RIB Spokesperson Modeste Mbabazi told IGIHE on Friday evening that they had received a complaint from a woman who claimed that her minor daughter was defiled and her 19-year old impregnated.
He said Mugabe often nicknamed Bob was under interrogation as RIB prepares the file to be submitted to the prosecution.
“It’s true Mugabe has been summoned. RIB has received an accusation against Mugabe for defiling two siblings. He allegedly impregnated one and gave her pills for abortion and defiled the 17-year old,” said Mbabazi.
It is also alleged that Mugabe also infected the two with an undisclosed disease.
Mugabe is the Managing Director of the Voice Ltd, which publishes Great Lakes Voice and Ibiyaga Bigari.
He claimed himself in October 2016 that security operatives grabbed his cell phones and tried to kidnap him. He was later interrogated at former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) which was later replaced by RIB.
Law on mining and quarry operations published last month institutes penalties including revoking the license from any employer who defaults on measures for safety of miners.
Francis Gatare, the CEO for Rwanda Mines, Petrol and Gas (RMB), told the media last week that mining operations take place in hazardous conditions which call for special measures to protect workers.
He said that accidents do happen but the law seeks to hold accountable anyone who causes an accident.
Gatare, who is also a member of the cabinet, said the government is seriously concerned with the mining incidents and wants to mitigate the risks.
The law stipulates that anyone who defaults mineral operations to the extent of causing human death will face, upon conviction, imprisonment of between seven and 10 years and a fine of between Rwf5 million and Rwf10 million.
If the incident causes human injury and disease or environmental destruction, the responsible will face between six months and one year imprisonment and a fine between Rwf1 million and Rwf3 million.
Article 55 reads that in case the accident causes human disability or incurable disease, the standards’ defaulter will face one to three years in jail and a fine between Rwf3 million and Rwf5 million.
RMB reports over 80 mining accidents between November 2017 and June 2018
The new law states that, despite the mining privatisation for the last 10 years, government can play role in mining sector in accordance with the law governing the government and private partnership.
Mining sector earned $373 million last year and target is at $600 million this year.
RMB projects the revenues to stand at $800 million annually by 2020 and $1.5 billion by 2024.
“A Ministerial Order (of Llabour) determines minimum wage,” reads article 68 of the new labour law.
The current minimum wage was fixed 44 years ago at Rwf100 but workers and trade unions have in the recent years complained about it as not matching with the market rates.
Gaspard Musonera, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, has told IGIHE that the Minister’s Order determining minimum wages is the final stages for publication.
He said the draft bill with soon be tabled before the cabinet, adding that they had to do massive consultations with the concerned organs for the draft as the previous law provided for minimum wage for registered jobs or formal sector only.
The survey by the trade unions published in December 2017 indicated that current market rates call for a minimum wage of Rwf87,285 and Rwf126,260 for rural and urban workers respectively.
Contrary to the previous labour law of 2009 which protected salary for workers in formal sector only, the new law protects salary for all categories of workers including informal sector employees.
It also provides for informal sector employees’ minimum wage and right to a leave, among other rights that were in the previous law like the right to social security, occupational safety, and the right to form trade unions and employers’ associations.
The new law also protects salaries for employees executing public or private tenders by giving powers to the procuring entity to retain the amount equivalent to employees’ salaries, until the successful bidder proves that he/she has paid the employees.
“However, if the payment is not effected by the successful bidder in a period of forty-five (45) days, the procuring entity pays the concerned employees the salaries equivalent to the amount retained,” reads part of article 122.
Contrary to the previous law which prohibited to employ a child even as apprentice before the age of 16, another change is that now a child aged between 13 and 15 years is allowed to perform light works in the context of apprenticeship while the minimum age for admission to employment remains at 16 years.
The project being implemented by Solektra Int. is a joint venture of the Senegalese-American singer Alioune Badara Thiam aka Akon, his fellow Senegalese-American Thione Niang and Malian entrepreneur Samba Bathily.
