The handover between the outgoing Mayor of the City of Kigali Rwakazina Marie Chantal and the Acting Mayor Busabizwa Parfait took place yesterday at the headquarters of Kigali city witnessed by the Chairman of the City Council Rutabingwa Athanase.
Busabizwa who doubles as the Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development temporarily succeeds outgoing city Mayor Marie-Chantal Rwakazina who was in July 2019 appointed by cabinet as Rwanda’s ambassador to Switzerland.
Rwakazina, 45, was recently cleared by the senator to assume her diplomatic duties. She has been in the office for over a year since May 2018 taking over from Pascal Nyamurinda who resigned for personal reasons.
The Chairperson of the City Council Athanase Rutabingwa said that the acting Mayor will continue to serve until the new City Mayor is elected as they are in the process of organizing elections with the National Electoral Commission.
Rwakazina served in different functions working for the United Nations Development Programme until 2018 when she was elected to lead Kigali city.
A new law governing Kigali city was released on 31st July 2019. The latter incorporates reformed structure in the administration of Kigali city and eliminates the existence of districts’ advising committees.
The law stipulates that elections to replace Kigali city leadership should take place in no more than six months.
“Congratulations to Kristalina Georgieva on the nomination as a candidate for the role of Managing Director of the IMF. I can’t think of a more suitable candidate. You have my country’s & my own support. Wishing you the best @KGeorgieva !” he said in a tweet.
IMF is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.
Formed in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference primarily by the ideas of Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes, it came into formal existence in 1945 with 29 member countries and the goal of reconstructing the international payment system. It now plays a central role in the management of balance of payments difficulties and international financial crises.
Countries contribute funds to a pool through a quota system from which countries experiencing a balance of payments problems can borrow money. As of 2016, the fund had SDR477 billion (about $667 billion).
Through the fund and other activities such as the gathering of statistics and analysis, surveillance of its members’ economies, and the demand for particular policies,[ the IMF works to improve the economies of its member countries.
The fund is seeking a replacement of Christine Lagarde who has recently resigned to the top leadership after her appointment as the President of the European Bank.
Ms. Georgieva narrowly won a head-to-head run-off against Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch former chair of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers.
Ms. Georgieva is now favorite to become the next head of the IMF when the fund’s governing board votes on candidates in early October. No other candidates from large emerging economies have declared their candidacy.
Under a convention with the US, a European usually leads the IMF and an American national head the World Bank.
Ms. Georgieva, a former EU commissioner for Bulgaria, is a highly respected economist who won plaudits during her time at the World Bank. Should she be appointed in October, she would become the first eastern European nations to take charge of the Fund.
According to reports, her path to the job faces further obstacles even following her triumph over Mr. Dijsselbloem.
Her successful nomination would require a change to the IMF’s bylaws which bar a sitting managing director from being more than 65 years old. Ms. Georgieva turned 65 last year.
The IMF board of directors did not reach a consensus on whether to change the rule when it met in Washington last month.
France and other countries in support of Ms. Georgieva say the age change can be quickly agreed and has backing from the US.
Ms. Georgieva has been CEO of the World Bank since the beginning of 2017 and served as interim president after Jim Yong Kim unexpectedly resigned in January. She was passed over for the permanent posting in favor of the US candidate David Malpass.
The Bulgarian national has a long history of working at multi-laterals, serving at the European Commission and the UN. She first joined the World Bank in 1993 as an environmental economist and has worked for the organization across Asia and in Russia.
Congratulations to Kristalina Georgieva on the nomination as a candidate for the role of Managing Director of the IMF. Can’t think of a more suitable candidate. You have my country’s & my own support. Wishing you the best @KGeorgieva !
The apology was sought on 1st August 2019 in Rukumberi sector, Ngoma district during a unity and reconciliation gathering.
Unity and reconciliation is among priorities spotlighted by the Government of Rwanda following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi where genocide perpetrators plead guilty and apologize in public.
During the event held recently, 14 genocide convicts apologized in public.
Emmanuel Habimana, 62, was handed life sentence. He was the head of Interahamwe in Sake of Ngoma district.
Habimana felt ashamed and decided to seek pardon since 2000.
“I plead guilty of genocide crime. I felt ashamed for it, apologized and mobilized fellows to do so as a contribution to desisting denials of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” he said.
Stephanie Muyoboke, a genocide survivor said she always grieved before knowing whereabouts killed relatives were dumped.
