Speaking at the opening of 11 November 2020, when he visited the center of the Islamic Cultural Center home to the ESSI Nyamirambo, where he met with students studying in the fifth and sixth in the different branch, ambassador Alqahtani encouraged the students to work hard as there are many opportunities awaiting them, including being awarded scholarships to study at various universities in the UAE.
“The UAE government provides scholarships to Rwandan students to study at some of its local universities, such as the UAE University and the Sorbonne University of Abu Dhabi, and this opportunity is given to promising students in secondary schools,” he said.
He also emphasized that his country has invested heavily in education and made it easier for its people to access affordable education services.
“The UAE believes that education is the right of every citizen, as evidenced by its founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who said that the most important thing to create wealth is to invest in a knowledgeable people,” he said.
He said that the UAE government has for years been implementing education programs for all in order to ensure that there are no more uneducated people.
The United Arab Emirates, he said, is focusing on improving science, technology and innovation in the curriculum, with the aim of becoming world leader in science and innovation.
The Director General of the Islamic Cultural Center, Abdellatif Oulad Aouid, in his remarks thanked Ambassador Hazza Alqahtani, saying that their center is ready to benefit from the experience of UAE education.
“The Islamic Cultural Center in Kigali is ready to benefit from the UAE’s experience in education and practical skills, and we hope that your visit here is a sign of a better future,” he said.
He added that the UAE-Libya-based education center, made education its primary goal at its inception in 1979; now it is one of the most well-established schools.
Some of the students of ESSI Nyamirambo who participated in the discussion expressed their desire to get more help in their studies so that they could be at a better level and also compete on the international stage.
Some of those present at the event told IGIHE that the message given to them by the UAE Ambassador left them inspired to grab the opportunities.
Uwineza Raissa, a sixth-year student in Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology, MCB, said: “they told us there are many opportunities for Rwandan students to go study in the UAE. I was encouraged to study even harder so as to be among those lucky ones.”
Kaffé sports café at the Kigali Arena will not only cater to visitors to the Kigali Arena but also the entire Kigali community.
This new development comes following a seven-year management agreement that was signed between QA Venue Solutions and the Government of Rwanda to manage the Kigali Arena.
Born in Burundi, Chef Coco Reinarhz, worked as a chef in Belgium, DR Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, and South Africa. He currently owns a top-rated fine dining restaurant called Épicure by Chef Coco in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Inspired by cities in Africa, different styles of dining and diverse palates Épicure restaurant boasts 160 seats including terraced tables and a 40-seater private dining. Épic Bar and Cure Deli compliment the culinary chic.
Following the signing of the agreement between Kigali Arena management and the restaurateur, Chef Coco Reinarhz said:
“We will be able to cater for all kinds of guests, from fusing some of the best African and global cuisines to offering tasty fast foods. My goal is to work with local talents and partners to provide holistic dining experiences. We want people to come with their families and friends and enjoy the overall experience.”
In addition to the sports café, Chef Coco Reinarhz will partner with other food and beverage vendors at the Arena to provide world-class hospitality at the facility.
“Our goal is to have as many people coming here to receive the best quality services. This will keep the Arena vibrant,” he noted.
On his part QA Venue Solutions Director, Kyle Schofield, said:
“This agreement between the Kigali Arena and Chef Coco Reinarhz, is a fulfilment of the promise that we made as QA Venue Solutions to bring world-class amenities to the community that the Arena serves.
As an iconic African Arena, we believe that Kigali Arena deserves facilities that showcase it in the best possible light and we are confident that the partnership with Chef Coco Reinarhz will be a testament to our vision for the Arena.
We want to further invite local, regional and international businesses to partner with us to find the right opportunities to further their business growth through the Kigali Arena.”
QA Venue Solutions Rwanda has partnered with local companies and continues to encourage businesses in Rwanda to engage with the management team regarding opportunities in the venue.
Who is Chef Coco Reinarhz
Coming from two generations of accredited chefs, Coco Reinarhz attended the École Hotelière de Namur in Belgium and Institut Supérieur de Gestion Hotelière in Namur. He then worked in Belgium, Holland, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast and South Africa. He is the owner of Sel Afrique Pty Ltd.
Chef Coco Reinarhz philosophy is that of a modern world culinary citizen who is also an African by birth and choice. He combines classical French training and skill with the panorama of spectacularly expressive but previously overlooked African food in a modern, sophisticated, and utterly delicious manner.
He earned recognition as one of the top restaurateurs in the world. His restaurant ‘Sel et Poivre’ was selected as the American Express Fine Dining restaurant and he also earned the Platinum Award Wine List from Diner’s Club in 2008. He then earned Diners Club Diamond Award for Sel et Poivre Restaurant in 2013.
