Author: John Mbaraga

The statement from the Office of the Prime Minister says that sacked are former Director General, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Dr. Daphrose Gahakwa, who had been the Deputy Director General, Innocent Nzeyimana former Head of Animal Husbandry and Land Husbandry, Irrigation and Mechanisation Department and Violette Nyirasangwa, who had been the Head of Corporate Services.

On January 19th this year, the Cabinet suspended Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe from serving as Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) Director General and immediately replaced him with Dr. Patrick Karangwa who, heretofore, had been the head of research department at RAB.

Speaking to IGIHE, the Agriculture Communication and Information Programme Manager at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Ange Soubirous Tambineza said that the ministry was not given details of Bagabe’s suspension saying that it was in the capacity of the body that took the decision.

“It is the decision by the Cabinet Meeting as it is in their capacity,” she said.

“What matters is to have the institution well managed and impact the lives of farmers and the economy,” she said.

On the other hand, Dr. Gahakwa, Nzeyimana and Nyiransangwa had been suspended by Prime Minister Dr. Eduard Ngirente on November 22nd last year.

Recently, a reliable source told IGIHE that MINAGRI admits to the problems in RAB.

“RAB is a very big institution which implements all programmes in agriculture sector. The Ministry coordinates, establishes policies and seeks funding and capacity building for agricultural sector among others,” a source said.

As an institution which implements different responsibilities, it is easy to have many challenges, the source said.

According to source, Bagabe and Dr. Gahakwa among others had been under investigation.

For the case with Bagabe alone, the source said that he did not want to collaborate with his bosses in MINAGRI.

“Bagabe did not want to collaborate and respect his bosses in the Ministry. He just wanted to work as an independent institution without reporting to the Ministry,” a source said.

On February 19th when MINAGRI Minister, Dr. Geraldine Mukeshimana was appearing before the MPs’ plenary session responding to several questions regarding the ministry which were raised in different parliamentary committees’ reports, MPs requested questioned problems in RAB management.

Among the problems raised are irrigation machines which provide law production compared to the budget that spent on them, agro-collection centers and post-harvest handling practices.

MP Marie Josée Kankera questioned whether continuing rotation and dismissal of officials in RAB would not be the reason behind poor performance of agriculture sector.

“Replacing an official who does not implement responsibilities is normal, we thank for government efforts to hold into account leaders and dismiss those who fail to implement their responsibilities. But I want to stress RAB officials rotation. Particularly, I think that it affects our production and attracts these problem in agriculture,” she said.

She said that every official entering the institution takes time to analyse problems and initiate measures to solve them.

“A number of PhD holders who were appointed in that board did not last there, doesn’t this attract agricultural and animal resources’ problems that the board should have been responding to? I would like to know whether there are measures to make management of that board stable, because I think that when the management is working properly, all things go well,” she said.

Also read: http://en.igihe.com/news/what-is-rab-s-problem.html?var_mode=calcul

The handover ceremony took place in Kigali on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, Musoni thanked President Paul Kagame who had trusted and appointed him in various positions.

He thanked for the cooperation with State Ministers and the ministry staff in implementing different programs.

“I would like to use this opportunity to welcome Gatete and thank him for taking responsibilities to head this ministry, it is an honor, it is a challenging job, but fortunately he will not get challenged as he had been encountering with different programmes of this ministry,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Gatete said that the ministry has different projects to implement in line with government’s vision.

He said he will continue with implementing programs of building roads, water and electricity which would be accessible to all Rwandans.

“The job of this ministry is not such easy,” he said.

He said that he will invest efforts in electricity distribution programmes, where the country targets 100% population access by 2024 from the current 40%.

Gatete was appointed in Mininfra by President Paul Kagame on April 6th. He had been the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning since 2013.

The suspended are Dr. Joyce Musabe who has been the Head of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Resources Department, Dr. Michael Tusiime Rwibasira Head of Examinations, Selection and Assessment Department; Peter Mujiji, Head of Corporate Division, Francis Karegesa Director of Finance and Rutaha Bagaya who had been the Head of Procurement Unit.

Following the dismissal, on Thursday, the Ministry of Education and affiliated institutions convened a meeting that was chaired by Education Minister, Dr. Eugène Mutimura during which he said that all officials were suspended for falling short of expected performance targets in the implementation of education programmes.