Unveiling Saturday the street lighting units, a village water pump and three ambulances Ndego, Solektra Int CEO Samba Bathily said the $250,000 worth facilities constitute the first phase of the project.
The facilities were developed in collaboration with Rwanda Development Board in its revenue sharing programme with the communities neighbouring with the national game parks.
The beneficiaries are neighbours with Akagera National Park.
Bathily said the second phase will offer irrigation systems, solar systems for primary and secondary schools, and a smart village centre in Ndego and Rwinkwavu sectors.
It is expected to be completed in the next three months at a tune of $500,000.
Bathily also participated in gorilla naming Friday in Musanze District where 23 gorilla infants received names. The Malian philanthropist named one ‘Ineza’ meaning charity.
Germaine Kamayirese, Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water at the Ministry of Infrastructure, urged Ndego residents to preserve the facilities and use them to improve their living.
Innocent Shingiro, a resident of Ndego, said the ambulances, water and power will help them live better.
During his visit to Rwanda in July 2015, Akon had promised to fast-track his project in six months but nothing was done until May 2017 as Kamayirese’s advisor Alexis Karani told IGIHE.
With the budget of $1 billion, Akon Lighting Africa seeks to provide solar energy to 600 million rural residents in 30 African countries.
She made the remarks Saturday in Kigali at the breakfast meeting on women in agri-business that was organised on the sidelines of the 8th African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2018.
Mrs. Kagame said African agriculture cannot develop while leaving women behind.
“I would like us to first envision an entire year without food production. A year, during which those women in Africa decided to lay down their tools. The consequences of their refusal to work anymore will be many,” she said.
“We would lose out on the fight against hunger, we would lose out on holistic diets for our infants, with the risk of nutritional stunting in African children in years to come. We would lose out on overall health; we would lose out on the economic gains made thus far from agriculture; we would also lose out on the much-needed foreign exchange as a result of greater food importation.”
The First Lady said the AGRF 2018 binds everyone to consider the role women farmers play in African development in addition to the heavy burden they often carry as sole breadwinners in female-headed households.
“We are doing a disservice to women by not acknowledging their hard labor in agriculture, by taking for granted the fact that they feed our continent and by under-valuing their contribution to socio-economic growth,” she remarked.
“As leaders, and experts concerned with the advancement of agriculture and on increasing its productivity in Africa, I am certain that you can identify, even more consequences of not investing more heavily in women in agriculture.”
She added that all the concerned people should chart lasting solutions to ensure better livelihoods for the most vulnerable and turning subsistence agriculture into viable agri-business.
Major challenges that women farmers face include having no rights on their family’s land and lack of access to finances.
Mrs. Kagame said that, as an advocate for gender equality and a firm believer in women capacity to create sustainable wealth for themselves and the future generations, she believes that real agriculture transformation must include more robust investment in women.
World Bank reports that agriculture accounts for 32% of African GDP and employs around 70% of the population.
Women represent over 60% of the farmers on the continent.
He said Africa exports unprocessed agricultural produce and imports processed products at a much higher price.
Kagame made the remarks Saturday in Kigali at the 8th African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2018.
“We transport our coffee and tea to Europe. You give it some blessing, then send it back to us and we pay ten times more,” he says, seemingly pointing at the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in attendance.
“We have been shipping value for free and we pay heavily. It just doesn’t make sense and we all know it. How can we blame anybody else for some of these shortcomings, how can we blame anybody else for Rwanda importing coffee from Europe when we produce coffee but we don’t process it?”
In attendance was also Ghanaian President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kenyan Vice President William Ruto and Gabonese Prime Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, among other dignitaries.
One example cited is that chocolate sales stood at $100 billion in 2016 but major African cocoa producers, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, together recorded 5% of the earnings yet they exported 65% of all the cocoa used to produce chocolate worldwide.
Kagame said that the knowledge, experience and goodwill in evidence at AGRF show that Africa has everything it needs to succeed.
“It is up to us working together to drive the necessary change in our respective communities and organisations… Between Kenya, Ghana, Gabon, our minds on this panel are very well aligned. The main task for us is to make sure that what we are aligned on, is actually put into practice.”
