A statement from the Ministry of Health released last night reported 15 new cases out of 2196 samples and 36 recoveries.
New patients were found in Kigali: 2, Burera: 6, Rwamagana: 3, Rubavu: 2, Nyaruguru: 1 and Musanze: 1.’
The first case was confirmed in Rwanda on 14th March 2020.
So far 5934 cases have been found out of 626311 sample tests. 5516 have recovered, 369 are active cases while 49 have succumbed to the pandemic.
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.
The minister made the call on Sunday during a visit in Nyaruguru district which recently topped all districts in 2019/2020 performance contracts.
The Minister was attending a ceremony to reward best performing Imboni z’umupaka (groups of volunteers working closely with security officials to reinforce security at borders) from Nyamagabe, Nyanza and Gisagara districts in Southern Province.
Bordering with Burundi, Southern Province organized competitions for sectors touching Burundi borders.
Security threat architects from Burundi have been reportedly repelled at different times trying to attack Rwanda through Nyungwe forest.
The Governor of Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi explained that the competition focused on values of protecting their security, preventing smuggling and illegal border crossing, promoting unity and reconciliation, social interactions among others.
Minister Shyaka lauded Nyaruguru district and its residents for topping performance contracts and winning majority awards in the competition.
Nyaruguru won three out four awards during the competition.
He requested residents to stick of the principle of protecting their security, avoid illegal border crossing and related crimes including smuggling, improve hygiene, fight against domestic violence especially for girls, and take part in budget planning and decision making and other development initiatives.
As of today, the world is moving fast shifting from analogue to digital. More artistic creations are kept in written form and other digital means. It is against this background that Rwanda has also adapted to emerging technology whereby different of oral traditions can be found in different books, online sources or kept through audio-visual records.The oral tradition was most common during the reign of Kings.
Long ago, during the reign of Kings, written literature was not popular. To keep record of all activities happening across kingdoms, oral traditional took center stage. To this end, all poets rooting from Nyirarumaga said to be the matriarchy of all poets in Rwanda had their works memorized. The tales of then were also memorized and transmitted to generations up to date.
One of them is the mysterious tale of Nyiransibura, a mythical woman attributed to the creation of Lake Kivu. The woman is said to have existed during the reign of King Ndahiro III Cyamatare according to Rwanda’s oral traditions.
The Kings of ancient Rwanda are classified into three dynasties. These include Ibimanuka, (the Descents), or the Divine Kings; Abami b’Umushumi (the Kings of the Cord) and Abami b’Ibitekerezo (the Kings of Mind). The Descents are said to originate from heaven. Their existence dates from the reign of Shyerezo to Kazi, the last of this dynasty.
Kings of the Cord are kings with no records of their tenure and deeds. Their dynasty start from Gihanga cyahanze Inka n’Ingoma (the creator of cow and kingdom) to king Cyilima I Rugwe while the Kings of Mind are those with well-known deeds and traceable genealogy. Their kingdom dates back from the reign of Kigeli I Mukobanya to the last King of Rwanda, Kigeli V Ndahindurwa.
Gihanga Ngomijana was the first King of the Cord between 1091-1124. He is considered the creator of Rwanda. The history of these dynasties is the subject of the royal myths.
Nyiransibura’s tale dates back to the reign of King Ndahiro III Cyamatare.
Long ago, King Ndahiro III Cyamatare abducted and took hostage of a woman called Nyiransibura the daughter of Muriro, creature from the country of ‘Bunyabungo’(currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo). Upon arrival, Nyiransibura was given a regular task of cleaning at the king’s home.
One day, a strange noise aroused when King Ndahiro was in a meeting with his subordinates. They attributed the noise to witchcraft from Abanyabungo who might have come to rescue their daughter.
The agenda of the meeting soon changed to discuss the next course of action for their hostage, Nyiransibura. They agreed on returning Nyiransibura to homeland rather than killing her.
As the envoys took Nyiransibura home, they reached a region called Kinyaga (currently in Rusizi district) where a rainmaker (umuvubyi) welcomed them and married Nyiransibura. The rainmaker treated Nyiransibura gently with much love in a beautiful valley of Kinyaga where they happily lived together.
