Okitundu who was accompanied by Chief Intelligence in RDC, Kalev Mutond among other officials briefed President Kagame who is also the chairperson of African Union about the electoral process in the DRC.
Presidential Elections in the DRC are scheduled on December 23rd 2018.
According to the Twitter account of DRC Foreign Affairs Ministry, Okitundu and Kagame discussed Presidential Elections and Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) Projects.
“This Sunday to Kigali She transmitted a special message from President Kabila to President Kagame. Evolution of electoral process welcomed, security of common borders before elections, facing armed groups, good neighbors and CEPGL projects,” a tweet reads.
Okitundu’s visit to Rwanda followed that of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo to DRC last week, seeking support for her candidature on the post of the Secretary General of the Organisation of French Speaking Countries (OIF) commonly known as La Francophonie.
The Head of Ideal Democratic Party (PDI) is the 10th on the list of RPF-Inkotanyi and parties which formed coalition for September parliamentary elections.
The list of RPF’s 78 candidates who met all requirements to contest for parliamentary seats was released yesterday by NEC.
The parties which formed coalition with RPF are PDI, Rwanda Socialist Party (PSR), Centrist Democratic Party (PDC), Party for Progress and Concord (PPC), Democratic Union of Rwandese People (UDPR), and Prosperity and Solidarity Party (PSP).
Harerimana has rarely appeared in public since the October 2016 cabinet reshuffle that was followed with scrapping the Ministry of Internal Security. Since then, all responsibilities of the ministry including management of Rwanda Correctional Services and Rwanda National Police were transferred to the Ministry of Justice.
Also on the list are Leonard Ndagijimana from PDC (21st on the list); Pie Nizeyimana from UDPR (28th on the list) Elisabeth Mukamana from PPC (34th on the list)
Five Political parties contesting for 53 seats up for grabs are RPF-Inkotanyi, Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liberal Party (PL), PS Imberakuri and the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR).
Ndagijimana was speaking Monday in Kigali at the launch of African Tax Administration Forum’s (ATAF) High Level Tax Policy Dialogue.
The dialogue takes place under the theme ‘Reinforcing Africa’s Position to Benefit from The Global Tax Agenda’
Ndagijimana said that the theme of the meeting itself underscores the importance of close collaboration needed between tax policy and tax administration functions for effective revenue mobilization.
He said that under the Agenda 2063, Africa committed to strengthen domestic resource mobilization, build continental capital markets and financial institutions, and reverse the illicit flows of capital from the continent.
“Whatever meeting of development actors that one attends, domestic resource mobilization has taken center stage of development discussions. Domestic revenue mobilization improved substantially in recent decades but tax-to-GDP ratios are still low in most of our countries and the continent is still heavily dependent on external financing, including foreign aid,” he said.
Domestic resource mobilization, Ndagijimana said it helps building effective, transparent and harmonized tax and revenue collection systems.
He said it also reduces aid dependency, enhance domestic savings and eliminate all forms of illicit flows.
“The global Sustainable Development Goals can only be realistically achieved through a coordinated response to resolve taxation issues with a view to increase domestic resource mobilization,” he urged.
Ndagijimana said that Africa’s tax to GDP ratio is below 18%, loses over US$50 billion in illicit financial flows.
“We will not develop at the rate we wish, if we are not able to mobilize domestic resources in a more effective manner. The levels of resources lost through illicit financial flows are higher than the official aid received by Africa,” he added
He emphasized that Africa’s design of tax systems must consider global dimension of tax policies.
However, Ndagijimana said that experience shows that Africa needs to put in more effort to position itself and participate actively in the global tax agenda by being more proactive than reactive.
ATAF executive secretary, Logan Wort said that tax collection needs adequate laws.
“Tax collection has to go hand in hand with Tax laws and Policies that are adequate,” Logan told the media.
The move was revealed yesterday by City of Kigali Mayor, Marie-Chantal Rwakazina at the RPF General Assembly of CoK.
CoK sets the target following heavy rains that killed over 200 people across the country in the first quarter of 2018.
