Category: News

{{Members of the press have met for the third national dialogue on media development with a strong call from experts recommending the need for capacity building through in-house training.}}

Dr. Christopher Kayumba a media expert and Publisher of Chronicles newspaper noted that a lot of time and finances are wasted in trainings normally held in hotels.

Kayumba noted that majority that are trained don’t take the lessons seriously since they lack passion for journalism and are rather in the media for survival.

“Most journalists are just there for the purposes of bread and butter a fact that makes it hard for them to abide by professional ethics,” he remarked.

In this respect he recommended in house training since its cost effective and targets those that are interested.

However, Louis Kamanzi proprietor of Radio Flash noted that in-house trainings are more costly and urged the regulator-Media High Council to assist in capacity building.

“Even though the regulator has been conducting trainings that’s not enough we need more and more if we are to instill professionalism among local journalists,” he remarked.

Commenting on independence of media in the country, Protais Musoni ,the minister in charge of cabinet affairs and media matters, insisted that more is required in strengthening the media self regulatory body.

“Though the body isn’t active yet I want this two day meeting to recommend ways of enhancing the regulatory team and among the crucial points is where the funds would come from, is it from the government, membership fees or from development partners,” he inquired.

The director general in the office of the Prime Minister Ignatius Kabagambe advised members of the press not to limit themselves on options of getting funds since the most independent institutions in the world like the judiciary and legislature are highly funded by the government.

“We should not base our independence on who is funding even those in the private sector can still influence the media, the way forward is abiding by media ethics,” he pointed out.

Mr Ignace Gatare said that there is opportunity in integrating ICT technology in the media, he cited among the examples as websites, both internet radio and TV.

“I urge all of you to have an entrepreneurship spirit ,innovation and competitiveness if you really want to make it in this business,” he remarked.

{{East African Partner states Ministers responsible for Transport, Communications and Meteorology have called for the speedy creation of frameworks enabling achievement of the planned analog-to-digital migration in the region.}}

At their 9th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications and Meteorology (TCM), held Friday last week in Arusha, Tanzania, the Ministers reviewed implementation progress of projects and programmes; roads, railways, civil aviation, maritime transport and meteorology sub-sectors.

Also discussed were developments in the communications sub-sector, where the Ministers directed member states to expedite the process of putting in place legislation for the implementation digital TV broadcasting, and to monitor technology developments for digital broadcast receivers, with a view to developing receiver specifications that minimize the cost of digital broadcast migration.

The Sectoral Council urged Partner States to consider zero-rating duty on Set Top Boxes as a means of accelerating digital broadcast migration programmes, and directed the Secretariat to submit this recommendation to the Ministers of Finance for consideration.

The Ministers were also of the view that Partner States limit the number of signal distributors, provided that a public signal distributor is fully funded by the state, or open the signal distribution market segment to full competition, where the government is unable to fund a public signal distributor.

EAC Partner States were further called upon to develop human and institutional capacities for conformance testing and certification of ICT equipment.

At its 8th Meeting, the Sectoral Council on TCM considered and approved the EAC Roadmap for Analog-to-Digital Broadcast Transition, and following the approval, directed Partner States to align their national programmes on analog-to-digital broadcast transition to the Roadmap, while the Secretariat was directed to monitor and report on the implementation of the Roadmap.

{{The Rwanda Air Force has started a three weeks training aimed at preparing pilots, technicians and maintenance officers, Air logistics Staffs and Air Medical Services to the peacekeeping mission in Sudan.}}

The training for 140 officers and men from Air Force is jointly organized by Rwanda Defence Force helped by the US Army under ACOTA program (Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance).

The training will take place at Rwanda Military Academy Gako.

Rwanda will deploy early next year 5 helicopters in Sudan for peacekeeping operations.

When officially inaugurating the training this morning, Lt. Gen Charles Kayonga, the Chief of Defence Staff advised the Air Force officers and men to undergo it in disciplinary manner focusing on Rwanda Defence Force doctrine.

He said that Rwanda Defence Force is mandated by the Constitution of Rwanda to give contribution to global peace and security.

RDF has 3514 peacekeepers deployed in Sudan

{{Procurement officials from the region have met for their 4th forum in the city with an aim to harmonize procurement laws in the region.}}

The idea is believed to facilitate the ongoing integration process.

