The executive secretary of Bwishyura sector, Faustin Ayabagabo has said that the remaining six students who were also taken to hospital suffered from trauma.
He revealed that the incident will not affect studies because there are storage rooms to be used as alternatives.
However, Ayabagabo explained, students will study in shifts to avoid overcrowding.
The heavy rain also destroyed three classrooms and administrative bloc at Zion Secondary School in Rubengera sector, Karongi district.
The executive secretary of Rubengera sector, Medard Nkusi disclosed that the incident will not halt studies but rather student will share remaining rooms waiting for renovation of destroyed ones.
One Chantal Uwimana was intercepted in Gasiza Village, Kamanyana Cell, Cyanika Sector with 300 cartons of polythene bags.
Another smuggler, Jean Niyigaba was arrested with 250 cartons of plastic bags in Ryabiyeyi Village, Kamanyana Cell also in Cyanika Sector.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), said that Police was tipped off by the residents.
“Residents tipped off the Police about a group of smugglers that was attempting to sneak assorted goods including the outlawed polythene bags into Rwanda from Uganda. During the operation in Ryabiyeyi Village, Police managed to apprehend Niyigaba with 250 cartons of Plastic bags although other members of the group fled back,” said SP Ndayisenga.
Later on, at about 9pm, he added, Chantal Uwimana was also caught red-handed in Gasiza Village, Kamanyana Cell with 300 cartons of polythene bags after crossing into Rwanda from Uganda.
SP Ndayisenga commended residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspects and seizure of the plastic bags.
He further warned against selling plastic bags, which were banned in Rwanda due to their ill-effects on the environment and people’s health.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Cyanika station for further legal process.
Manufacturing, use, importation or sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items are prohibited under article 3 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use, and sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items in Rwanda.
In article 10, any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.
In article 11, a wholesaler of plastic carry bags and single use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf700, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of three hundred thousand Rwandan francs (Rwf300,000) and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items
The ceremony of handing over the wheelchairs on Tuesday 8th March 2022, was attended by the Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda, Dr. Ron Adam, the Mayor of Nyanza District, Erasme Ntazinda and Eugene Mussolini, a Member of Parliament representing persons with disabilities, among others.
Also present were students of HVP Gatagara and their teachers.
Donatienne Umutesi, a senior three student at the school who was among the beneficiaries expressed delight after receiving a new wheelchair.
“On behalf of fellow handicapped students receiving these wheelchairs today, we are very grateful for this support. There is no doubt that moving will be much easier,” she said.
This was also highlighted by MP Mussolini who appreciated the donation, saying that it shows the value that the Embassy gives persons with disabilities.
“This is a very good gesture and comes to address one of the challenges persons with disabilities are facing, which is lack of quality mobility equipment. But we are doing everything possible, mainly advocacy, to ensure that this problem is addressed,” he explained.
In his remarks, Ambassador Adam said that Israel, same as Rwanda, values persons with disabilities and believes that, being among the most vulnerable, they should be given every necessary support.
“I am glad that the Embassy was able to fulfil the pledge made last year when we visited this school. We hope that these wheelchairs will help students to move easier while here at the school and outside. This is just another portion of the support. I will be back,” he said.
The support follows mattresses that the Embassy had donated to HVP Gatagara orthopedic hospital in October last year, to improve service delivery.
The Embassy also recently donated about 100 fruit trees from Rwanda-Israel Horticulture Center of Excellence to HVP Gatagara school.
HVP Gatagara in Nyanza District is an inclusive school with nursery, primary and secondary levels. Of the total 776 students at the school, 300 live with disabilities.
The Director General of the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), Dr. Christian Sekomo Birame has commended the efforts of Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited to set up herbal medicines manufacturing plant in Rwanda.
He made the appreciation on Tuesday 8th March 2022 as he visited offices of Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited which currently retails nutraceuticals produced by Life Care Phyto Labs-India. The latter belongs to Indian herbalist, Dr. Rajendran Aanaimuthu.
The visit was meant to assess preparations to launch the plant expected to produce herbal medicines locally.
