Tanzanian President John Magufuli told a news conference in Dar es Salaam after talks with Rwandan President Paul Kagame yesterday that the construction of the railway line will be jointly financed by the two countries.
“We have directed ministers of foreign affairs from the two countries to meet next week to start charting out the financing model,” said Magufuli.
“We want the construction of the railway line to start immediately because the feasibility studies and all other preparations are complete,” said the Tanzanian leader.
Tanzania has already started construction of the standard gauge railway in two phases from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro covering 330km, and from Morogoro to Makutupora in Dodoma covering 426km, using locally sourced funds to the tune of about 3 billion U.S. dollars, according to President Magufuli.
“Both President Kagame and I have agreed to look for loans to speed up the construction of the railway line,” said Magufuli.
Magufuli added that Tanzania fully supported president Kagame’s candidacy for the AU chairmanship.
“I am happy to work with president Magufuli and other African leaders. They have given me these responsibilities because they are ready to give me support to enable me accomplish my tasks,” said Kagame.
The premier was speaking Sunday at the National Prayer Breakfast that took place at the Kigali Convention Centre. Organised annually by Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, the prayer attracts top government, church and civil society leaders.
Dr Ngirente presided over the prayer as President Paul Kagame who usually does it was visiting Tanzania on Sunday.
The 23rd edition of the prayer considered the increasing drug abuse among the youth as a serious issue that must be tackled through concerted efforts to nurture youth who can contribute to the national development.
“Rwanda Government values the youth a lot. They constitute around 70% of the population and no development is possible without their hand. They are our labour force and future leaders. We have to instil good values in them at their early age to give them good vision,” said Dr Ngirente.
He urged church leaders to encourage the youth to match their religious beliefs with good deeds and make sure they walk their talk.
“Raising well our children will reduce the number of drug users. We have to fight drugs with all our efforts and God is on our side because he wants good life among his creatures,” he said.
President Kagame also called for tight fight against drugs during the National Dialogue Council last month.
Rwanda Education Board (REB) embraced the fight a fortnight ago, announcing that students going to study abroad will have to submit a medical certificate from a recognised hospital proving that they are drug-free.
The medal decoration ceremony was held at SOCATEL M’POKO CAMP, the RWANBATT 4 Base Camp in BANGUI, on 12 Jan 2018.
The medal award ceremony was presided over by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG), His Excellency Parfait ONANGA ANYANGA.
He commended Rwanda peacekeepers for the hard work, courage and dedication they are demonstrating on the ground while providing security and protection to the Central Africa Republic population.
“I would like to recognize the commendable efforts of everyone here on parade and honor your dedicated service here in CAR. Your efforts and professionalism are highly regarded and you make a valuable contribution to MINUSCA. Wear these medals as proud and worthy ambassadors of your country and of the United Nations that you are”, the SRSG said while awarding medals to Rwandan Peacekeepers.
In his remarks, the Rwandan Contingent Commander, Lt Col Emmanuel NYIRIHIRWE, said that the medals awarded will be a motivation to their renewed commitment to the fulfillment of the duties ahead to bring peace to brothers and sisters in CAR.
He expressed his profound gratitude for the cooperation and support extended to RWANBATT 4 by both MINUSCA and the Joint Task Force Bangui leaderships that led the unit operations to its success.
He also congratulated his troops for the discipline, the selfless service and the high level of performance demonstrated during execution of their duties and urged them to keep it up till the end of their tour.
Among other dignitaries who attended the event were the MINUSCA Force Commander, Lt Gen BALA KEITA, the Deputy Force Commander Maj Gen Daniel SIDIKI TRAORE, the Joint Task Force Bangui Commander Brig Gen Mohamed SELLUM.
The event was also attended by Members of parliament, local leaders of the 3rd, 5th and 7th Arrondissements and local population. The colorful event was also marked by a military parade and culture troop performance by RWANBATT 4.
Mr Dickson Ogwang has been asked to immediately pack his bags after he allegedly beat his wife.
The State Minister for International Affairs, Mr Okello Oryem, confirmed the reports and said: “One of our officers had a domestic incident at his house that resulted in him being asked to leave the country; It is unfortunate and we at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognise that.”
He added: “When he arrives, we shall counsel him together with his wife so that such a thing does not happen again.”
