IGIHE

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  • Southern province crowns miss

    Southern province crowns miss

    {On Saturday, all roads led to Huye town where representatives of the Southern Province in the 2014 Miss Rwanda pageant were picked during a glamorous event.}

    The venue, the auditorium of the University of Rwanda’s College of Humanities and Arts, was filled up by an expectant, ecstatic audience.

    Belise Hitayezu, 19, in her S.6 vacation; beat the rest to the regional crown after. The former ENPD Karubanda student was followed by Mouna Dukundewho (first runner-up) and Lydia Kayitesi, who emerged second runner-up.

    The panel was composed of Jolie Murenzi, Wilson Ruyenzi and Mike Karangwa. Only the City of Kigali is yet to pick their reps for the national level contest.

    Miss Rwanda 2014 finals are slated for February 22 while the Ministry of Sports and Culture is organizing the event together with East African Promoters, with Mutzig and Cogebanque the sponsors.

  • Burera: Police arrests woman over abortion

    Burera: Police arrests woman over abortion

    Woman fugitive suspected of abortion has been arrested by Rwanda police in Burera district.

    The 21 year old woman was arrested following investigations and information by neighbors through community policing between local residents and the Rwanda police.

    According to information, from the neighbors this woman gave birth to a young baby but the baby couldn’t be seen anywhere, after a few hours of tight questioning the lady accepted the abortion crime and claimed it was due to poverty.

    Talking to Journalists, the Rwanda police spokesperson in the Northern province Superintendant (SP) Emmanuel Hitayezu urged the youth not to influence themselves in sex before marriage, because it may lead them to negative consequences.

    Hitayezu lastly called upon parents to provide good care of their children in order to prevent them in facing such problems.

  • Terror trial set to begin Tuesday at Military High Court

    Terror trial set to begin Tuesday at Military High Court

    {{Kigali, 26 January 2014}} – {The trial of sixteen people suspected to be part of a terror network and their accomplices will begin on Tuesday, 28 January at the Military High Court in Kanombe, Kigali.}

    Suspects to stand trial include Lt Joel Mutabazi and Innocent Kalisa (a Demobilised Private), both formerly members of Rwanda Defence Forces serving in the Republican Guard and their co-accused. The Group will be charged jointly and separately with terrorism, murder, conspiracy to murder,formation of an armed group, spreading rumours with intention to incite the public against the State, illegal possession of fire arms, forgery and desertion.

    Among the suspects to be charged include two members of FDLR (a genocidal militia made up of Ex-FAR and interahamwe) closely linked with Rwanda National Congress (RNC) and eight former National University of Rwanda students recruited by RNC and suspected to be part of a terror cell of the FDLR.

    Defence and Military spokesperson Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita said:

    “Investigations as well as corroborated confessions from the suspects has revealed important evidence of an organised network of individuals in Rwanda and beyond responsible for grenade attacks in Kigali last year and plans to carry out further acts of terror. The suspects will be brought before a court of law to answer to specific charges on crimes committed.”

    The trial will be open to the public and media.

    END

  • Rwandans have to pay more for bread

    Rwandans have to pay more for bread

    {KIGALI, Rwanda – The expected hike in bread prices has not been wholesale as some outlets kept prices unchanged.
    }

    An 18% rate was slapped on wheat flour by the government.

    “We have been paying VAT before, and have maintained the bread prices and therefore there is no need for us to increase it now,” Mike Fietzeh, the owner of La Galette Company told East African Business Week.

    La Galette is the main bread supplier. “At la Galette a big loaf goes for Rwf1300 (nearly $2) and buns at Rwf800 (just over a $1) and our company has not changed the prices, because of VAT since we can deduct such taxes from the daily input we make,” Fietzeh said.

    Fietzeh said that VAT should not be a problem to other bread manufacturers since they can actually claim it from their daily input, but the increase in prices on other bread ingredients.

    In the Rwanda National budget 2013/2014; VAT of 18% was levied on wheat flour raising fear that this could lead to a sharp increase in bread prices.