Kinyaga is said to be far distant from Ndahiro III Cyamatare’s residence.
During delivery, the placenta rupture left plenty liquids, filling the valley hence creating Lake Kivu. The home of Nyiransibura’s witch was left in the middle of the liquids squirted from the placenta and became an isle (said to be the current ‘Ijwi’). This is how Rwanda’s fairy-tales narrated the creation of Lake Kivu.
The delivered child was named Nsibura and stayed with her mother. He took care of father’s cows but also had intentions to attack King Ndahiro and revenge for her mother’s abduction.
The relocation was announced last week on Wednesday during a meeting bringing together locals from the slum commonly known as ‘Bannyahe’ with the Minister of Local Government, Prof Anastase Shyaka.
At the time 48 families were expected to move to the new estate for the first batch but only 14 families relocated to new homes yesterday as RBA broadcasted.
During the previous meeting with Shyaka residents expressed readiness to move to new homes.
The size of houses allocated to each family will depend on the latter’s possessions in the slum. These include houses with one bed room and sitting room, two bed rooms and sitting room or three bed rooms with sitting room compensating previous homes.
The majority is expected to receive one bed room and sitting room.
One of residents expressed concerns that one bed room is not enough to accommodate a family and appealed for reassessment of the situation.
“We are all mature parents. I have 18 year old daughter and 16 year old son. You all know the sweetness of the family and what takes place in bed. The household is likely to break up when the woman didn’t take care of husband in bed. I am wondering how spouses will engage in their bed affairs while children are hearing them,” he asked.
“The most worrying thing is the up-surging rape cases nowadays. Parents are reportedly raping their daughters while others rape their sisters. I think you are aware of a 40 year old man who recently raped his mother yet many of us stay with our parents. Isn’t this going to give unnecessary tasks to the Police,” he added.
The Mayot of Kigali City, Pudence Rubingisa assured residents of finding basics in Busanza to support them as they gradually get familiar with new settlement.
The new cases found yesterday are from Kigali :8, Musanze :8, Rubavu: 4, Rusizi:3, Gicumbi:2, Nyagatare: 1, Gatsibo: 1, and Burera:1.
5480 equivalent to 92.5 % of all cases have recovered while active cases are 391. The Government of Rwanda has strengthened COVID-19 preventive measures and expects to deploy dogs in identification of COVID-19 patients next month.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 case on 14th March 2020. 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.
The community work worth Rwf 500,000 was held on Saturday November 2020 in Taba village of Murama cell in Kinyinya sector.
The gesture is part of Rotary Club’s initiatives to contribute to inclusive development.
During the community work, members of Rotary Club along with Rotaract members from University of Rwanda’s College of Education and School of Finance and Business planted 20 ornamental trees, built a kitchen backyard garden and prepared the ground upon which a garden for local early childhood center will be developed.
The Assistant District Governor – District 9150, Jeannette Rugera said the community work was meant to provide a favorable environment with all requirements for learners as the school is completed.
She explained that the kitchen garden will contribute to the provision of balanced diet for children.
“These activities will enable a conducive learning environment with fresh air and provision of balanced diet. We are delighted for the activity as partners for the district and the Government in general,” she noted.
Gasabo district is constructing over 900 classrooms to facilitate studies while adhering to COVID-19 health guidelines once completed.
The Director for Good Governance in Gasabo district, Jonas Shema hailed the contribution of Rotary Club to the promotion of education highlighting that new classrooms will reduce overcrowding and long distances from homes to school.
Among others, Rotary Club committed to provide water tanks, desks and hand washing facilities to EAR TABA, a school with primary and early childhood center under construction.
Rotary Clubs members who participated in the community work were from different clubs Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen and Kigali Mont Jali additional to Rotaracts (Rotary Club junior members from universities) from College of education (former KIE), SFB, African Leadership University and Kigali City.
Rotary Club Rwanda comprises of six clubs including Musanze, Kigali Mont Jali, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen, Gasabo and Butare with 122 members.
