“On 23rd March 2019, Governments of Tanzania and Rwanda agreed to avail direct cargo flights from Mwanza Airport to European Markets by 1st July 2019. They are also working on the transportation of Rwandan cargo through Tanga port and the supply of raw milk to Tanga,” he said in a tweet.
Tanga port is located in Northeast of Tanzania near Indian Ocean. It is the second largest port following Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania’s Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Luhaga Mpina, recently told fish traders in Mwanza town that Tanzanian and Rwandan officials were in talks to enable RwandAir ferry fish from Mwanza airport in northern Tanzania to overseas markets.
Mpina said that it will be a massive relief for Lake Zone fish traders, who have, for a long time, been seeking an alternative airline to transport their products abroad. Fish dealers in the region have been relying on Entebbe and Nairobi airports in Uganda and Kenya respectively, which they claim are more costly.
Sijaona James, the spokesperson of the Tanzania Fishermen Union, recently told Xinua news that over 1,000 tonnes of fish could not be exported in the past few months because of transport problems adding that a total loss of the exports destined for Japan and Israel stood at 5.5 billion Tanzanian shillings.
The agreements between Rwanda, Tanzania follow the visit of President Paul Kagame to Tanzania at the beginning of this month where he held talks with his counterpart, Dr. John Pombe Magufuli.
Eyewitnesses who saw the woman collapsing on the Rwanda side attempted to intervene for emergency help but was blocked by Uganda’s soldiers camped near the area.
Officials have said that the woman was not a dweller in the neighborhood of the border as reported by media from Uganda and denied unfounded truths that the deceased was crossing the border to get food.
The border is in Burera district while the deceased lived in Kinigi sector of Musanze district where she ran businesses.
Northern Province Governor, Gatabazi Jean Marie Vianney has confirmed to IGIHE that the woman died in Uganda denying claims that she crossed the border to get food. ‘They are not harvesting too, this is a planting season.’
“She collapsed in the forest and hit her head on stones. Rwanda’s soldiers couldn’t
help her because it was on the land of another country. She was taken to Kisoro hospital dead and returned her body to be handed to Rwanda’s officials,” explained Gatabazi.
Her body has been taken to Ruhengeri hospital for postmortem.
Rwanda has of recent advised its citizens not travel to Uganda after hundreds of Rwandans have been abducted, arrested, tortured and incarcerated incommunicado.
The Expo 2020 Dubai World Majlis initiative held its latest session in Kigali, Rwanda to discuss the exchange-value between large global companies and smaller enterprises. A formal and inclusive gathering, the World Majlis brought together current and aspiring thought leaders from across Africa and the UAE at the Kigali Public Library, Kigali Innovation Village.
The session, titled ‘Borderless Talent: How do the global economy and local change-makers connect?’, was hosted by Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau and moderated by Georgie Ndirangu, from BBC Africa. Participants included Mohammed Dewji, CEO, MeTL; Claudette Irere, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda; Amin Gafaranga, CEO, Innovation Village, Kigali; and Dr Shivon Byamukama, Deputy CEO, Babyl Rwanda.
This Year’s edition delved into the changing nature of how talent is developed and mobilised, and how Africa is playing a leading role in connecting small and large businesses, as well as governments and independent platforms.
Henry Umunnakwe, Co-founder, Compound55, said: “For corporates, governments, private sector or SMEs to survive we all need to work in the same environment and we all need to work in a way that’s collaborative because [an SME’s] success is our success, the government’s success, the private sector’s success.
“Rwanda is a start-up nation, you come with some ideas, you test your ideas, you have the space to do it from the government, but that’s not enough; the corporates also need to see how they can get involved. For instance, how can they support the ecosystem through simple things like what events they sponsor for people to connect, because if you’re not connected at the lowest lower how can you take an idea to the next level?”
Adam Jones, Vice President and Area Business Head, East Africa, Mastercard, said: “As an organisation that operates in the tech sector, particularly the financial sector across Sub-Saharan Africa, we see that there’s small, nimble organisations that can act far more swiftly than we ever could but we can bring to them potential scale, network capabilities and stakeholder discussions that then means they can grow very rapidly. Then it becomes about how can you foster that dialogue to be able to take it as a repeatable, scalable function around the world.”
The Expo 2020 World Majlis programme chose to host its latest session in Africa in recognition of the entrepreneurs transforming the economic landscape across the continent, and as African nations prepare their pavilions for the next World Expo, which will be the first ever to ensure each country has its own pavilion to showcase its achievements and aspirations.
Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said: “As the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, Expo 2020 has the potential to positively influence the world beyond the borders of the UAE, through programmes such as the World Majlis.
The World Majlis initiative is an extension of the traditional majlis, designed to provide a space for respectful and inclusive dialogues that invite thought-provoking opinion, incubate meaningful connections between people and new ideas and inspire a positive outlook on the future.
Expo 2020 is already supporting creative solutions to reach their potential through its USD 100 million social innovation and partnership programme Expo Live. Contributing to Expo’s social legacy, Expo Live supports innovative projects that are already having a positive impact on society or the environment, or both, while also demonstrating that innovation can come from anywhere to everywhere.
