Category: News

{{More than 700 Police officers are currently undergoing the United Nations Selection Assistance Test commonly known as SAT.}}

The test is a pre-requisite for all police officers before they are deployed in UN peace keeping missions.

To successfully pass SAT police officers undergo six tests including reading, listening, report writing, interview, driving and shooting.

Police officers are considered eligible for a UN mission if they pass all the tests with at least an average mark.

As for practical tests such as shooting and driving excellent knowledge is required.

According to the Director of Peace Support Operations at Rwanda National Police Superintendent Ejide Ruzigamanzi, SAT process is going on well without hitches.

“We expect all police officers eligible for the ongoing SAT to be done in two days,” Supt Ruzigamanzi said.

Assistant Superintendent Cosmos Anyan, the head of induction and training at United Nations Assistant Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) noted that the selection assistance team was received and handled well.

“We have had no problem at all and we are impressed with the way the whole selection process is going on. We intend to include this in our report,” Anyan said.

He noted that their primary responsibility was to help RNP select the best police officers to serve in United Nations Peace Keeping Missions. He was overall impressed with the level of performance.

AIP John Bosco Kagame, one of the police officers who underwent SAT said he was happy to pass the difficult test.

“I am delighted to that my institution gave me this opportunity. I intend to serve to represent my country well once my time to serve in a peace keeping mission comes,” Kagame said.

He advised fellow officers who didn’t make the cut to try once again and avoid panic during the exams.

As Kagame was over the moon, AIP Tom Rwibasira was disappointed with the results.
“Of course I am disappointed but it’s not the end of the world. Whether here or elsewhere, my objective is to serve my institution and country,” Rwibasira said.

Those who have passed will be put on a waiting list of UN mission opportunities.

Currently Rwanda has more than 400 police officers serving in peace keeping missions in Africa and Caribbean including Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, Liberia and Ivory Coast.

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{{Norwegian investors now in the country to attend a one-day seminar organised by Rwanda Development Board (RDB), has hailed Rwanda for setting up favorable environment of doing business.}}

They have described Rwanda’s investment climate as excellent for doing business comparing to many of the African countries in only 17 years post Genocide.

Rwanda Development Board had organized the seminar aimed at displaying the various business opportunities in the country under the theme ‘Develop and expand your Business –Networking and Financing Possibilities’.

The meeting was also organised in collaboration with the Norfund (Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

The Head of Investment Promotion and Information at RDB, Vivian Kayitesi, made a presentation on various untapped investment opportunities, including ICT, agro-processing, infrastructure, tourism, energy, mining, real estate and construction.

John Gara Chief Executive Officer of RDB said it was essential to provide adequate and first hand information to investors to help them understand specific areas of interest.

Gara also said the seminar was partly organised to facilitate local investors in private sector to interact with their Norwegian counterparts and share ideas on how to spur business.

He advised them to access funds from the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries.

Bjorn H. Eriksen, the Director of Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, highlighted various sectors such as energy, agro-business, communication and environmental sector that need to explore.

“There so many business opportunities in this country and its quite good that they have simplified the ways of investing here,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, Thorbjoen Gaustads Aether, the Norwegian Ambassador, observed that the country’s investment climate was conducive, and hence hoping to explore business opportunities in Rwanda.

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{{About Rwf 2.6bn have been earmarked to fix Kigali City’s street lights, the senior official at Kigali city has said.}}

Alphonse Nzeyimana the Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Finance and Economic Affairs said that this year street lights in Kigali city and its suburbs will be fixed.

“We intend to complete before the end of this year. All necessary requirements to fix the street lights are in place,” Nzeyimana said.

Nzeyimana said that the fixing the streetlights would take 41 kilometers on Kimironko-Zindiro Nyabugogo-Kinamba and Nyabugogo-Ruliba on your way to southern province and Remera-Kabuga roads.

Commenting the due exercise, Nzeyimana said the fixing of the street lights will also favour proper security in Kigali City.

He also said that it is also a tool that can increase social-economic activities as Kigali residents are facilitated to work for extended hours.

Nzeyimana says funds will come from central government and other stakeholders.

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{{The Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board Prof. Anastase Shyaka has said the body he leads and media can enhance good governance in the country.}}

While calling upon the media to play outstanding role in enhancing good governance, Prof. Shyaka said different media houses can play a significant role in strengthening principles and practices in the country.

Prof. Shyaka was presiding over the consultative meeting on the role of the media in promoting good governance.

“You can be at the centre of good governance practices implementation. One of your role is educating the public,” Prof. Shyaka said.

