The force also appealed to the general public to enjoy in the usual peaceful manner without disrupting beliefs and celebrations of other people.
While opening a periodic Police-media interaction, on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening partnerships for quality service delivery, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana, said “Police value the contribution of the media in informing and educating the public on security related matters.”
The periodic session brings together the Police and media practitioners to discuss issues pertaining security and partnership with the media in policing.
Police Chief said the safety, security and peace that people in Rwanda enjoy today will continue to be fostered in partnership with the general public and the media in particular to jointly raise awareness and fight any threat to the wellbeing of the people.
“There are individuals that look at such festivities as an opportunity to engage in criminal acts like stealing or taking advantage of unsuspecting people for their valuables,” IGP Gasana said, calling for usual vigilance and real time information sharing on any suspected wrongdoers.
He reminded parents to monitor and guide their children especially minors as they celebrate and prevent them from engaging into malpractices like abusing alcoholic beverages and going into entertainment spots, which is prohibited by law.
“As various security operations continue to be conducted as usual, citizens are required to be involved and continue working with the Police by reporting any suspicious behavior that might require targeted checks,” IGP Gasana added.
He further advised people to drink and enjoy responsibly while avoiding engaging in violence like fighting to ensure a peaceful and crime-free festive season.
Presenting on the state of road safety in the country, the Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety department, Commissioner of Police (CP) George Rumanzi, cautioned motorists against drunk-driving, speeding, recklessness and bad maneuvers, which are most common during the festive season, and at times, causing fatal accidents.
The partnership will focus on opportunities for collaboration and the progressive commitment between AIMS and BK for mutual benefits.
The partnership also sets a framework for both organisations to discuss the possibility for collaboration on the AIMS Industry Initiative strategic pillars including: Innovative Design and Thinking for African Solutions that allows AIMS graduates to work on top business challenges and propose innovative solutions including the design, prototypes for new products and services to support the Bank of Kigali’s innovation objectives, business operations and growth.
“We at AIMS are very proud and excited about this partnership with the Bank of Kigali. We believe that education is not something to be acquired in a vacuum. It must enable graduates to contribute tangibly to industry needs. An education in mathematical sciences, combined with industry experience, respond to the needs of Africa’s private sector and enables our graduates to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s growth story,” said Thierry Zomahoun, President and CEO of AIMS.
The partnership between the Bank of Kigali and AIMS includes collaboration on internship and employment opportunities and academic research applied to financial industry needs and the Bank of Kigali specific needs related to one or several of the following aspects: operational research, financial mathematics, climate and environmental science, big data, computer security, encryption, monitoring and evaluation.
“Education and innovation are two of the three pillars of Bank of Kigali’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. We are particularly excited about our new partnership with AIMS because it gives us an opportunity to directly support the training of the next generation of our country’s problem solvers through Science and research which are important to Rwanda’s development agenda,” said Dr. Diane Karusisi, Bank of Kigali Chief Executive Officer.
Under the new partnership, Bank of Kigali will provide AIMS access to facilities, datasets and other tools needed for research and specialised training programmes in accordance with the legal framework and procedures related to data access.
The Museum is built in the Parliamentary building which was once known as Conceil National de Developement (CND) because the building hosted the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) politicians and the 600 man protection force (3BN) from 28th December 1993 as they were in the preparations for the installation of Broad Based Transitional Government and the National Transitional Assembly.
These 600 man protection force were the ones given the order first on April 7th 1994 by the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) Chairman of High Command, Major General Paul Kagame, now the President of the Republic to break out from their initial positions defend themselves and rescue victims of genocide in their vicinity when campaign against genocide began.
The Museum depicts in details how the Campaign Against Genocide Plan was executed by RPA following the withdrawal of UN troops leaving the targeted Tutsi under the mercy of the genocidaires and how RPA forces who were in the war of liberation took the unilateral decision to stop Genocide, rescue vistims of genocide and defeat the genocidal forces.