A member of the elite Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and Disciple de l’Ordre d’Auguste Escoffier, Chef Coco Reinarhz has also co-authored an award-winning cookbook titled ‘To the Banqueting House, African Cuisine and Epic Journey’.
He has shared his passion on SABC1, SABC3, E-tv, CNN, TV5 and BBC Food. He has also been a celebrity chef on hit show ‘Master Chef-South Africa’ and was the main judge for the LB Cook-Off Show on SABC3.
About QA Venue Solutions
QA Venue Solutions was established by an experienced, dynamic group of people whose philosophy is based on developing a new model of venue solutions across the African continent and beyond.
The company comprises a team of proudly African individuals who together possess decades of experience in the events, entertainment, and hospitality industry, in addition to venue management, design and operations.
QA Venue Solutions is proud to have been at the forefront of major sports events in Africa. QA Venue Solutions Director, Kyle Schofield worked with NBA (National Basketball Association) and NBA Africa as Head of Event Operations for the continent, leading the 2017 and 2018 NBA Africa Game Operations.
As the Venue Management for Sun Arena|Time Square – Menlyn-Pretoria – Sun International, a 8,500 -10,500-Seater multi-purpose Arena in Pretoria, QA Venue Solutions managed the calendar, contracts, operations, technical, safety and security aspects of all shows being hosted at the venue.
In 2018 QA Venue Solutions was directly involved in the venue operations for the 2018 NBA Africa Game at the Sun Arena. QA Venue Solution consulted for Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) to ensure the smooth running of the FNB, Orlando, Dobsonville and Rand Stadiums and as experts in large event production, QA Venue Solutions provided technical direction for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2010 FIFA Football World Cup as well as the 2014 African Cup of Nations Cup.
Under QA Entertainment Technology Consultants (Pty) Ltd, QA Venue Solutions has been, and is still involved in, consulting on venue concepts, commercialization, feasibility, operations, and technical requirements for various venues throughout Africa and internationally.
Becoming the fourth Ombudsman in the country, Nirere’s previous duties include being at the helm of the National Human Rights Commission for two four-year terms that completed in May this year.
She also worked in the Parliament in both chambers; as Deputy Secretary-General of the Senate in Charge of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs, and as a Senior Legal Advisor to the Parliament (Transitional National Assembly) between 2000 and 2003.
The Office of the Ombudsman acts as a link between the citizen, public and private institutions in preventing and fighting injustice, corruption and other related offenses.
The new NIRDA Director-General, Birame, was a senior lecturer at the University of Rwanda (UR) in the College of Science and Technology, School of Science Department of Chemistry.
The post fell vacant in December last year when the former Director-General, Kampeta Pitchette Sayinzoga was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD).
The cabinet also appointed six commissioners of Rwanda Revenue Authority(RRA) including; Felicien Mwumvaneza in Customs Service, Rosine Uwamariya in Internal Audit and Integrity, Felix Majyambere in Legal Services and Board Affairs, Innocent Murasi in Strategy and Risk Analysis, Jean Pierre Hitimana in Finance and Louise Kalisa Ingabire, Commissioner for Technology and Digital Transformation.
At Rwanda Heritage Academy which was specified as Inteko y’Umuco, a new institution which apparently brings on board the academy of language and culture and the national museums, Amb. Robert Masozera, was appointed Director General.
He was actually the director general of Institute of National Museums of Rwanda.
Dr. Jean Claude Uwizeyimana, a linguist and lecturer at University of Rwanda was appointed Deputy Director General at the Rwanda Heritage Academy.
Meanwhile, Solange Tetero and Aimable Twahirwa who is well-known in the local music industry have been appointed Director Generals of Youth Empowerment, and Culture Promotion in the Ministry of Youth and Culture respectively.
The cabinet meeting made a step further towards nuclear energy with the approval of a presidential order relating to accession of Rwanda to the convention on early notification of nuclear accident adopted in Vienna on September 26th, 1986.
They also approved the presidential order ratifying the amendment to the convention on physical protection of nuclear material adopted in Vienna on July 8th, 1997.
The cabinet did not make any change on the measures to prevent COVID-19, but, at a time a new wave of infection is looming, they reminded the general public not to loosen.
The Ambassador made the remarks recently when he hosted representatives of various international organizations at the UAE Embassy in Rwanda, whom he told about his country’s foreign aid policy in support of peace and prosperity.
The dignitaries included representatives from such international organizations as the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UNFPA, among others.
Ambassador Al-Qahtani said that the United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s leading donors, a legacy inherited from its founding leaders such as Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, who taught them to promote cooperation and simplicity regardless of skin color, gender, race or religion.
“In 1971, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan established the Abu Dhabi Development Fund (ADFD), by extending a hand to help relatives and friends to achieve sustainable development goals,” he said.