She explained that her heart was smoothened since learnt about the circumstances of her parents’ death and pardoned.
Muyoboke requested convicts who apologized to make a step further mobilizing other inmates to tell the truth and reveal where genocide victims were dumped to be accorded decent burial.
Johnson Mugaga, the head of unity and national identity and public awareness at the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) thanked participants of the event and inmates who made a step to revealing the truth.
“Apologizing is about bravery rooted on humiliation while forgiving is bravery emanating from kindness,” he said.
Mugaga urged all churches, Rwanda Correctional Service among other stakeholders involved in the promotion of unity and reconciliation to sensitize inmates on seeking an apology and telling the truth as a part of foundations building Rwandan society.
So far, 6000 genocide convicts have sent apology letters while 1800 of them were connected to offended survivors and forgiven.
Findings in the RGB Citizen Report Card 2018 indicate that Rwandans’ unity and reconciliation efforts are paying off at a rate of 92.5%.
In Turkey, the event took place at the Hilton Hotel in Ankara city attracting over 250 participants.
It was also graced by various dignitaries including Rwanda’s ambassador to Turkey, Williams Nkurunziza, Turkish Foreign Ministry’s Director-General for Africa Ahmet Riza Demirer, heads of missions representing African countries to turkey and friends of Rwanda among others.
The celebrations were preceded by a 15 km marathon competition involving Rwandans and foreigners. The marathon was won by a Rwandan studying in Turkey, Faustin Rutayisire using 1 hour and 20 minutes.
The coordinator of Rwandans living in Turkey, Ibrahim Uwihoreye said it was a great pleasure to join the motherland in the celebration of Umuganura.
He told the crowd that Umuganura is a special day in Rwanda’s history where Rwandans celebrate achievements.
Ambassador Williams Nkurunziza also shared the history of Umuganura celebrated at the end of harvest time where families would come together to share fruits of their harvests and set new objectives for the next season.
Not only was the event meant to share harvest but also was critical to uniting Rwandans which reflects the same rationale nowadays as explained by Amb. Nkurunziza.
Umuganura had been uprooted by colonialists in 1925 but Amb. Nkurunziza said it was restored by visionary leadership in 2011 as part of initiatives to develop homegrown solutions rooted in culture.
Traditional ballet ‘Izogeye’ made of Rwandans studying in Turkey entertained guests during the celebrations held on Friday.
Umuganura was also celebrated in Belgium on Saturday where Rwandans from different corners of the country convened in Blankenberg city.
It was also graced by Rwanda’s Ambassador to Belgium, Amandin Rugira and the delegation from the embassy.
The event marked by a community work and main celebrations of Umuganura.
Yvette Umutangana, the President of Rwanda’s diaspora in Flandre Occidentale-Belgium said the community work reflects Rwandan values and commended everyone who joined Rwandans in the community work and celebration of Umuganura.
Amb. Rugira thanked participants of the celebration and reminded them that Umuganura has a great relevance concerning celebrations of achievements in socio-economic transformation and good leadership of Rwanda as well as information sharing and socialization.
He also invited participants to attend Rwanda Day 2019 to be held in Bonn, Germany.
The donations were handed over on Saturday in an event held in Kiramuruzi sector graced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Eugène Mutimura among other leaders from related institutions.
Mutimura said the idea was conceived when they visited Kiziguro memorial.
“We conceived the idea when we visited Kiziguro genocide memorial and impressed by activities of the district which had built houses for genocide survivors. Thereafter, the Ministry and associated institutions pledged to construct a house for a survivor and support others with basic home equipment,” he said.
Mutimura requested the beneficiary to seek assistance from local leadership whenever it needs refurbishing.
Angelique Mukashyaka appreciated the donation which came in handy putting her out of previous distress where she used to be housed by good Samaritans.
She is also among beneficiaries of donations that include; chairs and mattresses.
Gashumba made the warning yesterday during Car Free Day held and called on Rwandans to stand against whatever could lead to spreading the Ebola virus to Rwanda.
Held twice a month, Car Free Day is an exercise held in Kigali city where residents engage in physical activities and get a free medical checkup after.
The exercise was introduced two years ago by Kigali City Council, in partnership with Rwanda Biomedical Centre, in a bid to promote a healthy lifestyle.
“People are nowadays deviating from agreed Ebola prevention measures putting at risk the lives of many people. We have been seeing people intending to cross the border to attend gospel crusades especially in this August,” she said.