The museum has its outer part comprised of monuments including that of the 12.7mm Machine Gun that helped in containing the advancing genocidal forces.
The Internal part of the museum has nine main galleries or rooms, the most important one being the gallery showing Maj. Gen. Paul Kagame in his capacity of Chairman RPA High Command giving the order to stop the genocide.
Other galleries show exhibition about peace process, Genocide Preparation and Genocide execution, defeat of Genocidal forces and Rescue Victims of Genocide, enemy defeat and humanity in the face of genocide, among others.
The external part is composed with monuments where the main monument faces the entrance of the parliamentary buildings and narrates the story of rescue missions carried out by the RPA.
The second monument bears a soldier holding a 12.7mm Machine Gun that helped in containing the advancing genocidal forces. The third monument is in honour of the soldiers who perished during the rescue operations.
The monument placed on top of the Parliamentary buildings is a statue of two soldiers operating a heavy machine gun that helped RPA defeat forces that were based at Camp of Presidential Guards (Camp GP)
District leadership said that there are problems that haunt the district like family conflicts and teenage pregnancies which result in.
Nyanza District Vice-Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Solange Mutesi said on Tuesday that the vices are hampering the community development, causing girls school dropouts and more problems.
“Figures show us 106 families with violence and conflicts, we also have teenage pregnancies problem as figures show us that over 200 teenagers carried unwanted pregnancies, we continue to mobilise people to fight against all these problems and we hope to reduce them,” she said.
In Partnership with an umbrella of Rwandan civil society organizations aiming at advancing women status, peace building and sustainable development, Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe concluded, on Tuesday, a 16-day activism against women and children violence.
Jeanne d’Arc Kanakuze, President of Profemmes Twese Hamwe, said that family conflicts is a matter of concern in the society.
“Our campaign has yielded some good impacts on making people are aware of violence. We need to continue to introduce other programmes aimed at uprooting violence in the Rwandan community,” she said.
The fight against violence continues even after the campaign, according to officials.
The call follows several complaints lodged to Police in Kamonyi by residents, where in some cases the roaming dogs attack people and livestock.
Last week, dogs bitten four goats belonging to a resident of Buramba Cell in Kabacuzi Sector, which prompted an operation to either kill or seize stray dogs including those identified to have killed the goats.
The Police spokesperson for the Southern region, Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, emphasised that “no dog should roam freely in the community without a leash and held by a responsible person.”
The Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) report indicates that at least 669 people were attacked and bitten by stray dogs last year, up from 383 recorded in 2015.
Available statistics from RAB indicate that as of last year, there were 18,117 dogs in the country.
“Roaming dogs can chase, frighten and bite people as we have witnessed, and owners will be prosecuted because when you decide to own a dog, you have also decided to follow legal standards and to face justice when you act contrary,” IP Kayigi said.
Aside from the legal aspect, allowing a dog to stray can also put the animal itself in danger by allowing it to be exposed to parasites, disease and poison, he said.
In addition, the spokesperson said, they are more likely to be hit by vehicles and cause road accidents.
The traders, who are currently in Tanzania to familiarise themselves with services offered by TPA, including keeping abreast with the improvements being made by the authority, praised President John Magufuli for his efforts to ensure Dar es Salaam Port and other terminals were modernised to offer world-class services.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the President of Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF) Chief Executive Officer, Stephan Ruzibiza, said Rwanda was satisfied with the quality of service delivered by TPA through Dar es Salaam Port and other terminals.
“We have basically come here to see how the Dar es Salaam Port is performing and also see for ourselves the improvements being made. But, based on the experience and the observation we have so far made, we are happy with the services,” Ruzibiza said.
According to Ruzibiza, the performance of Dar es Salaam Port has significantly changed compared to its quality of service delivery about five years ago. “From here, we will visit Ruvu and Isaka dry ports to see how the two terminals will play a role in improving cargo clearance and shipment.”
