Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

“They called me and told me that we were robbed. I lost a bag of rice to the said theft,” said Donatien, a trader from the market.

Another vendor, Uwineza Shadia also lost a sewing machine.

“They took my sewing machine, and customers’ clothes; we don’t know who did such a thing because yesterday as we left, we locked doors and the security personnel were on duty. It’s confusing. “She said.

Mururu Sector Executive Secretary Ingabire Joyeux told IGIHE that the robbery was well planned and confirmed that Rwanda investigation Bureau (RIB) had arrested two suspects.

“It was a well calculated plan; we opened a case file with RIB for more investigation. They have so far arrested two people, the security guards and the gate keeper; the two are under investigation and are now at the Kamembe RIB station.”

The Rusizi Border Market consists of locker-rooms but only 45 are occupied.

They were arrested separately following complaints by the Chinese firm–China Road and Bridge Corporation–which is constructing the road.

Two of the suspects; Thierry Sindikubwabo and Jean Claude Uwamahoro were arrested in Ziniya market in Kicukiro where rolls of electricity and broadband internet cables were recovered.

The third suspect only identified as Twagirimana was arrested in Gisozi market (Agakiriro) with other quantities of the utility cables.

The trio was paraded before the media at Remera metropolitan on Saturday, October 3.

It is said that the three suspects work with thieves, who unearth broadband cables and cut electricity cables, especially at night.

Their role was, therefore, to sell the cables on the black market, according to available information.

Twagirimana, one of the suspects, said that he has been buying the cables from different people in the last two weeks. He, however, declined to disclose the identities of his suppliers.

“I was not aware that these cables were stolen and I did not bother asking my suppliers, which I regret. I have had different suppliers in the past two weeks and I had a big metallic case where I was storing them as I look for buyers,” Twagirimana claimed.

Sindikubwabo, another suspect, however, argued that he bought the cables during public auctioning last year at Rwf1.8 million.

However, the papers he claim supports his argument and proves his innocence, are under the names of one Hassan Kabera.

The papers indicate that Kabera bought cables during auctioning, last year. The papers also indicate the types of cables that were bought during the auction.

However, Kabera later sold the said auctioned cables to Sindikubwabo.

In the sale agreement between Sindikubwabo and Kabera, the latter also provided photos of all the cables he sold to the former.

None of the cables Sindikubwabo was caught with corresponds with the photos provided by Kabera.

It is alleged that Sindikubwabo has been using the auction papers as cover up to deal in stolen cables.

The Chinese firm also confirmed that cables the trio was caught with are those vandalized and stolen from their connected broadband and electricity lines.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera condemned such acts of destructing public infrastructure, thus affecting many.

He said that black markets facilitate such criminal acts adding that the arrest of the trio is part of the force’s target to also cut the chain of buyers and sellers.

“We know people call such items ‘hot cakes’ but we would like to remind the general public that anything bought must have receipts to indicate the source, prevent buying or selling stolen goods, and also to fight tax evasion,” CP Kabera said.

“When you vandalize such public infrastructure, you know many people get affected; internet and electricity are disconnected, certain services get affected and the government will incur losses in terms of rehabilitation,” he added.

He thanked residents, who provided information that led to the arrest of members of the ring and called upon anyone with more information on other members of the group to come forward.

The new cases were recorded on Sunday, including 12 from Kigali where they were tested in the worst-hit areas while in Burera and Rubavu, each recorded one case.

Since the first COVID-19 case was registered in Rwanda on March 14, 2020, 4866 confirmed cases have been detected from 504,670 sample test made so far. 3,216 are the recoveries while 1621 are still active cases; so far 29 people have succumbed to the pandemic.

As part of the ongoing monitoring of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kigali City, the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) on Sunday took sample tests from various people attending churches meetings across the city.

The churches where the testing were performed included Cathedral St Michel, EAR Remera and ERC Masoro where at least 400 sample tests were taken.

In a recent press conference, the Minister of Health, Dr. Ngamije Daniel, said that numbers of new infections were on the decline these days but that it did not mean the pandemic was coming to an end.

“This is a sign that people are reacting properly, following COVID-19 prevention guidelines. The numbers we have are impressive compared to what it was in August, but the battle is still on.” He said

So far, the Coronavirus has no cure or vaccine, the medical units only treat the symptoms of the pandemic allowing the human body to build a strong immunity system and hence eliminating the virus in the blood.

This was observed during the government press conference on Friday, October 2, which gave updates on the current situation as far as fighting COVID-19 and resumption of businesses in the country is concerned.

The press conference was held at Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) and brought together the ministries of Health, Local Government, Education, Trade and Industry as well as Rwanda National Police (RNP).

The Minister of Local Government, Prof. Anastase Shyaka said that violations in the past week reduced further by 25 percent compared to the previous week.

Minister Shyaka observed that harmonised working relations between governance, health and security sectors as well the public also led to increased sharing of information, identifying violators and informing immediate effective responses.