“We requested church leaders and followers not to neglect set up Ebola prevention measures because it puts people’s lives at risk. These crusades can be organized later and invited fellows again when the Ebola outbreak is no longer reported in the neighboring country,” added Gashumba.
She revealed that no person has been spotted with Ebola in Rwanda but noted that the problem lies in people crossing to DRC who might get contaminated and spread it to the country.
Gashumba appealed citizens against unnecessary travels to Ebola-affected areas and urged churches to stop sending informal invitations for gospel crusades.
Over 1800 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 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.
Screening for Ebola symptoms at points of entry has been ongoing since the beginning of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has been reinforced since the confirmation of a case in Goma.
An Ebola Treatment Centre was put in place and 23 isolation units are being prepared in hospitals in 15 priority districts.
Ebola response simulation exercises are on a regular basis within the community, borders, airport and treatment Centre to test Rwanda’s preparedness in response to a case, which includes emergency Operations Centre activation, active surveillance, case management, and laboratory testing.
About 3000 health workers in high-risk areas have been vaccinated as a preventative measure, including more than 1100 in Rubavu district.
To date, Rwanda has trained over 23,957 people including Doctors, Nurses, hospital staff, Community Health Workers, religious leaders, Red Cross Volunteers and security organs. Meanwhile, special ambulances are in place to handle any Ebola suspected case on time.
The ninth and last Rwanda Formed Police Unit (FPU-9) contingent of 140 Police officers deployed in Haiti in September last year, returned home safely this Sunday aboard a UN-chartered plane.
The contingent was received at Kigali International Police (KIA) by Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, on behalf of Rwanda National Police leadership.
CP Kabera thanked them for sustaining and building on the legacy left behind by the contingents that served in Haiti before them.
“Rwanda National Police thanks you for representing your country well in Haiti and welcomes you back home. You sustained the Rwandan legacy and left a good picture, the duty continues back home,” CP Kabera said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Edward Kizza, who guided FPU-9 repatriation safely, said they had a “good tour-of-duty.”
“We had enough training prior to our deployment and we inherited a legacy left behind by previous contingents where the local people were so welcoming and cooperative, and this made our peacekeeping duties easier,” SSP Kizza said.
“During our tour-of-duty, we also continued the Rwandan tradition of human security activities, we supported faith-based activities including participating in the rehabilitation of a local church and donated chairs and piano to another church; we made sure that Jeremie prison never ran out of clean water; donated medical drugs to a health center which offers free medical services to the local people; and supported the regional Police station with vehicle spare-parts to facilitate their operations,” SSP Kizza said.
{{Nine years of peacekeeping in Haiti}}
Rwanda deployed its maiden FPU contingent of 160 officers under the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), on January 30, 2011. Since then, 1360 Police officers have been deployed in the Caribbean nation in the nine FPU contingents. Their operations were mainly in Jeremie.
Some of the crucial work that the RNP peacekeepers have done in Haiti includes the provision of security in Grande Anse Region, conducting patrols and escort duties, humanitarian assistance, guarding key installations and protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
Others include public order management, protection of UN delegates and provision of emergency services to the local population.
Their peacekeeping duties were also characterized by communal hygiene and human security activities where they supported varied needy groups in health, education, sports development and providing shelter.
Particularly, they constructed accommodation for a disadvantaged family in Jeremie, which were left homeless by floods, worked with the local population in rehabilitating roads, supported orphans with clothing, beddings and scholastic materials and responded to rescue activities especially during disasters like floods.
All the donations were out of financial contribution by every Rwandan police peacekeepers that served in Haiti.
The deployment of FPUs in Haiti followed the 2010 catastrophic earthquake which killed over 100, 000 people and displaced over three million others.
In April 2017, the UN Security Council extended the UN mandate in Haiti under a new entity—UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH).
Under the new mandate, Rwandan Police peacekeepers supported the Government of Haiti in strengthening rule-of-law institutions, further developing and supporting the Haitian National Police and engaging in human rights monitoring, reporting, and analysis, among others.
Shyaka was speaking on Saturday at the closing of the 8th edition of the Security and Hygiene campaign, held at Amahoro Stadium conducted by RNP, City of Kigali and its three districts of Nyarugenge, Kicukiro, and Gasabo.
In hygiene, the campaign looks at greening, especially in schools, health centers, roads, and business centers.
In the area of urban security, it focuses on building stronger and functioning community policing committees, community night patrols, fighting narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and domestic violence.