Rotary Clubs intervene in the provision of safe water, promoting quality education, prevention of pandemics, eradication of poverty, environment protection, striving for durable peace and promoting citizens’ livelihoods.
As for ordinary trade principles, the more customers increase the faster progress is attained. This is however contrary to environment protection principle whereby increased numbers might lead to losses. This requires strong measures to promote tourism and protect biodiversity in the ecosystem as well.
Figures show that Akagera National Park recorded 15,000 visits annually from 2010 until 2019 when numbers increased significantly to 50,000.
The management of the park recently informed partners that the park sometimes would record higher visits beyond its capacity in the last four months of the year which posed risks to the park and visitors.
“One of strategies to reduce the high rate of visits and related consequences to the park without affecting revenues to preserve the park is the revision of prices. The new policy intends to mobilize visitors to spend long time. We have witnessed this especially during this period of recovering domestic tourism and needs reinforcement,” reads in part the park’s statement.
{{Doubled prices }}
New reforms include increasing prices to visit Akagera National Park and offering discount when a visitor spends the second and the third night. There will be no extra payments from the 4th until the 7th night.
As per new entry fees to be effected on 15th January 2021, a Rwandan or member of East African Community (EAC) will pay US$16 (Rwf 15,000) up from US$7.50 (Rwf 6,500) per day or night.
A person spending two nights in the park will pay US$24 (Rwf 22,500) and Rwf 30,000 entry fees for three nights.
Effective January 2021, entry fees for international visitors has been fixed at US$100 from US$50 per night. If the visitor is to spend two nights, the entry price is fixed at US$150 and US$200 for three nights.
Children aged 5 and under are free of charge, no entry fee or activities fees apply. Activity fees rates for children are applicable for 6 – 12 year olds. 13 year olds and above pay adult rates for entry fees and activities.
Children between 6 and 12 from Rwanda and EAC will pay US$11 (Rwf10,000) up from US$4 (Rwf3,500). The price for two and three nights is respectively fixed at US$16 (Rwf15,000) and US$21 (Rwf20,000).
Prices for cars have also been reduced. A small car registered in Rwanda or EAC will be charged US$10 down from US$12 (Rwf10,000) while large vehicles carrying tourists will be charged US$20 down from US$24 (Rwf20.000).
Prices for small and large cars out of EAC remained the same at US$40 and US$100.
{{Group fees and annual passes }}
Usually, a group of over 20 Rwandans would get Rwf 1500 discount per individual, thus paying Rwf5000 entry fees each.
The new pricing has extended the discount for adults and children. Groups of Rwandan Nationals of more than 20 people automatically receive a group discount of 2,000 Rwf and will be charged at Rwf 12,000 per adult and 8,000 Rwf per child.
As for annual passes, the price for an individual from Rwanda or EAC remained the same at Rwf 95,000. The price has however been increased from Rwf 115,000 to Rwf 150,000 for two persons and Rwf150,000 to Rwf205,000 for a family.
Annual passes for foreigners living in Rwanda or EAC has increased to US$300 from US$250. The price has been fixed at US$500 from US$400 for two people and US$700 from US$600 for a family.
There will be no further charges for already booked passes.
The revised prices do not concern accommodation fees at Ruzizi Tented Lodge and Karenge Bush Camp which remained at US$25 and US$40 respectively for half and whole day.
Akagera National Park is home to the big five on the continent including Lions, Rhinos, Elephant, Buffalo and Leopard.
Apart from the presence of over 482 bird species, the park is also home to various wild and aquatic animals.
Dual Clinical Practice refers to clinical work, which may be undertaken physically within or outside public health facilities and within or outside providers’ contracted hours of public sector employment. Furthermore, a worker is able to receive remuneration on a contractual basis within their same respective public health facility.
“The Ministry of Health recognizes that dual clinical practice is beneficial in the health sector, conversely with the capacity to enforce regulations that allow patients to get health care services in public health facilities,” said Dr Daniel Ngamije, the Minister of Health.
