The three Rwandan awardees are Leonidas Mpumuje, Head Rhino Monitor of Akagera National Park, Anthony Nzuki, Ranger Post Leader of Akagera National Park and Jean Nepomuscene Musekura, a ranger in Volcanoes National Park.
The African Ranger Awards program recognizes park rangers for their extraordinary contribution to the protection of Africa’s wildlife and conservation areas.
The award was initiated by Jack Ma, the Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group through the Paradise Foundation, an environmental conservation organization that he founded two years ago.
An international panel of judges reviewed 115 nominees from 17 African countries. The award criteria included the nominee’s dedication, contribution, threats and challenges overcome, as well as leadership and inspiration.
Commenting on the winners, Jack Ma said he is deeply moved and inspired by the rangers’ sacrifices and expressed optimism that more people will pay attention to rangers, wildlife preservation, and preservation of the natural environment.
RDB Chief Tourism Officer, Belise Kariza has in a statement appreciated rangers and Paradise Foundation for recognizing their conservation efforts.
“Without the hard work and dedication that our rangers show, the positive progress that Rwanda has shown both in conversation and sustainable tourism would be impossible. They are at the forefront of conservation and that is why we appreciate the Paradise Foundation for recognizing African rangers and their important role,” she noted.
The 2019 African Ranger Awards will take place in Accra, Ghana on 15th November.
He made the call today in Gabiro military barracks as he presided over the closing of the 12th edition of civic education program dubbed Itorero Indangamirwa which comprised of 698 trainees including high school graduates and university students from across the country and the globe, as well as best performing public servants.
“This program is about raising the youth for our country. We want a country founded on our values and on education. We want to transform our country, to be liberated from poverty and ignorance,” stressed Kagame.
“Being part of Itorero also teaches you the role you have in moving the country forward. Being educated is not enough; you must have discipline and values. Itorero gives you the values to put your education to use,” added the President.
Kagame thanked parents for allowing the youth to be part of Itorero, enabling them to learn about their culture, country and where the country is going.
“Itorero is about raising our children and educating them in our culture. We want our country to be founded on our own values. We want to value our culture, promote it and learn from it,” he said.
The President highlighted that when someone is being taught, part of it is listening and following the teachings which should not be followed blindly.
He, therefore, urged the youth to use their own thinking to discern right from wrong and voice their own ideas. Kagame also reminded the youth to turn against wrong values or behaviors like drug abuse and draw attention to their future and the country as well.
Kagame made the advice today addressing 698 young Rwandans living in Rwanda and abroad who have completed the 12th edition of Itorero Indagamirwa, series of civic education programme.
The 12th Itorero Indangamirwa comprised of 698 trainees including high school graduates and university students from across the country and the globe, as well as best performing public servants.
“We all came driving in a car. Do you sometimes ask yourself, why can’t we make our own cars? Instead of buying them from elsewhere, why don’t we make them and be the ones to export them? But this requires you to gain knowledge,” he said.
“We can’t just be stopping at making bread. We have to aim higher. Cars, phones, electronics should not only be manufactured by others. We are all capable of doing it,” added Kagame.
The President urged the youth to seize opportunities to go abroad to get an education and avoid wasting it and stand against wrong values or behaviors like drug use that has become like a new style.
“You find students who are educated but who are using drugs. Drugs are like termites that destroy you from the inside. They turn everything you have learned and built to dust,” he stressed.
It is under this context that Kagame requested graduates that Itorero should enable them to think about their future and that of their country as well.
Nteziyaremye Kaberuka, 52, was arrested on Tuesday in Ruhango sector following a tip-off from residents on his criminal business, Police said.
Kanyanga is classified among psychotropic substances and banned in Rwanda.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region said that Kaberuka was also distilling Kanyanga.
“Residents of Ruhango Sector called the Police reporting Kaberuka that he distills Kanyanga, which he sells to other retailers. Police responded and arrested him red-handed. He had already distilled 28 liters of Kanyanga which were also seized alongside equipment and materials he was using,” he said.
