Marizamunda was appointed by yesterday’s cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro which also reviewed existing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The cabinet meeting also made new appointments in different institutions including Rwanda National Police, correctional and rehabilitation bodies among others.
Marizamunda was transferred to Rwanda National Police (RNP) from Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in 2014. He was at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the time.
Marizamunda was replaced by Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza who has been serving as the RCS Deputy Commissioner General.
The mother of two was born in Rulindo district on 30th December 1967. He was transferred to RCS from RDF at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Ujeneza joined the military in 1988.
Among others, Fred Mufulukye who was the Governor of the Eastern Province has been appointed the Director General of the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS).
He replaces Aimé Bosenibamwe, who passed away last year.
Rtd Commissioner of Police (CP) Faustin Ntirushwa has been appointed the Deputy Director General of NRS.
Other institutions that got new appointees include Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) and the Ministry of Justice among others.
The cabinet meeting held at Village Urugwiro was chaired by President Paul Kagame.
Among other resolutions of the cabinet meeting, all businesses shall close by 8pm.
Movements between Kigali and other Provinces are allowed. Private businesses will continue with essential staff at no more 50% capacity while other employees continue working from home on a rotational basis. Markets and malls will continue for essential vendors and must not exceed 50% of registered traders.
The cabinet meeting didn’t lift lockdown imposed in some sectors in Southern Province due to increasing COVID-19 cases.
These measures will take effect nationwide starting April 15th and reviewed after 2 weeks upon a health assessment.
{{New measures countrywide}}
a. Movements are prohibited between 9 PM – 4 AM. All businesses must close by 8 PM.
b. Movements between Kigali and other provinces and between districts of the country will continue.
c. Movements are prohibited between 7 PM – 4 AM in the Southern province districts of Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Gisagara, Nyaruguru,Nyamagabe.
d. Public transport (buses) should not exceed 50% capacity. Bus operators will ensure passengers maintain social distancing and only passengers with masks will be allowed on board.
e. Physical meetings will continue not exceeding 30% of venue capacity. COVID – 19 testing is required for meetings of more than 20 people.
f. Public offices will continue with essential staff at no more than 30% capacity while other employees continue working from home on a rotational basis.
g. Private businesses will continue with essential staff at no more 50% capacity while other employees continue working from home on a rotational basis. Markets and malls will continue for essential vendors and must not exceed 50% of registered traders.
h. Motos and bicycles are permitted to carry passengers and must observe strict hygiene.
i. Restaurants and cafés shall operate at 50% occupancy limit and shall receive clients until 8 PM.
j. All bars will remain closed.
k. Places of worship abiding with health guidelines will continue to function at 30% maximum occupancy.
l. Arriving and departing passengers at Kigali International airport must present a negative COVID – 19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure and should comply with other health guidelines.
m. Tourism activity will continue in strict adherence with COVID – 19 health guidelines. This includes hotels, tour operators and transport services facilitating guests. Tourists and service providers shall inform RDB of itineraries.
n. Individual and non-contact outdoor sports activities are permitted. The Ministry of Sports will provide detailed guidelines.
o. Gyms and recreational centers will remain closed. All swimming pools and spas are closed except for those at hotels hosting tested guests.
p. Attendance at a wake/vigil (Ikiriyo) should not exceed 10 persons at any one time. Funeral gatherings should not exceed 20 persons.
q. Civil and religious weddings will continue, but should not exceed 20 persons and must comply with all COVID – 19 preventive measures. Receptions are not permitted.
r. Gaming activities remain prohibited. Citizens are reminded of the critical importance of complying with health measures including physical distancing, wearing face masks and hand hygiene. Penalties will be applied for non-compliance.
The statement released last night shows that 69 people have caught the virus while 199 recovered.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 23672 people have been tested positive of whom 21594 have recovered, 1761 are active cases, are critically ill while 317 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.
Gen Sekamana resigned yesterday in a letter he wrote to FERWAFA’s committee citing personal reasons.