A set of modalities have already been set in the Dual Clinical Practice to ensure that health practitioners have reasonable workloads and clients still get quality services.
According to the Ministry’s statement, Medical doctors and dental surgeons will do dual clinical practice in their appointed public health facility on a contractual basis after allocated working hours.
They, however, are allowed to provide services in one private health facility during their days off and weekends. Under specific circumstances and after assessment, the Minister of Health may authorize a Medical Doctor or a Dental Surgeon to practice in an additional public hospital.
Also, to ensure that services provided do not compromise the quality of care and patient safety, the number of patients managed and procedures performed in dual clinical practice shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of those performed during the normal working hours.
The Ministry of Health, after assessing requests from health facilities, shall allow them to start operating dual clinical practice. Health facilities will also be required to set up an electronic system to monitor visits, acts, procedures, and generated incomes.
The Ministry of Health shall commission an independent assessment of the Dual Clinical Practice implementation after the first six (6) months to inform policy review and decision making.
In Nyabihu District, one Francois Niyonzima, 34, was intercepted in Mukamira Sector, on November 27, trafficking 30kgs of cannabis on a motorcycle.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Niyonzima, a commercial motorcyclist operating in Musanze District and a resident of Kinigi Sector, is part of the drug trafficking syndicate, whose role is to transport the narcotics mainly from Rubavu to other destinations in different parts of the country.
“Niyonzima, was on the list of drug traffickers. On November 27, Police received credible information that he was headed to Kigali from Rubavu District with two bundles of cannabis on a motorcycle,” CIP Karekezi said.
He added: “A Police roadblock was mounted in Mukamira, Nyabihu District, but Niyonzima was stubborn and violent… he refused to stop when officers stopped him. They trailed him but he threw one bundle of cannabis in the road to cause mayhem and to lead the Police vehicle, which was trailing him, into an accident; however, his plan did not work.
During the chase, residents intercepted him, but he was armed with a machete and tried to harm them. Fortunately, realised that he was outnumbered and Police officers were armed. He gave-in and was taken into custody.”
CIP Karekezi disclosed that law enforcement organs have since identified two other members of the same syndicate, including the alleged rightful owner of the narcotics in Kigali.
“We know Niyonzima got the narcotics from another supplier in Bugeshi Sector in Rubavu, at a place called Kubukombe. We also know that he was hired by one Dieudonne Nshimiyimana to deliver the narcotics to him in Kigali. Nshimiyimana was actually with Niyonzima in Rubavu and was riding ahead of him (Niyonzima), acting as a spotter. When he realised that Niyonzima had been spotted by the Police, he fled prior.”
Available information indicate that Nshimiyimana had paid Niyonzima Frw40,000 to transport the narcotics to Kigali and it was the second time that the duo was working together in the same criminal deal, having succeeded in their first attempt.
Niyonzima was handed over to RIB at Mukamira station for further legal process.
“Most of the successful operations include major dealers on the list compiled with the help of the general public and local leaders. Operations are continuous with the ultimate goal of breaking chains of supply and to kill the consumption market through awareness.”
Elsewhere, in Kirehe District, Police foiled trafficking of two sacks of cannabis weighing 72kgs, which were being sneaked into Rwanda from Burundi through Akagera River in Gahara Sector.
“Four people, who were trafficking the sacks of cannabis, abandoned them and fled back to Burundi after seeing Police officers,” CIP Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said.
The four drug traffickers said to be Burundi nationals, he said, were reported by local authorities in Murehe Cell of Gahara Sector.
In this week alone six big drug dealers have been arrested.
On November 23, another taxi-moto operator was intercepted in Jomba Sector, Nyabihu District transporting about 10,000 pellets of cannabis.
Four other suspected drug traffickers, who are members of the same chain of supply, were arrested the following day in Nyabihu and Kigali with combined 6500 rolls of cannabis.
The Ministerial Order No. 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis as a “very severe drug.”
