The event brought together over 300 people, including members of the Rwandan community in Texas, diplomats and government officials.
They observed the 24th commemoration of the genocide Against the Tutsi with a peaceful procession in memory of lost lives during the Genocide.
One of the speakers in the event, Ukwitegetse Olivier Pappy, said that the commemoration was a way of paying tribute to victims of the Genocide but also a way to say Never Again to the acts of the Genocide in Rwanda and anywhere else in the world.
The commemoration event followed the inauguration of a Memorial, that was constructed in Austin, in memory of fallen victims in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.
“It wasn’t easy to obtain all the necessities to obtain the permission to have a memorial built, but today we have beside us a memorial site dedicated to those we lost. This will also serve to guide the future generation against destructive policies.” He said
Ukwitegetse requested attendees to fight against Genocide ideologies in Rwanda and around the world.
Through twitter handle, MIDIMAR said that the refugee was injured by tear gas Police used to disperse protesting refugees.
“Today (Wednesday), one refugee from Kiziba camp succumbed to his injuries got when, together with some other refugees, he was trying to interfere with police patrols yesterday 1st May. A tear gas used to disperse the said refugees injured him,” the tweet reads.
The protests followed Monday suspension of refugee committee in the camp over what MIDIMAR said the committee had been mobilizing refugees to revolt against government officials and partner institutions, denying them access to the camp, and causing disorder among the refugees, thereby rendering the camp and its surroundings unsafe.
On Tuesday, Police arrested 23 refugees over violence by attacking Police officers conducting patrols in and around the camp.
According to Police, several refugees resorted to violence, throwing stones and attacking police officers with sharp objects which led to the arrest of these twenty-three.
MIDIMAR has said that after dissolution, the process of establishing an interim committee is underway.
“The Interim committee to be elected soon, will be derived from village and Religious leaders and other levels representing refugees,” MIDIMAR said in a tweet.
As Police patrols continue, MIDIMAR urged refugees not to interfere the Police.
“MIDIMAR calls upon refugees not to interfere Police patrols for their security.
Refugees are reminded that any person who interferes with restoring normalcy in camp are in violation of the law and will be held to account,” reads the tweet.
In February, Refugees in Kiziba demonstrated some marching out of the camp and camped at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Karongi protesting over reduced food rations.
According to Police, the protests turned violent and left five dead and others including police officers injured.
Philip Nibakure, 35, was arrested in Kanunga Village of Kabuga Cell, Masoro Sector with 62 kilogrammes of cassiterite, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Northern region Police spokesperson, said.
Cassiterite, a tin oxide mineral (SnO2) is the main ore of tin today used to produce tin cans for food containers, solder and polishing compounds.
“There was information that Nibakure was conducting illegal mineral business, and when Police went there they found him with 62 kilogrammes of cassiterite. He was immediately taken into custody,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
“He was at the time transporting the minerals to yet to be indentified location, but the case has been taken up by Rwanda Investigations Bureau (RIB). Investigations will trace the origin and where he was taking them, and anyone that could be connected to this illegal business,” he explained.
Rulindo is one of the districts with majority mining concessions especially in the sectors of Masoro, Murambi, Ntarabana and Shyorongi
“We received information from residents that someone was suspected to be possessing minerals whose source was not known, acting on the information we indeed uncovered the suspected had minerals whose legality could not be defended ” said CIP Twizeyimana.
CIP Twizeyimana referred to Article 1 of the Ministerial Regulations No001/Minifom/2011 relating to fighting smuggling in mineral trading that stipulates that nobody is allowed to purchase or sell minerals without commercial registration.
Speaking to IGIHE, the National Electoral Commission Executive Secretary, Munyaneza Charles, said that the body hasn’t yet received any Candidatures for those who wish to fill in the post, awaiting the next Monday deadline.
“ Nyamulinda resigned as Kigali City mayorship as well as the Gasabo District Council membership. There will be elections in Nduba sector, where a person will fill in the vacant place in the district council. This will be followed up with the establishment of the Committee”, he said
The City Council noted that it is aware of the gap and is working on terms of reference for the recruitment of a replacement in coming days.
Nyamulinda Pascal resigned his duties on April 10th, 2018, due citing personal reasons, just over a year in office.
Busabizwa Parfait who was Nyamulinda’s assistant is temporally acting in the interim capacity prior to the election of a new mayor.
