Mrs. Kagame called for the nurturing of children with the right values of humanity which go against the same reasons that made the genocide possible.
“As we remember the families completely wiped out during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, let their memory be a reminder that total extermination is the indisputable uniqueness of a genocide. Let us continue instilling in our children the values of humanity, dignity, and respect for one’s neighbor. Let us recommit to fighting the genocide ideology and denial, grounded in our journey as a testament to our ability to fight evil with good,” said the First lady.
GAERG, an organization of former students who survived the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and is in charge of preparing and implementing the commemoration of wiped out families revealed that the remembrance shall be done in line with Covid-19 preventive measures.
“Similar to other Kwibuka26 activities, the commemoration of the completely wiped out families will be held in adherence to the Covid-19 preventive measures,” reads a part of the Organization’s statement.
Since 2009, the IBUKA affiliate of former students who survived the Genocide against the Tutsi (GAERG), prepares and implements the commemoration of families wiped out in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
GAERG has enumerated those families in all 30 districts of Rwanda; the figures available to date show that 15,593 families made of 68,871 people were wiped out.
The association has started a project to write a book on these families, a documentary moviefilm and a database to safeguard their history. The project is worth Rwf64m.
Five sectors in Rusizi district will have to wait a little longer to get out of the coronavirus-induced lockdown as the government continues with efforts to contain the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the South Western district bordering Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Ministry of Local Government confirmed that the 5 sectors of Kamembe, Mururu, Gihundwe, Nyakarenzo and the island of Nkombo will remain under lockdown for another two weeks; this is despite a decline in cases on Wednesday, with just 3 cases from 24 the previous day, Rusizi remains a hotspot for new infections.
“We urge all citizens to continue observing the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Local leaders are requested to intensify efforts towards implementation of these measures,” the Ministry said.
The Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said that the district along the Kivu Belt remains under close monitoring to see the trend of infections.
“We observe a difference in how Rusizi and Rubavu are affected by the epidemic. We continue to monitor other districts by Kivu belt,” Dr. Nsanzimana said.
The cases on the western axis are linked to cross-border trade and movements of people, a problem which some experts blame on the porous borders between Rwanda and DRC.
In a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, the new measures were announced right after the meeting. The statement reads that domestic tourism, international tourism for visitors traveling with charter flights (individual or in group) will resume. Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to provide guidelines.
It further goes to say that non-contact outdoor sports will also continue, the cabinet precised that the Ministry of Sports will share more guidelines on this.
Motos will continue to carry passengers following directives and inter-provincial public transport will continue as well; however, the isolation of Rusizi and Rubavu districts in the Western Province was not lifted.
Among new eased announced is the fact that, Hotels will not only continue operations, they are encouraged to participate in domestic tourism promotion and offer conference services as long as all services offered at hotels be offered in adherence with health guidelines.
However, bars were kept closed.
In addition to this, the cabinet, though announced that the places of worship will remain closed; they are encouraged, in the meantime to invest in Covid-19 precautionary and preventive measures is encouraged to allow readiness for reopening within 15 days upon an epidemiological assessment.
The cabinet meeting also resolved that religious weddings will resume, but with attendance capped at 30 persons.
According to the statement signed by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, the Ministry of Local Government will issue detailed guidelines in this regard.
Burial ceremonies will also continue to be observed, with the limited attendance of 30 mourners.
The new cases were generated from 2,742 tests taken in 24 hours from Rusizi cluster, as well as repatriated Rwandans.
The country has so far conducted 96,801 sample tests and reported 636 confirmed cases of whom 338 recovered and two deaths were recorded since the outbreak of this pandemic.
With the outbreak of the Coronavirus since March this year, several services were affected including the education sector, putting recruitment on hold.
According to the REB, the teacher’s recruitment plan for 2020-2021 will be the biggest ever with 7,214 new staff needed.
The recruitment intends to bridge the student-teacher ratio which stands at 59:1 in Primary and 29:1 in Secondary.
“The government is building new classrooms, and of course, we need teachers too. We are waiting for the government to advise us on how the exercise should resume,” Dr. Irenee Ndayambaje, Director General of Rwanda Education Board (REB) said.
