The holy mass that was led by Bishop Célestin Hakizimana of Gikongoro Diocese and other priests who encouraged the pilgrims to love each other and be grateful for what they were given by the Lord.
Among others, they prayed against the streak of Ebola in Congo and for Burundi’s security to be restored.
Belie vers came from afar and near to ask the Mary to intercede for them and shower them with blessings.
Kieni Francis, who travelled from Uganda to arrive on the 12th August 2018, said she came to call out to the Virgin Mary’s mercy and for more miracles to happen into her life.
“I lost my husband when I was still very young. I like calling out to the Virgin Mary, to help me in the problems I always meet,” Kieni said.
Karasira Egide from Kigali said; “I came yesterday and although receiving food is a problem indeed, others were not able to receive a place to stay in as rooms were fully booked. Foreign visitors came early and booked all the rooms.
Many pilgrims told IGIHE reporter that the main reason that brings them to Kibeho was due to the first apparition of Mother Mary at Kibeho, 37 years ago.
Carrying bottles and jericans, thousands of pilgrims went to draw holy water, sold at Rwf500 for five liters, from a spring at the foothill of Kibeho which is claimed to cure many diseases.
It is estimated that between 6000 and 7,000 pilgrims from around the world attended this year’s event.
{{Assumption Day at Kibeho Mary Mother of the Word in pictures }}
The Command Post Exercise Shared Accord 2018 is running at Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, Bugesera District, from August 14 to 29.
The military exercise is focusing on African partner capability and interoperability in support of the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) Peacekeeping Operations (PKO). It seeks to assess abilities of participants in conducting PKO and to enhance positive bilateral and regional relationships in austere environments.
Opening the exercise on Tuesday, the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, General Patrick Nyamvumba said discharging peacekeeping operations requires good skills, commitment and professional conduct.
“The discharge of our tasks as peacekeepers calls for experience and lessons learnt, sharing mutual understanding but more importantly commitment and resolve to act professionally. While this is already taking place at different levels and through various frameworks, there is still room for further improvement. I believe exercise Shared Accord 18 is one of the avenues to this effect,” he said.
The Co-Exercise Director and US representative, Brig. General Lapthe C. Flora, said the two-week long exercise will focus on about 100 scenarios related to conducting peacekeeping operations during the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The training will help participants improve their capability to respond to regional security threats posed by Violent Extremist Organisations (VEOs) and to counter the associated ideology more effectively.
It also helps build partnership with the US Army Africa (USARAF) and East African Military Forces.
Participating countries are Angola, Botswana, Gabon, Germany, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Netherlands, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, the United States and Zambia.
Participants also include international organisations, the UN and International Committee of Red Cross.
RwandAir, the national carrier, and Equity Bank also received Best Exhibitor Overall Awards as the first and second runners-up respectively.
During the official closing ceremony held Tuesday at Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo, Gasabo District, Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation (PSF) recognised other 10 exhibitors as the best in their respective areas of business.
The 10 are Isubyo House of Arts in arts and craft category, Next Page in innovation, Byiza Vuba Construction as best young entrepreneur, Continuity Group in ICT, Entreprise Urwibutso Nyirangarama in agro-processing, Ameki Color in manufacturing, Ecobank in banking and Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) in insurance.
BPR Atlas Mara was recognised as best customer care provider while Egypt took the Best Foreign Exhibitor Award.
The Expo 2018 closing coincided with the Golden Night usually known as the Golden Gala Dinner to appreciate the best investors under the ultimate business network.
Eight investors in different categories received the Golden Circle Awards of Excellence. They include Rwanda’s brewery company, Bralirwa as winner of social impact award and MTN Rwanda for promoting digital economy.
Egide Gatera was recognised as the best investor overall, Hope Mpangare of Esperanza as best female investor, Ziah Murekatete as best young investor, Teklay Company as best retail outlet, André Bitwayiki for business promotion while Donatha Mukanyarwaya was awarded for environment protection in her business.
