Category: News

{{The Finance Minister John Rwangombwa has said all contributions from teachers have been stopped until they (teachers) understand it and decide to contribute themselves.}}

Rwangombwa was responding September 19, to ongoing criticisms spreading in both local and international media that teachers had been stopped from contributing to the Agaciro Development Fund which has been misinterpreted to mean that they had been contributing against their will.

Rwangombwa revealed that cases of districts intending to cut teachers’ salaries with the intension of channelling it to the fund have been reported.

The minister urged local leaders and institutions not to force and decide for people the amount to contribute adding that “Forcing any person to contribute their monthly salary is unacceptable.”

In less than a month The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning has revealed that contributions to the Agaciro Development Fund (AgDF) now stand at Rwf18bn.

Agaciro Development Fund is a solidarity fund that was initiated by Rwandans to improve the level of financial autonomy of Rwanda as a nation.

Contributing to the Fund is voluntary.

{{The Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama handed over a check of Rwf 73, 260, 066 to the Finance Minister John Rwangombwa as MINJUST staff’s contribution in Agaciro development fund.}}

The fund was collected from the Ministry’s staff, however it “does include the contribution from the Ministry’s branches” Karugarama noted.

Karugarama September 18, added that contributing to Agaciro development fund is to give justice to Rwandans.

John Rwangombwa thanks all those that contributed to Agaciro Fund.

Minister Rwangombwa told journalist,”If someone claims that they have been forced to contribute to Agaciro Fund, they can be reimbursed” adding that contributing to the fund is voluntary.

{{The Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations responsible for operations Peacekeeping, Hervé Ladsous, has described as “unacceptable” M23 rebel parallel administration installed in the North Kivu which is under their control. }}

Ladsous made the remarks September 18, in New York at the end of a meeting of the Security Council, where he reported on his recent visit to the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda.

He told the press,”The elements of M23 are concentrated in one corner to the eastern Kivu, near the borders of Rwanda and Uganda.

It is in Rutshuru. From this position they have meanwhile established a de facto administration which controls the population, levies, taxes, traffic. This is unacceptable, “he said.

He also noted that “there has been no major military offensives during the last five or six weeks.”

However, Ladsous considered it necessary to increase efforts to consolidate the cease-fire observed so far in the field of operations:

“The situation can change very quickly and in several directions.
The M23 rebels may decide to return to their former positions in Masisi or they may decide to move to Goma, in the South.
That is why we must work to consolidate the situation and make a lot of progress towards a cease-fire. This is the priority, “said Ladsous.

On the mini-summit on the DRC and the UN Secretary General convened on September in New York, he stated that three issues would be the focus of the meeting at which the leaders of the Great Lakes are invited.

“The first is that the violence must stop the Kivus in eastern DRC. Too many victims, too much suffering, many displaced persons and refugees. This must stop. Second concern, the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo must be respected. Third, we must rebuild trust particularly clear between the two major neighboring DRC and Rwanda, “he said.

{{After being burnt on the face with boiled oil Dusabumuremyi Budensiyana has said she will never return to her husband insisting on the fact that her husband has committed serious violence against her.}}

On 6th August 2012, Budensiyana faced serious injuries, after her husband Bizimungu Joseph poured boiled oil onto her face, thanks to Good neighbour foundation who helped her to get treatments.

Her face has healed though still with signs of injuries.

Since then Bizimungu fled the country.

However, His family was arrested in order to find out whether there is any compliance with Bizimungu during such violence.

Budensiyana calls upon community leaders to actively fight against such domestic violence urging families to report their family problems before becoming uncontrolled issues.

{{The Secretary General of the East African Community Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera September 19 held a high level dialogue with the Heads of Missions of the Development Partners accredited to the regional bloc and to the United Republic of Tanzania at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel.}}

Amb. Sezibera reaffirmed the Community’s great faith in the pivotal and catalytic role of the Development Partners, particularly through the EAC Partnership Fund in the development of the regional programme.

He informed the ambassadors that the performance of the Partnership Fund for the FY 2011/2012 reflects significant impact on the overall regional programme and that the Fund’s contribution which rose from US$ 640,920 in 2006/07 to US$ 6.1 Million in 2011/12 was effectively applied to the implementation of the earmarked projects in the critical areas of the Common Market, Customs and Trade.