Remarking that the majority of Africans still earn their livelihood directly or indirectly from the land, Kagame said that agriculture deserves the concentrated attention of Africa’s policy-makers, scientists and entrepreneurs.
William Ruto said that African countries must come together and ensure they stop exporting unprocessed goods.
He said Africa should only import tractors and other equipments but export the processed agricultural produces.
President Akufo-Addo said Africa has to address its problems without expecting anyone from outside to do it.
The officials observed that trade among African countries is harder that importing food items from Europe.
They reiterated the importance of the recently signed Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in addressing the challenges.
AfCFTA was signed by 44 countries in Kigali in March 2018 at the 10th Extra-Ordinary African Union Summit of Heads of State and Governments.
The number of signatories has so far reached 50 countries in the process to set the trade area operational.
AfCFTA is expected to create a common African market for over 1.2 billion African population and improve trade among the continent’s countries.
African countries trade among themselves at the rate of 16% while the rate stands at 60% between Africa and Europe.
The 14th ceremony locally known as Kwita Izina was held Friday at the volcanoes foothill in Kinigi, Musanze District of the Northern Province.
The infants were mainly born between July 2017 and June 2018.
Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente the gorilla naming exercise cements the country’s efforts towards the conservation.
He said the mountain gorilla population is only in the Virunga Park spanning from Rwanda and neighbouring countries, making a valuable asset that should be conserved.
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) reports that gorilla population increased from 480 in 2010 to 604 in 2016.
19 other gorilla infants were given names last year.
RDB CEO Clare Akamanzi said that Rwanda has invested many efforts in tourism.
The recent efforts include a video documentary in which President Paul Kagame acted showcasing the country’s attractions. The video has now got over 73 million views worldwide.
The latest and most talked about initiative is the Arsenal-Rwanda deal dubbed ‘Visit Rwanda.’
Akamanzi said that in just two weeks following the deal signing, Google searches about Rwanda increased significantly.
She said that, as opposed to earlier searches pointing at the genocide, Visit Rwanda shifted search dominance on Google to hotels and more about Rwanda’s aspect.
Akamanzi said that Rwanda targets to reach $800 million as tourism revenues by 2024. The revenues stood at $438 million in 2017.
She said Rwanda is also developing infrastructure to support tourism.
The developments include Bugesera International Airport which is under construction and the expansion of national carrier, RwandAir, which currently operates 25 destinations in Africa, Europe and Asia.
RwandAir plans to open new destinations including those to the United States and China by 2019.
{{Gorilla infants’ names
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All clad in Rwanda’s traditional attire, the following team named 23 gorilla babies.
Hong Liang & Xinyu Zhang gave one the name of ‘Urugero’ meaning exemplary.
Laureano Bisan Etamé-Mayer named a baby gorilla ‘Ikipe’ meaning a team.
US Ambassador to Rwanda, Peter Vrooman gave the name of ‘Intarutwa’ meaning the champion.
Alexa Gray named a baby gorilla ‘Kunesha’ meaning success.
UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Dr. Abdulaziz Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuami named one ‘NaYombi’ meaning ‘with open hands.’
Samba Bathily named one ‘Ineza’ meaning charity.
Dr. Noeline Raondry Rakotoarisa named one ‘Imbaga’ meaning crowd.
Michael Wale named one ‘Paradizo’ meaning paradise.
Thomas Krulis named one ‘Mahirwe’ meaning lucky.
Judith Kakuze named one ‘Indakemwa’ meaning blameless or honest.
Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo named one ‘Aremu’, one of Obasanjo’s names meaning every child is important to the family.
Mafikizolo, the duo of South African musicians Theo Kgosinkwe & Nhlanhla Nciza, entertained the attendees before naming one gorilla baby ‘Akeza’ meaning the little beautiful.
Josette Sheeran named one ‘Umuryango’ meaning family.
Michael O’Brien-Onyeka named one ‘Umuseke’ meaning the dawn.