The regional police spokesperson thanked residents for sharing credible information that led to the arrest of Kaberuka.
“This partnership and ownership of the public to report drug dealers is the reason many people engaged in these unlawful acts have been arrested,” he said, calling for continued information sharing on anyone they suspect to be trafficking, making or selling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
History shows that during that war, Anne was writing every event she lived while in hiding with her family for almost 2 ½ years.
The heritage she left enabled those living the years that followed until now to know the trouble she experienced during World War II (1939-1945), which didn’t even spare the youth.
This genocide of Eastern Europe is referred to as the Holocaust where 11 million people were executed by Adolph Hitler’s Nazi regime; 6 million of those murdered were Jews.
The other 5 million were those Hitler considered undesirable including black, disabled, homosexual, gypsy and other people he didn’t consider perfect. Like every genocide, Hitler was attempting to blame the world’s problems on the “other”—Hitler used the Jews as his scapegoat, much like the Hutu extremists used the Tutsi in 1994.
Anne Frank’s diary has been translated into hundreds of languages and serves as a source of inspiration to thousands around the world—she chose to see the ‘light’ in the midst of the horrible ‘darkness.’ Professor Kahn has met many ‘Anne Franks’ in Rwanda.
The story of this child inspired Prof Drew Kahn, Distinguished Service Professor at The State University of New York, Buffalo State, to initiate a project called ‘The Anne Frank Project’ helping students, teachers, and administrators to use stories as vehicles to teach lessons in conflict resolution, community building and identity exploration.
In the end, his passion is to help young people to tell their own stories. Kahn states: “These individual stories become family stories, then community stories, then regional stories, then national stories, national narratives.
This is crucial–we know from other post-genocide countries, that if we don’t tell our own stories someone else will and they will undoubtedly get it wrong. President Kagame seems to know this quite clearly. So, Story-Based Learning will certainly help in student learning in the schools, but its really a lesson in defining national identity on Rwandan terms.”
Prof Kahn teaches story-based learning all over the world including the USA, Kenya, Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Vietnam and Rwanda where it was introduced in 2009; operating in Urukundo Learning Center of Muhanga District, South Province.
Every year for the past 10 years, Professor Kahn comes to Rwanda together with his students who assist him in training teachers in this progressive, experiential methodology: “Story-Based Learning brings the content of the classroom lesson from the student’s heads to their hearts using their bodies,” Says Kahn “so this is a very kinesthetic, collaborative experience for both the teacher and the students.
The teacher is facilitating student learning instead of shouting at them from the chalkboard, insisting on memorization. This is authentic learning which follows current education research—it is a direct match to Rwanda’s Competency-Based Curriculum where what the students DO with what they know is so important. Stories are obviously so important to Africa in general and Rwanda in particular—story-based learning is an ideal and natural fit for Rwanda—the academic success data we are receiving prove this theory, and the teachers and students love it!”
This program gives important knowledge and improved vocabulary aimed at changing students’ lives and impacting positively their families and places of their origin.
Students learn how to build from their own stories and background in their changing lives and are therefore more prepared to navigate the complexities for real life, not just classroom life.
In his interview with IGIHE, Prof Kahn reveals that the curricula from overseas countries Can be imported to new, developing countries without question—this can be dangerous for several reasons Kahn suggests: “Some of these learning models are good for example in the UK and USA where we have had some academic success, but when you import everything you meet problems. The ‘chalk-talk’ model is ineffective—it doesn’t work beyond memorization.
We need to engage the student’s heart, the student’s thoughts, and the student’s history in the learning, regardless of a subject area. Students need to feel like they matter—that’s what story-based learning is all about. Students need to include their stories not just the stories of others. Your great teacher Kagame knows this—I think he does a great job reminding each Rwandan that they matter.”
Professor Kahn says that though he realizes some challenges in Rwanda’s curricula, like harmonizing English and French language use, there is a will to bring change after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, trying innovation and that he can see that teachers are motivated willing to participate.