Some key Peace and Security priorities such as the protection of civilians in conflicting situations will be featured on the program of the AU Peace and Security Council during the month of May.
“Some of the peace and security priorities we have identified this month include: financing Africa’s peace through the AU peace fund; protection of civilians in conflict areas by encouraging more African countries to endorse the Kigali Principles on Protection of Civilians in conflict situations; addressing security impediments to free movement of people; as well as promoting and reporting the role of women in peace and security in Africa” said Tumukunde.
Rwanda will also preside over a Ministerial session on the security situation in the Sahel region. The objective is to ensure that there is harmonization and ownership of initiatives by African countries in the Sahel region. The session will also discuss security and migration in Africa.
The PSC is a vital organ of the African Union and is mandated to take decisions on matters of peace and security on the African continent. Last month, the PSC designated 7th April as the AU day of Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Each member of the Council holds the chairmanship on rotational basis for the month. Rwanda will take over from Nigeria, which chaired the PSC in April. Rwanda was re-election for another two years to the PSC in January 2018.
Visually impaired Cyriaque Sibomana, who lives in Nkumbure Cell of Tare Sector, told IGIHE last week that he is saddened by the delay to disburse loans whose 50% is a grant yet they dearly spent on projects preparation with the encouragement of Umurenge SACCO, a financial institution, through which the BDF loans are channeled.
“They invited us to prepare business projects which we submitted to SACCO towards the end of 2015. The year 2016 elapsed without their response. They came back in 2017 to select the best projects and disappeared again. It is now one year without giving us any update on the progress yet we spent a lot of money on the preparation of the projects,” said Sibomana whose project is among the selected for loans.
Francois Ruhashyampunzi, also visually impaired, shared similar concerns adding that he spent Rwf25,000 on preparing a project of selling sorghum which cost him and his family so heavily with the wife is blaming him on misusing the family resources.
“My project was selected among the 18 but the loans we applied for have not come for a year since the selection and about three years from the projects submission. Our SACCO leader tells us that they sent our projects to BDF branch which also sent them to their head office in Kigali. We were allowed loans amounting to Rwf300,000 of which 50% would be a grant,” he said.
“That Rwf25,000 we spent on the project’s preparation would have supported our child who is doing secondary school,” lamented Ruhashyampunzi.
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Livingstone Nkuusi, the BDF branches coordinator, said on Friday that he is unaware of that problem because BDF does not deal directly with beneficiaries.
“We deal with SACCOs’ refinancing, not beneficiaries. We have a product of the people with disabilities but it is SACCO which applies for loans on their behalf. When SACCO does that application, it doesn’t take long for beneficiaries to access loans. Maybe, their SACCO has not yet submitted in the application because we usually wait for SACCO’s application which we examine; if it meets the requirements, then we release the funds. We do not receive loan project proposals from beneficiaries,” he said.
Mr. Nkuusi added that SACCO might have not submitted the projects or they were rejected and advised expected beneficiaries to visit BDF branch in Nyamagabe for clarification on what happened to their projects.
BDF has a SACCO Refinancing Fund, among other products, which is designed to increasing SACCOs’ lending capacity to many people for poverty alleviation. The product started in the six poorest districts of Nyaruguru, Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe, Ruhango, Gisagara and Karongi but it is currently open to all Saccos in the country.
BDF statistics indicate that the product has so far benefited 26,620 people countrywide with the financing amounting to over Rwf150.4 billion
The office was opened yesterday in a cultural dinner that was hosted by Speaker of parliament, Donatille Mukabalisa.
Speaking at the event, Salvana Koch_Mehrin, the Founder and the President of the Women Political Leaders Global Forum said that they decided to open their offices in Rwanda because the country has advanced in programmes that promote women.
“The reason for choosing Rwanda is obvious; when you speak about women in politics, it has many women in parliament and other senior government positions. Women are also seen in other positions. Rwanda is a good example for Africa and the world to learn from,” she explained.
“In Rwanda 64% of the members of Parliament are women and so it’s the perfect place to base the WPL Office. Let’s work hard, dream big and support more women in politics to advance society” she added.
The office will coordinate all network’s activities in Africa.
Speaker Mukabalisa hailed the organization for opening the office in Rwanda.
“Your presence here means a lot to the relations of our countries and institutions we represent. I thank WPL for choosing to open Africa Office in Rwanda. We are pleased by your commitment in making governments understand the role and job of women in governance and politics,” she said.