A total of 42 Global Innovators from 70 countries have been selected so far, with more to be announced later this year. Many of them are based in Africa, including two in Rwanda – Babyl Rwanda and Nuru Energy. The projects are being supported with funding, business guidance, networking opportunities and media exposure.
The agreement will see a joint venture firm established by the two institutions to develop infrastructure and advanced factory units on the land.
The land was offered to Djibouti by the Rwandan Government in 2013 in reciprocity to the 20 hectares of land Djibouti offered Rwanda at the Port of Djibouti.
Djibouti also gave Rwanda an additional 40 hectares of land in its new Free Economic Zone in 2017 for trade.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of RDB (Rwanda Development Board), Emmanuel Hategeka said : “Our countries are experiencing strong bilateral relations and in addition to the signing of this MoU today, we have shared detailed plans with the Government of Djibouti on how we want to develop the land given to us in Djibouti.”
The chairman of the DPFZA, Omar Hadi Aboubaker said: “Our goal is to open up Africa to the rest of the world by connecting Rwanda, which is at the heart to a third international sea port in Djibouti after Mombasa and Dar-es- Salaam.
We will develop toll roads connecting Djibouti to Kigali and upon developing the infrastructure and factory units in Kigali; we will look for investors to whom we shall lease out the land for trade.”
Jeanne Isabelle Gasana, the Managing Director of PEZ, said: “The signing of the MoU today is a sign of the goodwill between our two nations. The next step will be to establish the joint venture, which will have the DPFZA as foreign investors in Rwanda as soon as next week and sharing and implementation of the land’s development plans.”
As she announced the results yesterday, the CEO of BK Group Plc, Dr Karusisi Diane said that national economy registered an exciting growth of 8.6% enabling the company’s uninterrupted growth.
“All our subsidiaries reported strong performance leading to a net income of Rwf 27.4 billion. We are focused on delivering higher value for our shareholders and plan to report even better numbers this year 2019,” she said.
The profit emanated from increased net loans in 2018 having reached to Rwf 568.1 billion with an increase of 20.4% as of 31 December 2018 compared to previous year.
“Increased loans earn us more interest. Our business went beyond banking as we currently offer insurance services. We have enough money for loans and investment in technology,” said Karusisi.
BK Group Plc total assets reached Rwf 877.4 billion as of 31 December 2018 a 20.7% rise.
BK Group Plc is made of Bank of Kigali, BK TecHouse, BK General Insurance and BK Capital.
The CEO of BK Capital, Carine Umutoni has said that “BK Capital was launched officially 2 weeks ago though it has been operational for the last few months of 2018 and has grown funds under management to Rwf1.7 billion from the private pension schemes assets under management.”
It is for the first time BK Group Plc announces results since it listed on Nairobi Stock Exchange with 222.2 shares on 29th October 2018.
38 African countries have participated to this conference which aims to express support for the Decision Assembly / AU / Dec.693 (XXXI), adopted at the 31st African Union Summit, held on July 1 and 2 in Nouakchott 2018.
The Decision N° 693, “puts the Moroccan Sahara issue back into its appropriate framework, that of the United Nations” and “allows, therefore, to immunize the AU against any inappropriate attempt to divert the path of unity and integration,” said, Monday in Marrakech, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita.
This decision “contributes to strengthening serenity within the AU regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue,” Bourita said at the opening of the African Ministerial Conference on African Union (AU) support to the United Nations political process on the regional dispute over the Sahara.
The decision to establish an African mechanism comprising an AU Troika to extend effective support to the UN-led efforts in this issue is shared by an overwhelming majority of African countries that support the UN-led political process, he pointed out.
This decision should be “neither reinterpreted, nor circumvented nor instrumentalized”, he insisted.
Decision 693 has enshrined the exclusive competence of the United Nations in the management of the conflict over the Sahara, kicked out any other parallel process to that of the United Nations and stressed the AU support to the UN-led efforts, Bourita pointed out.
It is these parameters that allow the AU to support the political process led by the United Nations and to be in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, which call for a “political, realistic, pragmatic and sustained solution based on compromise”, the Minister said.
The Marrakech conference is held at a time when “Africa addresses substantial challenges, which require us to meet more, to consult more and to work more together”, he said, while underlining the importance of unity and cohesion to serve Africa’s interests.
In the Royal Speech that marked the return of Morocco to its institutional family, HM King Mohammed VI set a roadmap for the Kingdom within the African Union, the Minister said, adding that the Marrakech Conference reflects this Royal Vision, in that it intends, precisely, to federate and go forward.
This spirit of togetherness stems from the very essence of HM the King’s African Policy, which is based on the principles of “responsibility, solidarity and clarity”, he said, adding that this orientation pushes Morocco to “oppose any sterile debate exploiting the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, and to condemn any political manipulation”.