Mr Okello, however, refuted claims that Mr Ogwang had been asked to leave after US police raided his home following the incident.
According to information this publication has received, Mr Ogwang had allegedly hosted guests for a thanksgiving at his residence among whom included a lady he was having an affair with.
Having raised insecurities about the said lady, Mr Ogwang beat up his wife.
“Mr Ogwang waited for most of the guests to leave and severely beat his wife injuring her nose,” a source told Daily Monitor.
“When the incident was reported to police it became an issue of diplomatic concern as authorities in Washington wanted Mr Ogwang prosecuted,” the source added.
According to the source, a few guests who were still at the residence called in police to intervene and Mr Ogwang’s wife was rushed to hospital.
The American Embassy spokesperson, Mr Phil Dimon, when contacted referred us to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It was reported that Trump described El Salvador, Haiti and Certain African nations as ‘Shithole countries’ during a meeting with senators on Thursday.
Trump made the remarks while opposing a proposal he was presented about restoring protections for immigrants from those countries as part of bipartisan immigration deal.
Asked by the media about her reactions on Trump’s words on Saturday, Mushikiwabo said that they are ‘appalling words’.
“First of all, if these words were spoken, it is so appalling. The second is that there are things concerning Africa that were referred to, Africa should face them,” she said.
“In other words, Africa as a continent should do everything to restore the dignity for African people and prove our worth as a continent. Such words, though I am not sure they have been used, but if so, they are appalling and inappropriate,” she added.
{{Different leaders, organisation condemn the remark}}
Different organisations and leaders condemned the remarks and called for Trump apology.
The African Union Mission in Washington said that Trump should apologise for the statement he made.
“The African Union Mission wishes to express its infuriation, disappointment and outrage over the unfortunate comment made by Mr. Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, which remarks dishonour the celebrated American creed and respect for diversity and human dignity,” reads the statement issued.
“The African Union Mission condemns the comments in the strongest terms and demands a retraction of the comment as well as an apology not only to Africans but to all people of African descent around the globe.”
“The language of Donald Trump that the African continent, Haiti and El Salvador are “shithole countries” is extremely unfortunate. We are certainly not a “shithole country”. We will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful,” reads the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo’s tweet.
Ebba Kalondo, the spokesperson for AU Chairperson Moussa Faki, told AFP that Trump’s statement “truly flies in the face of accepted behaviour and practice.”
“This is not only hurtful, I think, to people of African origin in the United States, but certainly to African citizens,” she said.
“It’s an extremely upsetting statement,” she added.
Some 130,000 Burundian and Congolese refugees in camps in Rwanda rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their food needs. They receive from WFP either monthly food distributions or cash transfers so that they can buy food in local markets.
“We thank donors for their continued generosity and support, while urging them to further fund humanitarian assistance so that we can give refugees the assistance they depend on,” said WFP Rwanda Country Director Jean-Pierre de Margerie.
Full rations for refugees provide 2,100 calories per person per day, the minimum for a healthy life. Until November 2017, WFP provided 16.95 kilograms of food to each refugee each month, mainly maize, beans, vegetable oil and salt. Other refugees received 7,600 Rwandan Francs (US$9) to buy food in local markets. However, funding shortages forced WFP to trim assistance to 90 percent in November and December. The funding situation is now so bad that from January WFP reduced the ration sizes even further – to 75 percent.
However, refugees identified as particularly vulnerable, such as children under five years of age, school children, pregnant and nursing mothers as well as people living with HIV and tuberculosis patients under treatment still receive a full ration of nutrition support from WFP.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs and UN agencies are currently scaling up implementation of a Joint Strategy on Economic Inclusion of Refugees to enable more of them to become self-reliant and contribute to the economic development of their host communities.
“Now more than ever is the time to find innovative and long-term solutions for refugees in Rwanda,” said UNHCR Representative Ahmed Baba Fall. “Donors have also expressed the need for a change in practice to ensure that limited funding is targeting the needs of refugees more appropriately.”
It is a priority to identify and pursue comprehensible and sustainable pathways for refugees in the Rwandan context. In this light, the ambition is to align the provision of assistance to refugees with the Rwandan National Social Protection system.
