Author: John Mbaraga

RTTI is expected to create competence boost for in-service vocational and technical trainers and increase the number of professional trainers.

Speaking at the launch of the center on Thursday, Ngirente said that the inauguration of the new building is a boost to the efforts of the Government of Rwanda to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

“Our National Strategy for Transformation, in which we aim to position Rwanda as a globally competitive knowledge-based economy and in our National Transformation Strategy, TVET has been identified as one of the top priorities,” he said.

“For a better implementation of the introduced competency-based curriculum for general and TVET secondary schools, the capacity of teachers in TVET needs to be developed through in-service education in learner-centred pedagogies,” Ngirente added.

The construction of $5 million structure was financed by Korean Government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Ngirente hailed the government of Korea for its longstanding good cooperation with Rwanda especially in the education sector through projects that are supported by KOICA.

The meeting took place this Thursday in Senate and was chaired by Senate President, Bernard Makuza.

The meeting is discussing measures to put in place to address queries which were raised by the Office of the Auditor General reports about mismanagement of government resources.

The meeting brought together different ministries, government institutions receiving big amounts of the national budget, National Public Prosecution Authority and Rwanda Investigation Bureau among others.

Speaking while opening the meeting, Makuza said that though Rwanda has remarkably developed, it should have been more advanced in development if the resources were not embezzled.

“The step that has been made would have been multiplied if the resources had been used what it was allocated for,” he said.

He said that every year, same institutions appear in the Auditor General’s report for mismanagement and little is done to address the queries.

Makuza said that all institutions have competent employees, but the problem remains with some institutions which do not address mismanagement issues.

“Auditor General and Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) always assess and summon people in charge, but, why do some institutions always bring similar explanations on same things,” he questioned.

Using examples, he said that there are issues in Vision2020 Umurenge Programme funds which are embezzled before they reach beneficiaries and non-performing projects among others.

He said that mismanagement of government resources deter the country from attaining the targeted vision and cause critical effects to people.

He said that Rwanda will not tolerate people who always mismanage government resources and call them mistakes.

Ouattara was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community, Louise Mushikiwabo among other officials.

The Ibrahim Governance Weekend is the flagship event of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation held every year in a different African country.

This year’s event will start from April 27th and run until April 29th and will bring together different dignitaries from the continent.

The three-day event convenes prominent African political and business leaders, representatives from civil society, multilateral and regional institutions as well as Africa’s major international partners to debate issues of critical importance to Africa.

After the awarding ceremony, the participants will hold a high-level discussion forum which will focus on public service in Africa.

The forum will conclude with a public concert highlighting some of the best artistes on the continent.

The reforms include using risk based approach in environmental impact assessment and removal of need for geotechnical studies for some projects and removal of need for topographic survey.

Speaking in a press conference the Acting Mayor of City of Kigali, Parfait Busabizwa said that the reforms will help reduce the procedure an investor goes through to acquire a construction permit as well as the days it takes.

“These reforms will help reduce the procedures an investor goes through to acquire a construction permit from 15 to only seven, reduce the number of days to acquire a construction permit from 113 to 55 days and also reduce all other associated costs,” he said.

{{A look into the reforms}}

The reforms include a risk-based approach in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of projects instead of applying it to all construction projects.

The exemption of specific construction projects (Category one according to building code like single family houses and warehouses) from carrying out geotechnical studies before construction commences.

Construction projects will no longer be required to notify One Stop Centre of commencement of work after obtaining construction permit.

Topographic Survey is not Mandatory requirement for obtaining a construction permit in areas where Masterplan features are available online.

It will only take three days to obtain an occupation permit and a freehold land title when requested by licensed firm.

Busabizwa said that the implementation of new reforms will start by next month.

Schoof was speaking on Wednesday in a press conference following Tuesday RURA’s decision to revoke Amazing Grace Radio’s broadcasting license.

The decision to revoke the license came two months after RURA suspended the radio in a period of a month over airing a sermon in which a preacher allegedly defamed women.

The radio had been suspended over the sermon by preacher Nicholas Niyibikora which referred to women as prostitutes and evil among other shameful words.

The radio was also instructed to air a statement of public apology and pay administrative fine of Rwf2 million on RURA account.

Prior to RURA’s sanctions, RMC, media self-regulatory body had requested RURA to shut the frequencies of the radio.

{{RURA ordered me to plead guilty}}

Schoof neither to apologised nor to paid the fines, prompting RURA to revoke the radio broadcasting license.

