Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Rwanda’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James Musoni, has said that the people of Zimbabwe are grateful for President Paul Kagame’s role in helping the country raise its voice in the fight to have economic sanctions lifted.

In 2000, under the leadership of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe made the decision to repossess land that had been allocated to white settlers during colonial times, returning it to Black farmers.

The move sparked diplomatic tensions between Zimbabwe and countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the European Union (EU).

These nations swiftly imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, with the United States implementing economic sanctions in 2001, followed by the EU and other countries in 2002. These sanctions severely crippled Zimbabwe’s economy and remain in place to this day.

However, in 2017, during and after his tenure as Chairperson of the African Union, President Kagame actively advocated for the lifting of those sanctions, amplifying Zimbabwe’s voice on the global stage.

In a recent interview, Ambassador Musoni told RBA that President Kagame’s efforts had a significant impact, resulting in the removal of some sanctions, and that the remaining ones could also be lifted in the near future.

“They thank President Kagame for his efforts in advocating for the removal of the sanctions imposed on them. His voice has consistently stood out, calling for an end to these sanctions on Zimbabwe. Progress has already been made — some sanctions have been lifted and others are in the process,” he said.

“His role is deeply appreciated. You hear this in government circles, among private sector players, and from ordinary citizens,” he added.

Relations between Rwanda and Zimbabwe took a major step forward in 2019 when both countries opened embassies and began signing various cooperation agreements.

Since 2022, the two nations have signed trade agreements, with entrepreneurs from both sides commending the benefits that have emerged from their collaboration.

Zimbabwe has also sent over 150 teachers to Rwanda through bilateral agreements on workforce exchange, and Ambassador Musoni confirmed that more teachers are expected to arrive from Zimbabwe this September to contribute further to Rwanda’s education sector.

The agreement was formalised on Tuesday, June 17, at the OPEC Fund Development Forum 2025 in Vienna, Austria, where Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, and OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa announced the deal.

The financing allocated for the 2025–2028 period will be channelled into key sectors identified as critical to Rwanda’s long-term growth. These include agriculture and food systems (with a focus on irrigation and post-harvest management), renewable energy—particularly solar power—transport (notably in the aviation sector), and environmental restoration.

The framework is designed to support Rwanda’s development priorities, including the expansion of quality infrastructure, improved access to essential basic services, and the promotion of entrepreneurship and private sector growth.

The agreement is part of a broader theme at this year’s forum, “A Transition That Empowers Our Tomorrow,” highlighting global commitments to inclusive and climate-resilient development pathways.

The OPEC Fund for International Development is a development finance institution established by OPEC member states in 1976. It provides financing to support the economic and social progress of developing countries.

Media reports indicate that Mutamba submitted his resignation on Tuesday, May 17 and has since been accepted by President Félix Tshisekedi.

The resignation comes just days after the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to authorise legal proceedings against Mutamba before the Court of Cassation.

The vote saw 322 of the 363 participating Members of Parliament support the move, with only 29 opposed and 12 abstaining.

Mutamba’s departure marks a dramatic fall for the young minister, who was appointed to the post in May 2024 with a mandate to reform what he had described as a “sick” judicial system.

However, Mutamba quickly found himself entangled in a scandal over the alleged diversion of funds meant for the construction of Kisangani Prison in Tshopo Province.

A parliamentary commission established to investigate the matter heard testimony from Mutamba in which he admitted that the $19 million had been misappropriated and transferred to the account of a fictitious company. He also issued a public apology during the hearing.

Despite admitting to the financial irregularities, Mutamba has insisted that the charges against him are politically motivated. He claims he is the victim of a personal vendetta led by Prosecutor General Firmin Mvonde, whom he accused of retaliating against his anti-corruption initiatives.

Mutamba also alleged that Mvonde himself is under scrutiny over the purchase of a €900,000 house in Belgium, raising questions about the prosecutor’s integrity.

The unfolding scandal has further exposed deep tensions within the DRC’s justice system and raises serious questions about the government’s ability to implement judicial reforms in the face of entrenched corruption and political infighting.

As the legal case moves forward, Mutamba’s resignation signals the beginning of what could be a lengthy and high-profile prosecution—one that may test the very system he had vowed to clean up.

The announcement was made on June 16 by the Minister of State for Local Government, Marie Solange Kayisire, while addressing the Senate’s Committee on Social Affairs and Human Rights.

The state minister revealed that, of Rwanda’s 60 islands, only 14 are currently inhabited. Following the planned relocations, only three islands, Nkombo, Bugarura, and Birwa, will remain settled.

“These relocations are necessary. The geography of these islands poses serious risks to residents, and delivering services like clean water, electricity, and healthcare is often more expensive than resettlement itself,” Kayisire explained.

The relocation will affect more than 4,600 households, impacting over 25,000 people.

The islands earmarked for resettlement include Mwegerera and Mukira in Musanze District; Munanira and Bigwa in Burera; Sharita and Mazane in Bugesera; Gihaya in Rusizi; and Mushungo, Muzira, Kirehe, Ruzi, and Tereri in Nyamasheke District.

In Musanze’s Mwegerera and Mukira islands, 38 families rely on boats to ferry their children to schools on the mainland, while in Bigwa, 78 families live without stable solar power and basic infrastructure.

Kayisire said the relocation process has already begun in some areas. For instance, 26 families have started moving from Munanira, with costs estimated at Rwf127.6 million. In Sharita, 212 families were previously relocated under government IDP programmes, with 84 families still awaiting relocation. The district requires Rwf2.5 billion to complete the process.

Lawmakers welcomed the plan but called for fair compensation and detailed demographic planning.

“We need to know the numbers of women, children, and elders involved so we can design appropriate support,” said Senator Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu.

Kayisire emphasised that relocated families are being integrated into government social protection programmes like Girinka and income-generating initiatives.

“We are not only offering safer environments but ensuring long-term support and resilience for these communities,” she said.

The Trump Organization said it will launch a mobile-phone service called Trump Mobile and plans to offer a U.S.-built smartphone later this summer, looking to take on the likes of Apple and Samsung.

“President Trump has targeted phone makers in his tariff push, threatening extra levies on Apple if it didn’t shift to domestic production. No major smartphone manufacturer currently makes its products in the U.S., as the displays, processors and cameras they use are mainly sourced from Asia,” reported The Wall Street Journal on Monday about the move.

The United States doesn’t have advanced manufacturing facilities akin to those in China or even India and Vietnam, where electronics assembly has expanded in recent years, nor does it have a mass of skilled laborers trained to do the required work, it noted.

The Trump Organization said the mobile service would work with all three major wireless carriers. It would rely on resale deals, known as mobile virtual network operator agreements, in which the carriers sell excess capacity on its networks and gain customers without having to bear the costs of marketing to them or signing them up.

The Trump Organization said customers would be able to use the new service using their existing phones, or purchase its T1 Phone beginning in August. They described it as a “sleek, gold smartphone” designed and built in the United States.