“Considering the fact that supervising football body nowadays requires me lot of time and effort because it is important to monitor it day by day. This requires me to do it as a daily routine. I find that combining it with my other personal responsibilities would have had a negative impact on the development of football,” he said.
Brig Gen Sekamana thanked FERWAFA committee for trust bestowed upon him and teamwork spirit during his stay in office.
Sekamana became Ferwafa president in 2018 after obtaining 45 votes out of the 53 votes in an election beating his rival Louis Rurangirwa who got 7 votes.
He replaced Vincent ‘De Gaulle’ Nzamwita who resigned in January 2018 due to personal reasons after running the federation for 4 years.
(Rtd) Brig Gen Sekamana resigns eight months before ending his tenure.
Marcel Habyarimana, who is a Vice President in the federation, will serve as interim President until March next year as stipulated by FERWAFA laws in article 31.
The request has been made by the executive secretary of Nyarugenge district, Emmy Ngabonziza during the commemoration of Tutsi killed on Kani hill located in Kanyinya sector during Genocide .
Many Tutsi were killed on the hill located in Taba cell after the shooting of former President Juvenal Habyarimana. Some of them were from from Jali, Shyorongi seeking refuge to an old woman called Mukarumanzi where they were burnt.
On 13th April 1994, more Tutsi were tricked by the then leadership to be taken to sector offices promising protection but ended up being taken at Kani hill in Nyamweru cell where they were killed.
Ngabonziza told Genocide survivors that they should stick to the pact of unity and reconciliation to avoid reoccurrence of tragic history.
“We need to uphold unity which Rwanda lacked during Genocide against Tutsi. Today, we perceive ourselves in the images of Rwandans not characterized by ethnic divisionism. Rwanda has turned into a strong nation because of promoting right Rwandan values,” he said.
Ngabonziza also highlighted that unity will be a key pillar towards resilience of the nation.
“By staying united, we are assured that we can go far together towards a bright future. This is the pact we request everyone to uphold because we are assured that Rwanda will keep track of attained progress,” he noted.
The President of IBUKA in Kanyinya sector, Emmanuel Nsengiyumva has said that a lot has been achieved along the resilience journey.
“Unity and reconciliation has not been attained to desired extent here. As representatives of IBUKA we will seek how to bring people together because some of them still have suspicion and do not interact normally. Genocide perpetrators should make strides to seek forgiveness from offended survivors,” he stressed.
The body was found yesterday in Abemeramahoro village, Bwiza cell of Mukarange sector.
The executive secretary of Mukarange sector, Murekezi Claude has told IGIHE that the body was first seen by children collecting firewood.
“It is a body of unidentified man in the age bracket of 30 found in the water drainage channel. He was seen by children collecting firewood after the rain stopped falling. They alerted us and rushed to the scene,” he said.
He revealed that the body was taken to Gahini Hospital for postmortem as Rwanda Investigation Bureau investigates the case to establish cause of the death.
Another man’s body was retrieved from River Akagera last week in Kayonza district.
Ranked 2nd most peaceful country in the EAC by GPI 2020, 2nd in the Sub-Saharan Africa region by the Economic Freedom Index report 2020, 3rd globally among peacekeeping top troop contributing countries, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a country that was able to suppress the COVID-19 early, Rwanda’s progress is attributed to President Paul Kagame’s strong and effective leadership.
Besides the prevailing peace and progress, however, Rwanda has not been in short of campaigns by armed groups in the region including but not limited to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Rwanda National Congress (RNC), and particularly FLN; the military wing of Paul Rusesabagina’s MRCD, which instigated terrorism attacks, killed and injured unarmed innocent civilians in Nyabimata in June 2018.
In fact, Rusesabagina had premediated these attacks. On 28 Jan 2016 at Voice Of America (VOA), he publically declared that he was going to take political action to liberate the Rwandan People from President Paul Kagame’s dictatorship.
