The activity took place yesterday as 120 households and 18 schools received water reservoirs.
Following the donation, residents of Mukondo cell, Nyundo sector expressed delight that these water tanks will also enable the provision of water.
“We usually experience water shortage in this area. We used to fetch water from the fountain in far distant valley after walking for an hour and half. Water reservoirs will also intervene in the prevention of erosion,” Nyirabahutu Consolée.
Hakizimana Tharcisse said that children have been reporting late to school due to lack of water.
“We are accustomed to using river water from valleys. It takes long to reach these rivers that our children report to school late. With these water reservoirs, we are killing two birds with one stone. It gives relief as we will be assured of access to water and prevent erosion as well,” he explained.
Rubavu district vice mayor for economic development, Nzabonimpa Déogratias requested residents to work together for efficient use of received reservoirs.
“River Sebeya used to destroy properties but it will be used for touristic purposes in coming days and generate revenues due to conservation efforts and set up infrastructure. You have built terraces on 365 hectares helping you to feed families with harvested maize and potatoes. We encourage you to make good use of these water reservoirs and use designated chemicals to purify water. We request those who have not received reservoirs to be patient as we plan to reach all of you once funds are available,” he promised.
Apart from water reservoirs, residents neighboring with Sebeya have also received 285 out of 475 cows to be donated to residents through the project aimed at preserving River Sebeya.
The sentence was read yesterday as the court announced the ruling yesterday for the case involving Mudathiru and 31 co-accused suspects belonging to P5 and FLN terror groups.
The suspects are segmented into two groups mainly the group comprising of 25 led by Rtd Major Mudathiru Habib (a former RDF soldier) facing charges including formation and being part of an irregular armed group or joining it, conspiracy against the established Government or the President of the Republic, maintaining relations with a foreign government with the intent to wage a war and formation of or joining a criminal group.
They were captured in 2019 in terrorism activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), as part of an intensified campaign by the Congolese military against militia groups operating in the country. The 25 suspects were extradited to on 18th June 2019.
Another suspect connected to the case is Pte a Jean Bosco Ruhinda who escaped to DRC forests. He was tried in absentia because he has not yet been captured.
Another group connected to the case includes Corporal Viateur, Corporal Jean Bosco Dusabimana and Private Champagnat Igitego led by Pte Dieudonné Muhire.
They are accused along with two civilians Pacifique Muhire and Richard Nzafashwanimana.
The group is accused of escaping the military, conspiracy against the Government or intending to overthrowing it by means of war or other powers, formation of a criminal group and subsequently seducing new recruits, and taking part of terror group’s activities.
During the previous hearing, the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) Military Prosecution requested life sentence for 32 people accused of working with terror groups including P5 and FLN observing that they were all involved in coordinated terror activities.
The court read that Mudathiru pleaded guilty for accusations, accepted to have received support from Burundi, trained P5 militia to wage a war to Rwanda.
The fact that he pleaded guilty served the court to hand him a lenient punishment of 25-year jail term along with other co-accused including Pte Ruhinda Jean Bosco and Pte Muhire Dieudonné.
Nsanzimana Patrick and Lubwama Suleiman (a Ugandan) were handed 20-year sentence.
Other 18 suspects have been sentenced for 15 years while one suspect was acquitted of all charges. More three suspects have been handed 8-year sentence while two have been sentenced for five years.
Among others, Corporal Dusabimana Jean Bosco has been handed 1 year and six month sentence.
A motorcyclist, Nzafashwanimana Richard who was among accused suspects had been handed four-year sentence convicted of helping soldiers to escape.
The call was made by the Southern Region Police Commander (RPC), CSP Francis Muheto during a meeting with representatives of commercial motorcyclists operating in Huye, held on Thursday, March 25.
The meeting was also attended by the mayor of Huye, Ange Sebutege.
It was organized and held in accordance with all COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
The meeting with commercial motorcyclists emphasized compliance with the COVID-19 preventive measures, traffic rules and regulations to prevent road accidents and strengthening partnership to fight crimes.
