The announcement falls on World Rhino Day, September 22nd, and comes only four months after 18 Eastern black rhinoceroses were successfully trans-located from South Africa into the park.
Ineza (the mother of born rhino) was brought over from South Africa with her older male calf, which now at two and a half years of age has left his mother and found his own territory and independence in Akagera.
“The first rhino calf to be born in over a decade is a profound moment for Rwanda and its people, a country that is leading in its commitment to the conservation of endangered species,” said Jes Gruner, Akagera National Park Manager.
“The collaboration with the RDB in the restoration of the park over the past six years has made bringing back the Eastern black rhino, one the rarest subspecies on the planet, possible in Rwanda. Through our management and protection and collaboration with local communities, we’re working to safeguard the growth of an important population of rhinoceroses for the region,”Gruner added.
After six years of securing the park and essentially eliminating poaching, in May this year, Akagera National Park re-introduced 18 Eastern black rhinos from South Africa
The United Nations themed this day: “Together for peace, respect, safety and dignity for all”, but Rwanda broadened the theme to: “Together for peace, promoting the values of respect and dignity through peaceful families.”
To mark the day, over 400 Rwandan youth from across the country convened at Parliamentary Buildings in Kimihurura, Kigali to deliberate on different interventions of promoting values of respect towards more peaceful families.
The National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) together with its partners aim to enhance citizens’ capacity to analyse the root causes of conflicts, facilitate dialogue, and appreciate diversity to ensure sustainable peace and development.
Speaking at the event, NURC President, Bishop John Rucyahana pointed out that the country’s tragic history has taught Rwandans to value peace above anything else.
“Having experienced the worst history, divisionism, violence, wars and the Genocide Against the Tutsi, Rwandans have a specific understanding of the value of peace. Rwandans overcame this traumatising situation, healed and rebuilt their nation,” Bishop Rucyahana said.
According to Fidèle Ndayisaba, the Executive Secretary of NURC, this year is dedicated to peace among families because the lack of peace in families is the reason behind many troubles across the world.
“When families do not embrace peace, that is when we start seeing people abandoning their own families. We intend to promote unity in the home and protect children against segregation and genocide ideology,” Ndayisaba said in a press conference last week.
The Speaker of the Lower Chamber of Parliament, Donatille Mukabalisa, senior government officials, One UN Rwanda Country Representative and other distinguished delegates, graced the occasion.
Yesterday’s discussions explored how peaceful families can promote peace values, respect, and dignity to ultimately contribute to a peaceful nation. Families that promote peaceful and positive values are likely to raise children with peaceful attributes.
However, statistics show that slightly over 1,000 children are still living in 11 orphanages in the country yet the deadline for phasing down all 33 orphanages elapsed in 2015.
Nzabamwita, 58, a resident of Bugesera District, Nyamata Sector, Nyamata Cell, has her own five children and fostered more five to help them enjoy the family care and hope for a brighter future. She has taken the fifth child recently from an orphanage in line with the government’s program of ‘Tubarerere mu Muryango’ (Let’s raise them in a family) in addition to other four she had so far taken from orphanages in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Speaking to IGIHE, Nzabamwita said no child should lack parental care when there are many parents in the country who should play on behalf of the deceased parents.
“Genocide claimed lives of my loved ones; husband and my first born, but after Genocide I raised my remaining children together with other four orphans. Life was hard to the extent we were sometimes taking porridge as our supper but I was happy to share the little I was earning with all the children and they were happy in the family too,” she said.
She often visited orphanages and learnt about the inconvenience of living there and that gave her courage to strive to have many fostered into families.
“In orphanages, I was meeting children I knew their origin and some were from my extended family. I started helping many to meet their families. Orphanages just provide food and clothing but no good education. Most of the children there were spoilt and misbehaved because of lacking parental care and education,” she said.
Nzabamwita urges every parent to have a tender heart and foster at least one child from orphanages.
{{Tubarerere mu Muryango as “God’s programme” }}
Some of the children Nzabamwita fostered have found their families but she went back to an orphanage to pick another child whom she is fostering today and the child is now happy in the family, often asking the foster mother for a favour of not returning them to the orphanage.
“This is God’s programme because officials who thought about reintegrating children into families were undoubtedly guided by God. Children in orphanages are deprived of good morals but reintegrating them into families is the good way to build a better country’s future,” she noted.
Nzabamwita wishes she was able to reach every family to persuade them to receive orphans to help all young ones acquire good education from parental care in order to nurture them into good citizens of Rwanda.
“When a child receives care develops love for the country and citizens because they understand that there people who helped them when they were in need. Fostering a child does not require good means but a loving heart willing to share the little with the neediest,” she said.
She said there are no worries that a child from orphanage can spoil other children of the fostering family because a fostered child follows the family’s model when they are given care. She added that it is of great honour to raise an orphan because it is part of building the country and serving God’s mission.
{{
Life of Nzabamwita’s fostered child }}
Four-year old, Christian Manzi has apparently found happiness in foster family. He demonstrates what he acquires at a nursery school by singing Rwanda’s national anthem ‘Rwanda Nziza’.