At the ceremony, Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente committed the government to further supporting the private sector to make it the leader of the country’s economy as it is in the Government’s seven-year transformation programme running until 2024.
“We promise, as the government, that through our usual collaboration with PSF, we shall call you to discuss issues you have raised and find solutions. We highly appreciate your contribution in creating jobs, promoting investment and the country’s development in general,” he said.
“We are committed to developing Made in Rwanda as we increase exports by 12% every year, increase tourism revenues to $800 million by 2024. We shall continue to lower electricity prices, construct roads and more infrastructures to support investment.”
Tourism revenues stood at $404 million in 2016 and the 2017 figures are yet to be released.
The Premier thanked exhibitors at Expo 2018 especially winners of exhibitors’ awards of excellence and urged private sector to improve the quantity and quality of their production.
The PSF Chairman Robert Bapfakurera appreciated the government’s exemption of taxes on many imported materials that local factories are using on a daily basis but said it is not clear how locally produced goods are taxed while their similar imports are not, adding that the discrimination against local products is hampering the promotion of ‘Made in Rwanda’ initiative.
He said the Expo 2018 was a success with 89% of the 450 exhibitors commending its organisation while 97% visitors liked the products showcased.
Expo 2018 took place at the Gikondo Expo Ground in Kigali from July 26 to August 15 and attracted exhibitors from 23 countries from all the world’s continents.
Commemorating the birth of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, this conference under the slogan of “The Africa We Want: Achieving Peace in Our Lifetime” aimed at seeking for the solution of wars between religions and ethnicity as well as solving social issues such as discrimination, and corruption.
The African Leaders of Peace Summit 2018 was jointly hosted by African Leaders of Peace Summit Organizing Committee, the African Union Commission, Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL), the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), the students of the University of Cape Town, as well as universities and the press.
Leaders from various sectors such as government, religion, youth, women, the press, and educators participated in the three-part summit,where attendees talked about how to establish a stable international order based on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) in cooperation with the international society.
The DPCW, drafted by HWPL and experts in the field of international law, addresses holistic principles for developing peaceful conflict resolution, promoting friendly relations between states, encouraging the freedom of religion, and spreading a culture of peace.
Cape Town City Councilor, Mzwakhe Nqavashe, said, “I run the ‘Peace My City’ campaign in cities like Cape Town and Gugulethu for spreading of a culture of peace as a principle designated in the DPCW. Through activities like environmental clean-up, dangerous regions threatened by crime were converted to peace parks, and the campaign has led to a steep drop in crime rates. Speaking as a city councilor, I think that through cooperation with HWPL the light of peace has shined upon Africa, and Cape Town was made a model example in Africa.”
“No country exists without its people. Similarly, no president can exist without a country. Presidents have been placed on their seats by the people. Don’t the laws of every country state that the power lies with the people? Hence each president must sign here in support of the DPCW for the sake of the culture of their citizens and peace in their country,” Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, emphasized.
The Peace Education Session that provides quality education for students in Africa compatible with the UN Sustainable Development Goals was discussed. In the session, MOUs between HWPL and 12 schools including Holy Cross Girls High School, Liesbeeck Primary School, Bonteheuwel High School were signed to expand peace education even farther in South Africa. Currently, HWPL has established a partnership to introduce peace education with 153 educational institutions in 11 countries including India, the Philippines, and the United States.
The WARP (World Alliance of Religions’ Peace) Office Session of the summit featured Christian, Hindu, Hare Krishna, Buddhist, and Islamic leaders to share their experiences with the interfaith scripture dialogues, and conferred on the role of the religious leader in the cessation of religious conflict and the realization of peace through religious harmony.
Regarding the violation of human rights that occurred in South Korea as a result of religious discrimination, “A 27-year-old woman was forced and found dead to participate in a religious conversion program. We gathered here to provide a fundamental solution to the religious discrimination in the whole world that was the cause of the recent incident,” said Reverend Mathias Tsine, a Christian pastor from Zimbabwe, “The WARP office has made tremendous strides in bringing leaders from various religions to speak with one voice in an effort to tolerate one another, harmonious co-existence” he added.