CSP Muheto cautioned the motorcyclists over traffic violations, which continue to cause fatal accidents.
“You do not wake up in the morning to go on the road to die; you go there to work but when you use the road recklessly, the end results are fatal for you, your passenger and even other road users.
You should change your attitude on road and respect road safety standards, reckless use of road means putting lives at high risk,” CSP Muheto said.
The RPC further urged them never to ride when they drink, abide when traffic Police officers stop them, respect all COVID-19 prevention guidelines including wearing face mask by both the rider and passenger, sanitize hands to prevent the spread of the virus and practice social distancing at the parking stations.
He reminded the that passengers must always wear a piece of cloth inside the helmet but warned them against using water as hand sanitizer or diluting alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
CSP Muheto further cautioned the taxi-moto operators against facilitating criminality especially transporting smuggled goods, narcotic drugs or drug dealers and thieves.
Scores of motorcyclists have been arrested transporting smuggled goods, narcotics and drug dealers and in other cases acting as spotters guiding drug traffickers on safer routes to avoid arrest.
The Mayor of Huye, Ange Sebutege told tax-moto operators to comply with the government directives and actively participate in government community development programmes.
He further encouraged them to operate in cooperatives and adopt the culture of saving under the government initiative called ‘Ejo Heza’.
There are over 1400 taxi moto operators in Huye District.
During the 30-minute programme, Quest discovers how age-old traditions like Umuganda are uniting a new generation and learns about the important role Inyambo cows in Rwandan culture.
Quest also visits the Kigali Genocide Memorial to reflect on the country’s past. Here, he meets the people determined to unite, renew, and move the country forward while educating future generations.
Honore Gatera, Director of the Kigali Genocide Memorial, is a survivor of the genocide and tells Quest why it’s important to remember the atrocities, “You’ll never be able to prevent mass atrocities, genocide, and hate, if it doesn’t start with the personal and individual commitment to the cause.”
The programme also explores Rwanda’s cultural scene as Quest meets the creative force behind a new fashion brand, Rwanda Clothing, which imports fabrics from across the continent and transforms them into bespoke garments.
Founded in 2012, Joselyne Umutoniwase tells CNN that she hopes to bring Rwandan fashion to a global audience. She says: “I think every time someone takes an outfit from here, in this show room, travels with it, to New York, to London, to Paris, that outfit can tell a different story of Rwanda.”
She explains that the garments represent many aspects of Rwanda: “I think it’s the image of Rwanda. I sell the image. I sell the creativity, the energy of the people. I sell the dream of the people who wants to move forward.”
In the final part of the show, [Quest’s World of Wonder ->https://edition.cnn.com/travel/specials/quests-world-of-wonder] showcases the reason so many tourists visit Rwanda – mountain gorillas. Quest and his crew climb the Virunga Mountains with trekking guide Francoise Bigirimana, who had previously worked alongside renowned primatologist Dian Fossey. The programme witnesses them first-hand and hears about the conservation efforts taking place in the country.
Speaking on his experience filming the show, Richard Quest said: “I knew a visit here was bound to be exceptional, but its lived way beyond my expectations. The way the people here have faced historic horrors and then moved forward into the future… Take it from me, Rwanda is part of our World of Wonder.”
The statement released last night shows that 104 people have caught the virus, 99 recovered, 5 are critically ill while 297 were vaccinated yesterday bringing the total number to 348, 296 since Rwanda began countrywide vaccination program.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 21210 have been tested positive of whom 19540 have recovered, 1372 are active cases while 298 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.
She delivered the message during a virtual concert held yesterday on 24th March at the celebration of World Tuberculosis Day.
Mico The Best performed along with renowned Rwandan rapper, Riderman.
The concert was mainly organized to convey messages encouraging people to up Tuberculosis preventive efforts and go for early diagnosis because the disease can be treated at early stages.