    Bread is an item that is usually in high demand in Rwanda. The wheat flour is for the most part imported.

    However some bread manufacturers or outlets like Simba Supermarket increased bread prices from Rwf900 for a sweet big loaf to Rwf950.

    Prices for the salt variety in the big size is now selling at Rwf900 while prices for buns were raised from Rwf650 to Rwf750.

    “This is not because of the VAT put on wheat only, but because of an increase in prices of sugar, salt, yeast, cooking oil which are the main ingredients needed to produce bread,” Justine Ngarambe, the

    General Manager of Simba Supermarket said.

    She said a sack of wheat flour that was sold at Rwf15,000 before is now going for Rwf17,000. She said prices for other inputs also went up.

    “This is quite a big increase in bread s,” said one bread consumer, Beata Uwiringiyimana, a resident of Kacyiru.

    Uwiringiyimana said that they used to buy bread very cheaply at Rwf500 a pack, but because of the constant increase of prices on the items needed to produce it, this has led to price hikes.

    The increase in bread prices will therefore continue to affect bread consumption in the country.

    This may result in people taking on other options hence a call to the government by people to look into reversing the new VAT rate.

  • DR Congo: Failure to disarm rebels stokes insecurity in Kivu Province

    DR Congo: Failure to disarm rebels stokes insecurity in Kivu Province

    {Security – After an unsuccessful military operation devoted to disarm the insurgents of the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) operating in North-Kivu Province bordering Rwanda in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, there are fears of an upsurge in insecurity in the region. This failure came despite the UN Strike Force supporting the Congolese military to defeat the March 23 rebels (M23) in this province, where many villages previously held by the M23 rebellion fell under control of other militias that Rwanda’s authorities accused of collaborating with Hutu rebels, some of whom took part in the genocide against the Tutsis in 1994.}

    Some Kigali analysts blame the failure on the fact that most of the FDLR Hutu rebels who fled to Rwanda after the genocide are showing no willingness to leave Congo despite the on-going voluntary repatriation programme.

    For years, the M23 has been fighting for the implementation of the peace agreement which it signed with the government on 29 March 2009, and through which the government committed itself to eradicating all negatively forces operating in Eastern DRC as a precondition to thousands of Rwanda refugees in Congo returning from exile.

    M23, then known as the National Congress for the People’s Defence (CNDP), also claimed that its servicemen should be given their present ranks after their integration into the Congolese military (FARDC).

    Despite the fact that the M23 rebellion has announced since November 2013 that it has “voluntarily” put an end to the insurrection, mainly in areas under its control, the Congolese Armed Forces, supported by the UN Special Strike Force, is now attempting to have the Rwandan Hutu rebels repatriated by force.

    “Considering the Rwandan insurgents’ refusal to go back home, you can understand that some of their radical leaders fear they should face justice once repatriated, particularly for their role in the 1994 genocide, as some are still profiting from support from hidden forces on an international scale,” a political expert from the University of Rwanda told PANA on the condition of anonymity.

    Some months ago, after a vast FARDC-operation was launched to chase away the Rwandan rebels, some of the insurgents retreated, while others invaded villages near the Rwandan border.

    Rwandan authorities believe that the international community has failed in its fight against armed groups in Eastern DR Congo.

    “In such a situation, the operations by the UN-backed Congolese military to fight rebels are doomed to failure,” said Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Louise Mushikiwabo.

    But for the UN, the move to end the conflict in the Great Lakes sub-region must start with reinforcing the process for Disarmament, Demobilisation, Repatriation, Reintegration and Reinstallation (DDRRR), and “relocating” FDLR volunteers in Congo, Rwanda or other countries, far from the borders with their countries of origin.

    While ruling out any kind of negotiations with the FDLR, a Hutu rebel movement, Rwanda’s government advocate easing the voluntary repatriation for all FDLR rebel fighters who are not steeped in genocide ideologies.

    The FDLR has been operating in Eastern DRC for more than 19 years and is considered one major source of insecurity in the Great Lakes area.