UNHCR, WFP and others have started moving towards targeting to ensure the needs of the most vulnerable are considered, while continuing supplementary feeding and promoting self-reliance by supporting a Government pledge to ‘graduate’ 18,000 camp-based refugees from food and/or cash for food assistance programmes by mid-2018.
The strategy will also strive to create access to formal employment opportunities for up to 60,000 refugees and have a similar number using banking services by mid-2018.
WFP relies entirely on voluntary contributions for its humanitarian and development programmes. WFP requires US$2.5 million every month to provide full food or cash assistance to refugees in Rwanda. If WFP receives no new funds, deeper reductions to cash and food may be necessary in coming months. Some US$11 million are needed to restore full support for the next six months.
As of December 2017, UNHCR had secured only 19 percent of its total funding needs, amounting to US$ 20.3 million out of US$ 104.5 million. These resources are required to ensure unhindered access to protection and to invest in comprehensive solutions for over 170,000 refugees hosted in Rwanda, as well as to support the voluntary repatriation of Rwandan returnees, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Announced at the Eighth Session of the IRENA Assembly, both projects beneficiaries of the fifth funding cycle are being financed through the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility.
Established in 2013, the seven-cycle Facility offers USD350 million in consessional loans from ADFD to help developing countries access low-cost capital for renewable energy projects.
The projects have the potential to significantly transform the lives of over 2.5 million people and alleviate poverty by bringing affordable energy to low-income communities.
According to the statement by IRENA, renewable energy can positively impact the whole sustainable development spectrum in terms of improved health and education outcomes, better livelihoods and working conditions, and lower air pollution.
The loans cover up to 50% of project costs, leveraging additional funding from other sources. Since 2014, ADFD has allocated USD214 million to 21 projects, attracting over USD420 million in additional co-financing from governments and development funds.
“For developing countries, renewable energy is a triple win: it provides a cost-effective means of providing electricity to families, fuels economic growth, and supports energy independence and security,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin.
“However, many developing countries have trouble accessing financing for renewable energy investment. We are delighted that our continued partnership with ADFD will provide a stable, low-cost source of financing to help Mauritius and Rwanda achieve a sustainable energy future,” added Adnan
His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said: “Our collaboration with IRENA articulates ADFD’s core mandate to support sustainable economic and social progress across developing countries through financing development projects that serve vital economic sectors. ADFD priorities renewable energy as a catalyst for inclusive economic and social development.”
“At ADFD, we believe that through the widespread promotion of sustainable energy projects in countries with immense clean energy potentials, we can contribute to the long term economic prosperity of communities across the word. We are confident that the latest projects selected for funding in Mauritius and Rwanda will deliver sizeable benefits for the economies of local communities,” he added
In Rwanda, the ADFD loan of USD15 million will contribute to the installation of 500,000 off-grid solar PV home systems across the country, providing clean electricity for lighting, mobile phone and radio charging.
The project is a major part of the government’s rural electrification strategy and is one of the most affordable payment schemes in Africa. It employs a flexible mobile payment platform, essential in areas poorly served by banking and transportation infrastructure. 2.5 million people in rural communities are expected to benefit from improved electricity acccess, and more than 2,000 local jobs will be created.
Also, no employer wants to take on staff that is down with some transmittable diseases for the safety of other staff. For these reasons, employers usually have mandatory tests that must be completed by every new recruit before employment letters are handed out.
Here are two of the major health challenges that employers are wary of.
{{1. HIV}}
Although most companies say they are equal opportunity employers, as much as 95% of those that do pre-employment medicals will not employ a candidate with HIV. HIV means that the cost of insuring that employee with HMO will be high, the employee might have high rate of absenteeism, etc. Most companies save themselves these by rejecting such candidate.
{{2. HEPATITIS B & C}}
As much as 60% of companies will not employ prospective employee found to have hepatitis during medicals. The major reason is, cost of insuring such employee by HMO will be high. Some companies however do go ahead to employ the candidate unconditionally. Some employ the candidate but put condition that the health insurance benefit available to the employee will not cover hepatitis. In other words, they will not pay for hospital expenses relating to management of the employee’s hepatitis.
So those are the major issues that employers would have with a potential employee’s health. It’s sad, but that’s the reality of getting a job these days. It helps a great deal to get regular health checks and quick treatment if need be.
