The annual event which takes place every last Saturday of March, saw Kigali Marriott Hotel participating in the global initiative by turning its lights down and encouraging energy conservation, from 8:30PM-9:30PM. This is the third time that the Five-Star Hotel has joined in the efforts to raise awareness of climate change since its opening in 2016.
Prior to that, the hotel made the hour more enjoyable for the guests with the ‘Nyama Choma Grill and Chill’, an event which brings together meat lovers at every end of the month. The event includes all kinds of meat from goat, beef, chicken, all served roasted. It is often paired with local beers such as Mutzing draught, with a 50% discount off for kids 6-12 years.
Alyson Hayes, the Assistant Director of Food and Beverage at Kigali Marriott Hotel said the event was designed to provide meat-lovers with a place to relax and enjoy savory food.
“Our aim is to provide guests with an enjoyable time at the end of the month. We bring them together to have a good time in a great setting with fine music and even better food.” says Alyson Hayes.
Kigali Marriott Hotel provides a luxurious home away from home for business and leisure travelers. The hotel features Soko Restaurant, Cucina Restaurant, and Iriba Bar and Terrace for all guests to enjoy. Other facilities include an outdoor pool, fitness center, Saray Spa, and gift shops.
She made the call today as she addressed 250 youth attending talks on preparations of 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Statistics indicate 70% of Rwandans are aged below 30 falling in the category of youth.
Minister Mbabazi said that such figures demonstrate that the majority of Rwandans were born after the genocide and asked them to recognize their value as the future of the country.
“You are the future of the nation. When Rwanda sees the youth making 70% of the population, we expect more strength than problems from you. We expect solutions as you consolidate gains for a better future and hope for improved life tomorrow that you can pass on to generations,” she said.
“We talked about the mayhem of genocide we experienced with the involvement of the youth. On the other hand, the youth in RPF Inkotanyi stopped the atrocities,” added
Mbabazi reminding the youth to take the lead in building a better future of Rwanda.
Israeli Ambassador to Rwanda, Raphael Morav was previously based in Ethiopia. It is the first time the envoy of Israel gets an office in Kigali over the past 50 years ago.
The move reflects unwavering diplomatic relationships expected to open doors for cooperation in the development of different including but not limited to agriculture, technology and tourism.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Amb. Yuval Rotem said that opening the embassy in Kigali highlights the thirst to scale up relations.
“This step mainly focuses on strength and benefits between both countries. I think you will see relationships improving more as both heads of states president Paul Kagame and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu share similar economic and political ambitions,” he said.
Rwanda and Israel share common history as countries which experienced tragic history during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and Holocaust targeting Jews in the 2nd World War. From these scars, emerged courage and strength to work hard during the resilience process.
“The fact that we were able to overcome hard times, choosing not to sink into sorrow but building strength and self-reliance is shared between both countries. We can root on it to build trust and spread a message of hope to many countries across the globe,” he said.
Rwanda, Israel relations date back in 1962 when the country obtained independence. In 2014, Rwanda became the first African country signing cooperation agreements with Israel and later in 2015 opened embassy headquartered in Tel Aviv.
Israel worked with Rwanda as a bridge to expand again ‘our community in Africa’ enabling to open an embassy which had last existed in 1973.
“Everyone coming here, investors you see, officials from the ministry always talk about Rwanda differently. It took time but we are going to concert much effort to catch up lost time. Indeed, having an embassy here signifies a lot to this relationship,” he observed.
The opening of the Israel embassy coincided with the opening of Rwanda – Israel Horticulture Centre of Excellence, based in Mulindi which is expected to help Rwandans widen their knowledge in horticulture.
“The centre will promote agriculture in the country,” he said.
Both countries expect to launch cooperation in technology, aligning with the country’s goal to become an innovation hub in the region.
“Talking on areas of biodiversity, science, innovation and jobs creation, you can’t find good friends beyond Rwanda and Israel. I think we are prepared in this area. When you want to improve the economy, you expand from agriculture projects to technology. And I think we have that in common, ” he said.
