanda is on a relentless path towards becoming a middle-income country where every Rwandan Citizen will be earning $1300 per annum.

The Government of Rwanda will be transitioning from the ‘Vision 2020’ to the ‘Vision 2050” whereby 2035, Rwanda will be a middle-income country if all goes according to plan. With the assumption that the economy will be growing by 10% on average, Income Per Capita will be Rwf 10 Million per annum.

The annual AGRF 2020 Summit will be held on 8-11 September 2020 at the Kigali Convention Centre.

The launch event was officiated by Rwanda’s Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente and was attended by high profile officials including H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the AGRF Partners Group, among others.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Ngirente thanked the AGRF Partners Group for choosing Rwanda as the long-term home of AGRF – the world’s premier forum for advancing Africa’s agricultural agenda and committing to partner together on the forum’s strategic vision.

“Rwanda bid to host AGRF because we recognize how essential agricultural sector is, to wider continental development. Therefore, we wanted to be a key part of this movement and become one of the key players in advancing Africa agricultural sector agenda,” the Prime Minister said at the launch ceremony of AGRF 2020.

“The Government of Rwanda is fully committed to driving a comprehensive agricultural transformation at the heart of our economic transformation. This is emphasized in our Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA4) which was launched last year.”

As AGRF moves forward, the partners reiterated that they were thrilled to work with the Government of Rwanda to drive this pan-African agenda together, building on Rwanda’s own lessons and strong commitment to placing agricultural transformation at the center of its economic transformation.

Rwanda was selected as the long-term home of the Forum through 2025 following a competitive bidding process, and this was announced at the AGRF 2019 Summit in Accra, Ghana in September of this year.

RAO Hongwei, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Rwanda, gives an insight into how transformations have seeped through to nations across the world. Full text below.

During the past seven decades, under the leadership of the CPC, China has created the miracle of sustainable economic development and long-term social stability while pursuing a development path suited for the national conditions.

At the same time, as China enters a new era, it also faces a more complex domestic and international environment. The CPC had its fourth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee, reviewing achievements as well as challenges from the perspective of national system and governance system.

The timing and the content could not be better.

The fourth plenary session and the adopted document the CPC Central Committee’s Decision on Some Major Issues Concerning How to Uphold and Improve the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advance the Modernization of China’s System and Capacity for Governance, not only affirm the superiority and strong vitality of China’s national system and governance system, but also respond to vital questions such as “What to uphold and consolidate? What to improve and develop?”.

They are critical for China to realize the “two centenary goals”, advance reform and opening-up in the new era, address risks and challenges and win the initiative.

They also can provide a new choice for developing countries to pursue modernization, and contribute the Chinese wisdom and solutions for mankind to explore and develop a better social system.

As proven by practice, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and China’s state and governance systems enjoy notable strengths in the following aspects:

The CPC’s leadership ensures political stability and the nation’s right development direction; the country is run by people and ruled by law; all ethnic groups are equal; synergize the socialist system and the market economy; insist on common ideals, convictions, values, and moral standards; promote people-centered and common prosperity; move with the times; select officials based on integrity, ability and merit; guarantee the people’s armed forces completely loyal to the Party and the people; uphold the principle of “one country, two systems”; build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Looking ahead, the session vows to see China’s institutions in all fields will notably improve when the CPC marks its centenary in the year 2021; the modernization of China’s system and governance capacity will be basically achieved by 2035 and realized in full by 2049 when the People’s Republic of China celebrates its centenary.

To achieve these, China will uphold and improve the following: the system of institutions for Party leadership; socialist democracy; rule of law with Chinese characteristics; China’s basic socialist economic system; socialist culture system, livelihood system for all, the social governance system, the ecological civilization system, the Party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces, “one country, two systems” and peaceful reunification, independent foreign policy of peace, the Party and state oversight systems.

The fruitful results of the fourth plenary session have attracted widespread attention globally. The CPC is ready to share the experience and philosophy in governance and administration with political parties from other countries, especially brother parties like the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).

