Author: Publisher

{Gahini hospital workers and patients were left in shock after a 24-year-old casual laborer was electrocuted in the hospital, on Thursday 9th January 2014.}

According to the police, the deceased only identified as Niyitegeka, (a cleaner), died instantly when she came into contact with a live wire and received severe shocks.

She was first seen by in-patients who tried to rescue her in vain.

Gerard Rubulika, the hospital administrator, confirmed the accident, saying they lost a hard working employee.

“The woman was cleaning in the ophthalmological ward when she touched live wires. The metallic bed and water she was handling were all good conductors of electricity. Her chances of survivor were, therefore, minimal,” he said.

One patient said it was a saddening moment when he found the young girl stuck in the electric wires near the hospital bed.

“I tried to rescue her but when I pulled her arm; mine also got stuck to hers. I had to use a wooden broom to push the metal away,” the patient, only identified as John, said.

Rescuers were later called and freed her body and transferred it to the mortuary, the police said.

Medics later handed over the body to the relatives of the deceased after conducting a post-mortem examination at Kiziguro Hospital.

Hazardous wiring is rampant in most district buildings, where houses are often gutted by fires.

However, Emilie Karemera, the area Energy Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) director said the cause of the accident was yet to be established. He warned the public against poor installations.

“People or institutions must use quality cables. Poor quality electric materials are responsible for electric shocks. It is advisable that even after installation, owners of buildings must make general check-up at least annually,” he said.

“It is sad that even big institutions and companies hire unskilled people to make installations. For Gahini hospital’s case, I do not know what went wrong,” Karemera added.

{Arnaud Ndizihiwe, 22, is a Rwandan student in Australia who was recently selected by Mars One project among 1058 people likely to go starting a human colony on planet Mars by 2025.}

This young aspiring Rwandan astronaut who pursues a business degree at S P Jain School of Global Management talked to IGIHE’s Elisée Mpirwa and shared his road trip to Mars.

{{IGIHE}}: {How did you know about this venture?}

{{Ndizihiwe}}: I first heard of Mars One on space.com, a popular website dedicated to space enthusiasts with all the latest news and trends on space exploration. I was lucky; applications for Round 1 which run from April 22, 2013 and closed on August 31, 2013 were still open. Mars one invited people from all nationalities, above the age of 18, to apply and become the first humans to step on planet Mars.

Applicants who applied to go to Mars: https://applicants.mars-one.com/

{{IGIHE}}: {Who heads this venture?}

{{Ndizihiwe}}: Mars one is a private organization based in the Netherlands that plans to establish a permanent human colony on Mars by 2025. It is headed by Dutch entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp, founder and CEO.

How they plan to achieve this: http://www.mars-one.com/mission/roadmap

{{IGIHE}}: {When did you leave Rwanda?}

{{Ndizihiwe}}: I left Rwanda in September 2010 to pursue a business degree at S P Jain School of global management Sydney.

{{IGIHE:}} {What can we know about you and what you do in Australia?}

{{Ndizihiwe}}: I’m an ordinary student who got lucky. I finished high school at Petit Seminaire of Karubanda (Huye district). My home is in Kicukiro. I received a full scholarship on merit from S P Jain School of global management to study a 4 year BBA program, major in finance. After graduation in April 2014, I plan to start a career in financial auditing. I work part-time in retail and enjoy hiking in nice landscapes during my free time.

{{IGIHE}}: {Are you interested in Astronomy or have skills about it?}

{{Ndizihiwe}}: Since my younger age, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of space exploration-too much curiosity. My dream is to see humanity expand into space, push the boundaries of knowledge and explore the unknown. 200 billion galaxies in our universe and we never left earth, let alone explore a different planet. Living on another planet, million miles away from earth, looking up knowing you were born in one of the stars in the sky, I want to be part of that dream and Mars one is the first opportunity I truly believe in.

{{IGIHE}}: {If selected to go living on Mars, what do you think your family will say?}

{{Ndizihiwe}}: (Laughing) Of course they will reject it. It will be a very hard time convincing them. Selected astronauts will leave earth forever to start life on Mars and since then, Mars one will send additional inhabitants every two years until a permanent colony is formed. After all, among the 1058 selected, I’m one of the few candidates from Africa and if I make it to round 3 and 4, with all the publicity they will understand the depth and importance of this project. It won’t be easy but it’s a risk I’m willing to take, it’s for the sake of humanity.

{{IGIHE}}: {When is the next selection and how many will they choose?}

{{Ndizihiwe}}: {We’re in round 2 of the astronaut selection process. }

Candidates for Round 2 will need to get a medical statement of good health from their physician. The applicant will be invited to meet with a Mars One selection committee. After conducting an interview with the candidates, the selection committee determines who will pass to round three. This interview could be aired on TV and internet.

Round 3 is the regional selection round, which could be aired on TV and internet in countries around the world. In each region, 20-40 applicants will participate in challenges that demonstrate their suitability to become one of the first humans on Mars. The audience will select one winner per region and Mars One experts will select additional participants to continue to Round 4.

Round 4 will be an international event that will be broadcast throughout the world. The Mars One selection committee will create international groups of four candidates. The groups will be expected to demonstrate their ability to live in harsh living conditions, and work together under difficult circumstances. The groups will receive their first short term training in a copy of the Mars outpost. From the first selection series, six groups of four will become full time employees of the Mars One astronaut corps, after which they’ll train for the mission. Whole teams and individuals might be selected out during training when they prove not to be suitable for the mission.