“The recruitment exercise was halted at the level of receiving applications. We shall resume it, verify teachers’ qualification documents, and start their placements in schools before September.”
In this plan, 3,799 teachers will go to primary, 3,417 are destined to secondary while 386 teachers are being recruited for Technical and Vocational Education training (TVET) schools.
In Rwanda, there are 2,479,366 students in primary schools and 636,162 students in secondary schools. However, this number is projected to increase as schools reopen in September 2020.
The country has 41,573 teaching staff in primary schools and 21,990 teaching staff in public secondary schools, according to the ministry of education.
“We expect a much bigger number of students as schools reopen in September, some children will start school for the first time. But they should already find teachers and classrooms, these are simultaneous.” Dr. Ndayambaje said.
The government has started construction of 22,505 primary, secondary, and vocational institutions classrooms to improve the students – teacher ratio.
Statistics show that the majority of divorces cases were due to the fact that some couples have abandoned their homes for a period of 12 months, mainly caused by infidelity among others.
Assumpta Ingabire, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), in a conversation with IGIHE, said that the government needs to put more effort into preparing couples that are to be wed, in an attempt to see the reduction of these numbers.
“We have to reevaluate the preparation given to the couple about to get married; the local leaders should work hand in hand with religious leaders in order to create a longer period of counseling to the newlyweds, helping them to really see if they are meant to be together and if not separate beforehand”, She appealed.
{{Kigali leads }}
According to the report from the NISR named ‘Rwanda Vital Statistics Report 2019’, the City of Kigali comes on top among the divorces pronounced in the whole country with 2400 cases. The Southern Province is counting 1989 cases, the Western Province is with 1820, while in East they count 1482 cases and the North comes last with 1250 cases.
However, statistics also show that in the same year, about 48526 marriages were legally pronounced.
Fidele Rutayisire, founder and executive director of the Rwanda Men’s Resource Center (RWAMREC) told IGIHE that these divorces are due to many reasons among which is the fact that people are now aware of their rights and came to understand gender equality; equal tasks sharing and responsibilities in their home.
“In the past, women were supported by men, the man was the pillar of the household chain, and the woman did nothing without the consent of the man. Now women are so empowered that they no longer need a man to take care of themselves. As a person becomes independent economically, they become independent in every other area; when there is a hindrance their first thought is, what do I need this troubling woman or man for?”
Among other things that Rutayisire points at is the immaturity saying that with their minds they have to fight over every little issue.
“There should be some kind of follow up of newlywed people, a sort of guidance from a more mature and experienced couple.” Said Ingabire Assumpta, the permanent secretary of MIGEPROF
{{The future expects even more divorce cases}}
Rutayisire said the increase in divorce cases these days is a sign of how it is likely to increase in the coming years; this is due to the fact that children born into divorced families also have a higher risk of divorce when they get married.
“In the near future, this will be ten times worse, because these people will have children, and these children growing up will see divorce as a normal thing. In the future, we are expecting to see even more divorce cases.” He said
He said that divorces not only affect the family, in a sense of separation but also hurts the growth of children born in divorced families; family conflicts can lead to murder, occasions emotional stress among other things.
Rutayisire added that one of the things that can help in reducing the number of divorce cases is to teach the principles of equality, helping people understand the no one is superior to the other.
On Saturday, June 13, Minister of Local Government, Prof. Anastase Shyaka, Minister of Infrastructure, Claver Gatete and Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen. Albert Murasira went on a visit inspecting different projects in Nyagatare.
With them were also Minister of Education, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, and State Minister in Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze.
The model village located in 19km from Nyagatare City, among other visits, are near completion and will be housing 64 vulnerable families; other infrastructure affiliated to the model village under construction include 31km Nyagatare-Tabagwe-Karama chipseal road and Tabagwe Health Centre, which is being expanded.
GS Tabagwe, a primary and secondary school, is being upgraded, with construction of dormitories for learners and teachers who live far from the school.
The school which enrolls 2,415 learners will have a new refectory, administrative block, laboratory, and classrooms.
Among other infrastructure that officials visited are markets, integrated handcraft centre, water and electricity projects.