Bernard Kayirangwa the Director of legal Department in Rwanda’s Public Procurement Authority noted that among the advantages of unifying the laws will be the freedom of citizens in the region to compete in tenders issued in the member states.

And other advantages like harmonization of tax yet corresponding the procurements law is a priority for now.

Mbua Mbugua a consultant in charge of harmonization process advised participants to form a secretariat which will oversee the harmonization of procurement laws at the same review its implementation.

Reacting to major challenges in the sector; corruption being the most popular, Mbugua blamed those who don’t abide by the laws.

“Imagine one not advertising a tender and instead lists his friends for instance yet its stipulated in the guidelines that the tender must be made public, really that is unprofessionalism and two crooked behavior, such people shouldn’t be in such office,” he remarked.

Commenting on the same issue, Maurice Juma, Kenya’s Director of Procurement Authority noted that one of the ways to curb corruption is by forming regulative departments to investigate fishy deals and that similar institutions would facilitate transactions once the laws are equalized.

“In my institution for example we have an administration review unit which takes complaints from tenders issued then refers the cases to relevant authorities if there really gross, other mistakes commonly due to incompetence a dealt with internally,” he remarked.

The Director of Procurement in Tanzania Yusuf Nyongera noted that another thing which should be included in the harmonization process is the formation of an inspection unit which will verify the quality of goods approved in various tenders.

“These will avoid what we’ve seen in some selfish traders who deliver counterfeit goods than what they had proposed earlier,” Said Nyongera.

Simeon Wanyama a board member of Uganda’s Public Procurement Authority showed his worries in the speedy implementation of the procurement laws since every country has its own acts and some are in line with their respective national constitutions.

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{{The Rwandan Embassy in Senegal has initiated a circle of friends of Rwanda which will include Rwandan students in Senegal.}}

The network is expected to help in contributing and improving their understanding of Rwanda.

This Embassy started its activities in May 2011 with its diplomatic mission of Preserving and conserving the interests of the Country and its people in Senegal,Contribute to the development of the Country in all aspects Political, economical and social.

According to the Press Statement from the Embassy it is due to those reasons that the Embassy of Rwanda has organized different accession to inform the Rwandans in Senegal about the present vision and image of Rwanda.

It is expected that it will enable Rwandans in West Africa be in the same direction the country is and give their contribution towards the development of their Country.

The idea started by organizing a workshop of the Rwanda Students in Senegal which took place on September 17, 2011.

The Ambassador of Rwanda in Senegal, Gérard Ntwari has said that the Embassy to reach its objectives in collaboration with the Rwandan Diaspora in Senegal.

It is said that it is very important to establish the Circle of Friends of Rwandans to be the focal point in Senegal with same objective.

“Being the advocates of our Country, updating People on what is happening in Rwanda by giving the true information and the present position of the Country is our mandate,” Amb. Ntwali said in a press statement.

“Promoting and attracting foreign investment, promote tourism to foreigners staying here and responding to negative critics against our country is also crucial,” he added.

Members of Circle of Friends of Rwanda appreciated to be respectable friends of Rwanda as expressed in their testimonies that Rwanda is a prestigious Country which many focused Africans.

They also voted for the transition committee composed of five people who will organize the elections of the permanent committee helped by Rwandan Embassy in Senegal and set their values, rules and regulation.

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{{The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) resumes business this Tuesday until November 29 by holding its plenary in Bujumbura. This is the Second meeting of the Fifth session of the Second Assembly.}}

The Chairperson of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State, His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, is expected to address a Special Sitting on Thursday.

The Assembly to be presided by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Abdirahin H. Abdi, shall during the two-week period discuss matters of legislative business. The Sitting expects among others to debate on; IUCEA Amendment Bill (2nd & 3rd Reading), EAC Trans-boundary Ecosystem Management Bill, 2010 – 2nd Reading and 3rd Reading, EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill (2nd & 3rd Reading).

EALA shall also receive a number of reports for consideration, Motions and Questions.

Its expected that the Plenary shall also be interspersed with activities marking the 10th Anniversary celebrations of EALA including; the sixth Inter-Parliamentary Relations Seminar, known as the Nanyuki Series and the Inter-Parliamentary Soccer tournament.

The theme of the Nanyuki series which takes place on November 28-29, 2011 is the ‘Role of the Legislature in achieving a Political Federation’.

Nanyuki series which is the sixth since inception shall be attended by Speakers from the regional and continental Parliaments including those from the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Parliaments.