Cracking a joke, he expresses that he would be happy to see President Donald Trump importing performance contracts and monthly community/environmental work to America. He refers to these things to show President Kagame’s talents in transforming Rwanda, shifting from a country full of tears to a country respected by everyone on earth today.
Asked about achievements of the “Anne Frank Project” in Rwanda, he said: “In the past ten years, if I had told you we would be training 85 Rwandan teachers every year today, I would be lying to you—I’m immensely proud of our Rwandan teachers, schools, and students–the way Rwanda has embraced the work of story-based learning is a model for the other countries I work in.
Story-Based Learning is needed in the USA as well as in Africa. Things will continue to go well as long as our partnership remains dignified, equal and respectful—my students and I learn as much from Rwanda as we teach—it is a truly reciprocal relationship—that’s important to Buffalo State University and the Anne Frank Project.”
Professor Kahn, a person of Jewish origin said that the history he lived is one of many things that encouraged him to choose this profession. Referring to his history, he affirms that implementing his project in Rwanda changed a lot in his life, because he found that, due to the Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandans share a lot with him as someone who knows the Holocaust carried out against the Jews whereby he feels doing everything for his fellows, with whom he shares a lot in life; he considers Rwanda as his second home. “I feel a deep personal, spiritual and practical connection to Rwanda—I’m thankful for that”; Professor Kahn shared.
The “Anne Frank Project” facilitates and coordinates the official international sister-city relationship between Muhanga District and Buffalo City in New York whereby a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on November 27, 2011, when Muhanga Leaders and other envoys visited The City of Buffalo.
It is wide cooperation that involves education, economic development, and cultural exchange. “The mayors from both Buffalo and Muhanga communicate regularly. We are presently working on making academic studies from Buffalo State more accessible to Rwandans”; Professor Kahn says.
There are many collaborative events that have taken place since this relationship started such as solar panels donated by Buffalo citizens to Muhanga Kivomo Village residents; and cows distributed to vulnerable groups in Muhanga, Nyarusange and Shyogwe Sectors. Over 200 teachers have been trained in the story-based learning methodology with a commitment to expanding that number each year.
Muhanga District Mayor, Béatrice Uwamariya, told IGIHE that the cooperation with the City of Buffalo is mostly related to education. “There are training sessions offered to our teachers from different schools, they bring trainers to train them using new methodologies practiced in their country”, she appealed.
“This partnership has helped to train teachers to embed drama in their teaching. Our competency-based curriculum highlights this due approach to let learners gain these unique skills rather than dwelling only on the cognitive domain of learning. We have the testimony of the impact of the training of the Anne Frank Project in Muhanga: Due to this training, most of our schools have performed well on the national exams.
Student’s excellent performance from the best in top ten performing schools (Ahazaza Independent School, St. Andre, Urukundo, St. Augustine, etc.) is the real fruit of our relationship with the Anne Frank Project, Buffalo State University and the City of Buffalo.”
Mayor Uwamariya continues that: “Anne Frank Project targets several activities among which enabling students to pursue their further studies at Buffalo State and starting a Teacher Training Center within Urukundo Learning Center, and expand their activities around the country as well to profit to many Rwandans.”
When Professor Kahn was in Rwanda together with his students, they were happy visiting different parts of the country including Akagera and Nyungwe National Parks. “Our annual trips to Rwanda are much more than teacher training—we immerse the students in as many cultural, historical aspects of Rwandan life as possible: Genocide memorials, visits to urban and village homes, local businesses, Akagera, and Nyungwe National Parks and participation in Umuganda”, shares Professor Kahn. “This is not a surface, tourist experience, it is a reflection of our respectful, dignified collaborations and friendship. A friendship we hope to continue for a long time.”
Governor Kemajou who is on a week-long visit to Rwanda went to the memorial accompanied by the delegation of staff from Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali including Rugera Jeannette who also deputizes the Governor of Rotary Club in District 9150 which covers 10 countries including Rwanda.