In a press conference, Schoof said that RURA ordered him to plead guilty against his conscience.

“I refused to plead guilty, so they revoked our broadcasting license. You can’t order people to plead guilty! The Rwandan constitution guarantees that we have the right of opinion and conscience,” he said.

He said that he is not Pastor Nicholas who must apologise for himself.

“Pastor Nicholas has not been found guilty yet. There has been no testimony, no hearing and no court case for his message. His message has never been discussed, so RURA wants me to apologisse for someone who is still presumed to be innocent?,” he questioned.

“If I apologise, then I admit that I am guilty of wrongdoing. I am not guilty of doing anything wrong. Why apologise? To apologise is to plead guilty,” he added.

{{The radio submitted case file to court}}

He said they filed the case to court because both RURA and RMC have not respected the laws of Rwanda.

“I tell you, both RMC and RURA have not respected the laws of Rwanda. So, if we get an honest judge we will win, if he disrespects the law of Rwanda, then we lose,” he said.

In a revoking statement issued yesterday, RURA said that the conduct of the Amazing Grace Radio violated article 21(4A and 4B) of Regulation No 004/R/MR-MCA/RURA/2017 of 30 June 2017 governing Broadcasting services in Rwanda, in regard to upholding public morality and Rwandan culture and values in general.

Private notaries will operate under the 2014 law which replaced the one that had been introduced in 1953. The Ministerial order regulating them was issued last year.

Speaking while presiding over the swearing in ceremony yesterday, the Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye said that the activity aims at promoting justice through notary services as well as promoting job creation for private sector in Rwanda.

He said that as they are the maiden private notaries Rwanda has had, it is a tough assignment but will be evaluated on whether their introduction was necessary.

“As it is the first time, this is history. Possibly, those who will swear-in in the future will not have tough responsibilities as you do. It’s you who will prove to the country that the decision to allow private notaries to operate was perfect.,” he said.

“Every person who needs notary services always has another mission ahead; like to pursue studies, doing business or needs to go outside the country, seeking notary services is a pathway, is not the end. So, when you are not working and people miss your services, it means that you send the message to people who initiated this idea (private notaries) that it has no value,” Busingye noted.

Busingye urged notaries to be cautious in their job by avoiding wrongful notifications. He urged them to report people who they will find using forged documents.

“When you do not report a person using counterfeit documents to institutions in charge, you will be facilitating them to do so. So, when these institutions will establish that you were aware but ignored to report, you will be held responsible,” he said.

Speaking to IGIHE, Viateur Ndagijimana, a trained lawyer said that they are going to support people to easily access notary services .

“Those are challenging responsibilities, but we are going to work hard to change the bad image people have about notary services. We will put good services before money,” he said.

The ministerial order regulating notaries requires five years of experience in legal profession for a person to become private notary.

Kagame was speaking yesterday in New York, Unites States, while attending the screening of “Rwanda: The Royal Tour” documentary film. The documentary was premiered on Monday in Chicago.

On Tuesday evening, the documentary was screened at the legendary Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.

The event was attended by President Kagame accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame. Also present was the documentary’s creator, Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor.

Kagame and Greenberg engaged in a question-and-answer session with the audience after film’s screening.

Addressing a packed house at the Guggenheim, Kagame noted that “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to be Peter Greenberg’s guide in this film and to show a wider audience what Rwanda has to offer”.

“The goal of tourism and conservation in Rwanda is not only to increase visitor and revenue numbers but also to ensure that the benefits are both sustainable and shared by all our people,” he added.

Greenberg said that it was a special opportunity for him to see Rwanda through the eyes of the president.

“What an amazing transformation Rwanda has had as a country, and what a special opportunity for me and my audience to see Rwanda through the eyes of its President,” he noted.

{{About the documentary}}

The film features Greenberg’s weeklong travels through Rwanda, led by President Kagame showcasing the visual diversity that Rwanda has to offer.

Together, the two went gorilla trekking through Volcanoes National Park, jet-skied in Lake Kivu, explored Nyungwe Forest National Park on an elevated canopy walkway, and saw a variety of wildlife during a safari through Akagera National Park.

In addition to being lauded for its natural attractions and wildlife – Rwanda is one of only three places where travellers can see the world’s 880 remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat – the country is also recognized as one of Africa’s most exciting new luxury travel destinations.

Rwanda is witnessing exponential growth in its tourism revenues from $200million in 2010 to above $400 million in 2016.

The documentary will be broadcasted on National Broadcaster, Rwanda Television on Friday at 7:00pm.