It was also used in negotiations of the East African Monetary Union; sensitization and outreach; and support to key EAC sectors (including education, culture and labour; gender and community development; governance, agriculture and tourism; infrastructure development; and capacity strengthening of the EAC.

The Secretary General briefed the Development Partners on the current status of the regional integration process that touched on all the pillars of the integration including the possible expansion of the Community.

Amb. Sezibera discolsed that the resource requirements to deliver the 4th EAC Development Strategy were in the region of US$ 1.3 billion over the 5-year period of the Strategy and that it was important to bring on board the Development Partners in the resouce mobilization.

He said the efforts and milestones so far being made with steady growth of intra-EAC trade and international trade as well as direct foreign investments inflows and the momentum gathered for the social and economic transformation of East Africa should be maintained and requires massive effort to marshal the resources and contribution of the public and private sectors, civil society and the development partners in the regional integration and development effort.

At the dialogue, the British High Commissioner to the United Republic of Tanzania H.E Diane Corner took over the Chair of the EAC Development Partners (Partnership Fund) from H.E. Amb. Klaus Peter Brandes of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the United Republic of Tanzania.

In his handover remarks, the German Ambassador, who was represented by Ms. Gisela Habel, the Head of Cooperation at the Embassy reaffirmed the commitment of the Development Partners in the regional integration process.

The Ambassador congratulated the Secretary General for spearheading the regional integration process with commendable results and noted that the concept paper for the high level dialogue that had been developed will underpin exchange of information and deepen dialogue between EAC and the Development Partners in order to jointly support the achievement of the Customs Union, the Common Market, the Monetary Union, and eventually the Political Federation.

The German Ambassador noted that EAC was a vibrant regional economic community on the continent and as such there was need to secure continuous engagement of Development Partners in the support of regional integration.

“Development Partners had a fair interest in seeing their financial contributions bear fruit through closer integration, and the creation of a conducive environment for economic development supported by stability, peace and security in the region”.

The British High Commissioner HE Diane Corner highlighted the outstanding progress in the EAC integration that include the significant increase in intra-regional trade since 2005; monetary union and political federation being high on the agenda; the move to establish a Tripartite Free Trade Area involving the EAC, SADC, and COMESA by 2014; as well as the Continental FTA by 2017 as adopted by the African Union.

Ms. Diane Corner noted that all these were ambitious goals that signal significant political backing to push regional integration higher up the agenda.

The British Envoy affirmed that the UK remains committed to support the regional agenda through UK’s Africa Free Trade Initiative, which supports a wide range of trade facilitation initiatives across Africa.

Ms. Corner cautioned the Community on the use of funds from the Development Fund saying “there is much greater scrutiny and challenge around the use of taxpayers money for aid programmes these days and for this reason, we are plaesed that the Secretary General has introduced, and will continue to pursue, much greater focus on results within EAC programmes and a heavy empasis on value for money”.

The EAC Secretariat and the Development Partners signed a formal agreement on a regular High Level Dialogue. The Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera signed on behalf of the EAC while the current Chair of the Development Partners Her Excellency Diane Corner, the British High Commissioner to the United Republic of Tanzania signed on behalf of the Development Partners.

The EAC Partnership Fund was established in September 2006, as a basket pool to enhance donor coordination in support to the regional projects and programmes through the EAC Secretariat.

The main objective of the Fund is to enhance regional integration and socio-economic development of the EAC and facilitate harmonization and alignment of Development Partner’s support to EAC.

{{Residents of Gasharu cell in Kinyinya sector Gasabo District have called on their community leaders to reduce amount of money paid for night patrol accusing community night watchers for not ensuring their security during night hours.}}

Each family pays Frw1000 per month and residents want this amount to be reduced to Frw500.

On condition of anonymity, one of residents told IGIHE journalist that he will not pay Frw1000 until community leaders declare a reduction of this amount.

He added that thieves have robbed his house three times in the month of August accusing night watchers in the cell to be among those thieves.

However, until now no one among night watchers was arrested because of stealing during night hours.

Rutazana Eric is in charge of collecting money from households in Gasharu cell. He said most of citizens do not pay irondo fees urging them to be committed to their monthly contribution to facilitate night watchers payment.