Recently on 2nd March 2022, NIRDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited aimed at expediting preparations to set up the plant in Rwanda.
The MoU incorporates clauses that NIRDA shall provide more than 150 hectares suitable for growth of medicinal plants to ensure smooth supply chain of raw products with uncompromised quality.
Among others, Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited will receive some of NIRDA’S equipment that were previously used at its medicinal plants’ laboratory in Huye district.
The Director General of NIRDA, Dr. Birame revealed that the visit was aimed at getting firsthand information on preparations.
“Today, we have come to reinforce the partnership signed with Bold Regain in terms of fast tracking the implementation of signed agreement under this project to produce herbal medicines in Rwanda,” he said.
Dr. Birame hailed the company’s activities and reassured support to ongoing preparations to set up the plant in the near future.
“This project was appreciated very much because it aligns with Government’s ambitions to create new jobs. Apart from creation of jobs and imparting technical skills, it is our responsibility to support industrial development,” he noted.
The CEO of Bold Regains International, Dr. Francis Habumugisha has said that the visit is a great encouragement to ongoing efforts. He disclosed the company is fast tracking preparations as much as possible to have the plant operational in the near future.
Once the plant is operational, Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited targets local and foreign clientele.
The Speaker of the Parliamentary Chamber of Deputies, Donatille Mukabalisa has revealed that hosting the session of continental interparliamentary organization, is a great honour not only for Rwanda’s parliament but also for Rwandans.
“It is our deepest hope that we will certainly have a highly fruitful Session of the APU Executive Committee, which will pave the way for us to discuss with our African counterparts how best to cater to the needs of our citizens and contribute to helping them fulfill their aspirations,” she said.
The Session serving as an ideal platform for delegates to learn from each other, will afford Rwandan Parliamentarians an excellent opportunity to share Rwanda’s best practices in terms of good governance, Rwanda’s innovations and successes in response to COVID-19 and efforts towards accelerating economic recovery and implementing the African Continental Freed Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
In a bid to witness firsthand Rwanda’s history and transformational journey, participants are expected to visit Karama Integrated Development Model Village , the Campaign Against Genocide Museum and Isange One Stop Center.
The Governor of Cabo Delgado Province, Mr Valige Tauabo chaired the event accompanied by Mocimboa Da Praia District Permanent Secretary Mr Saraviva Joao Joaquim as well as the District’s Municipal Council Leader Mr Momba Carlos and other local leaders.
About 200 residents from Cabo Delgado Province mostly from Palma, Mueda and Pemba districts attended the event including Mozambican Defence and Security Forces representatives in the Northern Theatre.
In his remarks, the Governor of Cabo Delgado commended the work done by the Joint Forces in fighting Al Shabaab in Cabo Delgado.
He told participants that he believed that Palma and Mocimboa Da Praia were safe now and that soon displaced people would fully return.
Tauabo also assured the participants of the event that the Mozambique government was doing its best to expedite the process of rehabilitating essential infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. Other basic needs such as water and electricity have already been restored in the city.
The participants were entertained by the various Mozambican cultural groups who mainly travelled from Pemba.
They were delivered by four women from the management of KCB Bank Rwanda Plc on Tuesday 8th March 2022 as the world celebrated the International Women’s Day under the theme ‘breaking the bias’.
Odile Mukayiranga, one of representatives from KCB Bank Rwanda Plc has told IGIHE the talks are aimed at mentoring girls from secondary school and remind them of their role to strive for a bright future.
“We came to talk to them about their prospective careers after graduation. Children study with many expectations. We gave them examples proving how people with similar dreams saw them becoming a reality. There are some of us who went through similar learning conditions but currently serving in different positions. We are here to share experience,” she said.
Mukayiranga highlighted that children need to learn from role models to emulate outstanding deeds.
“The absence of this leads to lack of concentration on courses. We have come to instill competitiveness and the culture of hard work to achieve one’s goals,” Mukayiranga noted.
Students were advised against sticking to dark history but rather remain dedicated to achieve their aspirations for a prosperous future.