Rwakazina said that the exercise will start by relocating people living in the hills of Rebero and Jali before the heavy rains period starts.
Rwakazina who was, at the general assembly, elected the RPF chairperson in the CoK, pledged that she will fast-track the exercise to relocate people in places which put their lives in danger.
“As the RPF chairperson and City mayor, I promise to accelerate the project to relocating 13,000 people from high risk zones during the period of one year. This is part of master-plan implementation, making Kigali clean but most importantly to protect people’s lives,” she explained.
She said that the exercise will start from the most vulnerable families living in high hilly places and those living in dilapidated houses.
The CoK also conducts sensitization among families living in high risk zones to relocate and resettle in safe places.
Rugege was speaking last week while launching a three-day retreat that brought together the heads of Supreme Court, High Court and Court of Appeal in Bugesera District.
The retreat was aimed at discussing ways of harnessing collaboration between courts, and discussing impact of reforms that have recently been introduced in the sector.
He said that backlog tops challenges in the sector, a reason they set up Court of Appeal which would support the existing judiciary system.
“Backlog, at some point are caused by judges who do not thoroughly investigate the cases, recurrent excuses leading to hearing adjournment and poor collaboration with court clerks,” he said.
He said that among many reforms in the sector, a Court of Appeal was established to help reduce the backlog in Supreme Court.
At the retreat, Judge Angeline Rutazana expressed that the establishment of Court of Appeal and review of the law will help them try many cases in short period.
“The law permits one Court of Appeal judge to hear a case from start to end, so, we are optimistic that this move will help trying many cases in a short period,” she explained.
Information from the Judiciary indicates that in 2017, backlog cases in the Supreme Court were 77 per cent.
However many of them have since reopened after taking corrective measures, according to a Statement by the Government of Rwanda released Saturday.
The government says that the closures do not infringe on freedom of worship but serve to address the alarming proliferation of places of worship in dilapidated and unhygienic conditions, as well as troubling behaviour of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as religious leaders.
The latter have, among other abuses, defrauded innocent followers, broadcast insults against women and other religions and forced followers to fast to the point of death from starvation.
Following an extensive consultative process, a meeting held on February 13th 2018 involving the Rwanda Governance Board, Ministry of Local Government, Kigali City officials, and church leaders, resolved to urgently address the increase in places of worship that failed to meet minimum building and hygiene standards, posed a serious threat to the safety of occupants, or had become a public nuisance.
Previously, in the City of Kigali alone, close to 2,000 prayer houses were in operation. According to the Government, in some parts of Kigali, there are ten churches or prayer houses in a single village.
“The number itself is not a problem but in some buildings three or four different denominations would hold prayer services at the same time, resulting in unbearable levels of noise and an unsafe environment for occupants,” a statement says.
The government says that though the buildings and other worship spaces deemed inappropriate or hazardous were closed, the affected religious organisations remained active, and their right to religion guaranteed.
The Association of Pentecostal Churches of Rwanda (ADEPR) had over 3,300 prayer houses countrywide, of which 1,381 were found to be below standard and closed down. After six weeks, 300 (more than 20%) of those took corrective measures to meet minimum standards and were allowed to re-open.
For Muslims, 15% of mosques inspected failed to meet minimum standards and were closed. However Islamic worship continues across Rwanda in mosques that meet the standards.
“Across Rwanda, churches and mosques that were closed have reopened after fulfilling the requirements. Others are still in the process of fulfilling requirements,” the statement reads.
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Last week, Members of Parliament passed the law governing faith-based organisations and is currently awaiting promulgation.
The government says that the new law seeks to ensure freedom of religion is fully exercised and enjoyed by all citizens, in a safe and dignified manner.
However, the new law has tightened the requirements for individuals heading a faith-based organization as they will need to hold a bachelor’s degree in theology.
Kabarebe was speaking yesterday in a meeting with Defence Ministers in EASF member states that took place in Kigali.
EASF is a regional inter-governmental organisation whose mandate is to enhance peace and security in the Eastern Africa region.
