Farmers say, they have been furnished with good farming practices that saw them increase produce but currently sold at giveaway prices for lack of storage facilities, lest vegetables get wasted in gardens.
“We harvest big quantities of vegetables especially cabbages that we sell at low prices during harvesting season lest they are wasted in gardens. Getting a cooling facility would help us to store our produce for at least two weeks or more and sell at fair prices,” said Hategekimana Sylvestre, a member of KOAGMPA cooperative growing carrots, amaranth and cabbages in Mpaza marshland located in Mukura sector.
Other farmers told IGIHE that their produce is wasted during harvesting time often followed by vegetables shortage one month later.
Figures from Huye district show that vegetable farmers produce over 8,550 tons per annum on 474 hectares.
The mayor of Huye district, Sebutege Ange has explained that they are engaging with relevant stakeholders to find solution.
“We are aware that the facility helping farmers to reduce post-harvest losses is needed. We will continue to engage with relevant institutions particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources to seek how such infrastructure can be set up in Huye,” he said.
Sebutege revealed that the issue was mostly experienced during the lockdown when big markets for their produce were not operational.
Musabyemahoro was beaten on Christmas when the executive secretary caught him along with his colleague accusing them of throwing stones at his car.
The child was beaten in Kanto II village, Saga cell of Mukindo sector in Gisagara district.
Sources reveal that the executive secretary locked the children inside Mukindo sector offices and beat them.
“He seized the children accusing them of throwing stones at his car and violating COVID-19 preventive measures,” said one resident.
Two days later, one of the two children died and residents connected the death to beatings.
The spokesperson of Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Dr Murangira B. Thierry has told IGIHE that the suspect has been arrested.
“RIB Gisagara station has received information that Etienne Musabyemahoro,15, a son of Paul Sibomana and Nyiratebuka has died. RIB rushed to the scene and took the body to Rwanda Forensic Laboratory at Kacyiru for postmortem,” he said.
“During preliminary investigation, the executive secretary admitted to have beaten the child but explained he beat them slightly that it could not result into death,” added Dr Murangira.
Article 121 of Rwanda’s Penal Code stipulates that any person who, willfully injures, beats or commits any serious violence against another person, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years and a fine of not less than Rwf 500,000 and not more than Rwf 1,000,000.
If the beatings or injuries resulted into death, the culprit is liable to a sentence between 15 and 20 years and fine ranging from Rwf 5 million to Rwf 7 million.
Among others, 51 new cases have been found out of 2549 sample tests while 50 have recovered.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 10, Huye: 15, Rusizi: 10, Rutsiro: 6, Rubavu: 5, Nyamasheke: 3, Nyamagabe: 1 and Ngororero: 1.’
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. So far, 8021 people have been tested positive out of 719 482 sample tests of whom 6339 have recovered, 1607 are active cases while 75 have succumbed to the virus.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Dr. Alfred Mujyemamfura, a medical doctor at Baho International Hospital has explained the method has been introduced to maintain high quality services to patients and assuage mothers’ pain during delivery.
“Epidural analgesia for labor is a method applied at hospital that consists of injecting an expectant mother with a syringe stimulating labor and protects her from pain until she gives birth. There is a syringe women are injected with at the lower part of the back. The syringe is pulled and leaves a catheter that helps us to inject drugs into the muscles that cause a woman to have a lot of pain to reduce it,” he said.
Dr. Mujyemamfura explained that the syringe is injected with a woman during dilation stage lest the method is applied prematurely.
He however explained that the method might not be applied in certain health conditions.
“There are categories of people who are not injected with the syringe. The first is the person unwilling to go through the method. Secondly, we don’t apply it to a person with critical health conditions like Hypovolemia that could lead to low blood pressure,” affirmed Dr. Mujyemamfura.
Among others, he explained that ‘Epidural analgesia for labor’ cannot be applied to a person with the issue of blood clotting or heart complications because it would cause disability.
Dr. Mujyemamfura reminded mothers that there is no need to suffer so long as there is a painless method.
Epidural analgesia for labor is only applied to women not undergoing Cesarean section. For more details about services at Baho Internatonal Hospital, call +250 788 125 035.