Other areas include fighting noise pollution, serving alcoholic drinks to minors, fire outbreak, public order management and promoting road safety.
The event was also attended by the Minister of State in Charge of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza, among others.
Minister Shyaka said that the campaign, which has registered tremendous achievements in aspects of security and hygiene for the city, should be extended to other parts of the country.
‘’The theme–keeping Kigali clean, green and safe–is an impactful campaign which should be scaled up to a ‘clean, green and safe Rwanda, we will support you,’’ Minister Shyaka said.
He observed that this partnership contributed greatly to turning Kigali into one of the cleanest and safer cities world over.
The Minister commended the role of city residents and grassroots leaders in this campaign and urged entities still lagging behind to learn from others to achieve the required standards in all aspects of security and development.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza said that without a healthy population, both security and development can’t be realized. “They are intertwined and that is why this campaign is crucial.”
“Emphasis on security and hygiene must start from our villages; remember, social wellbeing requires having safer and hygienic people, who equally play a significant role in detecting, fighting and preventing anything that can affect their wellbeing and the national development agenda,” IGP Munyuza said.
“We need to enhance our individual and collective contributions towards social development initiatives, information sharing especially on high impact crimes and advance anything that contributes to the wellbeing of the people,” he added.
He called for increased partnership in fighting crimes that still exist, such as gender-based violence, trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs as well as improving road safety.
“To achieve full public safety, development, and hygiene there must be a firm foundation of partnership, information sharing, and timely reporting,” IGP Munyuza said.
Best performers recognized
Kimironko trounced the other 34 sectors of the three city districts to emerge as the best performer of the 8th edition of the security and hygiene campaign.
Kimironko received a trophy, certificate of merit and a vehicle– Mahindra double cabin.
Gasabo also emerged as the overall best performing urban district.
Mapambano Nyiridandi, the Executive Secretary for Kimironko Sector said that the vehicle will help them to enhance security and hygiene.
‘’One of the major achievements is citizens’ involvement in security-related matters where there is an impressive change in attitude and participation in public safety initiatives,’’ Mapambano stated.
He added: ‘’Kimironko has about 65, 000 residents of all categories, but they understand their vital role in security.
The given vehicle will help us achieve our aimed goal, which is participating in our security, hygiene and our development as well. We will keep on going forward,’’ Nyiridandi said.
The closure of the 8th edition of the campaign falls with Police Month and marked the end of its third week which focused on environmental protection.
During the 2019 retirement phase, a total of 822 service personnel including 20 Senior Officers (2 Col, 6 Lt Col and 12 Maj) 363 career Officers and Other Ranks retired and 406 military personnel concluded their service contracts with RDF, while 33 others have been discharged on medical grounds.
The retirees were awarded certificates as a recognition for their service rendered to Rwanda Defence Force.
In his speech at the send-off ceremony held on Friday at the RDF Headquarters Senior Officers Mess in Kimihurura, Lt Gen Jean Jacques Mupenzi, RDF Army Chief of Staff (ACOS) applauded the retirees for their personal sacrifices, service rendered and contribution to the country.
“You are part of the RDF family and the doors are always open for you. Therefore, keep contributing to the country’s development as it the part of RDF mandate,” said Lt Gen Mupenzi.
On behalf of the retirees, Retired (Rtd) Col Fabien Musafiri emphasised that they remain ready to serve if recalled on duty. He also thanked the institution for having trained them in different fields.
Ceremonies also took place in different divisions around the country and at the RDF General Headquarters in Kanombe Military Baracks.
The schedule has been announced by Rwanda embassy in German. In a statement released by the embassy, it says: “The embassy is pleased to inform all Rwandans, Rwandan diaspora in German and friends of Rwanda that Rwanda Day will take place on 24th August 2019 in Bonn.”
Rwanda Day has been held since 2010 and serves as a platform for bringing together all Rwandans from the diaspora and their friends to discuss how to further advance the development of the country and get up to speed on the current progress.
The latest Rwanda Day took place 10th August 2017 in Flanders Expo, a multipurpose hall in Ghent town, Belgium.
Rwanda Day presents opportunities for attracting foreign investments and networking.
Participants are given floor to address their questions directly to the Head of State, share ideas and express their wishes as well.
At the occasion, Rwandans get insights of Rwanda’s progress and share ideas on ways forward.
Different officials and heads of missions representing Rwanda abroad continue to encourage Rwandans from all corners of the world to be ready to meet fellows in the gathering scheduled to take place in German.