He said, as a result of improvement of service delivery at Dar es Salaam Port, cargo handling, including clearance was simplified; adding that time taken to clear cargo and shipping it from the terminal to Rwanda was also reduced.
A member of the delegation, Fred Seka, praised President Magufuli for taking an affirmative action to improve Dar es Salaam Port and other terminals.
“We sincerely thank President Magufuli and all other officials in the government for the good work,” he said.
“As you might have heard, Dar es Salaam Port handles between 80 and 90 per cent of Rwanda cargo. With these improvements, we expect the terminal, in the near future, to handle the whole cargo destined for Rwanda,” Seka said.
Seka expressed his gratitude for the decision by TPA to construct a dry port at Ruvu in the Coast Region and upgrade Isaka dry port in Shinyanga Region, saying the measures would reduce cost that Rwandese businesspersons have been incurring in cargo shipment.
The acting TPA Director of Marketing, Lydia Mallya, said that to bring TPA closer to Rwandese business community, the authority has opened an office in Kigali and a bank account with Eco Bank to facilitate business transactions.
Speaking about the use of Isaka dry port, Mallya said it would significantly reduce cost and time spent in shipping cargo.
“We expect the cargo destined for Rwanda to be transported from Dar es Salaam to Isaka dry port in Shinyanga where Rwandese businesspersons will now collect it. This will help them reduce time they spend and costs they incur in shipping it because the distance from Isaka to Rusumo border is only 300 kilometres,” she said.
{{Source: Daily News}}
Kabarebe was summoned to appear before the Paris judge on December 14th and confront James Munyandinda who says that he witnessed the involvement of RPA in the attack on 6th April, 1994.
Contesting the credibility of this witness, Kabarebe’s lawyers drastically declined the summons.
”It is impossible to consider the Minister of Defense in office to go to France to face such a problematic person. Kabarebe’s lawyers declared on Monday December 11th in the office of Judge Jean-Marc Herbaut.
The judge assigned the judicial investigation on the attack of the plane of former President Juvénal Habyarimana. Judge Herbaut and his colleague Nathalie Poux demanded Kabarebe to face a witness identified as James Munyandinda.
{{A slow breakdown in diplomatic relations}}
On Monday, Maingain and Forster sent two French magistrates an eight-page letter outlining Rwanda’s grievances over an investigation which, since 2006, has provoked the irritation of the authorities and the Rwandan population. Since then, the two countries encountered a crack in their diplomatic relations. If the lawyers do not wish to speak on the file, one of their clients, however, agreed to deliver to Jeune Afrique the content of the mail (read below).
The lawyers’ argument is divided into five points. “Our clients have already cooperated with the courts and answered all questions regarding this case,” they said. At the end of 2010, Gen Kabarebe, Franck Nziza and five other Rwandans suspected by the French courts attended a hearing in Burundi by Judge Trévidique who was in charge of the investigation.
The main point developed in the courier was the reliability of the witness’s statements dating back to 1994, that relate to the subject of the attack, or the conditions in which he claims to have left Rwanda in 2008.
On the first point, the defense provides an attestation before notary of Sam Nkusi. In his statement, Munyandinda affirms that back in December 1993, he delivered Motorola phones to Gen Kabarebe. He claims that the phones were used to plan the bombing out of prying ears.
But according to Sam Nkusi, these allegations are impossible: first, because he (Munyandinda) himself was living in Canada at the time and did not set foot in Rwanda between September 1993 and July 1994; plus, at that time, Rwanda did not have the infrastructure needed to use such devices.
As for his departure, Munyandinda signed a report on October 1, 2008 by Emmanuel Ndahiro, who was at the time, the personal physician of President Paul Kagame and head of the secret services.
“He told me that one of my old comrades, Richard Kabano, was a refugee in Uganda and that he threatened the national security by spreading information on the massacres perpetrated in Rwanda. He explained to me that he had chosen me because he knew how close I was to Richard Kabano.