More info: http://www.mars-one.com/faq

{{mpirwaelisee@igihe.rw}}

{After having discussed the program for the unification of all Rwandans, genocide survivors in Rusizi District have met the prisoners who have apologized for the crimes committed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis and pardon them in order to unite and reconcile.}

The forgiveness is the fruit of “Ndi Umunyarwanda” program, an initiative which aims at helping Rwandans to openly talk about their history, repent, forgive, and heal the scars of the bad experiences the country went through; in order to strengthen the culture of accountability as well as unity and reconciliation.

Imprisoned genocide perpetrators asked for forgiveness after being taken through Ndi Umunyarwanda program and this was demanded by local residents who wanted also prisoners to be taught about Ndi Umunyarwanda Initiative after realizing its importance to the Rwandan Society.

Wednesday, 8th January 2014, about 1500 prisoners met with Rusizi Genocide survivors to ask for forgiveness for the crimes committed during the Genocide against the Tutsis.

Nduhirubusa Isidore, one of the Genocide prisoners apologized to the victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis and the family which he has killed members.

While apologizing, Nduhirubusa said “My name is Nduhirubusa Isidore; I apologize to the Genocide survivors in general and especially to Ms Mukamugema Agnes, wife of the late Viateur”

Another Genocide perpetrator, Ndayisabye Evariste, said “Honestly, I want to apologize to Habimana Casimir, because of the crimes I committed to him others to his family”

To forgive Nduhirubusa, Mukamugema Agnes said “We saw what you committed to us and refuse to do likewise, so the government of Unity and reconciliation has pardoned you for the wrong done to us and I also pardon you”

Apart from Mukamugema, Habimana Casimir also pardoned Ndayisabye Evariste who apologized for his role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.

The vice Mayor of social affairs in Rusizi, Nsekarije Venuste, asked prisoners to learn from the past mistakes to shape the better Rwanda where neighbors live in harmony with each other.

{A 20 year old boy committed suicide in Ngororero district on 7th January 2014 after unknown family misunderstandings.}

According to the police spokesperson in the Northern Province chief Superintendant (CSP) Francis Gahima, suicide may lead to other several problems whereby it can lead to poverty, failure to attend school by students, immoral characters, prostitution in case the victim is the family leaders.

However, Rwandan police calls upon local administrations in charge of security to address and solve problems of people of inform the police and the judicial authorities for support in order to solve such problems.

Lastly, but not least the police advises the public not to commit suicide as a solution to their problems because they create a lot of more problems after their departure.

{Defense Ministers and security chiefs from Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya have signed on the first step of the agreement on joint security and Defense to fight crime, especially terrorism, Genocide and other transnational crimes.}

From 6 to 8 January security experts, Defense Chiefs Commanders, Police chiefs, Defense and Internal Security Ministers from those three countries agreed up on Mutual Defense and Security Pact that would help tackle negative forces, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), ADF- Nalu (Uganda), Al- Shabaab (Kenya) and other regional and international crimes.

“Mutual Defense and Security Pacts will address the threats of several such marauding negative armed groups,” said the Rwanda Defense minister Gen. James Kabarebe yesterday 8 January 2014 after signing these pacts that are to be applicable after being confirmed by Heads of those three states straggling to fast track EAC development.

Gen. Kabarebe emphasizes the role of this ongoing tripartite adding that cooperation among them has brought real advantages to people including free movement of people and goods, removal of non-tariff barriers and other several socio-economic projects.

This process of security cluster on this tripartite was a recommendation of the 28th October 2013 tripartite Heads of states meeting that was a third joint meet of the Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Yoweri K. Museveni of Uganda and the Kenyan President.

The Rwandan Defense Force Spokes Person, Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita insisted that the agreement on the security cluster is a step that will be finalized by the confirmation of these presidents in their next meeting.

“We are looking forward to getting a joint security even if this won’t prevent the actual security performance of each country. We make one body whereby enemy who will attack one member country will be fought by the entire strength,” said Brig Gen Nzabamwita.

Brig Gen Nzabamwita added that this tripartite is still welcoming Tanzania and Burundi if they are ready to play their role in fast tracking the region’s development that is centered to the citizens. These security delegates applauded this security step as it is covering the development they are fighting for.

{{ntawiclaude@igihe.com}}

{The Minister of finance and Economic Planning Claver Gatete on Tuesday received his counterpart Gilles Baillet of Niger who is in the country for a five day study tour.}

Minister Baillet heads a delegation of Niger officials who are in the country to learn from the best practices in public finance management.

The idea of a study tour was arranged during a side meeting between President Paul Kagame and his Niger’s counterpart Mahamadou Issoufou during the Arab-African Economic Summit in Kuwait last year.

Speaking during one of the meetings at the Ministry of Finance and Economic planning, Minister Baillet noted that the purpose of the visit was to learn from Rwanda on how they can absorb their budget in an accountable way while focusing on development.

“We would like to learn from Rwanda how they have managed to execute their development plans with such speed and accountability,” Minister Baillet said.

According to Minister Baillet, Niger absorbs less than 60% of its budget a situation that has led to reduced support from development partners. The country’s budget execution process is still cumbersome and slow.

“Our poor performance in terms of public financial management has led to reduced donor support. We hope that this visit will help us improve the situation back at home,” Minister Baillet.

He further noted that Niger’s finance ministry was still undergoing reforms as the current structure is still simple and classic.

Minister Gatete has assured full support and cooperation in their quest for public financial management best practices.

“The Niger entourage is with us for five days during which we will share with them how we do things and hopefully it would assist them in managing public finances,” Minister Gatete said.

During its stay in Rwanda the Niger’s delegation will visit several public institutions including the Ministry of Finance, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Rwanda governance Board among others.