SIM Box commonly known as SIM Bank is a device that converts international phone calls into local calls by bypassing local telecommunication companies.
Via its Twitter account, RIB stated yesterday that its investigators had arrested Majidu in Kigali carrying a SIM Box from a Somali national who lives in Kampala, Uganda.
“The suspects claimed to have received the SIM Box from an unknown Somali from Kampala to hand it over to another yet to be identified person in Kigali/Nyabugogo at Rwf5,000 fee,” RIB tweeted, adding in another tweet that as investigation went on, the sender, a Somali who lives in Kampala was later identified as Djabil.
RIB states that, acting on a complaint filed by MTN Rwanda about the fraudulent activities going on in telephone calls coming from abroad, detectives have so far seized several SIM Boxes in Rusizi District and the City of Kigali.
The acting RIB Spokesperson, Modeste Mbabazi, told IGIHE on Tuesday that RIB has intensified crackdown on SIM Box fraud, adding that such fraud is on high increase and causes heavy losses to telecoms and the country.
“We have seized many SIM Boxing machines. We have arrested many fraudsters but the investigation continues in collaboration with other state organs to bring more fraudsters to book,” he said.
The Head of Revenue Assurance at MTN Rwanda, Eugene Manzi, told RIB that use of SIM Box causes heavy loss to telecoms.
He explained that a SIM Box fraud is a setup in which fraudsters install SIM boxes with multiple low-cost prepaid SIM cards. The fraudster can then terminate international calls through local phone numbers in the respective country to make it appear as if it is a local call.
Manzi said that when a call is for instance made from Europe to Rwanda, it requires carriers which are agents of sorts between the initiator and the recipient. With SIM Box, fraudsters can work with carriers giving them a cheaper rate than the telecom’s international calling rate and the carriers wire some money to the local fraudsters after a certain volume of calls.
For instance, if an international call is usually at Rwf50 per minute, the SIM Box fraudsters can connect it at Rwf20 and receive a kick-back from the carriers, making an international call register as a local.
Mbabazi warned the general public against attempting these crimes because they will face the law, adding that Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) has recently acquired the technology to detect SIM boxing.
MTN Rwanda reports that the SIM-Boxing fraud has so far ripped it of millions of money while the telecom and RURA again lost huge amounts last year.
Organized by the National Agricultural Export Development Board in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Sustainable Harvest, the competition aimed at promoting Rwanda coffee consumption both locally and internationally and Barista competition culture in coffee industry which is relatively new in Rwanda.
The contestants were coached and mentored by 2011 World Barista Champion, Alejandro Mendez who was also the chief judge of the competition.
According to Amb. George William Kayonga, the Barista competition in Rwanda is the road to the World Coffee Barista Champion and an opportunity for Rwanda’s Coffee to be well positioned on the global market.
Speaking to the press, Aiden Miller, the winner of the competition who is also the founder and owner of Crema Coffee shop in Musanze District, said that the championship had motivated them to take care of their customers with quality services delivery.
“We will ensure that knowledge and skills gained from expert Barista will add value to the coffee cup of our clients.” Miller told the press.
The representative of JICA in Rwanda, Takada Hiroyuki lauded the event as educational for baristas in the business.
“Rwanda is developing so quickly and coffee has not been left behind in the process. Five years ago you could hardly find a place to buy your favorite coffee drink outside hotels. Nowadays coffee shop is a hot business. It is important that we improve the skills of Rwandan coffee barista so that the cup quality impresses the consumer.” Takada Hiroyuki said.
Speaking at the ceremony of closing International Exhibition (Expo 2018) in Kigali on Tuesday, the PSF Chairman Robert Bapfakurera made the request to the head of government, Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente.