He cited delays in delivering certificates to high school leavers which are, besides, printed from abroad contrary to the government decision of getting them locally produced.

“It used to take long period for high school leavers to get their certificates; this affected them, missing opportunities to enter universities. Printing the certificates from abroad is also contrary to the government programme of promoting Made in Rwanda products,” he explained.

The decision to produce certificates locally was announced in March last year by former Education Minister, Dr Papias Musafiri Malimba. He said that even certificates for university graduates would be produced from the country.

Among other reasons to suspend the officials, Mutimura said include the delay of distribution of academic materials in schools like books.

“There are many books which are not distributed to schools. Those for Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) are scattered across different households or district offices than being in schools. That is a problem because it affected the academic programme and students will not sit for all intended subjects this year,” he explained.

He said that whoever will hamper the implementation of government programme will face punishment.

In the cabinet meeting yesterday, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in charge of Primary and Secondary Education informed members that the 2018 national examinations in secondary schools for Ordinary Level and for Advanced Level shall be done for the same subjects as it was in the last school year.

He said, the additional subjects introduced in 2016 with the implementation of the new Competence-Based Curriculum which are ICT, Literature in English, French and Kiswahili in Ordinary Level and Sub-mathematics as well as French in Advanced level shall not be part of 2018 national examinations due to various challenges faced in the implementation of the Competence Based Curriculum.

Asked whether suspended officials would not face justice, Mutimura said that institutions in charge will investigate their cases.

The Cabinet Meeting welcomed Dr. Claudine Uwera, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in charge of Planning as well as other Members of Cabinet who have shifted to new portfolios namely, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Amb. Claver Gatete, the Minister of Infrastructure. The Cabinet Meeting wished them every success in their duties.

1. The Cabinet Meeting approved Minutes of previous Cabinet Meeting held on 16.03.2018 after minor adjustments.

2. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed on the Aftermath of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) signature and the way forward.

3. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Draft Laws:

1) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Loan Agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 22/03/2018, between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), relating to the loan of seven billion six hundred seventy million Japanese Yen (¥7,670,000,000) for Ngoma-Ramiro Road Upgrading Project;

2) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Loan Agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 22/03/2018, between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Africnan Developement Bank, relating to the loan of Thirty Million American Dollars (USD 30,000,000) for Rwanda Innovation Fund;

3) Draft Law on the crime of genocide ideology and related offences;

4) Draft Law relating to the civil, commercial, labour and administrative procedure;

5) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment signed in Kigali, Rwanda, on 21/03/2018;

6) Draft law relating to insolvency and bankruptcy;

7) Draft Law approving ratification of the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area together with the Protocol on trade in goods, Protocol on trade in services, and Protocol on rules and procedures for settlement of disputes signed in Kigali, Rwanda, on 21/03/2018;

8) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Government of the Republic of Djibouti concerning the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, signed in Djibouti, on 18/04/ 2017;

9) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 13/08/ 2013;

10) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco on the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 19/10/2016.

4. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Orders:

1) Presidential Order’s Order establishing salaries and fringe benefits for Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) staff;

2) Presidential Order promoting 236 Commissioners, Senior Officers and Junior Officers of Rwanda Correctional Service;

3) Prime Minister’s Order determining organisation and functioning of Disaster Management Organs;

4) Prime Minister’s Order determining organizational structure of Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB);

5) Prime Minister’s Order granting retirement to Mr. Ngerero Nkuriza Gervais who was Director of Seed Unit in Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB);

6) Prime Minister’s Order granting leave of absence for a non-specified period to Mr. Twahirwa Alexander, who was Director of Labour Administration Unit in the Ministry of Public Service and Labour;

7) Prime Minister’s Order granting resigantion to Mr. Mpayana Fio Logan, who was the Director of Research and Quality Control Unit in Rwanda Transport Developement Authority (RTDA);

8) Prime Minister‘s Order determining modalities of transfer of 463 personnel and assets related to criminal investigation from Rwanda National Police (RNP) to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB);

9) Ministerial Order relating to assisting actors and volunteers in case of disaster response;

10) Ministerial Order on secondment of 320 Non-commissioned Officers and Police Constables of Rwanda National Police (RNP);

11) Ministerial Order promoting 10159 Non-commissioned Officers and Prison Warders of Rwanda Correctional Service;

12) Prime Minister’s Order appointing Mr. Mukwaya Rusatira Jean a Prosecutor at Intermediate Level;

13) Ministerial Order determining the list of works, activities and projects subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA);

14) Ministerial Order amending the Ministerial Order n° 04/CAB.M/015 of 18/05/2015 determining urban planning and building regulations;

15) Ministerial Order amending the Ministerial Order nº 06/CAB.M /015 of 08/06/2015 determining the instructions of categorisation of buildings,conditions and procedure for application of building permits.

