{{The Rwanda Tennis Association in collaboration with Nyanza district have officially opened the new Tennis court in the district.
The tennis court was officially let on Saturday during which players were engaged in a match in an event organised by a sponsorer identified as Claire.
The event was also attended by the Governor Southern Province Alphonse Munyentwari, Nyanza district Mayor Murenzi Abdallah.}}
{French President Francois Hollande shakes hands with President Paul Kagame}
{{France has cancelled its plans to attend the 20th commemoration of Genocide Against ethnic Tutsi’s scheduled from 7th April.}}
The French Government suddenly cancelled its plans after President Paul Kagame exposed the detailed role of France and Belgium in the 1994 Genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s which claimed more than a million lives.
Romain Nadal the Spokesperson of France’s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that France will no longer send a representative to Kigali to attend the 20th commemoration which will also be attended by high ranking officials including UN secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Samantha Power and several other leaders.
France’s decision to suddenly cancel its participation in the commemoration follows remarks by President Kagame made during an interview with Jeune Afrique’s latest edition.
Kagame explains that France and Belgium had a principle role on the planning and execution of genocide in Rwanda which claimed more than a million people leaving behind several orphans, widows and a broken nation.
However, President Kagame says France’s involvement in the genocide is beyond what they (France) would want to believe or say they believe.
The president explains that France and other powerful nations would prefer Rwanda shuts up like other weak countries and look like nothing ever happened.
{{The United Nations Secretary General has arrived in Kigali Rwanda where he joins Rwandans in the 20th commemoration of Genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s that claimed over a million lives.}}
Ban Ki Moon touched ground at Kigali International Airport from Central African Republic where he held talks with President Catherine Samba-Panza and visited peacekeeping force deployed in the country.
The UN chief is scheduled to hold talks with President Paul Kagame.
Ban Ki Moon notes that, “we will always remember the innocent Genocide victims that were brutally murdered and we shall also honour and give value to the efforts by survivors in rebuilding their lives”.
The UN secretary General said he was hurt by what he saw at Kigali Genocide Memorial adding that such cruel acts should never happen again.
Ban Ki Moon also noted he has witnessed with his own eyes the rappid development in Rwanda twenty Years after the genocide that left behind a broken and failed state.
{{Mutesa J M V a long serving journalist on Contact FM Radio has passed away at Kanombe Military hospital after succumbing to Heart and lung disease.}}
The Media Fraternity in Rwanda have mourned their fallen colleague saying he was a dedicated Journalist.
{more details to Follow}
{{One Laptop Per Child, a nonprofit foundation working in Rwanda for more than 8 years announced Saturday a special donation of 2,800 XO Laptops as part of the ceremonies related to the 20th anniversary of the genocide. }}
The initial 260 laptops will arrive within the following few weeks. They will include 200 XO4 TOUCH laptops, the latest generation of the worldwide recognized brand.
“Although the ceremonies that will take place within the next few days will be conducted under a mourning environment, One Laptop Per Child will like not only to pay homage to those who died, but at the same time will like to recognize and honor the enormous process of rebuilding the nation during the past two decades.
This progress and transformation has been done under the leadership of PresidentPaul Kagame and of his government”, said Rodrigo Arboleda, CEO of One Laptop Per Child, “Every time I come to the country I am amazed to witness the pace and degree of progress of this nation and of its people.
It is like a new country each and every time. We are honoured to have been allowed to contribute in our humble way with the largest project in Africa related to social equality and a transformation of a paradigm of education from one that has been based on “teaching” towards one to be based on “learning”.
Most especially, on “learning‐about‐learning”. We are proud of the progress made and of the enthusiasm and support all members of Rwanda’s society have blessed us with”.
The schools that are going to be part of this project are the following:
1. Lycee du Lac Muhazi,
2. Groupe scolaire du Mont Kigali (Apace),
3. Lycee de Kicukiro (APADE).
4. St Ignace school
5. Mary Hill secondary school
6. Ecole Gira Imuwe Many other schools will be included in this program as soon as laptops commence arriving into the country.
One Laptop per Child (OLPC at http://www.laptop.org) is a non‐profit
{{After Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $16 billion, some wondered what would happen to the company’s existing messaging app. Now it seems they had nothing to worry about.
The company updated the app Thursday with a major new feature — one that allows users to make free voice calls to their Facebook friends.}}
The new feature is similar to voice calling built in to other messaging apps such as Viber and WeChat. Users can make phone calls to friends for free, provided they have at least a wifi connection.
Now, when you view Facebook contacts from within Messenger, a phone icon appears next to their name. Tap the icon to start a phone call. Both participants need to have a wifi or data connection to make or receive calls.
The update comes weeks after photos that showed voice calling on WhatsApp— a feature rumored to be in the works for some time— leaked online.