The donation is part of ‘Together We Fight COVID-19’ Campaign in Rwanda launched by Africa Uniforms Ltd, a specialized uniforms and apparel manufacturing company under its new brand ‘Afriwear’ in partnership with New Hope for Future, a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to support needy people.
The first event took place at a modern village of survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and Groupe Scolaire Masaka on 20th November 2020 where 3,000 masks were donated.
At the occasion, the Executive Secretary of Masaka Sector Mr. Alexis Segatashya thanked Africa Uniforms and NHF for their generosity.
“Today, we have started a campaign in our sector to encourage everyone to wear masks so that we can keep fighting against the spread of COVID-19. It is with great honor to welcome and thank our friends from Africa Uniforms and NHF for their enormous support to people in the community. Donated masks are composed of two-layers with a filter space. Tissue paper can be replaced from time to time as a filter to enhance protection,” he said.
New Hope for Future Deputy Legal Representative, Madam Languide Nyirabahire, emphasized that these masks are washable which means they are environmental-friendly and can be re-used. She encouraged beneficiaries from the Modern Village in Iyabalaya and the students from Groupe Scolaire de Masaka to always wear masks and wash hands.
On behalf of Africa Uniforms, Mr. Long Ngan observed that the company takes pride for 10 years existence in Rwanda and reiterated commitment to give back to communities especially during these hard times of COVID-19.
“We want to contribute and play a key role in social wellness for the people in Rwanda. This is only the first of many donations we will be organizing alongside with NHF. The masks we designed and manufactured are 100% ‘Made in Rwanda’. Together we can fight against COVID-19,” he noted.
Subsequently on 30th November 2020, a total of 3,700 masks were donated to the village of Muko and Groupe Scholaire Muko in Musanze district.
Triphose Murekatete, the Executive Secretary of Muko Sector, expressed gratitude to New Hope for Future and Africa Uniforms for their donations.
“This village has so many vulnerable people who could not afford even one mask. Some parents are not able to afford masks for their kids to go to school. As you can see, people are wearing sub-standard masks. We are really overwhelmed to receive such donations. I also hope that you shall come to help our sector in other different areas such as healthcare or school supplies for students. We look forward to working with you in the future,” she underscored.
Mr. Steven Ntwali from Africa Uniforms demonstrated the proper way of wearing these masks. As he explained, these masks are designed in Hong Kong and produced in Rwanda. The filter layer shall offer similar protection ability to block droplets just like a typical disposable surgical mask.
The Campaign continued in Kamonyi District and Rwamagana districts through the help of district vice mayors who are in charge of Social Affairs. 3,000 masks and 4,500 masks were donated to each district respectively.
{{About New Hope for Future}}
New Hope for Future is a non-profit organization with a mission to advance child rights and well-being based on safe family by providing sustainable and innovative solutions. The organization frequently works together with partners and stakeholders to help children nationwide.
Email: newhopeforfutureop@gmail.com
{{Africa Uniforms Ltd}}
Originated from Hong Kong and entrenched in Africa, Africa Uniforms Ltd has footprints in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho and will soon expand to other African Nations in the future. With more than 40 years of experience in uniform production, the company manufactures a wide range of fine uniforms for different industries, education institutions and organizations.
Afriwear is a new apparel line under Africa Uniforms that is dedicated to African market. 100% made locally, the brand carries the pride of Africa with an assurance in quality and affordability.
The incident took place yesterday in Mpongora village, Gatsiro cell of Gihundwe sector in Rusizi district around 9pm.
It is said that two of three assailants were dressed in military-like uniforms while another one wore ordinary clothes.
Neighbors have explained that assailants asked the man to give them a gun yet he doesn’t possess it. The assailants immediately tied the man (involved in livestock trading business) and looted over Rwf 400,000 inside the house.
Bavugamenshi’s wife was shot in the ribs as she followed and begged assailants to leave a small amount.
IGIHE has learnt that the woman died along the way as a neighbor rushed her to the hospital on a motorbike.
The mayor of Rusizi district, Kayumba Ephrem has told IGIHE that investigation is underway to identify assailants.