    A lot of its members allegedly participated in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

    {{PANA }}

  • Police deny neglecting Makonene murder

    Police deny neglecting Makonene murder

    {The Rwanda National Police has maintained that investigations into the case involving the murder of Gustave Makonene, who was killed in July last year in Rubavu District, was “never neglected or closed.”}

    Last week, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleged that investigations into the murder of the former coordinator of Transparency International Rwanda in Rubavu District, Western Province had “stalled” and that Rwanda kept “silent” about it.

    “The case is still open to investigations, even though the case file and suspects were forwarded to prosecution. We welcome everyone, including the HRW, with information that might bring to justice all those responsible for this criminal act,” ACP Damas Gatare, the Rwanda National Police Spokesperson, said. Makonene’s body was found on the shores of Lake Kivu on July 18.

    Following investigations, four people, who included a Police officer, were arrested in connection with the murder but later released by prosecution and court for lack of enough evidence.

    It was later established that the Police officer was just a friend to one of the staff, contrary to allegations that he was spying on the deceased.

    ACP Gatare added that they were not aware of any corruption case involving a police officer, which the HRW alleged that the deceased was working on at the time of his murder.

    Even if it was the case, Gatare said, reporting or investigating a Police officer over graft “has never been a threat to anybody, especially that the force maintains a zero tolerance stance to corruption”.

    “It wouldn’t be the first time a Police officer is investigated over graft. Some officers have been investigated, prosecuted and others dismissed from the force. We have been working with the community and other partners, including Transparency International Rwanda, to fight the vice,” the Police spokesperson said.

    Last year, Rwanda National Police arraigned 34 Police officers before journalists, who were arrested in connection with graft-related crimes.

    Contrary to the Human Rights Watch claims that the case was not given due attention, Police said the case was given the weight serious crimes deserve, and have been working with the public and relevant institutions, including Transparency International Rwanda, in investigating it.

    Newtimes

  • CAR names new prime minister

    CAR names new prime minister

    {Central African Republic’s new interim President Catherine Samba-Panza has named Andre Nzapayeke, a former official of the African Development Bank, as prime minister, state radio said on Saturday.}

    Samba-Panza, who took office two days ago, is seeking to build an interim government to restore order to the former French colony after months of sectarian violence that has left thousands dead or homeless.

    The mineral-rich country descended into chaos last March when Muslim armed groups known as Seleka seized power in a coup, unleashing a wave of killing and looting.

    That triggered revenge attacks by Christian militia known as anti-balaka, or anti-machete, and fighting has escalated in recent days despite the presence of about 1,600 French troops and 5,000 African Union peacekeepers.

    A Muslim former minister was hacked to death by machete-wielding militiamen in Bangui on Friday. At least nine others were killed when bands of people, some of them Christian groups, attacked and looted shops in the mostly Muslim Miskine neighbourhood of the capital, witnesses said.

    The violence has killed more than 2,000 since December, and forced about a million people – nearly a quarter of the population – to flee their homes.

    Agencies

  • Kinshasa: Convicted for the murder of Laurent Désiré Kabila claim amnesty

    Kinshasa: Convicted for the murder of Laurent Désiré Kabila claim amnesty

    {According to Radio France International, thirty persons convicted in the assassination of President Laurent Désiré Kabila worry about being left out in the drafted law of amnesty.
    }

    Thursday, January 23, senators considered the text submitted by the government that provides amnesty for crimes committed before July 1, 2003.

    However, the accused in the assassination of President Laurent Kabila were tried in January 2003. The lawyer Eric Miza who represents eighteen of Sentenced Persons, senators should have included those convicted, and should have been done in the name of national unity process. He hoped that members will correct the law at the second time.

    “The bill passed its first evaluation in the Senate; it remains second in the National Assembly. We believe that it will make an effort to correct this void occasioned by the Senate.”

