Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Among others, 110 new cases have been found out of 4814 sample tests. The majority of new cases were found in Kigali: 31, Nyamagabe: 19, Karongi: 18 while Rutsiro, Nyamasheke and Nyabihu continue to record zero new infections.

The prevalence of new infections, recoveries and deaths currently stands at 2.3%, 87.9% and 1.3%.

Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 17594 people have been tested positive out of 955383 sample tests of whom 15475 have recovered, 1,879 are active cases while 240 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.

Affected sectors include Kabare and Nasho sectors from Kayonza and Kirehe districts respectively, as it rained in the evening of Monday 15th February 2021.

The executive secretary of Kabare sector, Rongin Gatanazi has told IGIHE that the rain destroyed 84 houses and crops including banana and rice among others.

“It rained across all corners of the sector and destroyed properties in three cells. It has destroyed 84 houses, 152 hectares of banana, ravaged 1.5 tons of rice from a cooperative’s store,” he said.

Gatanazi has however revealed that the disaster didn’t claim lives while affected residents were accommodated by neighbors.

“Firstly we sought shelter for affected residents. Secondly, disaster management team is counting the number of affected residents to identify needed support. Some shattered roofing sheets were not completely destroyed and can be reused while others need new ones. The team is visiting them door to door for us to conduct advocacy,” noted Gatanazi.

The executive secretary of Nasho sector, Nzirabatinya Modeste has reported 35 destroyed houses, ravaged banana on 135 hectares, and maize on 82 hectares as well as buildings of Groupe Scolaire Nyarubare.

“We have organized a community work to help residents whose houses can be renovated. We have also requested the district to provide equipment for emergence support,” he explained.

Similar disastrous rain was reported last year when it destroyed many houses in different sectors of Kirehe district.

The accident took place in Kiyanza cell, Ntarabana sector in Rulindo district.

The spokesperson of RIB, Dr Murangira B. Thierry has said that Shabani committed the accident on 10th February 2021 when he knocked a resident identified as Hakorimana Justin, 18, during an accident that resulted into death.

The spokesperson revealed that Shabani was later arrested on 11th February on account of unwillingly killing a person.

Processes to send Shabani’s file to the Prosecution is underway.

If convicted, Shabani is liable to a sentence between six months and two years or fine between Rwf 500, 000 and Rwf 2, 000, 0000 as per article 111 of Rwanda’s Penal Code.

Leaders of the organization are replaced every year on rotational basis.

Following the appointment, Minister Mukeshimana took over from Ghanaian predecessor, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto during a virtual ceremony.

Dr. Owusu also serves as the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Republic of Ghana.

As she took over duty yesterday, the new Chairperson, Minister Mukeshimana urged stakeholders for more work to promote the coffee industry in Africa and globally.

IACO was established in 1999 with country members initially. It currently comprises of 25 country members including Rwanda.

Rwanda is among African countries growing and processing high quality coffee recognized internationally.

Statistics from National Agricultural Export Development Board he National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NAEB) shows that 400,000 households in Rwanda force their meal upon coffee farming.

Rwanda harvests between 16,000 and 21,000 tons of coffee every year planted on 42,000 hectares.

The Ministry of Health on Sunday revealed that Rwanda has begun COVID-19 vaccination program starting with high risk groups including healthcare staff.

Apart from healthcare workers, patients with incurable diseases like blood pressure, diabetes and asthma among other respiratory diseases are among the first group to be vaccinated in the first phase along with elders above 65 years and people whose line of duty puts them in a susceptible position.

IGIHE has learnt that Governor Gatabazi and some colleagues are among Rwandans who have been already vaccinated.

“It is true that Governor Gatabazi has received COVID-19 vaccination along with some colleagues,” revealed the source.

Gatabazi announced that he recovered from COVID-19 in January 2021 and advised the public against complacency.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Ministry of Health revealed that the country was using limited quantities acquired through international partnerships that the initial vaccination program will be followed by a wider roll-out in the same month.

Even though the Ministry didn’t reveal who received the vaccine, IGIHE has learnt that King Faisal Hospital staff and players of the National Football Team, Amabuvi are among people who have been already vaccinated.

IGIHE also learnt from credible sources that Rwanda received approximately 1000 vaccine dozes that have been already used.

Rwanda is among four African countries expected to receive the first batch of vaccines through COVAX initiative. These include Cape Verde, Tunisia and South Africa.

Rwanda recently received five ultra-cold freezers with the capacity to store all types of Coronavirus vaccines.

The fridges can store vaccines at -70 and -86 degrees Celsius. It is expected that Rwanda will have received 1,098,960 vaccine dozes by February 2021 to vaccinate 549 480 people.

Rwanda expects to vaccinate 60% of Rwandans this year estimated to cost US$124 million (Rwf 121 billion).

The statement released last night shows that no one has succumbed to the virus.

Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 17 484.

People have been tested positive of whom 15 125 have recovered, 2120 are active cases while 239 have succumbed to the virus.

Figures from the Ministry of Health shows that the prevalence of new infections, recoveries and deaths toll stands at 5.3%, 86.5% and 1.3% respectively.

Among others, 10 patients are reported to be critically ill.

The Ministry of Health has also reported that 15 patients are critically ill.

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.

The separate operations were conducted on Sunday, February 14, in the districts of Kamonyi, Gisagara, Huye, Ruhango and Nyanza where the nine suspected producers were arrested with combined 1200 litres of Muriture.

Their arrest and subsequent seizure of the psychrotropic drinks came a day after nine other suspected producers were arrested in Gisagara with 840 litres of illicit brew.

Muriture is among “simple drugs” under the Ministerial Order No.001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.

Article 5 of the same legal instrument, partly, defines simple narcotic drugs as all alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws.

The Sunday operations were conducted jointly with local leaders and community policing groups including DASSO and community patrols locally known as Irondo.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region said that these are continuous operations targeting mainly producers of assorted illicit drinks.

“Three producers were arrested in Kabagesera, Runda Sector, Kamonyi District with 540 litres of Muriture; three others were arrested in Gisagara District with 310 litres,” SP Kanamugire said.

“Other major producers were arrested in Huye, Ruhango and Nyanza while the search is still underway for another major producer in Nyanza, who managed to flee during the operation in Busoro Sector, Gitovu cell, Kayenzi village where 120 litres were seized from the production house,” SP Kanamugire said.

He warned that further operations will be conducted based on the compiled list of suspected distillers and big sellers in local bars.

The spokesperson observed that the psychrotropic substances, besides being harmful to consumers also cause insecurity as consumers engage in other unlawful practices including fights and domestic violence.

Some of the raw materials used in the production of illicit drinks are considered harmful. In some cases, producers use burned bricks, sugarcane residues, spirit and other raw materials prohibited by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB).

RSB specifies that “only food grade processing aids recognized as safe for human consumption shall be used during the manufacture.”

Other standard requirements include labeling as a prerequisite; the name of the products, physical and postal address of manufacturer; net contents in milliliters or liters; ethyl alcohol content; date of manufacture and expiry date; storage instruction; statutory warnings; and list of ingredients in descending order.

According to SP Kanamugire, producers of these illicit drinks operate in unhygienic places using dirty containers.

All the seized substances were disposed of during which authorities urged residents to desist from consuming the harmful drinks and to continue exhibiting the community policing spirit by reporting producers and bars selling illicit brew.

Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, anyone convicted for dealing in “simple drugs” faces between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Rwf5 million and Rwf10 million.