During the concert, Dr. Lucica Ditiu greatly thanked artiste Mico The Best and the Ministry of Health for joining him in anti-Tuberculosis (TB) campaign.
“Hi all. It is of great value to get this opportunity to deliver my message in support of the solidarity of my friends and partners from Rwanda. I am excited to be here. My thanks go to the Ministry of Health and brother Mico The Best,” she said.
Dr. Lucica Ditiu also commended Rwanda’s disease prevention efforts and Mico The Best for organizing the concert in light with the celebration of World Tuberculosis Day.
She assured support to the artiste and the Government of Rwanda along the journey to defeat Tuberculosis.
Construction activities that began in July 2019 are expected to be completed next month in April 2021.
The substation is built in Ruzuba village, Rugeshi cell, Mukamira sector in Nyabihu district. It is the first substation completed in the district expected to aliment electricity to Nyabihu and neighboring districts including Rubavu, Rutsiro, Ngororero and Musanze and address power blackouts.
The Branch Manager of REG in Nyabihu district, Martin Mutsindashyaka has said that Nyabihu residents used to pull electricity from far distant ‘Camp Belge’ power station in Musanze which triggered intermittent electricity due to long distribution channel.
Mutsindashyaka also explained that the substation will aliment adequate electricity to other factories under construction in Nyabihu.
52% of households in Nyabihu district have access to electricity.
In a bid to fast track development activities, Rwanda targets universal electricity access by 2024.
Figures from REG show that over 59,7% Rwandans currently have access to electricity.
They are being constructed at schools which struggled to cook for students due to lack of kitchens.
The development was revealed on Tuesday by the State Minister in Charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Gaspard Twagirayezu at the celebration of African School Feeding Day held at Groupe Scolaire Kayanga in Rutunga sector, Gasabo district.
Twagirayezu explained that the activity is meant to help schools find dining places unlike the past when they used to eat from their classes.
He emphasized that feeding children at school helps them to stay concentrated on studies and requested parents to support respective schools to implement the program.
“The current policy seeks to feed every student at school. Secondly, it was decided that all children will be fed from school starting from nursery kids but it requires adequate infrastructure for the program to materialize. The construction of kitchens which is underway is among other preparations facilitating the program,” he said.
The head teacher of GS Kayanga, Nahayo Clemence has said that feeding children in classes has been annoying.
“Children are still fed from classrooms because of lacking refectories. The construction of kitchens underway will help us to find comfortable places where we will be cooking and feeding children,” she said.
The Government pays Rwf 56 for every student to be fed at school while the remaining cost is covered by the school and parents.
It is expected that the school feeding program will be rolled out to children from nursery schools once these new kitchens are completed.
They are built at recently completed or under-construction 12-year basic education schools, semi-public schools among others lacking such infrastructure.
The development was revealed yesterday during the 17th Annual Development Partners Retreat (DPR) which brings together senior Government officials and Development Partners.
The two-day event held place virtually for the first time, centers on the theme of the retreat, “Stronger Recovery – the path to strategic transformation.” The retreat showcases Rwanda’s effort in containing the effects of COVID-19 and the recovery efforts underway.
Under COVAX facility, Rwanda like other developing countries, will receive vaccines covering 20% of its population. With over 12.9 million population, Rwanda has to receive approximately 2.5 million vaccines to cover 20%.
On the other hand, World Health organization (WHO) says that should at least vaccinate 60% of their population to ensure efforts to defeat the pandemic yield big, starting from people most vulnerable to catch the virus including health workers, people with chronic diseases and those in advanced ages.
To reach the target, Rwanda needs to vaccinate 7.7 million people using 15.5 million doses because currently distributed vaccines including Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca require two doses administration for efficacy.
The Government of Rwanda has revealed that US$ 124 million (over Rwf 123 billion) are needed to acquire, store, distribute and administer vaccines covering 60% of the population as expected by June 2022.
Richard Tusabe; the Minister of State in charge of the National Treasury has said that the Government is holding talks with partners to raise Rwf 46.7 billion to be allocated to ongoing national vaccination efforts.