They were taken through the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and watched a film on genocide and testimonies of the heinous killings which took lives of over 1 million victims.
Governor Kemajou was moved by such cruel atrocities and called on joint efforts to desist genocide ideology and prevent the re-occurrence of genocide.
“I have been moved by what happened in Rwanda. I am a Cameroun national, a country that also experienced extreme killings. I am aware of the sufferings my surviving parents endured when other people were killed,” she said.
“Rwanda’s transformation over the past 25 years makes me wonder how it came to be. I am optimistic that people in my country will sit together joined by as brotherhood spirit, overcome racial discrimination and live peacefully,” added Kemajou.
She explained that Rwanda and many countries in different corners of the globe should come to learn from Rwanda as a role model with a fast development pace and commendable unity and reconciliation.
“I am delighted to witness the country’s transformation. Many people need to visit this memorial and learn from Rwanda’s history and draw a lesson that no one should discriminate others over ethnics, religion, race or beliefs,” said Kemajou.
During her stay in Rwanda, Kemajou will visit different activities and meet with members of Rotary Clubs.
Rotary club is an organization purposed to bring together businesses and professionals to provide humanitarian services and providing support in addressing problems facing the world by combating illiteracy and poverty, contributing to the provision of safe water, handling disputes and fighting disease.
Rwanda has six clubs of Rotary Club including, Kigali Mont Jali, Musanze, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen, Gasabo and Butare with 104 members.
Rotary Club District 9150 was established in 1982. It comprises of Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroun, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Tchad, and Sao Tomé-et-Principe.
The President made the comments yesterday as he witnessed the signing of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement between the Government of Mozambique and the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO).
“Rwanda will continue to stand with Mozambique as a friend and a brotherly country. We are also partners in another important struggle, namely the one to integrate and transform our continent as a whole,” he said.
“We look forward to deepening the fraternal ties between our countries, and our regions, in the years ahead. Once again, on behalf of the people of Rwanda, congratulations and best wishes,” added Kagame.
He congratulated President Nyusi and the Mozambican Government, as well as the leadership of RENAMO for successfully concluding the peace talk and emphasized that these agreements have a great significance to the people of Mozambique bringing the promise to an end to decades of conflict and uncertainty, and the renewal of national unity and cohesion.
Even if previous efforts have not succeeded, Kagame said, it is never a waste to give a shot to peace one more time highlighting that the achievement matters to all Africans.
“It shows that we can find solutions to our problems, no matter how protracted and difficult. Dialogue and inclusion cannot be imposed from outside. And once consensus is reached, it can only be sustained from within,” he stressed.
Kagame reiterated that Mozambicans have come together to turn the page and advised that nothing should prevent the country from achieving even more, in terms of development and well-being for citizens.
Rwanda and Mozambique enjoy good relationships. In 2016 and 2018, both countries signed cooperation agreements in politics, governance, tourism, agriculture, mining, air transport services, promoting investment, science and technology, and professional training.
In July 2018, Mozambique president, Filipe Nyusi visited Rwanda following president Paul Kagame’s visit to Mozambique in 2016 when he talked to investors and invited them to invest in Rwanda.
Today, Mozambique accommodates over 3500 Rwandans involved in different businesses
The ceremony of signing peace agreements was graced by numerous dignitaries including President Paul Kagame, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Edgar Lungu of Zambia, the President of Namibia Hage Geingob, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mousa Faki Mahamat and the former President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete among others.
The agreements are expected to put an end to 16-year long war between both parties that has taken the lives of over 1 million people and ravaging the economy. The RENAMO insurgency was a guerrilla campaign by militants of the RENAMO party in Mozambique.
The insurgency is widely considered to be an aftershock of the Mozambican Civil War; it resulted in renewed tensions between RENAMO and Mozambique’s ruling FRELIMO coalition over charges of state corruption and the disputed results of 2014 general elections.