They were also asked to stand against seductions leading to sexual intercourse and drug abuse and advised to inform their parents or educators on their problems to get assistance.
During the session, parents were also asked to interact with their children, give them guidance and inspire them to stick to God in whatever they do.
{{Students thankful}}
Students who attended the session have told IGIHE that they acquired essential skills to shape their future and lead purpose-driven life.
“I have learnt a lot, most importantly, the need to develop reading habit to gain knowledge. The talks delivered today have unleashed my fears and instilled confidence that I am short of nothing to achieve great things. Doors are open for ample opportunities. What I need is to unleash fear and be self-confident,” Cynthia Gihozo Muhongayire said.
Ineza Liza Ines revealed that sticking to prayers and striving for purpose-driven life will be guiding her future steps.
“We have been advised to involve God in our plans and remain disciplined,” she said.
Another student, Atete Olga commended the talks highlighting that they are of critical importance in building their confidence as future leaders.
The head teacher of Ecole Notre Dame de la Providence Karubanda, Sister Philomene Nyirahuku thanked KCB Bank Rwanda Plc for coaching these students.
“Such talks are significant to student’s intellectual journey. Knowledge is not only about what we read in books but also can be acquired from shared experiences. That is why we extend out since gratitude to the delegation from KCB Bank Rwanda Plc for constructive talks delivered to female students, as the world celebrates the International Women’s Day,” she said.
Through IGIRE program, KCB Bank Rwanda Plc sponsors the education of dropouts to attend vocational training every year.
Trained as an aeronautical engineer, my life changed when I understood, through the work of researchers and journalists, that my country, France, could have been involved in Rwanda in a Genocide. The importance for me of this question comes, even if it took me long to admit it, from the history of my family : my mother, Charlotte, has been, when she was four years old, caught in 1942 with her own Polish mother, Shana, by the Parisian police, both being taken to the Veld’Hiv. My mother will get out of it, otherwise I would not be here today in front of you, thanks to a French nurse, which was not the case of her mother who was murdered by nazis in Auschwitz. For more than fifteen years, it has been impossible for me to give up the Rwandan affair. I have worked on the evolution of post-genocidal Franco-Rwandan relations on which subject I have written a lot. I have also collected, in Rwanda, the testimonies of lots of people, whatever survivors or former genocidaires, gathering them into in a book, all the witnesses speaking with their faces uncovered so that whoever wants hearing them after me has their name to do so. All of this led Mr Richard Gisagara to consider that my point of view on this matter might interest you.
Before starting my testimony, I would like to express the interest I generally have in listening to the various analyses of Ms Polony. I say this so that you know I have personally nothing against her. Thus, even if her words, which create confusion between victims and killers, deeply shocked me in the context of a genocide, I first imagined she did not know the subject enough (Indeed I still wonder how journalists manage to have something to say on every subjects) and that she could have been manipulated.
But it does not fit with the activism of the magazine Marianne to falsify the History of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda, not only since 2004 but since Ms. Polony was her director in 2018. And we cannot, in my opinion, properly analyze her words without taking this context into account. So when she says that « we had bastards in front of bastards », this sentence should be analyzed in the light of the article she will let Judi Rever write a bit later in Marianne. In this article, Rever will explain that the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda would have been partly executed by the current Rwandan leaders (in majority Tutsi at the time when the Rwandan identity cards still indicated the ethnic mention). An accusation identical to the one that would have consisted in affirming that the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel, David Ben-Gourion, would have planned and implemented the Shoah in order to become president of a State to be born from the ashes of this genocide ! How to dare such an accusation ! Moreover, when Ms. Polony tells us she had only talked about the leaders, not the population, is she forgetting that Judi Rever is writing that thousands of Tutsi genocidaires would have been directly involved in the genocide of Tutsi ? They are not leaders. Then I wondered what to think of what says Mrs. Polony when she affirms not denying the existence of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda, and when at the same time she denies so crudely its mechanism. That is why I started suspecting it could be a strategy.