The minister further explained that washing facilities were installed in the over 130 big markets across the country and commended the role played by committees in small markets, which volunteered to oversee compliance.

“Do not fear penalties; fear the virus and comply with the safety directives,” Minister Shyaka said.

RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the implementation of the directives has mainly been through partnership with relevant government entities to influence positive behaviours and actions through education and awareness in the last six months.

“If it was training, we would now be in the phase of awarding certificates of merit to participants. What this means is that at this point, no Rwandan should be arrested or penalised for not adhering to the prevention directives maximally.

We are at the phase where we should not be seeing anyone wearing a facemask inappropriately; physical distancing should be a culture; 50 percent quota of passengers in public service vehicles should be a practice; washing hands and respecting the curfew should by now be a natural practice,” CP Kabera said

He added that although the vast majority of residents of Rwanda are compliant, there are still observed cases of violations such as social distancing in shopping malls, isolated cases of public transport not adhering to 50% quota in their vehicles; wearing of face mask especially in rural areas; cases of pedestrians and drivers violating curfew, speeding of motorists especially towards curfew hours resulting into accidents and cyclists not wearing recommended helmets

CP Kabera cautioned businesses that continue to operate contrary to the directives, citing restaurants and other hospitality facilities that devise violation tricks so as to operate their bar sections.

“Those who place plates on tables to appear as if they are eating so as to drink alcohol, those who serve alcoholic drinks in cups and thermo flask to make it look as if they are serving tea; those who have turned their homes into bars; we are aware of these tricks,” CP Kabera said.

While lauding the impact of youth volunteers in awareness and facilitating the Police in implementing the directives and overseeing compliance, CP Kabera said that RNP will continue to focus mainly on three aspects; working with responsive members of the public to make prevention practices a culture; education and awareness as well as arresting and penalising errant violators.

CP Kabera said that education and awareness will combine both safety against COVID-19 and preventing road accidents.

A total 678 road accidents were recorded in the past six month resulting into 283 fatalities, 395 serious injuries.

At least 195 accidents were caused by wrong maneuvers, 149 (speeding), 132 (reckless driving), 120 (violation of right of way and 82 caused by wrong overtaking).

“We cannot fight coronavirus and let people in Rwanda die in accidents, that’s why the awareness against the pandemic will now be combined with Gerayo Amahoro (arrive safe) road safety campaign,” CP Kabera said.

In the services still closed including driving schools and driver’s license test centres, CP Kabera explained that a committee was instituted to see how they can resume in compliance with the prevention measures.

“On 29 September 2020, nineteen (19) Burundian combatants who identified themselves as members of Red Tabara armed group crossed from Burundi to Rwandan territory. The combatants, armed with guns, were apprehended in Nyungwe Forest, Ruheru Sector of Nyaruguru District where they are being held,” the RDF statement reads in part.

The statement further says that Rwanda Defence Force has informed the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) and requested the regional mechanism to verify and investigate the cross-border incident for further management.

In August this year, EJVM facilitated a meeting of intelligence chiefs from Rwanda and Burundi that took place at Nemba One-Stop Border Post in Bugesera District to discuss security issues that have strained the two countries’ relations since 2015.

The meeting was the first known physical high-level meeting that has convened officials from both countries in a while for both sides to discuss the strained relations.

The RGB has decided to suspend the ADEPR leadership after years of wrangles and infighting and allegations of mismanaging the church’s funds.

RGB dissolved the general assembly, the board of directors, the executive committee (bureau) and the arbitration committee and are all supposed to hand over to the interim team on Thursday, October 8.

RGB faults Reverend Ephreim Karuranga, the church’s spokesperson and top-most leader and his team for bad governance, poor performance and cooperation.

“Most of these problems have been around for some time and the leadership did not take steps to resolve them. Governance and functioning continued to be marred by divisionism and disturbing the peace of ADEPR members”, reads the statement in part.

The Governance Board also in its analysis found that the flaws in the laws governing the functioning and management of the staff and property of ADEPR and did not provide a lasting solution to the problems in the church.

Hence, continues the statement, “RGB decided to suspend the church leadership as the problems are taking another turn. This development is in the interest of ADEPR members.”

Headed by Karuranga, the Executive Bureau assumed the leadership of the church on March 17, 2018 following an election.

The 2018 elections followed a nine-month transitional leadership that followed the resignation of Bishop Sibomana and Tom Rwagasana.

The executive committee consisted of the Spokesperson (Karuranga), his deputy John Karangwa, the Secretary General, White Leader Paul; and Jean Paul Ntaganda, who acted as the Financial and Economic Advisor.

The former director of finance and administration, Aurélie Umuhoza was installed interim leader until the new committee is sworn in.

The development was announced in a statement signed by Usta Kayitesi, the CEO of Rwanda Governance Board.