“Rwanda is honoured and humbled to host the WPL office and is committed to make the initiative the success it can and should be. Let’s keep finding creative ways to accelerate equality for women everywhere,” she said.
The Women Political Leaders Global Forum is a global network of female politicians with a mission of increasing both the number and the influence of women in political leadership positions with headquarters in Reykjavik, Iceland.
The Office of the President has announced that Kagame is expected to deliver remarks at the opening ceremony of the Summit.
The Summit was organized under the auspices of Republic of Congo Brazaville, Denis Sassou NGuesso who is also current President of the Congo Basin Commission.
Also at the attendance of the summit include different Heads of States and Morocco King, Mohammed VI.
At the Summit, the Heads of State of the Basin Commission and its main funding instrument, the Blue Fund, will seek mechanisms in line with the spirit of the Marrakech Declaration to take action.
Kagame was speaking yesterday in a one-on-one conversation with Mo Ibrahim on ‘Public services in 21st century Africa’.
The conversation was held during the last session after a full day of panel discussions focused on public services, good governance and effective leadership in Africa that took place under the three day Ibrahim Governance Weekend that has been taking place in Kigali.
The conversation with Mo Ibrahim revolved around different topics including Kagame’s plans on post-presidency, African Union Commission, Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area, Corruption in Africa and the International Criminal Court among others.
Speaking about African Union (AU) reforms, Kagame said that it’s all about changing mindsets, efficiency and how they do things.
“It is also about financing because the source matters. It’s not proper that we do not fund our own budget, because we can. If it’s somebody else funding, then you do their bidding,” he said.
On AU funding formula of 0.2% levy on eligible imports, Kagame said that 25 countries are already implementing and many more are willing. He said the formula is predictable and has automaticity around it. He added that those who haven’t understood are free to engage in a conversation about it.
Speaking about Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area, the Head of State said that it is part of the AU reforms, which comes out of realisation of need. He said that he is optimistic about the trade agreement.
“That 44 countries have seen the significance and some have even ratified it. It is encouraging. I am very optimistic about the trade agreement,” he noted.
Also in the conversation, Kagame was asked about the International Criminal Court, and said that initially it was supposed to cover the whole world but ended up covering only Africa. He said that Africans are being tried on the crimes committed with people from elsewhere.
“Right from its inception I said that the Court would be trying Africans. It’s not bad to try crimes, people have to be accountable. But the concern is in the process and whether justice would be seen to be served,” he said.
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Speaking on future plans, Kagame said that he has many things planned.
“I will try to be supportive to my successor so that they can take Rwanda further. I always fall back on my family for comfort, I want some time to myself, and have always wanted to go back to school,” he said.
Speaking about AU fight against corruption, Kagame who is also the Chairperson of the union said that they have to insist on accountability and punish the offenders.
“I happen to find slogans useful but we need to urgently move beyond this. What we have to do is to insist on accountability and punish offenders. Corruption is not limited to Africa,” he said.
On the future of Rwanda, the Head of State said that he wants the country developed ten times from where it is today.
“Looking back at where we were and where we are now, we would like to be ten times better going forward,” he said.
The Ibrahim Governance Weekend is a three-day event that convenes political and business leaders, representatives from civil society, multilateral and regional institutions as well as Africa’s major international partners to debate issues of critical importance to Africa.
The new move will go in place starting from Monday 30th where students preparing to sit for 2018 national examinations will start to register for exams.
The process will be facilitated by school head teachers, Sector Education Officers and Director of Education in Districts as well as Irembo officials.
Speaking to IGIHE, the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Isaac Munyakazi said that the service comes to fast-track the registration process and ICT promotion.
“First of all is to fast-track the process by using ICT, it facilitates us in coordinating numbers which are needed during examinations. We also need to reduce using of papers as ICT helps us keeping the records properly,” he said.
He said that they will not face internet issues as the process will be facilitated by school head teachers and sector education officers who have internet and computers.
“Head teacher have been trained. No need for students to go and seek machine to register themselves, it will be done at their respective schools,” Munyakazi explained.
The Rwanda Education Board (REB) Deputy Director General, Angelique Tusiime explained that Irembo staffs at districts will facilitate head teachers.
She explained that it will reduce the workload as previously, the registration that was being done on hard copies used to reach in REB and re-register them in computers which sometimes resulted in some mistakes like misspelling of candidates’ names.
National examination registration is the 86th service taken online after different services like land title transfers, registration for driving licenses, and official document application among others.