“My son (adopted) was engulfed by sorrow and solitude the time I found him in the orphanage and in the first days living with us here. I feel so happy now that he can freely interact with us and other children. I sometimes tear up happily when I see him smiling. His life has quite changed,” said the foster mother.
Mukarubuga lives with his husband, their son and fostered 14-year Patrick Cyubahiro in Gahanga Sector of Kicukiro. She makes Rwf25,000 (about $30) monthly while her husband repairs mobile phones, the job that some days earns him with no single coin. They live a moderate life but their limited financial means did not scare them of adopting a child. In fact, the family attempted to adopt three when the couple visited an orphanage back in 2016 but later decided to take in one after deeply planning how they can help the adopted and their own son.
Speaking to IGIHE’s Félicie Tombola, the foster mother says she decided and proposed her husband to adopt a child because she had noticed that children in orphanages were lacking family care. The family has been selected, among other families countrywide, as ‘model parents’ locally known as ‘Malayika Murinzi’ under the National Strategy for Child Care Reform which seeks to transform Rwanda’s current child care and protection system into a family-based care and family-strengthening system.
Approved by the cabinet in March 2012, the strategy targeted to phase down all orphanages in the country and place all children into families by 2015 but statistics show that 2,714 children had been fostered while 1,244 were still in orphanages in June 2017.
{{Not means but goodwill}}
Mukarubuga encourages families to adopt children, saying it doesn’t matter which means the family has but it just takes a loving and willing heart to have mercy for the hopeless children in orphanages.
“I learnt of his (Cyubahiro) story and got pity for him. His mother abandoned him at CHUK (referral hospital in Kigali) when he was three months old. He since then lived in four orphan centres and has never known any of his parents,” she says, adding that if adopting was for families with good financial means, hers would not have adopted a child.
“I felt I could play role in shaping his future as I can do for my own son. I felt ready to share with him the little I earn and my husband has a similar mindset. Since we adopted him, we have not declined financially; instead God has blessed us with means to rent house, for meals and we have recently bought a land plot where we want to develop our residential house.”
Cyubahiro is happy in the family and has got a blissful face. He says he can go to visit his friends in orphanages but never wishes to go back into orphanage life.
“I am better off here. They help me to revise my school lessons; I have got people to interact with and joined a church choir which helped me get rid of fighting and insulting other children as I used to do before. I love my mum and dad (adoptive) because they helped me to know my history and are treating me well. I lived in orphan centres expecting my parents to come and pick me because I didn’t know why I was living there,” he says.
Cyubahiro is doing level five of primary school.
Article 19 of the Constitution of Rwanda amended in 2015 stipulates that a child has the right to specific mechanisms of protection by his or her family, other Rwandans and the State.
Speaking to the media after the discussion between both officials, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo said that Horst’s visit was meaningful as Kagame will take over African Union leadership later this month.
“He came here so that they can share ideas and agree on ways African Union Commission leaders and African countries’ Heads of States in general will give him opportunity to share with them the progress in seeking solutions for Western Sahara conflicts,” she explained.
“Western Sahara problem is under UN in New York since 40 years ago, they are dealing with it, and the solution will come from there. But, African leaders’ ideas are necessary on how the problem could be handled, they cooperate with the envoy on that matter and share him with ideas,” Mushikiwabo added.
The UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy and former Germany President, Horst came in Rwanda from Addis Ababa in the Ethiopia where he had discussions with Current African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Horst was appointed on the matter in August last year succeeding Christopher Ross from the United States of America who completed his assignment in April.
{{About Western Sahara conflicts}}
The Western Sahara conflict is an ongoing conflict between the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco.
Polisario Front is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement aiming to end Moroccan presence in the Western Sahara.
Meanwhile, the ‘Sahrawi’ are people living in the Western part of Sahara desert which includes Western Sahara (claimed by the Polisario and mostly controlled by Morocco)
It means that current conflicts is the continuation of the past insurgency by Polisario against the Spanish Colonial forces in 1973-1975 and the subsequent Western Sahara War between the Polisario and Morocco between 1975 and 1991.
Today the conflict is dominated by unarmed civil campaigns of the Polisario Front and their self-proclaimed SADR state to gain fully recognized independence for Western Sahara.