  • Kenya security Westgate attack warnings ignored: Report

    Kenya security Westgate attack warnings ignored: Report

    {Warnings by Kenyan security forces of impending attack just days before Somalia’s Shebab gunmen stormed a Nairobi mall killing at least 67 people last year were ignored, parliamentary investigations have found, according to reports.}

    “There was general information on the impending terror attack on all the malls and other strategic Western interests, especially in Nairobi,” the parliamentary report read, quoted by Kenya’s Sunday Nation newspaper.

    Warnings of an attack were made in August and again just 19 days before the September 21 attack on Westgate, when gunmen stormed the upmarket mall hurling grenades and shooting shoppers and staff, the report notes.

    Another security report, issued a year to the day before the Westgate siege began, specifically said the Shebab were planning to attack the partly Israeli-owned complex.

    “Another intelligence briefing in February 2013 warned of attacks like those that happened in Mumbai in late 2008, where the operatives storm a building with guns and grenades and probably hold hostages,” the report read, quoted in the newspaper.

    “It is unclear what measures were put in place to prevent the attacks.”

    Somalia’s Islamist Shebab said the attack was a warning to Kenya to pull its troops out of southern Somalia, where they are fighting the Shebab as part of an African Union force.

    The report is also critical of how various security forces — including police, army and special forces — handled the four-day siege, noting the “poor coordination by the multi-agency forces during the operation”.

    It also criticised a “nationwide systemic failure” of the immigration department, with widespread corruption in the issuance of identity cards.

    The report, the result of investigations by the joint parliamentary committee of National Security and Defence and Foreign Relations, is expected to be discussed when parliament reopens next month.

    Four men are on trial in Nairobi for allegedly providing logistical support to the attackers.

    All the gunmen in the Westgate siege — understood to have totalled four, not the dozen that security forces initially reported — are believed to have died during the attack, according to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    Western officials have suggested that as many as 94 people could have died in total in the attack.

    khaleejtimes.com

  • Obama to outline new plans for jobless next week

    Obama to outline new plans for jobless next week

    {President Barack Obama will announce a new plan next week to help Americans who continue to struggle to find jobs even as the economy recovers from recession, his senior adviser, Dan Pfeiffer, said on Saturday.}

    Obama’s efforts to help the long-term unemployed are part of an economic strategy he will lay out in his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday and expound upon during a four-state tour, Pfeiffer said in a mass email from the White House.

    “With some action on all our parts, we can help more job seekers find work, and more working Americans find the economic security they deserve,” Pfeiffer said in his email.

    Obama has vowed to address the gap between rich and poor in America, and has said he will do what he can – even without help from a deeply divided Congress that, so far, has shown little willingness to spend money on new programs.

    He has said he will take executive actions to push forward his agenda, as well as the power of the highest office in the nation to motivate business and community leaders to take additional steps.

    A White House official said Obama will announce in his Tuesday speech new executive actions on retirement security and job training to help middle-class workers “expand economic opportunity” – a key theme of the speech.

    Already this year, Congress thwarted Obama’s efforts to extend jobless benefits for people who have been unsuccessfully seeking work for more than six months.

    Benefits for 1.5 million Americans expired at the end of 2013. The Senate failed in mid-January to agree on a plan to renew the benefits.

    Obama will hammer home his economic plans during a two-day, four-state trip to Prince George’s County, Maryland, and Pittsburgh on Wednesday, and Milwaukee and Nashville on Thursday, an official said.

    Vice President Joe Biden will visit Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York, on Wednesday to talk about “education and workforce development,” the White House said. He will be accompanied by his wife, Jill Biden, who is a community college teacher.

    After Obama’s trip, he will return to the White House “to outline new efforts to help the long-term unemployed,” Pfeiffer said in his statement.

    Obama had promised earlier this month that he would bring a group of chief executive officers to the White House in an effort to persuade them to hire more people from the ranks of the long-term unemployed.

    “We’re going to try to work with CEOs to make a pledge that we’re going to take a second look at these Americans who are very eager to get back to work and have the capacity to do so, but aren’t getting the kind of shot that they need,” Obama said on January 14 ahead of a meeting with his cabinet.

    Reuters