Bapfakurera appreciated the government’s exemption of taxes on many imported materials that local factories are using on a daily basis but said it is not clear how locally produced goods are taxed while similar imports are not, adding that the discrimination against local products is hampering the promotion of ‘Made in Rwanda’ initiative while promoting foreign products.
“This tax exemption is currently applied on imports while local products are taxed. This impedes the development of local manufacturers. Examples abound but one is the packaging materials whose importers are not paying taxes while local manufacturers of packaging materials pay taxes,” he said.
Bapfakurera added that PSF is prepared to drive the country’s economy by focusing on promoting the investors’ capacity and finding them good markets abroad.
Dr Ngirente pledged action on the taxes applied on local products and committed the government to further supporting the private sector to make it the leader of the country’s economy as it is in the Government’s seven-year transformation programme running until 2024.
“We promise, as the government, that through our usual collaboration with PSF, we shall call you to discuss issues you have raised and find solutions. We highly appreciate your contribution in creating jobs, promoting investment and the country’s development in general,” he said.
“We are committed to developing Made in Rwanda as we increase exports by 12% every year, increase tourism revenues to $800 million by 2024. We shall continue to lower electricity prices, construct roads and more infrastructures to support investment.”
Tourism revenues stood at $404 million in 2016 and the 2017 figures are yet to be released.
The Premier thanked exhibitors at Expo 2018 especially winners of exhibitors’ awards of excellence and urged private sector to improve the quantity and quality of their production.
The official closing of Expo 2018 coincided with the Golden Night, the Golden Gala Dinner, to appreciate the best investors under the ultimate business network. Eight investors in different categories received the Golden Circle Awards of Excellence. They include, Bralirwa, the Rwanda’s brewery company, and the telecom company, MTN Rwanda.
The best 10 exhibitors from different areas were also recognised while the best overall exhibitor award went to the CIMERWA PPC, the country’s sole cement producer, followed by the national carrier Rwandair and Equity Bank as the first and second runners-up respectively.
The former president of Mozambique, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Madagascar, the Queen Mother of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, the royal prince of eSwatini, Deputy Speakers, Former Vice Presidents among others, were in attendance.
The summit was co-hosted by the African Leaders of Peace Summit Organising Committee, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), and the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG). It recalled the roles of the leaders for peace and security in Africa and suggested a plan for the implementation of the AU’s “Agenda 2063 “.
The organizers explained that the purpose of this Summit was to awaken the leaders to their roles and achieve a peaceful Africa, in the midst of the recent political strife in Zimbabwe and the employment discrimination based upon level of education or sex found in African society.
H.E. Joaquim Alberto, the former President of Mozambique, said, “Today I have heard about cessation of war and that everyone wants peace, not war. But there is one more thing I would like to add, and that is: cessation of war is not possible without the cessation of individual and familial conflicts. And our children need to receive peace education and learn the culture of peace.”
H.E. Veronica Nataniel Macamo, Mozambique President of National Assembly, spoke, “I believe that peace can be achieved through the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and hope that all nations will be able to attain peace not only for our future generations but in our current generation as well.”
A speech by Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, the international NGO that co-hosted the summit, followed. “I have come to Africa to speak about the work of peace. Countless people have worked for peace on this planet but how much peace do we have today?” he asked, calling out for the listeners to take action for peace. He also spoke about how he had confirmed the universal desire for peace through the 29 trips around the world, saying, “There will be no greater thing we could leave as a legacy to our future generations than to end war on this planet and create peace.”
His Royal Highness Prince Hlangusempi & Minister of Economics and Planning participated in the event as a special emissary of the King of eSwatini. He signed a “National Solidarity Statement for the Promotion of the DPCW” as a national support for peacebuilding at a global framework. Also signed by the President of Seychelles, the statement represents official support for the DPCW through the signature of the in-office head of state.