In the Final Declaration adopted by the conference, the representatives of the 38 countries have warmly welcomed the constructive initiative of the Kingdom of Morocco to convene this conference and support the United Nations political process on the regional dispute over the Sahara. They also reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to a united, stable, proactive and prosperous Africa, speaking with one voice and able to respond to the multidimensional challenges of today’s and tomorrow’s complex world.
Situated along the Kwitonda trail, Singita will add about 12 hotel rooms and it will employ close to 70 people, according to Luke Bailles, the founder of Singita.
“Singita Kwitonda will offer 8 suites and a villa with magnificent views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes,” he explained.
He added that they have locally sourced labor and construction materials during the construction.
Bailles said the opening of the new property will put gorilla trekking within easy reach and in combination with other destination tours within Rwanda for tourists to take advantage of.
It will also offer tourists a classic safari option to Singita’s private concessions on the Serengeti plains in neighboring Tanzania.
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Bailles said they are working in close partnership with the Rwanda Development Board and local communities, in taking a measured, long-term approach to conservation on the edge of the Volcanoes National Park, in line with the company’s established 100-year vision to build sustainable revenue streams to fund the preservation of African wilderness for future generations.
“We have been treading lightly on the land during the entire construction process. Sustainability is at the core of the construction project. We will initially establish a nursery and plant over 60,000 tree saplings in and around the new lodge. Ultimately, Singita hopes to be able to support the Rwandan government in finding ways to increase gorilla habitat while remaining sensitive in assisting neighbouring communities to thrive economically and socially,” he explained.
“It’s been our dream to become involved in Rwanda tourism,” he said, adding that the move to invest in Rwanda’s high-end market was inspired by the country’s sustainable tourism strategy.
Named in tribute to Kwitonda, a great silverback gorilla that died close to six years ago and whose legend lives on in Rwanda for being known for his humility and gentleness, the Singita Kwitonda Lodge joins the 13 award winning lodges and camps across South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe run by Singita.
Singita is a conservation brand that has been preserving African wilderness for the past 25 years, offering guests an exceptional safari experience with 14 luxury, award-winning lodges and camps across five regions. In partnership with non-profit Funds & Trusts who implement strategic conservation projects in each region, Singita’s 100-year purpose is to preserve and protect pristine land and wildlife populations, and help create economic independence within local communities surrounding the reserves.
He explained that persons who lose court cases must pay compensations and be integrated in programs supporting vulnerable people if the act leaves them in poverty.
He made the comments as the Senate Political and Good Governance Committee held discussions with the Ombudsman Office, Ministry of Local Government
(MINALOC) and the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST) on the ombudsman 2017/2018 report.
Some of the identified problems include cases of citizens who do not get compensation after winning court cases and failure of individuals to pay government fines claiming many offenders do not have enough resources for compensation.
“Two days ago, I went to Ngororero district. A resident told me: ‘We ask someone to provide compensation but we later realize that he/she has inadequate possessions that he would become vulnerable if the possessions are used to compensate the winner,” said Busingye. He explained that the law allows taking over of 70% of assets of a person defeated in court case to compensate the winner.
“There is no justice in society when the cow of the defeated can’t be taken for compensation.”
The redesigned interior structure of Brussels Airlines was exhibited yesterday at Kigali Convention Center.
The exhibition of new seats is part of a restructuring that will see Brussels Airlines passengers onboard enjoying improved service delivery, comfortable seats, music of choice, secure luggage space, foods, drinks and tight security.
New services to be offered onboard have been compared to services found in Hôtel-boutique that usually serves VIP passengers, senior officials and tourists among others.
The advent of Hôtel-boutique dates back in 1980 in powerful towns like Paris, London, New York and San Francisco.
Such hotels have rooms ranging between 10 and 100 and located in comfortable places.
A United Kingdom national, Richard Ingress who attended the event said that the expansion of Brussels Airlines services is of great value.
“It is a great milestone to expand their activities. I believe it will be very crucial for me that I will be travelling to UK easily enjoying selected music and films,” he said.
The Chairperson of International Travel Agency (ITA) Rwanda, Nadia Keza revealed that new services will attract more passengers to have flights with Brussels Airlines.
“We welcome Brussels Airlines move restructuring its aircrafts’ seats to improve passengers comfort onboard. It induces happiness to us because to sell flight tickets expecting client’s safety and comfort in return. It helps us when an aircraft is restructured to improve passengers experience,” she said.
The incident took place last night in Nyamweru cell of Kanyinya sector.
Police spokesperson in Kigali city, CIP Marie Goretti Umutesi has told IGIHE that the names of the suspect could not be established as the suspected thief had no identifications.
“We were informed that thieves usually steal from parked truck in the area. Police was there on patrol. Two thieves armed with machetes saw a truck of Daihatsu brand loaded with irish potatoes and started cutting the canvass covering the merchandise. Potatoes spread over the road,” she said.
“One thief cut glasses of the car immediately when the driver stopped. Police shot him dead when he did not heed to the orders. His colleague escaped,” added CIP Umutesi.
She urged citizens to play an active role in preserving security adding that police and other security officials are on standby to intervene.