5. The Cabinet Meeting appointed Mr. BISENGIMANA Joseph as Director of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit in Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).

6. The Cabinet Meeting removed from their duties the following Officials in Rwanda Education Board (REB):

1) Dr. Joyce MUSABE: Head of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Resources Department;

2) Dr. TUSIIME RWIBASIRA Michael: Head of Examinations, Selection and Assessment Department;
3) Mr. MUJIJI Peter: Head of Corporate Division;

4) Mr. KAREGESA Francis: Director of Finance;

5) Mr. Rutaha BAGAYA: Head of Procurement Unit.

7. In AoB

a) The Minister of Information Technology and Communications informed the Cabinet Meeting that the 4th edition of “Transform Africa 2018 Summit” will be held in Kigali Convention Centre from 7th to 10th May 2018. It will be organized by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with the Smart Africa Secretariat, under the theme, “Accelerating Africa’s Single Digital Market”.

b) The Minister of Sports and Culture informed the Cabinet Meeting that on 27th and 28th April 2018 Rwanda will host in Kigali at Mille Collines Hotel, the 2018 General Assembly of the Confederation of African Tennis.

c) The Minister of Public Service and Labor informed the Cabinet Meeting that the International Labor Day shall be celebrated on 1st May 2018 under the theme “Promote productive employment for rapid development. Celebrations of the International Labor Day will be held at national level in Rubavu District and at institutional level. Various activities shall be done in the Employment Week planned from 23rd April to the 1st May 2018.

d) The Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in charge of Primary and Secondary Education informed the Cabinet Meeting that the 2018 National examinations in secondary schools for Ordinary Level (Tronc Commun) and for Advanced Level shall be done on the same subjects as it was in the last school year. The additional subjects introduced in 2016 with the implementation of the new Competence-Based Curriculum which are ICT, Literature in English, French and Kiswahili in Ordinary Level and Sub-mathematics as well as French in Advanced level shall not be part of 2018 national examination due to various challenges faced in the implementation of the Competence Based Curriculum.

This Statement was signed

by

Marie Solange KAYISIRE
The Minister in Charge of Cabinet

AIM, taking place from 9th -11th April, is the world’s leading gathering of the international investment community, leading academics and experts showcasing up-to-date information, strategies and knowledge on attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Investment promotion agencies from nine regions across the world were awarded and Rwanda Development Board emerged as the best Investment promotion agency in Eastern African region after Ethiopia.

After receiving the award, the Chief Operations Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, Emmanuel Hategeka said that Rwanda the award evidence Rwanda’s pro-business focus.

“The AIM2018 Investment Award is given to a country based on feedback from a major investor already operating in the country based on their experience doing business in that country. In the case of Rwanda, the major investor that nominated Rwanda was AIF (Africa Improved Foods), a Dutch investment operating in the Kigali Special Economic Zone. This award is further evidence of Rwanda’s pro-business focus,” he said.

The reforms that the Government of Rwanda has instituted have created a conducive business climate. Over the last 15 years, Rwanda has implemented 52 pro-business reforms, the highest number of business reforms in sub- Saharan Africa.

The World Bank Doing Business Report 2018, positions Rwanda among the top 50 countries for doing business globally.

Speaking to IGIHE, the City of Kigali Council chairperson, Athanase Rutabingwa said that Nyamulinda submitted his resignation letter yesterday citing personal reasons.

“It is true, he cited personal reasons. City council shall meet soon to deliberate on his resignation,” he said.

Nyamulinda was elected by councilors including the Council of City of Kigali, representatives from districts and sectors within Kigali.

He took office in February 2017 replacing Monique Mukaruliza who was appointed the Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Zambia.