Rolande Pryce, World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda has also emphasized that the bank might definitively approve US$30 million (over Rwf 29 billion) grant allocated to support Rwanda’s countrywide vaccination program.
In partnership with Development Partners, Government has spared no effort to cushion the economic impact by providing health and medical related equipment, expanding social protection programs, investing in agriculture and infrastructure to provide food security and create employment, provided support to businesses hardest hit by the pandemic to resume operations and thus contribute to recovery by creating the Economic Recovery Fund.
“As Development Partners, we have been pleased to support the government’s excellent response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Development Partners Retreat facilitates joint reflection on policy and other actions to achieve a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive post-COVID recovery for Rwanda. We are privileged to have this opportunity.” said Rolande Pryce, World Bank Country Manager.
As Allianz prepares to expand its presence in the East African insurance market – building on a solid foundation in Kenya and with the acquisition of the majority of shares in Jubilee General Insurance Company in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mauritius and Burundi – this event is the second of a series aiming at sharing with stakeholders pan African solutions that the Allianz Group can offer through its footprint in Africa, by extending to the continent its expertise as a worldwide insurance leader.
Allianz Africa brought together agriculture and insurance experts such as Dr. Reto Schneider, Regional Head of Agriculture at Allianz Re, Lovemore Forichi, Senior Underwriter of Agriculture at Allianz Re, Gregoire Tombez, CEO of WARM Consulting Group Ltd and Co-founder of Green Triangle, Erastus Ndege Ochieng, Asset Manager, Agriculture Underwriting at Africa Re, Omondi Kasidhi, Head, Sustainable Agriculture Sourcing of Diageo PLC and Delphine Traore, COO of Allianz Africa, to discuss the topic.
“There is an ever increasing need to invest in agriculture, given the vital importance of agriculture as a food source, especially in view of the increase in global population”, declared Delphine Traoré, to explain the interest of Allianz Africa for
sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Indeed, agriculture production makes up a substantial portion of the continent’s GDP in Africa, yet only a small portion of the producers are insured. Raising awareness of the vital role that agriculture insurance plays in sustaining agricultural production is a key step to increasing insurance penetration in the sector.
“Allianz Africa aims to contribute towards closing the protection gap and position itself as a leading agriculture (re)insurance provider on the continent,’’ added Delphine.
In addition, climate risks increase the need for investments to make agriculture more resilient, following the panel’s experts. They agreed that the development and commercialization of agriculture requires financial services that can support. To this end, agricultural insurance is strategically important for eradicating extreme poverty, boosting prosperity and protecting livelihoods.
In 2020, the insurance industry recorded a cumulative premium of approx. 300mn USD from agricultural insurance. The Southern and Eastern regions of Africa contributed more than 80% of the recorded premium.
Eastern Africa recently recorded an improvement in its trajectory. Dr. Reto Schneider stated that “the agricultural sector in the insurance industry could reach the potential of 1bn USD within 10 years, provided that penetration can be substantially increased.”
During the webinar, parametrics solutions were presented as the direction for the future. They bring a number of advantages such as high accuracy with state-of-the-art satellite information, hybrid products to address additional perils, increased efficiency through fully paperless processes, fast and automated payouts possible, high level of traceability, combination with loans and integration of the value chain.
Despite certain limitations, “technology is closing the gap between indemnity and parametric crop insurance and allows to get the best of both worlds in a single product”, Gregoire Tombez, CEO of WARM Consulting Group Ltd and Co-founder of GreenTriangle stated.
To have a reliable parametrics system that provides efficient solutions, the panel emphasized the necessity to bring significant improvements through product suitability, affordability, value chain efficiency, distribution, information and training.
{{About Allianz Africa}}
In Africa, Allianz is currently present in 12 countries and accompanies clients in 49 markets. Its 1.300 employees achieved regional revenues of 663 million euros in 2019. Allianz also provides micro-insurance for 1.7mn low – income families and individuals in Africa.