“It is true that a resident has been killed by armed gangs who also robbed her over Rwf 400,000. Investigation is underway to identify masterminds behind the attack,” he said.
Kayumba appealed on residents to reinforce security and report suspected individuals on time.
The body has been taken to Gihundwe Hospital.
“Over the next five years, the annual rate of GDP growth is set to rise to an average of 7.2%. However, between 2026 and 2035, the Centre for Economics and Business Research Ltd (Cebr) forecasts that the average rate of GDP growth will dip slightly to 6.1% per year. In the coming 15 years,” reads in part WELT report.
The report shows that world’s economy was largely hit by Coronavirus pandemic with estimated $6 trillion gap in 2020.
Rwanda was also hit by the pandemic where the economy expanded by an estimated 2% against the expected 8% which is below 9.4% GDP growth recorded the previous year.
The country is however making good strides considering the scale of disruption across neighboring countries affected by the pandemic.
Rwanda has had a lower incidence of COVID-19 than many other countries, with 56 deaths recorded during the first 11 and half months of 2020. This amounts to less than 1 death per 100,000 people.
Despite national efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, WELT reports that global economic disruptions will also affect Rwanda as a country relying to smooth international trade.
Deficit in minerals’ trade is among areas that destabilized the economy. Tin, tungsten and tantalum, also known as 3Ts, are Rwanda’s top mineral exports. For years, the country has been one of the world’s leading exporters of these minerals.
However, the Covid-19 outbreak has hit commodity prices globally, driving a tumble in Rwanda mineral exports particularly 3Ts.
Statistics show that revenue exports of 3Ts decreased by 30.9 per cent due to the drop in international commodity prices in January and February 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
Apart from 3Ts, the tourism sector (one of top contributors to the service sector which took 49% of the country’s GDP last year) was also affected due to COVID-19 preventive measures.
As of today, some mining activities, restaurants and bars have resumed in adherence with health guidelines but bars remain closed.
In 2014, Rwanda developed the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) strategy that seeks to make the country a top tourism and conference hub.
In the 2019/2020, Rwanda targeted $88 million in revenues from 147 conferences up from $65$ of last year.
COVID-19 restrictions has left of many hotels counting losses while some of new hotels have outstanding loans used to sustain operations. As of February 2020 before Coronavirus emerged in Rwanda, outstanding loans of the hotel sector stood at Rwf134 billion for 571 borrowers.
Domestic taxes were also affected by the lockdown and extended curfew hours that impacted businesses’ income.
For instance, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) announced to have earned Rwf 1 516 billion against targeted Rwf 1 589 billion due to the pandemic.
The complexity of challenges emanating from the pandemic left the country seeking loans to mitigate COVID-19 effects and boost national development as well.
As per WELT report, Rwanda’s positive growth rate in 2020 highlights that the economic fallout from the pandemic has been far more limited than in most other countries.
Government debt as a share of GDP reached 61.6% in 2020, compared to 51.4% the previous year. This increase is attributable to the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on government spending and tax receipts.
Despite the pandemic’s effects, Rwanda’s economy is forecasted to grow and surpass the previous rate.
WELT indicates that Rwanda’s economy will grow faster due to the country’s ambitions to build national economy on promoted investments.
Rwanda has expended a lot of efforts to make the country a favorable business environment for investors.
This saw Rwanda becoming 38th in the World Bank’s 2020 Ease of Doing Business Index, indicating that the country’s regulatory environment has made significant strides forward relative to other comparable countries.
This year, the country has registered investment worth $1.2 billion for 127 projects expected to provide 22,000 job opportunities.
Apart from attracting new investors, the Government of Rwanda continues to roll out initiatives aimed at supporting businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
These include efforts to diversify the country’s mineral exports where 17 firms have been recently granted exploration licenses, 13 received mining licenses while six companies were licensed to carry out quarrying activities.
Among others, the Government will roll out tax incentives, for two years, to help stimulate investments in the manufacturing and the construction sectors as well as speed up business recovery from the Covid-19 effects. The latter is to be effected from January 2021.