Later, in his own words, he also affirmed in a video recalled in early 2019, but still available online, that the attacks marked the launch of liberation struggle against the Government of Rwanda. He also reiterated that FLN launched a military struggle to liberate the Rwandan people and insisted on the sense of urgency to speed it up in 2019.
In effect, pursuant to 2018 Rwanda’s National Public Prosecution Authority’ (NPPA) arrest warrant, Rusesabagina was put under arrest after luring himself and his plane landed in Kigali and voluntarily alighted. His charges include financing terrorism, murder, abduction, robbery and arson, etc, as acts of terrorism in connection with his MRCD/FLN attacks in Nyabimamata.
These attacks were acknowledged by different state actors including Belgium and USA (where is a national and resident respectively) whose Departments of State’s Travel Advisory on Rwanda urged travelers “to exercise increased caution along the Rwanda-Burundi border due to armed conflict”.
In spite of the crimes Rusesabagina has to answer, his supporters, particularly the members of the European Parliament passed a resolution implying, among other things, to release Paul Rusesabagina. Similarly, some members of the USA Congress like Carolyn B. Maloney, addressed a letter to President Paul Kagame requesting to release him with immediate effect. Both requests reflected may be their ignorance of the matter, partisanship and or double standard.
Undoubtedly, members of EU Parliament as well as some members of US Congress who promote the release of Paul Rusesabagina understand the legal implication of terrorism crimes and are fully aware that the intent of the counter-terrorism acts in their jurisdictions like the US Patriot Act to deter and punish terrorist acts in their jurisdictions is the same aspiration Rwanda is pursuing in the case of Rusesabagina.
So, releasing Rusesabagina as the EU Parliament and some members of USA Congress like Carolyn B. Maloney purport, would be doing a disservice to Rwanda, particularly the victims of Rusesabagina’s MRCD / FLN actions and nurturing a norm that would support subsequent culture of violence.
More importantly, Rusesabagina’s case also contains an extraordinarily sensitive charge: Arson as an act of terrorism as MRCD/FLN used fire as mass scale coercion and violence to ensure greater degree of risk to human lives in Nyabimata.
Arson has a profound, sensitive and tragic meaning in the history of violence in Rwanda. It was a great weapon used in 1959, 60s and 70s to chase away and force the Tutsi to exile and deadly internal displacement and was massively used in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to speed it up and create greater impact in terms of mass murder of Tutsi and destruction of their properties.
Rusesabagina’s MRCD/FLN usage of incendiary attacks to create greater impact on human lives in Nyabimata reminded the traumatizing arson attacks also dubbed Palestian intifada against Israel in November 2015 that were later condemned by the USA through the Secretary of State John Kerry who also warned Mohamed Abbas against arson attacks. The September 11, 2001, terrorism attack on the World Trade Center are also examined in terms of the impact of the improvised incendiary device, the airplanes, on the World Trade Center buildings.
Undoubtedly, if the EU Parliament and some members of US Congress like Carolyn B. Maloney, would be asked if it was the right thing to do to release with immediate effect those responsible of the September 11, 2001 in the US or elsewhere in Europe, their answer would be a big No.
Again, if they would be asked if holding accountable Bin Laden wouldn’t be a charm trial as they describe Paul Rusesabagina’s case, their answer would be NO. Rather they would appreciate a campaign to dismantle terrorist organization like Al-Qaeda and their networks. So, subordinating national security to someone’s terrorist crimes isn’t tolerable by any nation state especially when the offender acts exactly in the spirit of a Genocide that killed more one million lives.
Most surprisingly, the EU parliament members’ description of Rusesabagina’s own luring to Rwanda as kidnapping represents double standard. Rusesabagina lured himself after being led by his friend to board a private jet to Rwanda while his destination was Burundi. This reminds a similar case that happened in Europe and it wasn’t called “kidnapping”.