When chatting with his foster mother, Nzabamwita, who he calls mummy, Manzi displays immense happiness of child having a parent and always ask her where she had been all the time before.
Reintegrating all children into families is still going on and those interested in fostering some usually visit the orphanages to learn about the procedures.
Article 18 of the Constitution of Rwanda amended in 2015 stipulates that both parents have the right and responsibility to raise their children while the State puts in place appropriate legislation and organs for the protection of the family, particularly the child and mother, to ensure that the family flourishes. Article 19 indicates that a child has the right to specific mechanisms of protection by his or her family, other Rwandans and the State.
The drivers had been found driving with incomplete documents, others had expired documents while there those that had overloaded transporting unauthorized luggage.
In the Southern region, on the road connecting Ngororero-Muhanga and Muhanga-Huye, Police arrested at least seven drivers at a checkpoint mounted in the night of September 19, who tried to offer bribes so as not to be penalized.
Police identified the seven suspects as Jean Hitimana, Theogene Semajeri, Fabien Niyoyita, Vedaste Habimana, Tharcisse Hakineza, Eric Nshimyumukiza and one only identified as Felix.
They were found driving without insurance, lacked vehicle mechanical certificate while others had overloaded, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kabanda, the spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety Department, said.
In the Eastern Province, on Bugesera-Kigali highway and Rwamagana-Kigali highways, Police arrested Olivier Mazimpaka, Daniel Karangwa, Sother Uwizeyimana over similar offence.
The entire trio was at the time found without vehicle mechanical certificate, when they attempted the criminal move to try to escape penalties.
In Northern Province, one Jean Claude Munyaneza was arrested along Rulindo-Musanze road after he tried to offer a bribe to escape penalties for overloading.
Still in the same region, along the Gatuna-Kigali highway, the duo of Ildephonse Munyentwari and Victor Arinda also tried to escape penalties with bribes.
Munyentwari had been found transporting cows without authorization permit as a norm while Arinda’s vehicle had no headlights.
Reacting on the arrests, CIP Kabanda strongly warned the public against attempts to bribe Police officers.
He reminded the public that officers are charged with ensuring high levels of moral discipline and to ensure that roads are safe for all.
“We sensitize the public against corruption and bribery. This is a country that has a zero-stance on such vices and we must fight against it whenever it occurs. Rwanda National Police (RNP) has laid stringent measures against these evil practices and will not hesitate to apprehend anyone, who tries to demand or receive a bribe, as stipulated under articles 640, 641 and 642 of the Rwanda penal code,” CIP Kabanda said.
Demanding or receiving a bribe under article 641 attracts a sentence between five and seven years and s fine of twice to ten times the value of the illegal benefit offered or promised.
“Respect the traffic rules and regulations, and if you are caught violating any accept the penalties because if you try bribery means, you will be arrested for that offence to face the law.”
According to the traffic spokesperson, at least 87 drivers have arrested since the beginning of this for the same bribery offence.
He explained that there are also police officers, who have been implicated in such malpractices and that they were also handed varied penalties.
“It takes nothing to respect the law or traffic rules and regulations in particular. Fighting corruption should be made a tradition among all Rwandans,” said CIP Kabanda.
The officials from thirteen francophone African countries are in Rwanda for a five-day familiarization tour and to learn more about Rwanda’s progress in the field of child protection and anti-GBV initiatives.
According to Karen Whiting, the UNHCR senior advisor on child protection, the delegation opted to visit the centre to learn more about its operations while sharing knowledge with “best practices in the area of anti-GBV services and victims’ rehabilitations.”
“We believe and encouraged that the Isange one stop centre model should be duplicated by all countries especially in rehabilitating refuges affected by violence,” Whiting said.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Jean D’arc Mukandahiro, the director of Isange centres, who received the delegation, gave them a guided tour to all sections of the facility while explaining its relevance in victims’ rehabilitation and legal support.
CIP Mukandahiro explained that the center also operates a free phone hotline for help, protection from further violence, investigation of crimes, medical and psycho-social care and support and collection of forensic evidence.
The Isange One Stop Center – which means feel welcome in Kinyarwanda – provides free services for victims of child domestic abuse and gender-based violence (GBV).
At the 3rd International Religious Leaders’ Conference, around 300 religious leaders who worked for interfaith dialogues gathered to promote harmony of religions. The participants shared the progress reports of interfaith meetings through HWPL’s WARP offices aiming to enhance mutual understanding and develop peacebuilding by religious leaders.
Rev. Acharya Prem Shankaranand Tirth, Hindu High Priest of Shree Geeta Ashram of Delhi, emphasized the value and importance of the interfaith dialogue based on the scriptures by mentioning, “The WARP Office taught us how to make religions one. The true discussion for harmony is not just comparing the knowledge of each other but it is a discussion in finding one complete truth.”