The meeting took place under the theme ‘Peace and Security in East African Region’
Kabarebe said that in Africa there is high proliferation of cross-border crimes including human trafficking, drug smuggling and illegal possession of firearms among others which require combined efforts to prevent and pave way for sustainable peace.
“East Africa also has challenges hampering the development including poverty, disasters, climate change and terrorism among others. I am optimistic that collective efforts would help us address them not only in the region, but also in Africa,” he said.
Kabarebe who is also the head of EASF said that the body will continue to put efforts in fighting the crimes as well as investigating the reason behind the crimes.
The Director of EASF, Dr Addillahi Omar Bouh hailed commitment and contribution of member countries in regional peace-keeping.
The meeting of Defence Ministers was preceded by that of Chiefs of Defence Staff that took place on July 26th which also followed that of Experts Working Group that took place in Kigali from 24 to 25 July 2018.
EASF member countries are Kenya, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda.
Worth Rwf36 million, the houses are part of preparation of RDB’s yearly Gorilla naming ceremony (Kwita Izina) scheduled to take place on September 7th 2018 at Kinigi in Northern Province.
The campaign runs under the theme ‘Conservation is Life’
The houses unveiling ceremony took place at Kitabi Sector, Nyamagabe District.
The donation of the modern units, which will house 48 occupants including children, is the first community project of the Kwita Izina 2018 campaign.
It will be followed by another in Ndego Sector of Kayonza District on September 5th. Residents of Karambi and Sangano villages will receive a mobile clinic, solar lighting systems and solar water pumps.
According to RDB, the funding for the construction of the houses comes from the Revenue Sharing Programme.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, Belise Kariza said the programmes funded by the Revenue Share Programme are about improving people’s lives.
“This project is one of a kind. It demonstrates our commitment to preserving biodiversity while contributing to improving the livelihoods of people living adjacent to our national parks and the overall development of the country,” she said.
Southern Province Governor, Marie-Rose Mureshyankwano noted that the provision of good housing is essential for the development families.
“Our future depends on the stability of family institutions and it is therefore important that we continue to protect the general welfare of families and especially our children,” she said.
In addition to the launch of the Kwita Izina community projects, the ‘Conversation on Conservation’ (CoC) forum will take place alongside an exhibition focused on conservation trends and practices on 4th and 5th September.
The Conservation Exhibition will bring together tourism and conservation partners from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania to showcase conservation efforts and avail educational materials to the general public.
The CoC will bring together global conservation leaders, providing a unique platform linking conservation with sustainable tourism by embracing all layers of the value chain.
Initiated in 2005 by the Government of Rwanda, the Revenue Share Programme aims to guide investment in the areas surrounding the various national parks in Rwanda in order to enhance awareness of importance of conservation to communities living around national parks.
Following a Cabinet decision in 2017, the funds available to support the revenue share programme increased from 5% to 10% of all tourism revenues in 2018.
Judicial spokesperson, Harrison Mutabazi confirmed to IGIHE that the court found him not guilty on all charges and ordered his release as well as his co, Jean Paul Gataha.
Gacinya had been arrested in December 2017. In January 2018, the court had remanded him to give ample time for preparation of hearing.
According to BNR, microfinance sector rebounded from loss posting and improved by Rwf0.12 billion to Rwf3.3 billion.
This was announced following the Quarterly Financial Stability Committee Meeting which assessed the performance of the financial sector as at end June 2018 as well as potential risks that could affect its stability.
“The committee noted that the financial sector remains sound and stable. The financial soundness indicators for banks, microfinance institutions and insurance companies are within the prudential requirements,” a statement by Central Bank signed by BNR Governor John Rwangombwa says.
According to Central Bank, the payment systems continued to perform in a safe and efficient manner.
BNR says that the asset quality for banks and microfinance institutions improved during the first half of 2018.
“The non-performing loan ratio in banks declined from 8.2 per cent in June 2017 to 6.9 percent in June 2018,” BNR says.
In microfinance sector non-performing loan ratio dropped from 12.3 percent to 8 percent.
Central Bank says that the growth in profits was driven by improved loan recoveries and a slower growth in expenses compared to incomes for both banks and microfinances.