On 19th March 1991, Walter Stocké from German was arrested in France over fiscal charges in his home country after his friend M. Köster who was in contact with the police in Germany, led him to board a private jet to German while his destination was Luxemburg and Walter Stocké was immediately arrested. It is quiet s questionable why the EU Parliament didn’t refer to Walter Stocké’s case to serve as jurisprudence as it does even today in Europe.
Most alarmingly, Rusesabagina had consistently denied the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and Rwandan authorities had previously issued another international arrest warrant against Rusesabagina, but in vain, as he continued to enjoy the red carpet in the most of Western countries.
On 11 January 2018, in Northwestern University Community for Human Rights (NUCHR), USA, in a conference on Human Rights, Rusesabagina was a keynote speaker and denied the genocide against the Tutsi and purported the double genocide theory. He endeavoured to convince the audience that the” Genocide against the Tutsi was not planned and executed and that it was just a mere war between Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups”.
He did the same on 26th April 2008, in a conference in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands where Rusesabagina held at fault the victims of the genocide in 1994 genocide against the Tutsi that they were responsible for their own harm and demise. He made the case that the “roadblocks where Tutsis were singled out and executed were manned by Tutsis infiltrated by the RPF”.
Surprisingly, most western countries where Rusesabagina was denying genocide, prohibit the denial of genocide as it is an integral and final part of the genocide that lasts throughout and had all ratified the Genocide convention. It is in the spirit of this, for example that Facebook, Inc decided recently it would begin removing Holocaust denial posts from Facebook and Instagram. So, it imperative to observe the same principle with regard to the Genocide against the Tutsi.
However, if one would attempt to profile Rusesabagina, the details of the situation he is in today connects with earlier event quickly transformed into a platform that made Rusesabagina internationally famous: Hotel Rwanda, a film, not a historical record, but a fictionalized depiction of a story in which Paul Rusesabagina claim all credits that he saved 1267 lives under the scourge of the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
After the release of Hotel Rwanda, Rusesabagina was awarded with numerous international human rights awards including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, Immortal Chaplains Prize for Humanity, National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, etc.., and was praised by everyone including George Bush who portrayed him an “extraordinary great man”.
However, Rusesabagina and Hotel Rwanda, received repulsive criticism. Eyewitness that include UNMIR peacekeepers whose mandate also included “contributing to the security and protection of displaced persons, refugees and civilians at risk”, despite not being up to the task, have what they saw: For example Major Stefan Stec, one of the UN observers who was staying at the hotel during the genocide, reported that Rusesabagina at one point gave the Rwandan army the names and room numbers of the most threatened Tutsi refugees.
In addition UNAMIR’s force commander Romeo Dallaire dismissed the film as “not worth looking at”. At one point in time after the release of the Film, Romeo Dalaire told a conference: “I would like you to acknowledge the role played by those UNAMIR troops who stayed in Rwanda, including the troops from Congo-Brazzaville who were the ones who saved the people at the Hotel Mille Collines – not the hotel manager, Paul Rusesabagina”.
Similarly, survivors from the hotel Mille Collines said that the manager was an opportunist who had made them pay for everything in the hotel even though Sabena Airlines, which owned the hotel, had sent him a fax instructing him not to.
While, many would appreciate some traditions which work well elsewhere particularly in the US and Europe, specifically their antiterrorism principle to “to deter and punish terrorist acts”, it should not be compromised by any institution or individuals as especially in the case of Rusesbagina his terrorism acts happened in the spirit of Genocide against the Tutsi which the offender also denies consistently.
Some Western State actors are recognized for prohibiting denial of the genocides. For Example, Canada, in 1985 the Ontario government in Canada prosecuted Ernst Zundel, for distributing a Holocaust denial pamphlet. On 26 January 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted without reservation any denial of the Holocaust. The Genocide against the Tutsi was officially recognized by the UN and Rusesabagina’s acts of terrorism were instigated in the spirit of that Genocide. Both should be deterred and punished and no one should be led to lies that contravene the world shared principles that work for all us.