The manufacturing sector is expected to contribute 34% to DGP by 2024.
The incident took place yesterday in Gatara village, Murwa cell, Kivuye sector of Burera district in Northern Province.
The mayor of Burera district, Marie Chantal Uwanyirigira has confirmed that the man died as he along with colleagues dug up sand in unlicensed sandpit.
“These men were digging up sand in hidden sandpit. It is said that they were doing the activity in a garden belonging to one of them. Unfortunately, one lost life as the sandpit collapsed leaving two others injured,” she said.
“We have reinforced measures against illegal mining even though some people do it behind backs. We advise them to seek license and do such activities openly lest they are exposed to fatal accidents,” added Uwanyirigira.
The body was taken to Butaro Hospital for postmortem while injured people were taken to Rusasa Health Centre for medical attention.
Superitendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that residents provided information about people, who sell illicit drinks and operate bars, which are also supposed to be closed in this period of COVID-19 pandemic.
“In response to this credible information, Police worked with grassroots leaders and local security personnel in concurrent operations that targeted specific bars where illicit drinks are sold. 690 litres of illicit brew were seized and some of the dealers arrested in the process, although there are other suspects who managed to run away,” SP Kanamugire said.
At least four suspected dealers were arrested in Gisagara with combined 300 litres; 40 litres of Muriture and 260 litres of Nyirantare. Distilling, selling and consumption of these substances in Gisagara is common in the sectors of Nyanza and Muganza.
Meanwhile, in Nyanza District, one of the arrested distillers identified as Claude Ntibizigirwa, 39, was found in possession of 280 litres of Muriture.
SP Kanamugire said that Ntibizigirwa was at the time processing the substances to produce another illicit crude gin locally known as Kanyanga.
The seized psychotropic substances were disposed of.
“Distilling and selling these substances could also be the source of COVID-19 spread, especially when people meet in one place, no social distancing and share containers. Bars are closed in this period but also selling illicit brew is criminal and punishable by law.”
Illicit drinks are classified as simple drugs, under the Ministerial Order No.001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation.
In article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, anyone convicted for simple drugs faces between seven and ten years in prison, upon conviction, and a fine of between Rwf5 million and Frw10 million.
Rwanda is among countries with military and police forces in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). On Thursday last week, Rwanda deployed 300 peacekeepers to reinforce security during elections that took place on Sunday 27th December 2020.
They were additional to force protection troops that the Government of Rwanda deployed to CAR one week ahead of polls under an existing bilateral agreement on defense.
They were sent after President Faustin-Archange Touadéra accused former president of the country, François Bozize of planning a coup-plot to dethrone the Government in collaboration with armed rebels. Tensions rose after Mr Bozizé’s candidacy for this week’s national elections was rejected by the country’s highest court.
President Touadéra sought support from partner countries including Rwanda which deployed more troops with the mandate to reinforce electoral security and protect existing troops.
Speaking to the media after elections yesterday, Touadéra thanked Rwanda and President Paul Kagame for contribution to restore peace in the country.
“”I thank President Paul Kagame, Government of Rwanda, and Rwandans for their support to secure electoral process which allows nationals to freely choose their leaders. Many thanks for the great support,” he said.
On Election Day, Rwandan troops were deployed on different streets and polling stations in Bangui (capital city of CAR) standby to protect voters against security disruptions.
It has however been reported that said, rebels opened gunfire in some areas trying to scare away voters. There are concerns that a substantial number of the 1.8 million registered voters in the country were not be able to vote in remote towns, some controlled by armed rebels.
After a slow start and sporadic gunfire in some towns, the head of the U.N. mission in the country, Mankeur Ndiaye said in a statement that there was a huge turnout but did not provide details.
“This morning, they (rebels) started firing, hoping to scare people away from voting. Yes, in certain areas, it is difficult but in many other areas, you can see people going out massively to vote,” he said.
President Paul Kagame recently explained that RDF new forces deployed to the Central African Republic (CAR) assume different functions whereby they will safeguard existing troops in peace keeping mission and civilians. He however explained that the forces will defend themselves in case rebel armed groups in the country plot attacks against the new forces.