Munyandinda pretended to accept the mission, he entered Uganda with an official passport that was given to him the day before, then he disappeared to avoid any retaliation.
“Since then I have been hiding in Uganda,” he says. I know myself that I’m wanted by the Rwandan Security Services which seek to eliminate me. ”
As hectic as it is, the version delivered by this miracle witness is actually stretched and the two Rwandans convened in mid-December delivered to the French justice a wheelbarrow of documents (some of which are published by JeuneAfrique here below, with the agreement of one of the interested parties) which clearly testifies this version as untrue. This includes a certificate from his own wife who still lives in Rwanda.
James Munyandinda actually left the country very formally, at his request, to go for a master’s degree in finance in Britain. Tuition fees were even partially paid by the Rwandan army which also provided a service passport specifically for this purpose.
For the defense of the seven Rwandans, Munyandinda would be only the umpteenth puppet to date which Rwanda National Congress (RNC) pulls the strings. This movement of opposition in exile, adept of a reversal of the regime by force, has indeed provided on a plateau to the French judges, since 2011, several miracle witnesses accusing the RPF of being at the origin of the attack.
Paradoxically, the lawyers of the indicted persons seem the most eager to finish, convinced that the charges against their clients have crumbled over the handling recorded in the instruction. “We confirm the request already formulated to close this instruction and we formally renew this request,” they write at the end of their missive.
Kagame welcomed new cabinet members and ensured them his support and partnership in country’s course to development.
“You are welcome new ministers who have sworn-in now. We are all ready to support and cooperate with you to keep developing our country,” he said.
Kagame also commended everyone’s good deeds to the country.
At the same occasion, Kagame inaugurated the ‘Campaign Against Genocide Museum’ at the Parliament buildings.
Prior to the appointment last week, Mutimura had been the coordinator of African Centers of Excellence Project. He replaced Dr. Papias Musafiri Malimba who had been on the post since June 2015.
On the other hand, Rurangirwa had been the Integrated Financial Management Information and System (IFMIS) Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. He replaced Jean Philbert Nsengimana who had headed the ministry since 2011.
Opened on Tuesday, participants will discuss ways the council can improve operation for quick intervention in war-torn areas as well as contributing in peace restoration.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Gouende Blaise Edouard said that Africans should learn from Rwanda’s dark past and managed to attain development founded on peace and security.
“Rwanda is a model country in peace and security and has an impact to the continent. We chose to learn from Rwanda as we witnessed that everything is possible,” said Edouard.
The First Counselor at Rwanda’s Embassy in Ethiopia, Fillipe Karenzi said they will assess implementation of resolutions from the committee and recommend countries to fast-track their implementation.
“We are looking at the implementation of committee’s resolutions where our priority is peace-keepers’ intervention in war areas,” he said.
The Committee of Experts of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council brings together 15 countries which are Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo and Uganda.
At least 17 delegates from 13 countries are participating in the retreat, while Algeria and Zambia have not attended.
The yearly report dubbed ‘Rwanda Bribery Index’ in a survey carried among 2,385 people between 18 and 60 shows that bribe has generally been reduced.
According to the report, bribery increased in Traffic Police to 11.67%, energy services to 9.19%, private sector 9.06% and 8.22% in Universities.
The Executive Secretary of TI Rwanda, Apollinaire Mupiganyi said that corruption has reduced in Rwanda as it is ranked 3rd in Africa and 50th globally among less corrupt countries.
He said though much has been done, they should not tolerate some institutions where corruption still appears.
“Currently corruption stands at 24% from 24.5% in 2016, nothing big has changed. What has been changed is the amount of money one should provide to get a service. The average is Rwf36,000,” he said
The Deputy Commissioner General of Police, Juvenal Marizamunda said that in Police, they have put in place particular measures to fight corruption.
“We have taken tough measures, whoever is caught involving in corruption cases is expelled from Police Services and prosecuted. We have also established Police Special Force for fighting corruption and we hope that in partnership with other institutions, corruption will be routed out,” he said.