Both Rwanda and China are dream chasers on the way to pursue development paths suitable for our national conditions. Over the years, the CPC and the RPF have been maintaining regular contacts, sharing practices of party-building and state governance, and cooperating in personnel training etc. The CPC will further enhance exchanges with the RPF to improve strategic mutual trust and jointly build a community with a shared future for our two peoples.

Thierry Niyorurema was arrested on Sunday in Remera Sector, where he was found slaughtering one of the cows stolen recently.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that the cow which Niyorurema was found slaughtering was stolen the previous night in the neighboring Kibungo Sector, also in Ngoma.

“When the victim identified as Jeannette Mukansengimana reported the theft to Police on Sunday morning, all Police stations in Ngoma were put on alert,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

“Residents of Rurenge Sector later called the Police at Rurenge station reporting people, who had crossed to Remera sector with a cow, which they suspected was stolen. Rurenge and Remera Police station worked together and arrested Niyorurema while slaughtering the cow,” he added.

The spokesperson said that Niyorurema, who runs butchery in Remera, didn’t use the usual known local abattoir; he instead slaughtered the cow from the bush where he was arrested in the act.

Meanwhile, Niyorurema said he bought the cow from another man, whose particulars he didn’t disclose.

“Law enforcement agencies are working together to arrest and bring to justice all those connected to this crime,” said CIP Twizeyimana.

He, however, said that cattle theft in the region has reduced due to increased operations in the recent past and community policing, which led to the arrest of many rustlers.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that some parents and guardians tend to engage minors in hard labor or commercial activities when in holidays, which amounts to “child labor and punishable by law.”

“We must protect children, as a community, from abusing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, or drinking alcoholic beverages. We should not turn them into all-time babysitters or subject them to hard domestic chores; in stone quarries and mines as well as tea plantations; protect them from markets where they are sent for commercial activities,” CP Kabera said.

On Sunday, Police and local leaders in Gakenke District found 35 minors aged between 9 and 15 years, going to Vunga market carrying heavy luggage and produce including sugarcane and banana. Most of them were in company of their parents.

“Children can always help their parents but not in a way that breaks the law and deprives the children of their rights. We urge parents and Rwandans in general to ensure that these children enjoy their holidays in a peaceful and secure manner, protect them from anything unlawful and harmful to their lives and their future,” said CP Kabera.

“We need to protect children from criminal exploitation, human trafficking and modern slavery; share information if you suspect that your neighbor employs children as domestic workers, those who subject them to corporal punishment in form of disciplining or use them in hazardous activities.”

He further reminded organizers of entertainment events, owners and managers of entertainment spots not to allow children less than 18 years of age into their premises, and not to serve them alcoholic beverages.

The law relating to the protection of the child, in its article 27, states that a person, who sells alcoholic beverages or tobacco to a child, causes or encourages a child to drink alcoholic beverages, to smoke or to go to bars commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three months but not exceeding six months and a fine between Rwf100, 000 and Rwf200, 000.

Mrs. Kagame was speaking at the Global Gender Summit during a high-level panel session themed; “Realizing a Demographic Dividend through Investments in Gender Equality”, which tackled priority interventions in addressing persisting gender inequalities.

Despite the solid role that they have historically played in societies, Mrs. Kagame said women have been disempowered.

“Growing up I thought and I actually believed, that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do just as well.’ I maintain that stand,” she said.

“As fate would have it, the irony of our dark history, suddenly threw our women into a multitude of roles, as they had to be the mothers, husbands, fathers, brothers, comforters and guardians,” she added.

Mrs. Kagame emphasized that sustainable socio-economic growth can be achieved when everyone’s full contribution to the economy is given its rightful value and when access to health, education, profitable opportunities and financial inclusion are no longer the privilege of a selected few.

First Lady of Kenya, Margaret Kenyatta, highlighted an example of how investing in female health workers can particularly drive economic value for countries, something she said her country has experienced.

“We have seen the impact their (women) work has given us as Kenya. I have seen how trained healthcare community workers have played a critical role in filling the gap to alleviate health staff shortages,” she noted.

Mrs. Kenyatta said that women face similar challenges that limit their ability to engage in development as equal citizens.

The challenges include lack of access to credit, lack of influence due to low representation in decision-making positions, lack of control or ownership of productive assets like land, and lack of financial control to make spending decisions on education and health, among others.