A ceasefire was announced between the government and the rebels in September 2014. However, renewed tensions sparked violence in mid-2015.
On August 1, 2019, President Filipe Nyusi and RENAMO leader Ossufo Momade signed a peace agreement at RENAMO’s remote military base in the Gorongosa mountains which brought an end to hostilities. The last remaining REMANO fighters afterward surrendered their weapons.er of equipment.
RENAMO started disarming its soldiers last week following fruitful negotiations of peace agreements to operate as a political party.
Some of the disarmed rebels will be integrated into Mozambique military and police forces while others will be integrated into the community.
Over 5200 RENAMO fighters are expected to abandon hostilities.
Dr. Ghanem said he was pleased with discussions that sought ways of preventing the outbreak from spreading to Rwanda.
“We have talked on Ebola prevention measures and discussed ongoing strategies of the Ministry of Health to avoid the spreading of the outbreak to Rwanda. We support these initiatives,” he said.
Dr. Ghanem said the World Bank provided US$ 300 million funding to prevent Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and revealed that the bank works closely with countries neighboring DRC to prevent the spreading of Ebola.
“We have also discussed malnutrition issues where we are going to reinstate a project worth US$ 70 million focusing on fighting against malnutrition among children and helping them to access balanced diet enhancing good health and proper growth,” he stressed.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba said that both leaders also discussed areas of cooperation to strengthen the prevention of Ebola inside the country.
“We have discussed how they are going to support Ebola prevention measures we implemented and seeking how cross border trade can be exercised without incurring risks,” she said.
Over 1700 people have died of Ebola in DRC since August last year. The first case of Ebola was reported in Goma on 14th July 2019 where the infected patient died within 24 hours. Since then, three people have died of Ebola in the town within 15 days.
The Ministry of Health has advised against unnecessary travels to Goma-Eastern Congo, following increasing number of cases confirmed in DRC, and requested that individuals who have recently travelled to an Ebola-affected area to report to the nearest screening station and to report any suspected Ebola cases via the Ministry of health toll-free lines 114, police number 112 or to community health workers or the nearest health centre.
Among key prevention measures are frequent washing of hands with clean water and soap, avoiding contact with blood and body fluids, as well as items that would have come in contact with an infected person’s blood and body fluids.
Ebola is transmitted through blood and body fluids, including vomit, urine, saliva, sweat. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, joint pain, headache, diarrhea, skin rash, vomiting, red eyes, stomach-ache and bleeding through different body parts.
Rwanda has a detailed National Preparedness Plan in place and has trained health workers in early detection and response, educated communities about Ebola, vaccinated health workers in high-risk areas, equipped health facilities, and continues to conduct simulation exercises to maintain a high level of readiness.
He was joining his counterpart President Edgar Lungu of Zambia for the launch that took place at the Mulungushi Conference Centre.
President Kagame expressed delight to be in Lusaka for the launch of the SDG Centre’s Sub-Regional Centre for Southern Africa.
He said it was a special occasion because it is the first Sub-Regional Centre to open its doors made possible by the leadership and commitment of President Lungu and the Government of Zambia.
“Speaking on behalf of the SDG Centre for Africa Board, I wish to express our gratitude for the speed with which Zambia followed through on its pledges. We also appreciate the outstanding quality of the facilities that have been provided. This center has all the conditions needed to succeed in its mission,” revealed Kagame.
Kagame stressed that the SDGs, just like the African Union’s Agenda 2063, are detailed blueprints ‘for delivering our people the future they deserve’ and requires good policy-making, as well as reliable national data systems to track progress toward the targets.
“The role of the SDG Centre for Africa is to support governments in this endeavor, especially by providing technical advice on upgrading statistical capacity, as well as relevant policy research and analysis, tailored to the circumstances of each country,” he highlighted.
“It is up to us in government, the private sector and in civil society to make the most of this resource. Time is of the essence. 2030 is only a decade away, and our continent is not on track to meet the targets,” added Kagame.