Adrian Gardiner named one ‘Irebero’ meaning hill view.
Strive Masiyiwa named one ‘Ishusho’ meaning image.
Peter Riedel named one ‘Umusaruro’ meaning production.
Alexandra Virina Scott named one ‘Izahabu’ meaning gold.
Rao Hongwei named one ‘Uburumbuke’ meaning prosperity.
Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall named one ‘Amatungo’ meaning livestock.
Jeannette Uwiragiye named one ‘Irebe’ meaning precious.
Amadou Gallo Fall named one ‘Kwiyongera’ meaning increase.
Graca Machel ‘Urugori’, a ring-like traditional head wear for women.
Akufo-Addo was received by Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente at the Kigali International Airport.
AGRF has attracted over 2,000 participants and 300 speakers from governments and business community.
The forum is discussing the required improvements in African agriculture in line with Africa Agenda 2063.
The 74-year man is Ghanaian President from January 2017. Prior to presidency docket, Akufo-Addo served as Prosecutor General from 2001 to 2003 and Foreign Minister from 2003 to 2007.
He was again in Rwanda in March 2018 for the 10th Extra-Ordinary African Union Summit of Heads of State and Governments on Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Opening the 8th AGRF in Kigali Wednesday, Dr Ngirente said the development of agriculture in Africa is only possible if politicians get to understand the agriculture relevance and challenges in the sector.
He said there are untapped potentials for the development of agriculture in Africa.
Agriculture accounts for 32% of African GDP and employs around 70% of the population.
AGRF was established in 2010 but the forum was before taking place in Oslo, Norway, between 2006-2008.
In Africa, the annual forum was respectively held in Tanzania Mozambique, Ethiopia, Zambia, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire from 2012 to 2017.
The forum consolidated $6.5 billion last year for investment in agro-processing of edible oil, peas, sweet potatoes and rice.
The forum reports that Africa spends $35 billion annually in importing food stuffs and the amount is expected to increase threefold by 2025 unless mitigation measures are implemented.
Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) reports that the seized second-hand clothes tons were shipped into the country illegally.
The increase in caguwa fraud results from the hiking of taxes on used wears.
RRA Commissioner-General Richard Tusabe told IGIHE Thursday that the 200 fraud tons have been destroyed since 2016.
“We encourage caguwa fraudsters to get together and consolidate their capital to start textile manufacturing within Rwanda instead of bringing in the country substandard clothes,” he said.
In July 2016, Rwanda hiked taxes on used garments and shoes from $0.2 and $0.4 respectively to $2.5 per kilogram and further to $4 and $5 on used garments and shoes respectively in July 2017.
The 2017 tax was maintained in the current fiscal year that started in July.
Discouraging imports of used clothes and shoes intends to promote local manufacturers through the initiative dubbed “Made in Rwanda.”
The ban on importation of second-hand clothes and shoes was in May 2016 endorsed by the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State during a summit in Arusha, Tanzania.
The resolution intends to phase out caguwa by 2019.
This aims to resuscitate the struggling regional textile industries, create entry level jobs and reduce trade deficits in the EAC member states.
Before the dinner, Mafikizolo will participate in gorilla naming ceremony, locally known as Kwita Izina, taking place at the volcanoes foothill in Kinigi, Musanze District of the Northern Rwanda.
The two and their six-member supporting team have landed in Kigali this Thursday.
Mafikizolo and local Gakondo Group will perform at Igitaramo-Cultural Celebratory Gala Dinner to entertain a range of guests now in the country for the Kwita Izina.
Mafikizolo was last in Rwanda in July 2016. At the occasion, the duo entertained guests at the 27th Ordinary African Union Summit of Heads of State and Governments.
This Friday, 23 gorilla infants will be given names by high profile people.
They include RnB Star Alioune Damala Badara Thiam, aka Akon on stage; Legendary Arsenal and Cameroun footballer Laureano Bisan Etamé-Mayer, aka Lauren; and former Nigeria President Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo.