In addition, Mr. Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, stressed on the role of the religious leaders in the current global situation and the importance of their mission for world peace. He urged religious leaders to take the lead in realizing religious reconciliation and religious peace through communication. “Religious leaders have to become the just and righteous scale measuring all religious scriptures. They gather all religious scriptures and work to define the trustworthy scripture with a legitimate standard at the WARP Office. Everything that religious leaders discuss must clearly be based on what is written in the scripture, which needs to be comprehensively analyzed and studied for the true alliance of religions.”
At the Region-Specific Discussion for the Implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), experts in various fields such as government officials, civil society leaders, and media discussed how implement the peace projects in each region.
The participants conceived peace projects in accordance with local conditions, such as implementing peace education and cultural programs, activating ‘Legislate Peace’ campaigns which are supportive signing campaigns for the DPCW, establishing a peace network, and setting up a road map for peace policy during the roundtable discussion by country or continent. Also, they wrote proposals and signed agreements to implement the projects systematically in their country.
The DPCW, drafted by HWPL advocating international cooperation for global peace, appealed to the participants in terms of inventing peace-specific policy making in countries for the legal foundation to promote peace. “The DPCW serves as a framework of a robust, global infrastructure built by sovereign states on a foundation of tolerance, mutual understanding, and dialogue developed to resist conflict. I believe that we will be able to find out ways to cooperate together with all stakeholders to work toward promoting peace in each of our respective country.” said H.E. Chin Malin, Undersecretary of State of Ministry of Justice.
Representatives of women’s organizations carrying out active peace movement from 53 countries shared the role of women leaders in the enactment of the effective international law for peace and the importance of networking for urging the DPCW in cooperation with International Women‘s Peace Group (IWPG) at 2017 IWPG Network Forum.
Ms. Nam Hee Kim, Chairwoman of IWPG, said “Let us all support the implementation of an international law in order to protect our children from the suffering caused by violence and aggression and instead nurture them in an environment of peace. Peace education should start from within the family. We should become the mothers who can proudly say that we work hard to inherit the world of peace.” urging for the power of the world’s 3.6 billion women in achieving world peace and their role in each field for the purpose of international law enactment.
Mukabalisa who was speaking on Thursday in the celebration of ‘International Day of Peace’ in Rwanda said that attained development in the country is a result of well sustained peace and that few pockets of domestic violence in different households hampers peace and development.
“Rwandans know better the value of peace; we have suffered a lot during insecurity periods that were caused by bad leadership. Through good leadership, we have restored our peace” she said.
She emphasized that disputes among partners, murders and suicides among others, still present challenges in creating harmony.
“We have good leadership and political will but I don’t understand why we still have domestic violence. Parents should remember to talk to children and inculcate love and spirit of work among them,” she advised.
Mukabalisa called on youth to avoid use of drugs and avoid bad behaviors which sometimes lead them into human trafficking and other related activities that destabilize security.
The president of National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), Bishop John Rucyahana said that parents need to behave properly in front of their children by training them to champion for peace.
This year’s International Day of Peace is celebrated under the theme “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All”
The First Lady was speaking during the Organisation of African First Ladies’ (OAFLA) high level meet the margins of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly, in New York.
Under the topic ‘Implementing the AU roadmap to harness the demographic dividend in Africa: Ending AIDS by 2030’, Jeannette Kagame reminded officials that they are called to reflect upon how to stay the course with clearly set objectives under the Sustainable Development Goals, and African Union roadmap, to fully eradicate HIV/AIDS.
“Indeed, from primarily affecting adults in great numbers, and leaving millions of orphans in its earlier years, AIDS is now robbing our continent of a powerful generation of young men and women, meant to be the driving force of its societies,” she said.
“Our ability to harness the demographic dividend of our continent heavily relies on the health, and wellbeing of our young people, and so we must strengthen all the actors of our health system, to realise the goal of ‘Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free’ by the year 2020” she added.
She said that in Rwanda a lot has been done in health sector, but added that “as a nation that believes in the lasting impact of empowering the youth, we cannot afford to become complacent. So we continue to reinforce these concerted efforts between all stakeholders of our healthcare chain”.
She urged all nations to stay firmly grounded in their commitment to give youth a strong health system and not hinder their abilities, to go beyond great expectations.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Symbion Chief Executive Officer, Paul Hinks said that they were pleased with the cooperation with HGHL.
“We are going to invest $100 million in Symbion Energy’s projects in Rwanda. Activities will start in November 2017, this amount of money will help generate 22MW of electricity in 18 months” he said.
Hinks said that between 8 and 10MW will be generated before 2018 ends.
Currently only 25MW is produced from the lake.
He said that Rwanda is among countries that understand the potential of electricity in attracting private investors.
Lord Irvine Laidlaw, the HGHL Chairman said that they are excited to provide electricity by using particular resources.
“We are going to provide electricity in a fast-developing country in Africa, so we are proud to provide contribution in its development”
The Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, Clare Akamanzi commended the cooperation saying that they will spur development in Rwanda.
“We are very pleased with such partnership and we are committed to support investors.” she said.
In 2015, the government of Rwanda signed the deal with Symbion Group to generate 50MW of electricity from methane gas in Kivu Lake.
