MINAGRI gave the caution after residents of Nyagatare District reported swarms of insects in their fields during morning and evening hours and suspected they might be locusts.
The insects were identified on Monday, 10th February 2020 in Nyamiyonga, Nyagatabire, and Kibirizi.
Jean Claude Musabyimana, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture advised farmers to report any unusual insect outbreak since desert locusts are already making ravages in neighboring countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia among others.
“The Ministry of Agriculture informs Rwandans that locusts have not yet reached Rwanda. MINAGRI is establishing measures to prevent and counter their spread.”
MINAGRI is working hand in hand with the World Food Programme (WFP), monitoring the extent of the outbreak and studying ways to counter locusts.
Locusts are a collection of species of short-horned grasshoppers with a swarming phase which is why they are referred to as migratory pests. They have the capacity of flying 150 to 200 kilometers per day and a single swarm can contain up to 150 million locusts per square kilometer.
MINAGRI reported it has put enough measures in place in case the desert locusts reach Rwanda.
Farmers who identify unusual insects in their fields can call MINAGRI on 4127 and report the case or inform local authorities.
Since February 9th, 2020, a swarm of locusts swept through Uganda from Kenya passing by Amudat in Karamoja.
Scientists predict the locusts could spread through the entire East Africa but that it could strongly depend on the climate since locusts thrive only in hot climates.
Desert locusts are the world’s most destructive migratory pests and if not controlled, the outbreak predicts a full-blown catastrophe and food shortage.
REG reported that the households which received electricity are in the first and second Ubudehe categories specifically from 16 districts across Rwanda including Kirehe, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Nyabihu, Gakenke, Ngororero, Nyarugenge, Rubavu, Kayonza, Bugesera, Rwamagana, Gisagara, Kicukiro, Gasabo, Musanze, and Nyaruguru.
Munyabugingo Charles, REG Kanombe branch manager recently told IGIHE that the households were selected according to Ubudehe stratification categories as well as proximity to transmission lines and that the project was sponsored by GIZ which operates on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Residents from the 16 districts who received electricity expressed gratitude as they could not afford it on their own.
Bahungura Innocent, a resident of Cyivugiza cell, Muko sector, Gakenke district said that he had no hope of ever accessing electricity and that is a dream that has become reality.
“I can never thank enough the government of Rwanda for this initiative and most especially President Paul Kagame for thinking about us.”
Mukandori Emerance and her mother, Nyiramavugo Donatille said they were thankful to REG for providing electricity for free.
“We never expected this. We used to sleep before the sunset to avoid stumbling in the dark but we can now stay up until 10 pm.”
Nshimiyimana Jean d’Amour, a resident of Rubavu district, Nyakiriba sector, Nyarushamba cell, Runyeheri village said he had no means to access electricity but that he has been put on the grid for two months now. His neighbor, Kayangwe Francois also said REG changed his life.
“After we were put on the grid, I collected some money with the support of my wife and we started a bar and now we get a monthly income and can meet all our financial needs.”
Nduwamungu Martin, a resident of Juru sector, Bugesera District said that his children are now capable of revising for their exams even at night and thanked the government of Rwanda for the initiative.
REG report shows that currently, 1.4 million households (52.8%) have access to electricity including those that are connected to the grid and those that use solar energy.
Apart from local public transport companies operating in China, many airlines across the globe that flew to China suspended their flights to curb the spread of the virus.
Since its outbreak, Coronavirus has claimed the lives of 1114 people while 44370 are infected. The symptoms include respiratory difficulties and pneumonia which frequently leads to death. So far, no remedy or vaccine has been identified.
China reported that 4740 patients who were infected with the virus have now recovered and sent back home and that the number of new infections have reduced by 48.2% between February 4th and February 11th, 2020.
Robert Bapfakurera, chairman of the Rwandan Private Sector Federation(PSF) told IGIHE that flights to China were suspended as China began its Lunar year on January 22nd and that it was expected that business would resume by February 2nd.
“Holidays to celebrate the Chinese New Year were supposed to end on February 2nd but until now, the business has not resumed. News says the holidays will end on February 23rd.
However, even though the effects of Coronavirus in China are not palpable yet, business owners in Rwanda have started shipping products from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.”
Bapfakurera says the products Rwanda imports from China are mostly clothes, shoes, and home accessories. Since most business owners had ordered shipments before the holidays began, the effect of the Coronavirus has not been yet felt but with time, the economy will greatly be affected.
Muhimpundu Rose who has been shipping shoes from Guangzhou, China for four years now said that the price of shoes has escalated due to the virus.