He noted that the SDG agenda is meaningful for Africans whereby the ambitious goals represent real, tangible progress in the well-being of people with improvements to health, economic opportunity, gender parity, and environmental protection among others.
Kagame said that the next SDG S Summit scheduled next month will assess progress and renew global determination to do what it takes to achieve the goals where the United Nations and the African Union Importantly are going to be working even more closely together.
“The launch of this Sub-Regional Centre is therefore very timely, and I hope other regions of our continent will follow suit. Indeed, Liberia has already committed to hosting the West Africa center,” he highlighted.
On August 3, 2019, Stephen Paduano published an article in The Atlantic; “China’s Investments in Rwanda Raise Familiar Questions About Debt”, in which he describes Chinese investments in Africa as a ‘Chinese debt trap’.
He wrote that African nations increasingly welcomed the funds from China despite concerns that the costs are outweighing the benefits.
The journalist reflected on countries like Djibouti saying that the debt to GDP ratio it owes China stands at 77 percent raising fears that China will take over one of Djibouti’s ports.
Among others, Paduano said that Rwanda’s debt-to-GDP ratio is 53 percent, that Rwanda will spend more on paying interest—and have less to spend on basic services for its people.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has released a statement dismissing the reports of Paduano as false and misleading.
{{Full statement}}
Factual correction on an article published in The Atlantic
On August 3, 2019, Stephen Paduano published an article in The Atlantic (“China’s Investments in Rwanda Raise Familiar Questions About Debt”) in which he describes Chinese investments in Africa as a ‘Chinese debt trap’.
However, the content related to Rwanda requires factual correction on two points: Rwanda’s debt sustainability and the level of Chinese investment in Rwanda.
1. Rwanda’s debt sustainability
The author cites a Debt-to-GDP Ratio of 53% to claim that Rwanda’s debt is too high and will “have less to spend on basic services for its people” as a result. However, that debt indicator is misleading, and the associated conclusion therefore unfounded.
The Debt-to-GDP Ratio of 53% is the total debt stock to GDP ratio, which is indeed the current total public and publicly guaranteed debt stock for Rwanda at the end of 2018.
However, Rwanda’s debt is mainly concessional (80% of its external debts), with long maturities up to 40 years and grace periods up to 10 years. Therefore, the indicator used by the IMF and the World Bank to measure debt sustainability is the Present Value of Debt-to-GDP Ratio, which is 31.9% currently, well below the threshold of 55% for debt sustainability as per IMF and World Bank standards.
It is also incorrect to state that Rwanda has a debt service burden because its Debt Service to Exports Ratio and Debt Service to Revenue Ratio are well below the thresholds, indicated in the table below.
The most recent joint IMF-World Bank Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), dated 11 June 2019, rates Rwanda’s overall risk of debt distress as ‘low’ .
Similarly, the July 2019 World Bank Africa Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA), subtitled “Strengthening Debt Management Capacity”, ranks Rwanda at the top of the regional and global ranking, as it was in 2017.
Rwanda also enjoys one of the highest sovereign credit ratings in Africa from the three major rating agencies, with a stable or positive outlook.
Rwanda’s debt strategy is to maintain its current low level of debt, which is projected to be at 39.8% in 2024.
{{Indicators 2019 Threshold}}
Present Value of Debt to GDP 31.9% 55%
Present Value of Debt to exports 150.6% 240%
Present Value of Debt Service to Exports 9.0% 21%
Present Value of Debt Service to Revenues 10.5% 23%
{{2. Chinese investment in Rwanda}}
Rwanda enjoys good cooperation with China. However, the size of Chinese investment in Rwanda cited in the article is inaccurate.
It is not true that ‘70% of Rwandan roads have been financed and built by Chinese’.
Rwandan roads have been financed from diverse sources, the major ones being the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Gulf, China, and Japan. Chinese loans to Rwanda represent less than 5% of Rwanda’s total debt.