Prof. Shyaka said that the governance body and the media can be co-workers in educating the public about the values of good governance.

One of the journalists Prince Bahati, from Radio Hope says government should also play a proactive role in supporting the media.

Mid last month, the government launched good governance month of which the aim will be assessing and strengthening good governance through service delivery.

The good governance month will also aim at hearing what the public wants in as far as good governance is concerned.

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{{Professional trained dogs have been adopted by the National Police in the checking of vehicles for any suspicious items especially drugs and explosives.}}

This was launched on 15th January 2012 in Kayonza district-Eastern Province.

The police spokesperson, supt. Theos Badege says that this technique of using dogs will help in avoiding and weakening drug dealings forbidden in Rwanda.

“we are used to seizing passengers with drugs enroute from Uganda and Tanzania meeting in Kayonza, the reason why it was the first place to be checked”, said Badege.

He revealed that not only passengers but also some drivers are involved in drugs business where they conceal them in passenger’s baggage.

Badege warned drug dealers saying Police will not tolerate such kinds of illegal business that threatens security and population as a whole.

{{The Rwandan Diaspora yesterday toured Iwawa rehabilitation and vocational skills development Center where former street children receive vocational skills training aimed at orienting them to a hopeful life.}}

During their stay at the Island the youth train in construction, carpentry, tailoring, commercial farming and bee keeping. They also receive necessary psychological support to abandon their former street lifestyles.

Allen Kabandana a student at Iwawa center testified that he was once addicted to cocaine consumption and drug abuse.

His life was completely lost until his relatives took him to Iwawa rehabilitation Center that has transformed him.

Kabandana vows to take the lead in fighting drug abuse among the youth. He considers the center as a free of charge rehabilitation and professional training center.

Dr. Ismael Buchanan, the Secretary General of Rwanda Diaspora Network said that the visit was aimed at having the first hand information about the center as opposed to misinformation spread abroad.

The diaspora has been misinformed that the center is a confinement centre yet it is rehabilitating the Rwandan youth and also helping them become productive members of society.

Buchanan promised that the Diaspora will go on telling the world the real story of Iwawa.

{{The Rwandan Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has received a Doctorate Diploma in politics on 18th January 2012 from the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.}}

According to lefaso.net, Habumuremyi defended his thesis entitled{ “Pouvoir Politique et Ethnicite au Rwanda: Analyse du Conflit Rwandais et de l’offre politique de l’apres -1994 pour la reconstruction d’un Etat-Nation”}

HABUMUREMYI emphasizes, in his book, on the contribution of colonizers to the ethnic based conflicts which lasted long in Rwanda till they led to 1994 Tutsi Genocide.

He mentioned Belgium, Catholic Church, UN and France as the most contributors to the Rwanda’s conflicts.

After defending his thesis, the lecturer of Politics in Niamey University, Alou Mahamane Tidjani, one of the jury leaders announced that Pierre Damien Habumuremyi officially wins his PhD in Politics.

The ceremony was attended by Burkinabe Prime Minister’s wife and Koumba Boly, the minister of Education.

Koumba Boly took the incident as a model for Africans both leaders and citizens calling them on valuing their universities, avoiding to consider European universities as worthier than theirs.

The book has been studied for five years and it provides examples of unity and reconciliation level in Rwanda as well as offering pieces of advice.

{{Following electrocution to death of Marcel Birikunzira by electrified fence on 15th January 2012, residents of Murambi, Gihundwe cell, Kamembe sector in Rusizi district near Gihundwe Hospital are worried and closely monitoring their children’s moves.}}

Joseph Ntahomvukiye resident in the area said, “I am not sure if our children will not be trapped by the electric fence built near the road.

He urged hospital authorities to try and solve the problem by disabling the electricity flowing through the fence. I think the fence was to prevent thieves from entering.

Dr. Celestin Ntawuhungakaje, the director of Gihundwe hospital said, “Birikunzira died when the fence and its accessories including electricity installations were being built and it was even after rainfall that caused short circuits.”

He asked the surrounding people to take away all the worries for they cannot protect the hospital by electrifying the fence.

“After testing the fence, we found that Birikunzira died when the fence was electrified”, noted the head of EWSA-Rusizi branch.

{{The proprietor of Remera based HOTEL TECH investment worth Rwf 76M is crying foul following 10-days ultimatum issued demanding him to vacate the place.}}

HOTEL TECH property is currently attached as collateral in a Gacaca case waiting to be publicly auctioned and the returns from which shall be used to compensate 1994 genocide survivors whose loved ones were killed in the same area.