“There is nowhere else we can import shoes from and the price have been hiking ever since the outbreak of the virus. A pair of shoes which cost Rwf 15,000 costs Rwf 20,000 now.”
Hitayezu Gerald who also ships shoes and clothes from China says the effects haven’t been felt yet but that he is worried for days to come if no vaccine or remedy is found.
On the other side, some business owners condemn their counterparts for exaggerating the matter at hand but concede that if no remedy is found in the next few months, a loss will be inevitable.
Heart of Africa Trading (HAT) is a shipping company that was founded in 2018 links Rwandan business owners to Chinese manufacturers and companies and helps them to import products in bulk.
Jeanne Izabiriza, HAT Chief Executive Officer said that the outbreak of the virus is an alarming situation.
“We had shipping containers en route to Rwanda but since the Chinese holidays have been extended, we have no communication to when they will get here.”
She said that if nothing is done to curb the virus, business owners will resort to shipping from Dubai even though their prices are slightly higher and that it might lead to a surge in prices on the Rwandan market.
Bapfakurera of PSF also says if the matter worsens, business owners will switch to other markets including Dubai, India, and Turkey. He said that PSF is negotiating with the government of Rwanda to reduce tax on imports to ease shipment once sellers start importing from other markets.
Shipping companies that carry goods from China have reduced the number of vessels in order to curb the spread of the virus and it is widely affecting the global economy. Bapfakurera said that goods are stranded in China.
China has seven container ports but with measures taken to contain the virus, they might remain vacant and it will, therefore, reduce the demand for containerized goods.
If the crisis persists, not only will businesses in Rwanda be affected but it will irreversibly disrupt the global supply chain.
A tweet from the Ministry of Sports reads: “This morning, 11th February 2020, Minister Aurore Mimosa received a courtesy visit by Ambassador Ron Adam at the Ministry of Sports. Discussions focused on partnership in sports development projects that can be jointly implemented.”
Ambassador Ron thanked Minister Munyangaju for having him for the courtesy call and underlined the interest of Israel in supporting cycling and rebranding Rwanda through the ‘Visit Rwanda’ initiative.
Israel opened its embassy in Rwanda in April 2019 and the Ambassador resides in Kigali.
Recently, Amb Ron Adam donated sports kits to children in the Dream Team Football Academy including 48 Jerseys and 30 Football balls.
In an interview with IGIHE last month, Amb Ron said that they have put emphasis on supporting sports in Rwanda and that the embassy is organizing a friendly football match between Rwanda and Israel.
“Israel is on good terms with Rwanda and we intend to maintain our relation through partnerships especially in sports.”
Israel Cycling Academy is one of the 15 teams that will compete in Tour du Rwanda scheduled from February 23rd to March 1st, 2020.
Minister Busingye reminded them that the functions they have been assigned require fairness and thoughtfulness.
“Your job has so many requirements as it entails fighting crime and making in-depth investigation so justice can be served.”
He stated that the job of an investigator might appear as a double-edged sword since it requires empathy but at the same time sternness to fight crime.
“As much as being an investigator demands being relentless in your work, it is important to note that it is illegal to forcefully obtain information from people or using deceitful ways in your investigation.”
Busingye told the investigators to avoid bias but use the skills they have acquired to uphold justice. He underlined that investigators should work hand in hand with the police, prosecution, defense lawyers and other institutions in the justice system to control crime and impose penalties on those who violate laws.
On the crime of sexual assault and rape, Busingye informed the investigators about its severity and urged them to focus on it as it has reached alarming rates.
“Sexually assaulting or raping someone is never an accident. It is premeditated and convicted criminals should be subject to severe punishment so that it can serve as an example to those whoever thought of taking the same path.”
The Deputy Secretary-General of Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Isabelle Kalihangabo reported that in 2019, there were 177 cases of sexual assault and rape in Nyanza district and criminals included 184 men and 29 women. She said that in 2019, 1721 cases of sexual assault and rape were reported in the Southern Province making 18.3% of total cases in the country.
Among the sexual assault and rape cases, the most predominant were rape on minors with 60 cases, 36 cases of assault and battery and 24 cases of sexual harassment.
In 2019, 18 rape cases and 14 polygamy cases were reported in the Southern Province
The incident happened on the night of February 11, 2020, as night watchmen stopped the suspect but he, instead, took off prompting security to shoot, killing him instantly.
In his was found 284 pellets of marijuana.
The identity of the deceased has not yet been established as he had no identification documents with him.
The spokesperson of Rwanda National Police in Kigali City, Chief Inspector of Police Marie Goretti Umutesi has informed IGIHE that the incident happened at around 7:40 p.m and the deceased was aged between 21 to 23. The body was taken to Kacyiru Hospital as investigations get underway.