{ {{Emmanuel Mugiraneza, the writer, is a public servant at Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), interested in international affairs & Holds a Masters Degree in International Relations & Diplomacy}} }
They received newly constructed houses yesterday as Kigoma sector commemorated Tutsi killed in the area during Genocide against Tutsi.
During the event, three remains of Genocide victims exhumed recently were accorded decent burial.
Survivors who received these houses equipped with basic furniture, sanitary items, kitchen utensils, beddings, chairs, tables and cupboard said that their livelihoods are set to be transformed.
Patricie Mukarurinda, 51, said that she had an old house in poor conditions that she was obliged to move to Eastern Province where she did casual work to get rental fees.
“I went to Kibungo in September 2017. I January I learnt that they are building houses for us and was surprised again recently when the executive secretary called me to come and chose a house randomly,” she revealed.
Mukarurinda is a mother of three. He thanked the leadership for providing decent shelter and pledged to take good care of it.
“I will properly take care of the house and replace broken glasses without requirement for further support,” she noted.
The President of IBUKA, organization umbrella of Genocide survivors in Huye district, Théodate Siboyintore has said that failure to get decent shelters is among other challenges facing some Genocide survivors noting they will gradually support them within available means.
“There are still problems related to Genocide consequences like trauma and unhealed wounds. Inadequate shelters and old houses also worsens survivors’ hard life but we provide decent shelters gradually as we get means starting from those with most pressing needs,” he explained.
Each family received a house with a kitchen, toilet and water reservoir. They were completed at a cost of Rwf 120 million.
He made the observation on Tuesday 13th April 2021 as he attended the launch of annual dialogue dubbed ‘Raisina Dialogue’ held for the 6th time discussing problems affecting the global community.
These discussions are organized by Observer Research Foundation in partnership with India. This year’s edition will last four days. The official launch was presided over by India Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Addressing participants that virtually attended the dialogue on the first day, President Kagame said that COVID-19 has not only affected the health sector but also global cooperation.
“Covid is a public health crisis, but it is also a crisis of international cooperation,” he noted.
Kagame also hailed India for efforts geared towards facilitating the provision of vaccine doses on African continent despite its own challenges.
“Access to vaccines is highly unequal. In a situation of scarcity, power and wealth will always set the tempo. India despite its own challenges has produced most of the vaccine doses sent to Africa, under Covax and related programs,” he noted.
In March 2021, India donated 50,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses of AstraZeneca type to Rwanda.
President Kagame highlighted that ‘without India’s production capacity and spirit of solidarity, it is possible that Africa would not yet have received much vaccine at all’.
He said that the unsustainable situation demonstrates the opportunity for more ambitious private-sector investments between India and Africa, in Pharmaceutical manufacturing, among other areas.
The President also commended Rwanda; India relationship which continues to flourish.
“The relationship between India and Rwanda continues to flourish, and our goal is to further deepen our ties. Rwanda and India continue to collaborate on important infrastructure and development initiatives,” he stressed.
“The key objective is to increase the educational and employment opportunities available to young people in both India and Rwanda. Knowledge, innovation and green economy will still be the key drivers of growth after the pandemic,” added Kagame.
Among others, Kagame stressed that the Observer Research Foundation’s annual Kigali Dialogue is another good example.
“This event brings a fresh perspective to global debates on development and growth and attests to the increasing multipolarity of our world. I hope that many of you will come to Kigali for the next edition in 2022,” he said.
His body was seen yesterday around 3pm in Gafonogo village, Mwirute cell and rushed to alert local leaders. The 23-year old young man has been living alone in the house.
The executive secretary of Rukoma sector, Jean de Dieu Nkurunziza, has told IGIHE that the young man was an orphan adding that it is not known if he had clashes with anyone.
“It is suspected that he has been murdered. Rwanda Investigation Bureau has launched investigation and evidence gathering. No suspects have been identified. He was still young and had no conflicts with anyone,” he said.
IGIHE has learnt that the young man might have been stabbed on the neck with a knife.
His body was taken to Kacyiru Hospital for postmortem.