Members of the National Assemblies of the Partner States, top EAC government officials and Members of the diplomatic corp shall also attend.

Meanwhile, the Inter-parliamentary soccer tournament pits the soccer teams from the National Assemblies and the EAC/EALA team in a week-long tournament which commences on November 22, 2011.

Tanzania are defending champions having beaten Uganda in the finals held in 2009 in Arusha, Tanzania.

{{President Paul Kagame of Republic of Rwanda and Chinese President Hu Jintao this Saturday exchanged congratulatory messages to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.}}

Hu, in his message, said that since China and Rwanda forged diplomatic ties 40 years ago, the two nations have withstood the tests of time and tremendous international changes. Bilateral ties, Hu said, have been developed in a sound and stable manner.

Kagame has attached great importance to the development of China-Rwanda relations since becoming president and has actively promoted the two countries’ friendly cooperation, which helped to create a good momentum for the rapid development of bilateral ties, Hu said. The president expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by Kagame.

Hu also said China cherishes the traditional friendship and is willing to work with Rwanda on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of bilateral ties to further strengthen political mutual trust, deepen cooperation in various fields and enhance people-to-people exchanges in a bid to lift the two nations’ friendly cooperation to a higher level for the benefit of the two peoples.

Kagame, for his part, said that on the important milestone in the Rwanda-China relations, it is gratifying to note that our people have established firm bridges of friendship and cooperation based on mutual trust and common purpose.

He also expressed his appreciation for China’s continued meaningful engagement with Rwanda, and Africa at large.

As the two countries embark on a new decade, Rwanda looks forward to working closely with China to further strengthen political dialogue as well as socio-economic ties between the two countries and consolidate cooperation and scale up activity in areas of common interests, he said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Louise Mushikiwabo, minister of foreign affairs and cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, also exchanged congratulatory messages on Saturday over the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

{{Following several protests of 1994 Genocide survivors against awarding human rights prize 2011 to Paul Rusesabagina, Lantos Foundation has hit back to survivors strongly insisting to award the winner.}}

This year’s Lantos prize has been surrounded by controversy of which the foundation has identified as manufactured controversy.

In a press release now on Lantos Foundation website, Katrina Lantos Swett, President of The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice said the protest intended to smear what she called the good name of Rusesabagina.

“We did not intend to cause controversy with this year’s Lantos Prize, but it seems the controversy has found us anyway,” Katrina Lantos Swett a child of Tom Lantos the founder of the foundation said in a press release.

“We did not intend to step into the political disagreements that are currently swirling in and around Rwanda, but it seems we are not able to avoid that either.”

“ We originally chose Paul Rusesabagina as the Lantos Prize recipient purely based on his heroic actions during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, not for his work since then through the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation. But we now find ourselves quite in awe of Paul’s willingness to stand up and speak out for freedoms in his home country, despite the backlash that work has caused,” She vehemently pointed out.

According to Katrina Lantos Swett, all reasons emerging against the awarding of self made hero aims at smear their 2011 human rights nominee Rusesabagina.

“The protest staged today is only the latest attempt to smear the good name of this year’s Lantos Prize recipient, Paul Rusesabagina. These protests were not staged when the Oscar-nominated film Hotel Rwanda was released, nor were they staged when Paul received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush. It was only once he started to speak out about the need for more freedom and democracy in Rwanda, including a Truth and Reconciliation process, that these attacks were suddenly manufactured,” Katrina complained.

“Unfortunately these attacks appear to be consistent with a disturbing pattern of censorship, intimidation and even violence that has been directed at those who have dared voice concerns about the government of Rwanda. This pattern is not unique to Rwanda. Other authoritarian regimes have responded in a similar fashion,” she claimed.

Katrina added; “As the child of Holocaust survivors, I, along with the Lantos Foundation staff, have made particular efforts to listen to the concerns of Rwandan genocide survivors who have contacted us. While many have thanked us for our decision to honor Paul Rusesabagina, there are others who have expressed contrary views.”

We have spent hours talking to these individuals by phone and email, and even meeting with some in person. The bottom-line is that the more we speak to them, the more it becomes painfully obvious that there is a script in place,”

She claims that Rusesabagina has devoted his life to telling the awful story of Rwanda’s Genocide and working to achieve genuine peace and reconciliation.