The future projects include exchanging flights through national carriers.
“Measuring the extent of cooperation is assessing the implementation of direct flights between both countries. I know Rwanda is willing to use RwandAir in Kigali-Tel Aviv flights and will go into effect in the near future,” he said.
He explained that such cooperation will boost tourism, trade and joint investment.
Arrested suspects are identified as Jean Bosco Munyandinda, the Administration & Finance Manager and Gashabizi Egide and the Data Entry clerk, RIB has revealed in tweet.
RIB spokesperson, Mbabazi Modeste has told IGIHE that suspects are detained at RIB Station in Kimihurura and their files have been submitted to Rwanda’s Prosecution.
Graduates sitting for examinations to join the National Council of Nurses and Midwives have been complaining of the bribery of between Rwf 200,000 and Rwf 500,000 asked to join the council.
During a recent meeting with Rwanda Senate Commission for Social Affairs on 19th February 2019, the chairperson of NCNM, Innocent Ndahiriwe denied the claims noting however that graduates who failed the exam several times tend to offer bribery to be favored.
The mayor of Kirehe district, Gerard Muzungu has confirmed to IGIHE that the workers were involved in an accident today morning on their way to work.
They were coming from their residence on the side of Tanzania, a few kilometers to River Akagera which is between Rwanda and Tanzania where the hydroelectric power station is being built.
“They were in a Coaster this morning towards the power station under construction. It was then that they got involved in an accident in which two workers died; including a Burundian and Rwandan. Two others sustained serious injuries,” he said.
Rwandans of which number has not yet been established are among workers who sustained injuries.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Amb. Gatete Claver has, via twitter account, expressed condolences to bereaved families.
“Our condolences to the families of our staff at Rusumo hydro power project who lost their lives this morning due to an accident. RIP,” he said in a tweet.
The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFP) is a hydropower project under joint development by the Governments of the Republic of Burundi, Republic of Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania through a commonly owned Rusumo Power Company (RPCL).
The new song follows another released recently called ‘Abarinzi b’amateka” carrying the message of commemoration, fighting against trivialization and denial of the Genocide against Tutsi.
“Kubabarira ntibivuga kwibagirwa” becomes the sixth song released since Kizito Mihigo was released from presidential commutation adding to songs like “Aho kuguhomba yaguhombya”, “Uzabe intwari” and “Vive le pardon” among others.
The chorus of the new song reads: “We, Genocide survivors are never extinguished even though our sorrow still remains, there emerged bravery and energy and we are happy to work with our fellow citizens in rebuilding our Rwanda.”
Speaking to IGIHE, Kizito Mihigo said the song appreciates efforts of genocide survivors who don’t get sunk into sorrow over the past 25 years after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
“After the Genocide against Tutsi, there are survivors who had positive anger, who didn’t sink into sorrow but took bravery and energy for their interests and the country in general. I think those people induce pride to the country and are hope for many human beings in the world,” he said.
The five minute song was produced by Producer Nicolas while the video was captured by Mussa, the owner of Rday Entertainment.
Kizito Mihigo is also the author of commemoration songs including ‘Twanze gutoberwa amateka’, ‘Umujinya mwiza’, ‘Ijoro ribara uwariraye’ among other he released before his imprisonment in 2014.
“This is to inform the public that after measles outbreak at Huye prison, the quarantine is now closed. The regular visit is allowed. Thanks to public and inmates’ relatives for their patience throughout the quarantine,” reads the statement released by Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS).
Measles outbreak caught some of Rwanda’s prisons at the end of last year leading to suspension of visits to inmates. Huye prison is among other prisons removed from quarantine last month including Nyarugenge and Ngoma prisons.
RCS indicates that 117 inmates were infected by the disease but no one of succumbed to the epidemic.