The Prime location of the HOTECH TECH property has attracted several potential bidders just waiting to seize the public auction opportunity.

The hotel proprietor Pascal Ndahiro says that the ultimatum forcing him out is illegal. He claims he has been given 10 days yet the matter is still in the court.

“I have no problem vacating the place.However, the issue the authorities are ignoring is the investment put in and little time they are giving as if I am a criminal,” Ndahiro decried.

“How do you close this business in just 10 days? And actually 10 days they gave me over the weekend have not elapsed. Basically they are closing me down in two days,” Ndahiro added.

Information reaching IGIHE.com investigative desk indicates that on January 17, 2012 employees of the HOTEL TECH formerly known as {Total} protested when Remera sector authorities came with police to close down the place.

“Some of us stay here, we also need our payment. This is the manager’s address if you close and he is gone we are afraid where we will get him?” One of the employees said prefering annonymity asked the Remera sector executive secretary who had come to calm down the situation.

Willy Ndizeye the Gasabo District Mayor told IGIHE.com by his cell phone that HOTEL TECH proprietor was notified in time and that they have followed all legal procedures to ask him vacate the premises.

“Different personnel representing different relevant institutions came up with a conclusion of which he is also aware. He was given a first notification on December 2, 2011 ,” Gasabo Mayor disclosed.

“He has not shown acceptance or the willingness to leave the place. The 10 days he complains of comes as the last warning where we have to use force to make him vacate the place,” Ndizeye added.

“After he has surrendered the premises, public auction will follow and the money worth his investment will be put on an account provided by the commercial court and then he will be refunded his investment,” The Mayor said.

However, Ndahiro does not believe it is the right way arguing that public auction can be done while he is still occupying the place as he prepares himself to leave.

“I don’t reject to surrender the premises but let them consider my side too, something is fishy about this whole thing, when I talk to them they tell me they are under pressure from president’s office,” Ndahiro said.

“This makes the whole thing suspicious, I don’t believe president’s office can intervene in this issue at all, yet the matter was still in the court. Why can’t they be patient and wait for the court ruling and I go well without pushing me out as if I am a criminal,” He added.

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Pascal Ndahiro is a tennant at the property that allegedly entered a contract with the owner untill 2014.

He also claims harassment and mistreatment by the authorities who had ordered him to vacate the place on 24th December at the peak days for business in the festive seasons.

When he was asked to vacate the premises, the issue ended up at a commercial court since the owner did not show concern to pay him back the amount he had paid for rent neither does the prospective buyer show intention to refund him money he had invested.

It is said that the son of the owner William Kamalo was paid the first installment worth Rwf 50m of the total cost of Rwf 180m agreed.

The son is said to be on run after his father was found guilty of 1994 Genocide and arrested and imprisoned.

Alex Bayingana the owner of Alpha Palace Hotel, Remera is said to have emerged as the potential buyer and that is allegedly exerting pressure through authorities to force out the current tennant.

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{{The World Bank today announced the appointment of Makhtar Diop, a Senegalese national, as its new Vice President for Africa.
He succeeds Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili who will return to Nigeria in early May after serving as the region’s Vice President since 2007.}}

Diop, the World Bank’s Country Director for Brazil since 2009, will take up his new position on May 6th. He is a former Finance Minister in Senegal and Chair of the West African Monetary Union (WAEMU) Board of Finance Ministers.

Diop joined the World Bank in 2001 and has served in various senior positions, including as the World Bank’s Country Director for Kenya, Eritrea, and Somalia, as well as Director of Strategy and Operations in the Bank’s Latin America and Caribbean region.

World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick praised Ezekwesili for “five years of important and successful service to the Bank and to Africa.”

“Under Oby’s leadership, our Africa team employed innovation, knowledge, partnership and financial services to strengthen results across Africa and to improve the prospects for Africa’s economic performance.”

“Her close attention to the needs of our clients, engagement with African leadership and with regional institutions, as well as with the UN and other partners, has helped us to leverage our effectiveness across Africa.

Oby has done excellent work mobilizing private sector engagement and better connecting Africa’s development to that of other regions, particularly through South-South partnerships,” said Zoellick.

The Bank President noted that Ezekwesili was a relentless campaigner for transparency and against corruption; had strongly supported the need for greater social accountability and civil society engagement; and had promoted innovative approaches to regional integration.

“We wish Oby all the best in her future endeavors working with civil society, in which she will help to strengthen public sector capacity, and work especially with young people and women. I am especially appreciative of her committed and devoted service, including the years spent away from her family,” Zoellick said.