The law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, especially in its article 263, provides an imprisonment of between 20 years and life, for anyone convicted for very severe narcotic drugs and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
The cardinals were installed in a ceremony, known as a consistory that was markedly slimmed down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremony held on Saturday was attended by in-service Cardinals and 11 cardinal-elects among 13 recently appointed by Pope Francis on 25th October 2020.
Cardinals from Brunei and the Philippines could not travel and will receive their ring and biretta from a papal delegate.
Instead of the usual thousands, only 10 guests per cardinal were allowed in St. Peter’s Basilica as the pope gave the men their ring and traditional red hat, known as a biretta.
Nine of the 13 are under 80 and eligible under Church law to enter a secret conclave to choose the next pope from among themselves after Francis dies or resigns.
It was Francis’ seventh consistory since his election in 2013. He has now appointed 57% of the 128 cardinal electors, most of whom share his vision of a more inclusive and outward-looking Church.
Thus far, he has appointed 18 cardinals from mostly far-flung countries that never had one, nearly all of them from the developing world including Antoine Kambanda becoming Rwanda’s first ever cardinal.
While Europe still has the largest share of cardinal electors, with 41%, it is down from 52% in 2013 when Francis became the first Latin-American pope.
With each consistory, Francis has increased the chances that his successor will be another non-European, having beefed up the church in places where it is either a tiny minority or where it is growing faster than in the stagnant West.
The nine new electors come from Italy, Malta, Rwanda, the United States, the Philippines, Chile, Brunei and Mexico.
In his homily, Francis told the men to keep their eyes on God, avoid all forms of corruption, and not succumb to a “worldly spirit” that can accompany the prestige and power of their new rank.
Everyone in the basilica except the pope wore a mask. Each new cardinal removed his own when he knelt to be invested.
Four non-electors over 80 were given the honor after a long service to the church.
The most prominent is Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, an Italian-American who has worked around the world and is one of the church’s top experts on immigration.
Rwanda’s Cardinal, Kambanda is expected to continue exercising his role as the Archbishop of Kigali Diocese though he is elevated in high rank of Cardinal.
Rwanda becomes the 24th African country with a Cardinal.
Kambanda was born on 10th November 1958. He is among Rwandans ordained priests by Pope Jean Paul II on 8th September 1990 during his visit to Rwanda.
Pope Francis had appointed Kambanda Bishop of Kibungo Diocese in May 2013 and later in 2018 Archbishop of Kigali Diocese.
{{Names of new Cardinals installed by Pope Francis}}
– Archbishop Marcello Semeraro,73, Italian, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
– Archbishop Antoine Kambanda, Rwandan, 62, Archbishop of Kigali.
– Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, American, 72, Archbishop of Washington D.C.
– Archbishop Jose F. Advincula, 68, Filipino, Archbishop of Capiz.
– Archbishop Celestino Aos Braco, 75, Spanish, archbishop of Santiago, Chile.
– Archbishop Cornelius Sim, 69, Brunei, apostolic vicar of Brunei
– Archbishop Augusto Paolo Lojudice, 56, Italian, archbishop of Siena, Italy.
– Father Mauro Gambetti, 55, Italian, custodian of the Franciscan convent of St. Francis in Assisi.
New cardinals over 80 years old and being honoured for their long service to the Church. They cannot enter a conclave.
– Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, 80, Mexican, bishop-emeritus of San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico.
– Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, 80, Italian, archbishop, former ambassador, expert on immigration.
– Father Raniero Cantalamessa, 86, Italian, long-time preacher of the papal household
– Father Enrico Feroci, 80, Italian, pastor of the Divino Amore sanctuary in Rome.
The Church’s Code of Canon Law states, “Those promoted as cardinals are men freely selected by the Roman Pontiff, who are at least in the order of presbyterate and are especially outstanding for their doctrine, morals, piety, and prudence in action; those, however, who are not yet bishops must receive episcopal consecration” (Canon 351).
An earlier text in the Code describes the tasks that fall to cardinals. It remarks cardinals elect the pope and provide assistance when the pontiff summons them together to discuss matters of particular importance.
Cardinals also assist the pope in less visible ways, such as when they serve as the administrative directors of various Vatican offices.