February 11th, 2020 was the second day of the program and contestants of Miss Rwanda 2020 as well as the state minister in the Ministry of foreign affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe assisted along Iradukunda to cataract surgery at Nyamata District Hospital.
Cataract surgery is a procedure that requires removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. A cataract leads the lens of the eye to become cloudy and therefore affects vision.
Nduhungirehe encouraged Iradukunda to continue bringing up ideas to improve the livelihoods of Rwandans and spread the initiative so that the youth could learn from her.
In an interview with IGIHE, Iradukunda Elsa said that after Rubavu, Huye and Nyamagabe where she financed cataract surgery for 1200 patients, Bugesera was also among the districts which recorded a high number of cataract patients.
“I have the support of the government of Rwanda and most especially Kabgayi Hospital which agreed to move its entire surgical ward and personnel to cater for cataract patients in the four districts we have reached so far.”
Cataract surgery will continue throughout the week in Huye district.
The adoption of the two bills previously adopted by the House of Representatives on 22 January 2020, in a plenary session, within the framework of the ratification procedure, have completed the legislative framework, fixing the limit of the territorial waters, establishing a 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone off the coast of the Southern Provinces of Morocco while incorporating it into the national legal arsenal and establishing also the baselines as well as the continental shelf of the seabed linking Morocco to Spain, Portugal and Mauritania.
The adoption of the two texts are in line with the High Orientations contained in the Royal Address of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, on the 44th anniversary of the Green March, in which His Majesty stressed the necessity to assimilate the configuration of the overall territorial space of the Kingdom of Morocco.
In the same spirit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates indicated that the High Royal Directives aim at filling the legal gap underlined in the national legal arsenal governing the maritime spaces, while adjusting it to the full sovereignty of Morocco on its entire territory and overall territorial waters, as well as airspace, in line with the clear and bold approach advocated by His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, for Morocco’s foreign policy.
The two texts aim at adjusting the national legal arsenal to the full sovereignty of Morocco on both its entire territory and its overall territorial waters, bearing in mind that the existing texts date back to 1973 and 1981. From a legal stand point, Morocco is operating the harmonization of its national legislation with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982).
The procedure of the maritime space delimitation is of outmost importance as it illustrates an act of sovereignty referring to the International Law of the Sea. The delimitation may result in overlaps with neighboring countries, among which Spain, with whom Morocco is determined to resolve any issue through dialogue.
In a statement published on February 7th, 2020, S&P noted that the outlook is stable as Rwanda is expected to continue to achieve above-average real GDP growth and establish balance against risks of fiscal slippages and rising government debt.
S&P credit rating is used by sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and other investors to gauge the creditworthiness of Rwanda thus having a big impact on the country’s borrowing costs. In the future, S&P predicts a raise in Rwanda’s rating if the economic growth materially outperforms.
In June 2018 however, S&P warned that debt held by state-owned enterprises (SOE) has rapidly increased over the past two years, and stood at about 6% of GDP and that it might lead to re-evaluate Rwanda’s ranking.
GDP growth in Rwanda is mostly driven by construction projects, constant improvement in the industry and service sectors as well as a trade which is backed up by a great performance from RwandAir, the carrier airline of Rwanda.
S&P predicts an increase in GDP by 7.7% every year from 2020 to 2023 due to the improvement in infrastructures, energy projects, stadiums, schools, health centers, and residential homes. In addition, an improvement in agriculture and industries is expected brought about by investment. The mining industry will also contribute to stimulating economic growth.
The positive outlook reflects S&P view that the upcoming pipeline of investment projects, along with higher exports and consumption, will drive strong medium-term growth prospects.
Analysts say B+ is a good economic indicator for Rwanda and that it will allow investors to assess the overall performance of the market in Rwanda.
The funeral service was held today at Nyayo stadium located in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya and brought together thousands of Kenyans and friends of Kenya.
Presidents at the funeral service included Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, President Paul Kagame and Yemi Osinbanjo, the vice president of Nigeria.
They were given time to pay tribute to him for the last time where his body was laid at the parliament buildings.
President Uhuru Kenyatta who chaired the ceremony called President Moi ‘The father of the country and a champion of Pan-Africanism’
President Moi will be buried on Wednesday, February 12th in Kabarak where he was born. Kabarak is located 220 kilometers away from Nairobi.
Daniel Arap Moi was President of Kenya from 1978 to 2002. He was known as a popular and personable leader who succeeded to maintain peace and security in Kenya at a time where neighboring countries were facing political crisis and war.
However, to others, he was a despot and was known for dealing pitilessly with his opponents as well as perpetrating corruption.