The DPCW is a legal document drafted by HWPL and proclaimed on 14 March 2016, purposing to create a legally binding instrument for cessation of war and peace. It is composed of 10 articles and 38 clauses, and offers such holistic principles as peaceful conflict resolution, promotion of friendly relations between states, freedom of religion, and the spreading of a culture of peace, for the advancement of peace in the nations and civil society.
English Premier League’s team has emblazoned ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo on its kit while the country will pay Arsenal some millions of British pounds which some media speculate as £30 million.
However, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Chief Executive Clare Akamanzi told CNN recently that the amount is less than that without revealing the exact amount.
Since the deal unveiling in May, Western media and politicians have criticised Rwanda for spending a huge amount of dollars on one of the world’s richest teams while many Rwandans are living in poverty and the country receives foreign aid.
The three-year deal aimed at promoting Rwanda’s tourism was officially launched on Sunday at Arsenal FC season debut in which it lost 0-2 Manchester City.
Just a day after the deal took effect, CNN brought out similar critics and now Rwandan Government’s officials and ordinary people are snubbing the media especially via Twitter.
Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Retweeted CNN on Monday stating, “Tell me @CNN, how many countries, including African and developing countries, ‘spend millions of dollars’ to advertise their tourism on your network, which is one of the richest in the world? Have you ever complained? So, please be quiet! #FakeNews.”
The RDB Chief Operations Officer Emmanuel Hategeka tweeted, “@CNN this is #FakeNews! Plse take note: 1. Rwanda’s devt story today speaks to the right choices we have made each yr, 2. Aid has helped us but today only accounts for 16% of our national budget, 3. We generate tourism revenues that support our marketing budget incl #visitrwanda.”
Kim Kamasa, the diplomat in Rwanda’s embassy in Kenya, also tweeted, “Dear @CNN it’s more about value for money not where the money comes from. #Rwanda is investing some money to make more money so that more money can get to more needy people #VisitRwanda.”
More Twitter users including Rwandans and foreigners followed suit with some saying that CNN would not have made the same comments if it had got the Rwanda’s advertising deal that went to Arsenal FC. Others kept explaining that Rwanda is not sponsoring Arsenal as CNN reported but engaged in a beneficial partnership on both sides.
The ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo appears on Arsenal jersey’s left sleeve for the first team, under-23 and Arsenal Women, and be displayed on LED boards at the Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Under the deal too, players from Arsenal men and women’s teams will be visiting Rwanda and Arsenal’s coaches will be hosting coaching camps to support the development of football in Rwanda. At least 35 million people are expected to view the ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo on every Arsenal’s match day due to the team’s large fan base around the world.
According to Deloitte, Arsenal FC is the sixth largest club in the world while Manchester United and Real Madrid have the top two positions respectively.
Via its official twitter wall, RIB announced that Bugabo Laurent, who was arrested on the 13th August 2018, had promised to influence the release of convict John Nzaramyimana, who was sentenced to life imprisonment over child defilement, in exchange of Rwf500,000.
In a joint operation with the office of the Ombudsman, RIB investigators caught the lawyer red-handedly receiving the bribe of Rwf500, 000.
The convict Nzaramyimana was found guilty of child defilement, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment in Ririma Prison, Bugesera District. He later appealed to the High Court, although no decision or date has yet been announced by the judges.
From the news IGIHE received, Bugabo was the lawyer who represented Nzaramyimana in his case, and was the one who advised him to appeal against the court’s decision.
As it can be heard from the telephone. conversations between one family member of Nzaramyimana and Bugabo, the defense lawyer promised to speak with judges so to influence the convict’s release, but with the condition of paying Rwf500 000.
After long discussions they agreed on meeting Monday, 13th august, in a bar located in Kimironko, Kigali City; which is where RIB investigators immediately arrested the lawyer.
Bugabo who is an Ex-Far soldier, was also the former Director of Gikongoro Prison in 2003. He later became a Defense lawyer, where he represented Ntaganzwa Ladislas, guilty of committing Genocide Crimes in 1994.