Human rights and Justice President said that Rusesabagina collected money from Hotel des Mille Colline survivors so as to feed them in the hotel and to bribe the murderous gangs that prowled outside the hotel gates.

“At the end of the day, it seems that his real offense in their eyes, is that he has been outspoken in defense of democracy in Rwanda even in the face of determined efforts to silence him,” she added.

It is said that Ibuka the survivors’ association president Dr Jean-Pierre Dusingizemungu is in United States of America to hold more talks with Lantos Foundation management to reconsider and don’t award Rusesabagina this year’s human rights prize.

The Lantos Foundation established the Lantos Human Rights Prize in 2009 to honor and bring attention to heroes of the human rights movement.

It is awarded annually to an individual or organization that best exemplifies the Foundation’s mission, namely to be a vital voice standing up for the values of decency, dignity, freedom, and justice in every corner of the world.

The prize also serves to commemorate the late Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress and a prominent advocate for human rights during his nearly three decades as a U.S. Representative.

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{{Close to ten days towards Egyptian parliamentary elections, voters in the diaspora have allegedly not told how they get involved in their elections.}}

Egyptians in Rwanda has told igihe.com that stuck and left out in the voting preparations.

The elections will be the first of its kind and Egyptians voters in Diaspora have not yet been given guidelines.

Rwanda’s Egyptian ambassador Khaled Abdel Rahman disclosed that up to now he has not received any guidance from his government in regard to the elections which are scheduled on 25th November.

“However I would urge Egyptians to calm down since it’s not only those in Rwanda who are affected rather everyone in the diaspora, so for the meantime were waiting for a directive and logistics from the electoral commission,” Amb. Abdel Rahman said.

These elections are considered vital for the country’s progress since the voted parliamentarians will be mandated to amend the constitution.

However some Egyptians in the country have argued that their country is not yet ready to hold elections and rather prefer the transitional leadership of Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).

“The campaign process for instance is so shallow to an extent the political manifestos are not clear, really how do they expect us in Rwanda to follow the campaign process,” one of the Egyptians living Rwanda said. “another problem is we don’t know if will vote individuals or those proposed by political parties,” he added.

AlaaGalal a physician at CHUK hospital was quick to note that the political situation was not yet sober, a fact seen among the majority of youth who campaign to be in top leadership positions yet they lack the competence.

“You see even though the youth led the revolution and I don’t think its relevant to immediately give them top political offices, what is best is for them is to integrate them in the system with the supervision of experienced politicians serving as mentors and after ten years I believe we will have a better government led by competent leaders,” AlaaGalal remarked.

Mohammed Okasha a gynecologist in the same hospital noted that he was so worried with preparations of the elections since the country was still at a state of tension.

“I wonder how you can have elections when there’s no security, the several political parties are not organized apart from the Islamic Brothers, but otherwise I’m happy the diaspora has been given a chance to vote,” he said.

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{{The government has vowed to create 200,000 jobs annually so as to solve the problem of unemployment in the country, information from prime minister’s official website has indicated.}}

This was among the government’s plan as presented by the Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi to the parliament early this week.

The unemployment rate in Rwanda was last reported at 30 percent in 2008.

Worldwide 2010 estimates indicated that unemployment was at 8.7% and 30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries or developed countries typically 4%-12% unemployment.

This year it has been reported that more than 200 million people globally are out of work, a record high, as almost two-thirds of advanced economies and half of developing countries are experiencing a slowdown in employment growth.

“In youth development, there will be increasing job opportunities by creation of youth cooperatives mounting to 350 new cooperatives,” Prime Minister said early this week.

Prime minister said the government will work on youth capacity building including vocational training to see how the number of unemployed youth would go under 5 percent.

According to the head of government, there will be programs to facilitate youth get environmental friendly building equipments like hydra forms so as to enable them build their own houses be it in towns or their settlements.

Efforts will also be put in programmes that help youth have good health including availing information that will change their perception and behaviors like equipping them about their reproductive health, fighting alcoholism and use of drugs among other evils.

Prime Minister said encouragement of reciprocal visits among youth with other countries will be done so as Rwandan youth get involved in international youth organizations.

Efforts for comments from Protais Mitali the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture has been fruitless as the Minister says he is busy attending to a meeting.

“I am busy now, I have a meeting, I don’t think it will be easy for me for an interview,” Mitali said adding “May be try tomorrow”.

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