“In Kenya, we envisage a country where every woman and girl enjoys gender equality; a country where all legal, social and economic barriers that hinder the progress of women and girls’ are removed,” she noted.

The session featured a panel discussion which observed that women still face barriers to access sexual and reproductive health and rights and access to labor market opportunities, among other things.

The 2019 GGS takes place at the Kigali Convention Center between 25-27 November 2019 under the theme “Unpacking constraints to gender equality”.

It is hosted by the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with African Development Bank.

The 2019 GGS focuses on three key dimensions to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment: scaling up innovative financing; fostering an enabling environment (legal, regulatory & institutional); and ensuring women’s participation & voices.

These dimensions will be articulated around three main thematic areas: climate change, private sector development, and human capital and productive employment.

The digital revolution will also be addressed throughout the sessions as a cross-cutting theme.

The fresh reminder follows incidents in Lake Burera on Saturday when two boats capsized.

Marine Unit Commanding Officer (CO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Elias Mwesigye said that earlier that morning at about 5 am, two boats left Kinyababa sector carrying traders going to Kirambo market, with their goods.

One of the boats carried five people, while three others were in the second boat.

“The boats were washed away by strong wind and capsized. All traders who had life jackets survived and were rescued; however, a mother and her one-and-half year child drowned,” ACP Mwesigye said.

The body of the child was recovered while the search for the mother is still underway.

The CO explained that the deceased was trying to withdraw the child from the back so as to swim and both drowned in the process.

“Everyone using water transport or any business in waters, like fishing, must wear a life jacket as a policy; that jacket is your life when in waters, so no one should be forced to wear it… it should be your primary responsibility to take your safety first,” ACP Mwesigye emphasized.

He further urged those using water transport to always not force through bad weather, which is risky.

He was arrested after breaking into the shop of one Phocas Nkurunziza located in Nyirangarama Cell, Bushoki Sector.

Nkizamacumu is also said to have broken into another shop in Muyongwe Sector, Gakenke District, on November 17, where he stole money and goods.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Northern region Police spokesperson, said that Nkizamacumu was found with some goods stolen from Nkurunziza’s shop.

“Nkizamacumu was found in possession of 130kgs of sorghum, 50kgs of beans, a radio and Rwf40, 000, all stolen from Nkurunziza’s shop. He has been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau at Bushoki station with exhibits,” said CIP Rugigana.

He thanked residents who called the Police immediately after witnessing the crime and called for continued partnership and real time information sharing on such wrongdoers.

Theft, under article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties, is punishable with an imprisonment of between one and two years, and a fine ranging between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million; community service of up to six months or one of these penalties.

The suspects; two men and two women were arrested during a Police targeted operation conducted Thursday.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for Eastern region identified the suspects as Eric Mwiseneza, 21, Clement Ndahiro, 23, Claudine Uwera, 24, and Leoncie Umurerwa, 20.

“There was information from victims and witnesses about a group of boys and girls in Nyamata town, who ambush people late in the evening and snatch their valuables,” said CIP Twizeyimana.

“With the help of residents, the wrongdoers were identified and arrested on Thursday. They were arrested on the same spot where they had also set an ambush to steal from other people,” he added.

One of the victims, Joseph Hakizimana, said that on November 11, the same group attacked him in the evening and forcefully took his two handsets worth Rwf80, 000, each.

Another victim Ntwari Abdallah, who also identified the same suspects as his attackers, said they ambushed him and took his two mobile phones, two pairs of shoes and a cap. Ntwari had just bought the stolen items in Nyamata town.

The suspects, who admitted to the crimes, said that they were targeting people with valuables like mobile phones, necklaces, shoes and jackets as well as women handbags and others bags they suspect to be containing worthy goods, which they later sell on black market in Nyamata town.

CIP Twizeyimana thanked residents, who facilitated successful operations to identify and arrest the prime suspects and called for continued information sharing on people they suspect to be engaged in such criminal tendencies.

Theft, under article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties, is punishable with an imprisonment of between one and two years, and a fine ranging between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million; community service of up to six months or one of these penalties.