This agreement will primarily enable community members from Gakenke and Gisagara districts to use the Spark Microgrants approach to build capacity that will help them to overcome poverty through different projects funded by Spark Microgrants. The two districts join three existing beneficiaries including Rulindo, Musanze and Burera districts.
Following the agreements; Spark Microgrants has been testing this approach in all 24 villages of Rukozo sector in Rulindo district which have started implementing development projects worth 100 million. For instance, community members of Kivomo village were facilitated to found Twizamurane Kivomo’, a community bringing community members together for pigs husbandry.
They went through the process before receiving 5 pigs at the outset. Today, the number of pigs has risen to 35.
Spark Microgrants in partnership with Gakenke district have selected Kamubuga sector as the next beneficiary. The sector is inhabited by 23,000 community members of who 4,000 are from the first Ubudehe category.
Once in a village, Spark Microgrants selects and train community based facilitators on the model, upon completion of the training, they go back to their communities and share the acquired knowledge through participatory planning meetings. Each village of Kamubuga sector will receive Rwf 6 million to support their development projects.
The executive secretary of Kamubuga sector, Jean Bosco Nkurunziza has told IGIHE that they will make sure such projects are implemented successfully. “We have the duty of reminding community members of their role in the implementation of the project. I will be providing advisory services to ensure the projects bear fruits,” he said.
Spark MicroGrants was founded in 2010 with a novel approach to empower communities facing poverty to design and drive their own economic and democratic development. To date, they have partnered with over 210 villages across Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ghana with a 95% project sustainability rate.
The horticulture center of excellence, established at Mulindi in the City of Kigali through the cooperation between Rwanda and Israel, comes to strengthen the technical know-how of Rwandan researchers, extension agents and small and commercial farmers, through transfer of hands on skills among others.
During the inauguration ceremony on April 01, 2019, the Government of Rwanda and MASHAV also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to promote the agriculture development in Rwanda through the inaugurated center of excellence.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, said that this Horticulture Center of Excellence inauguration and new MoU signing are important milestones in the context of contributing to the improvement of horticultural production, and human capacity building in Rwanda through MASHAV’s expertise.
“This is in line with our fourth Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA 4). As you may know, in this strategy, among others, we aim at raising production and profits per hectare through increasing agricultural yields and switching to higher value agricultural commodities, such as horticulture, animal products and fisheries,” the minister said. “In this regard, I would like to assure the State of Israel that the Government of Rwanda will continue to support the Horticulture Center of Excellence, especially as it contributes to the modernization of Rwanda’s Agricultural Sector in general and horticulture in particular.”
Ambassador Yuval Rotem, the Director General of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that this is the biggest project of MASHAV in Africa.
“We are making significant investments to be able to bring knowledge and knowhow to the people of here based on Israel experience, that hundreds of farmers and people who are dealing in agriculture in Rwanda will be trained and they are going to be in a position to have by far more quality, by far more quantity, and above all, it is going to bring more income to the people. This is exactly the kind of cooperation that we are looking forward to enhance,” the Israeli Director General said.
Journalist Robert Mugabe, the Great Lakes Voice editor is accused of defiling two girls including a minor.
It is alleged that Mugabe defiled girls aged 17 and 19, one of who he reportedly impregnated and attempted to give her crude abortion-enhancing substances.
He was arrested in September 2018 and released on bail by Kagarama Primary Court, in Kicukiro District on 8th October 2018. He was remanded again following the prosecution’s appeal.
Following the ruling to extend his remand by Kagarama Primary Court in February 2019, the accused appealed against the decision at Nyarugenge Court of Higher Instance.
During the hearing of his appeal yesterday, Mugabe said the court was prejudiced and disregarded his facts and violated some laws.
The prosecution explained that DNA test results to be conducted in German will be part of the evidence and for now he cannot be released because Mugabe denied more DNA tests.
The judge explained that the prosecution has rights to conceal results of DNA tests conducted before because the investigation process is a secret.
The judge ruled, Mugabe is accused of defilement which attracts over five years sentence that he cannot be released on bail because there is tangible evidence pinning him.