Later, other charitable foundations were established, including the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, the Emirati Red Crescent, and various other organizations, in support of global peace and prosperity.
The assistance provided by the United Arab Emirates includes support of expertise in various countries, in addition to the provision of assistance to combat conflict and extremism.
Ambassador Alqahtani said: “We help in supporting the well-being of the people of those countries, giving them opportunities for the future, in the context of economic integration, eradication of poverty, education and employment for the youth, development of public services and justice.”
The UAE, which for 6 years in a row is one of the world’s largest donors, came in first place from 2013 to 2017, in 2018 exceeding the United Nations target of at least 0.7% of GDP, at which time the UAE provided a subsidy of 0.93% of GDP.
The UAE has provided and continues to support various countries on various continents. From 2015 to 2020, the UAE has provided $ 38.89 billion in international aid.
Of this, 45.2% is equivalent to $ 17.60 billion, given to African countries, 43.8% is equivalent to $ 17.02 billion in Asia, equivalent to 6% in Europe, and other in America and Oceania.
In addition to the UAE’s support for countries, there have also been donations from various international organizations, including WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, OCHA, UNFPA, WHO, and various others, all of which have been funded in the amount of $ 2 billion between 2015 and 2020.
The United Arab Emirates has also supported Rwanda in various activities, worth $ 11.9 million over the past five years.
Ambassador Alqahtani said that among the UAE-sponsored activities in Rwanda were the provision of various training, support for development projects and the provision of opportunities to study in the UAE for Rwandan students.
“In 2019, the UAE, through its Embassy in Kigali, organized a three-day training course for 100 women, training on hospitality management, which focused on expanding the professionalism of hospitality and more.
“Since 2018, 20 Rwandan boys and girls have been awarded scholarships to study at the United Arab Emirates University in various fields including, construction, engineering, electricity, biology, chemistry, and computer.”
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Dr. Fodé Ndiaye, who was also present at the meeting, thanked Ambassador Azza Alqahtani for considering bringing them together and thanked the UAE for its role in supporting international development and cooperation.
The man who died on Wednesday is an 88-year-old resident of Rwamagana District. It was the fifth Coronavirus death in just three days in the area.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, on November 11, 2020, 50 new cases came from 2860 sample tests taken that day, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 5312 while seven people have recovered bringing the number of recoveries to 4974.
Of the new cases the prison registered 27 new cases while tests in high risk zones resulted in 12 new cases in Rubavu district, 6 in Kirehe and 5 in Rwamagana.
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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
The suspects; Elias Shumbusho, 28, and Jean Damascene Sebahire, 23, were arrested as they crossed into Rwanda from Burundi through a porous border in Nyabikenke cell, Nyanza Sector.
The Police spokesperson for the Southern region, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said that the duo was arrested by the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU).
RPU is a Rwanda National Police (RNP) branch attached to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to fight smuggling and fraud.
“Revenue Protection Unit had prior information that Sebahire and Shumbusho are notorious smugglers in Gisagara and would on that very day smuggle other goods into Rwanda from Burundi.
During the operation, two other people that had been hired by Sebahire and Shumbusho to carry their goods managed to escape but the two prime suspects (Sebahire and Shumbusho), who are the suspected rightful owners of the smuggled goods, were arrested in the process,” SP Kanamugire said.
Sebahire and Shumbusho admitted that they work with a group of Burundians, and the latter delivers the goods at an agreed spot on the borderline, where they meet to collect.
SP Kanamugire thanked the residents, who reported the acts of smuggling and tax evasion.
“These people conduct their illegal and illicit businesses at night, which is a risk to their lives as they can be killed by evil-minded people, who also use the cover of the night to cause insecurity. But we are also in the period of COVID-19 pandemic, which is claiming lives of people, and such unnecessary movements and illegal cross-border can be the source of the virus,” SP Kanamugire said.
He warned that smuggling, evading taxes and crossing the border using ungazetted routes are all punishable by law.
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According to RRA, “a taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax. With exception to that penalty, the Tax Administration refers the case to the Prosecution service if the taxpayer voluntarily evaded such tax, like through the use of false accounts, falsified documents or any other act punishable by law. In case of conviction, the taxpayer can be imprisoned for a period between six (6) months and two (2) years.”
Under the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.
In case a vehicle was used in fraud and smuggling, it is also auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of US$5000.
News of the tragic death of 17-year-old Iradukunda came to light on November 2, 2020, when residents found her naked body in a bean field with ropes around her neck, legs and arms.
The teenager was killed after leaving the wedding of a classmate’s friend who had invited her, who is now in police custody.
The arrest of the suspect in the murder of Iradukunda has been confirmed by the RIB Spokesperson, Dr. Murangira Thierry, who told IGIHE that the culprit was arrested on November 09, 2020, after initiating an investigation into the death of the deceased.