Interestingly, the design of the in-call screens in Messenger, and the rumored screen in WhatsApp, are nearly identical to the in-call screen of iOS 7 itself. (The Android version of Messenger looks slightly different.)
The latest version of Facebook Messenger is available to iOS and Android users. The Windows Phone version has not yet been updated with the feature.
{{The Commission of the African Union (AU), in collaboration with the United Nations Mine Action Services (UNMAS), the United Nations Office to the AU (UNOAU) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), yesterday marked the International Mine Awareness and Assistance Day. }}
To this end, an event was organized at the AU Headquarters.
The event, whose theme for this year was “Women in Mine Action”, aimed at highlighting the important contribution made by women in mine action.
Representatives of AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), UN, ICRC and other AU bilateral and multilateral partners attended the event, which also featured a de-mining demonstration.
The Commission seized the opportunity to handover de-mining equipment (100 hand-held mine detectors, 55 protective Aprons and 55 Visors) to four Member States;Ethiopia, Mauritania, Sudan and Zimbabwe, as part of the AU’s efforts to support national efforts toward a Landmine-free Africa.
{{The Secretary General of the UN , Ban Ki- moon arrived Saturday in Bangui for a visit in a show of determination of the United Nations to deploy a peacekeeping force for peace in Central Africa.}}
En route to Kigali , where he will participate in ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, Mr. Ban was welcomed at the airport by CAR interim President Catherine Samba Panza.
He was scheduled to meet with Panza to discuss ways to end the cycle of intercommunal and interreligious violence that has scarred the country for a year and led UN officials to raise the specter of a new genocide in Africa.
Secretary General – ” terrified of a new Rwanda ,” said a diplomat at the UN – must also deliver a speech to the National Transitional Council ( NTC interim parliament ) to renew its call for an international mobilization.
Supported by France – which has deployed a force of 2 . 000 men in its former colony to help the African Standby Force ( Misca ) to pacify the country – the Secretary General calls for deployment by the end of 2014 a UN operation in Central Africa , added 12,000 troops.
During the EU-Africa summit on wednesday, Ban Ki -moon urged the international community to ” provide the necessary additional troops and funds .”
{{The Kwibuka Flame of Remembrance on 4 April 2014 reached Ndera in Gasabo District, the 29th stop on its tour of Rwanda. The event reflected on the events of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi as well as the journey of unity and renewal in Rwanda.
Survivors gave testimonies describing how members of former Rwanda Armed Forces (ex-FAR) and Interahamwe Militia in the Habyarimana regime butchered citizens that had taken refuge in Petit Seminaire Ndera and CARAES Mental Hospital Ndera.}}
Kigali City Mayor, Fidele Ndayisaba said that the Rwandan Army before 1994, instead of fostering unity and harmony embarked on spreading hatred and Genocide.
It is shame for Former Government Forces to kill the people they were supposed to protect, Mayor Ndayisaba said.
Hopefully there were other brave men and women, the Rwanda Patriotic Army led by HE President Kagame that gave their lives and stopped the genocide, he added.
Minister of Defence, Hon Gen James Kabarebe, Chief Guest at the event, delivered a speech to the citizens gathered at Petit Seminaire Ndera. He said that the genocide against Tutsi was not an accident; it was a well prepared plan over 30 years ago.
Minister Kabarebe said that the genocide was conducted by Rwandans who killed their compatriots. He also underlined that the genocide was stopped by Rwandans themselves when International Community abandoned the country.
Gen Kabarebe lauded the courage of Rwanda Patriotic Army that stopped the genocide and said “that was the beginning of flame of hope for Rwanda”.
Gen Kabarebe said that the forces that stopped the genocide have never changed but have gained more strength to defeat genocide ideology and anyone that dares threaten the security of Rwanda.
Gen Kabarebe reminded residents that there are still some individuals who would want to see the country descend into anarchy again, but emphasized that they will never succeed.
“The power that stopped the Genocide is still ready to protect this country’s achievements,” he said.
“Our history should inspire all Rwandans to stand up against evil,” Minister Kabarebe added.
The Minister of Defence assured the population on their security and said the good leadership of Rwanda will ensure the flame of hope remain lit forever among Rwandans.
MOD
{{A total of 45 Police officers, on April 4, completed a one month stockpile course in firearms management and security.}}
During the ‘basic ordinance stockpile management course’ organized by the Rwanda National Police (RNP), held the force’s ethics centre in Kacyiru, the officers gained skills in accounting and reporting, disposal and stockpile management and security.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Stanley Nsabimana, while closing the course challenged the officers “not to waste the acquired skills.”
He urged them to use the skills to manage the armory and keep proper records, and be catalysts of change in their duties.
Police Constable, Jean Bosco Ntigurirwa, one of the participants thanked the RNP for organizing and equipping them with new management skills.
“This training has equipped us with more skills on how to record, secure and manage firearms and improve in our duties,” PC Ntigurirwa said.
RNP