The same as Mugemangango Claude who is in charge of security in Gasharu cell said that residents are not forced to pay that amount of money however, reminded Claude, Citizens should know it is their duty to pay night watchers.

Responding to a question about fees reduction, Claude said, “the money will be reduced depending on category of resident and no one’s rights will be undermined.”

Currently, Kinyinya sector and its citizens have bought a night patrol car which serves for security reasons.

It was named: “Kinyinya Irondo patrol car” something which is new around Kigali city.

{{Police in Nyamasheke district on September 17, arrested Habyarimana Anicet, a driver of Fuso truck RAB 703 Z carrying 2040Kgs of smuggled minerals, Tin and Coltan.}}

Habyarimana, aged 31 was arrested with his colleague Musabyimana Innocent both residents of Nyamasheke and Rusizi Districts respectively.

They are being held at Ruharambuga Police station in Nyamasheke district. The smuggled minerals belonged to Gaferege Daniel.

The minerals were being transported to Kigali before being intercepted on a road Police check point on Rusizi-Kigali highway.

According to Rwanda National Police (RNP) sources in Nyamasheke District, the minerals are reported to be owned by Gakwerere Company which has operations in Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts but by the time of the arrest, the duo are suspected to have been using forged documents to transport and trade the minerals.

They are reported to have been trying to evade taxes because they had no valid documents to allow them transport the minerals to Kigali.

On September 16, Police in Nyamasheke District also noted that five cases of fraud and other forms of illegal trade have been registered during last few days.

Another case of smuggled minerals was reported in Nyamagabe district where a vehicle carrying about 1900 kilogrammes of cassiterite was intercepted by Rwanda National Police in Revenue Protection Unit.

{{The British Council has launched their Rwanda Directorate. The council is the UK’s International Cultural relations body which was granted directorate status in Rwanda in November 2011.}}

Michael Bibby, British Council’s country Director says, “we are very excited about the fact that we can now plan for our work in Rwanda for many years to come.”

He noted, “We can be part of the remarkable development plan that Rwanda is seeing, and that we can ensure that teachers and learners have access to the best in education resource, and English language materials, from the UK.”

The British Council in Rwanda works to provide support for and build capacity in the Ministry of Education, Rwanda Education Board and its departments, particularly helping to manage the change French to English as the language of Instruction.

It provides training courses for teachers, teacher Educators and others whose work connected to education in Rwanda and offers training in both English language skills appropriate for classroom and teacher development courses focusing on learner-centered methodologies and strategies for teaching English.

The British council says it has a range of Radio Programs aimed at supporting learners of English in an engaging, educational and fun way by working with local and national radio stations to provide these learning opportunities.

Over 1000 solar powered radios have been distributed to aid teachers in accessing various data while teaching English.

The British Council works with governments and ministries to develop English Language skills and conduct research into importance of English language skills for developing countries.

{{The Director of Forestry Field Programs Unit at NAFA, Dismas Bakundukize has said felling trees for firewood, human activities and lack of skills on agro forestry plantations among citizens are a big challenge to agro forestry development in Rwanda. }}

Bakundukize urged citizen to put more commitment on the increase of these species adding that there those who will benefit from them.

Currently, the forestry coverage in general stands at about 24% of National territory.

Among this 24% of coverage, agro forestry species occupy 285.046,9 ha which means 10,8% of the total coverage.

” The different between agro forestry species and classis forest is that they differ from distance you put between one tree to another.

Agoforestry distance is longer than distance in classic forests.” Bakundukize said.

He added that depending on their nature, the composition of leaves and branches of these species contribute to the fertilization of soil.

Bakundukize further explains that these species are major contributors in fighting against soil erosion.

Economically, the Director highlighted the significant role of agroforestry species in improving socio economic condition among citizens.

“Apart from being a source of firewood, agro forestry species can be used once you want construction materials like timber, fruits and vegetables which can be sent to national and international market.” Bakundukize noted.

Despite the small amount of money allocated to forestry sector, ongoing programs are positively impacting on the increase of national agro forestry coverage.

{{A genocide memorial site in Nyamasheke district has been crashed by a tree which fell onto its rooftop forcing the it to collapse inwards.

The Memorial site is located at Gikuyu, Ninzi in Kagano Sector of Nyamasheke district.}}