“As investigations unfolded, evidence pointed to a man working at Mpore Clinic in Musanze who has thus been arrested. He was arrested on the ninth of this month, charged with two counts, including child molestation and murder. He is suspected of raping and killing Emerance.”
After the body of the late Iradukunda was recovered, she was taken to Ruhengeri General Hospital for autopsy and later given to the family for burial.
Two days after her funeral, Rwanda Investigation Bureau and Rwanda National Police ordered for exhuming the body to allow more examination in gathering more evidence.
Dr. Murangira explained that it exhuming the body of the deceased was consented by the family.
“Before the body could be exhumed to find other evidence we got nod of her family. We need to do further investigations,” he said adding that within a few days, the case file will be submitted to Prosecution.
The suspect in the rape and murder of Iradukunda is currently being held at the Muhoza Police Station for further investigation.
The Ministry of Health has extended its condolences to the families of two men, including a 45-year-old man and a 50-year-old from Rwamagana.
It was the second day in a row in Rwamagana District that two people die.
The Minister of State for Local Government, Prof Shyaka Anastase, recently announced that if Rwandans continue to stay up late, it is possible that in the next few days they have to go back into total lockdown, while the COVID-19 pandemic will intensify.
The 20 new cases were identified in Kigali: 13 (testing in high risk groups), Muhanga: 3, Nyanza: 1, Rubavu: 2 and Rwamagana: 1.
The total cases so far detected in Rwanda are 5,262, of whom 4,967 or 94 percent have recovered, while 255 remain active cases. A total of 574, 876 tests have been conducted, with 2,974 new tests conducted over the last 24 hours.
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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
The warning is contained in his message after it became clear that many people have already given up on COVID-19 prevention measures, while the outbreak has not gone away despite of the fact that active cases are few.
As of Sunday, police had arrested more than 230 people in bars with alcohol, in violation of COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
In an interview with Television Rwanda, Minister Shyaka said: “So obviously we are still sleeping, without taking steps to implement the given precautions, Lockdown is inevitable. We repeat it, maybe more than a week or two, but if that continues, that’s a problem that we are throwing ourselves into, and yet we have a choice to avoid it.”
He said that people should return to complying with measures of prevention, and involved organs to punish and to take necessary measures because people seem to have become careless of the situation.
“You could see there was some sort of laziness because most people saw the numbers going down and started thinking we have prevailed on the Covid,” he observed.
“That is the mistake that has been made all over the world, where the countries that have eased the lockdown to going back to total lockdown again. So, we would only resort to this as a last resort. ”
Countries have recently returned to total lockdown after have been open for a long time with an increasing number of activities including France, Germany, and the UK, even Italy is getting ready to go back.
However, there is hope that the vaccine will be available in the coming months, after a 90% chance of protection from infection by Pfizer and BioNTech.
On Monday, the Ministry of Health said that two deaths in Rwamagana district were the newest cases of the covid-19 in Rwanda, bringing the number of deaths to 38.
Since March 14, 2020, when the first patient was found in Rwanda, 571,902 Coronavirus samples had been taken, of which 5242 cases were confirmed. Of those, 4967 recovered, while 237 are still active cases.
The minerals had been smuggled into Rwanda from the neighboring DR. Congo.
The driver of the taxi Toyota Carina RAB 669T identified as Damascene Jambo, 45, and one Angelique Umulisa, 35, the alleged owner of the minerals, were also arrested in the process.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson of the Western region, said that the taxi was intercepted at about 11 pm as the suspected smugglers were en route to Rubavu town.
“Earlier that evening, security organs in Rubavu District had received information from residents about consignments of minerals that had been sneaked into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through a porous border, and kept in a house located in Kanembwe Village of Busigari Cell in Cyanzarwe Sector,” CIP Karekezi said.
He added: “The house was put under surveillance until the suspected rightful owner—Angelique Umulisa—arrived with a taxi she had hired, and loaded the minerals which were concealed in five sacks, into the vehicle. Umulisa was arrested alongside her driver, shortly after taking off as they headed to Gisenyi town. The taxi, minerals and suspects were handed over to Gisenyi RIB station, for further management.”
Following their arrest, Umulisa, who is said to have been engaged in this unlawful mineral business for a while now, stated that she had 150kgs of traumaline.
However, after measuring, it came to light that the five sacks weighed 250kgs.
CIP Karekezi thanked the residents, who provided credible information which facilitated the successful operation.
“There are increased successful operations against smugglers and drug traffickers largely because of the ownership and responsiveness of the people, who provide information,” said the spokesperson.
Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that; “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence commits an offence.”
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than one million Rwandan francs (FRW 1,000,000) and not more than five million Rwandan francs (FRW 5,000,000) or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