A strategy that is far from new. Since it was no longer possible to deny the existence of this crime against humanity (once it has been recognized by the ICTR [International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda] and before its denial was punished by the french law of 2017), deniers would not deny explicitly its existence anymore, but would still follow the idea of the former genocide communication plan consisting in preventing us from seeing it clearly. It is the case of Védrine’s attempts to explain that this genocide was not planned but was only the result of the gradual transformation of spontaneous popular anger. It is the case of Villepin’s attempts to explain that the genocide against the Tutsi would have come with another genocide against the Hutu, thus recycling the old thesis of inter-ethnic conflict. This is the case of the attempts of the magazine Marianne, then directed by Ms. Polony when this media tries, through the article of Judi Rever, to explain that this genocide would have been partly executed by the current leaders of Rwanda.
The fact that Ms Polony chose to publish such an article clarifies, at least in my eyes, the words she pronounced a bit earlier on France Inter radio. Because publishing this article makes her pursuing the strategy of Marianne which will have, for fifteen years, vainly tried to falsify the History of this genocide. I insist on this « vainly » and will explain it because this is the heart of my point. I take this opportunity to say I do not understand why we are still listening, on this subject, to the theories of the journalists of this media after their intention to distort history has been publicly proved, what I am about to remind us. And if I consider of course that Mrs Polony is not responsible for Marianne’s communication on this subject before she became her director, her decisions, now that she is at the head of this media, make her, in my eyes, endorse this past. Consequently, her words pronounced on France Inter cannot be considered as having for a moment exceeded her thought, but as totally assumed in that they are perfectly coherent with a constant communication strategy for fifteen years.
Yes, fifteen years is the time separating Judi Rever’s article from another one also published by Marianne, both following exactly the same line of communication according to which the Genocide against the Tutsi would have been planned and executed by the RPF [Rwandan Patriotic Front, a rebellion movement mostly composed of Tutsi who returned to Rwanda through a guerrilla war launched on October 1, 1990]. On April 12, 2004, Marianne prepared us to read the testimony of a man named Ruzibiza by writing that « Paul Kagame believed that only an apocalyptic solution could lead him to take power. » By evoking « damning documents », Marianne therefore prepared the public to adopt the thesis of the one who would soon become french Judge Bruguière’s « key witness » in the investigation relating to the attack against Rwandan President Habyarimana plane, attack which was part of the genocidal plan in that it was the first event of a sequence of events triggered one after the other : according to this thesis, Kagame would have been the organizer of this plane attack. In the testimony that Marianne made available as an exclusive on her website, Ruzibiza claimed that « the bodies buried in the mass graves were not only those of Tutsi », made us appear the genocidal Interahamwe militias as militias of self-defense, mentioned « an authorization (to massacre) coming from a single man: Kagame » that he compared to Hitler. Among others.
Four years later, in November 2008, Ruzibiza withdrawn from his testimony by publicly admitting that everything he had written and said so far about the plane attack was false. Therefore the whole structure of Judge Bruguière’s investigation collapsed, making collapse all those who had participated in promoting this thesis : Marianne, Pierre Péan, Claudine Vidal and André Guichaoua, who respectively signed the preface and the postscript of Ruzibiza’s book in which he wrote the lies he had already written in his first report published by Marianne, a book which they presented to Science-po thank’s with the help of Philip Reynjtens and Rony Brauman.
Two years later, Ruzibiza died and, the day after his death, on September 23, 2010, Marianne published a new document : the minutes of a hearing held three months earlier by Ruzibiza, and in which he was suddenly returned to his first accusations against the RPF. But in this document, he denied that he had eyewitnessed the plane attack, what he had affirmed both in his report and in his book : this time, he said to have been some one hundred kilometers from the place of the attack ! The title of Marianne’s article in which the content of this document was published stated that « before dying, he explained that he had been threatened by Kagame’s men. » Why the magazine Marianne waited three months until he died to publish this document ? And why Marianne published it the day after his death ?
Reminding this affair allows us to make appear the intentions of those who spread these lies. Because if this kind of accusations can create some illusion when they are launched, which is the case during each commemoration of this genocide when these accusations aimed at diverting us from the accusations against French leaders, they can not resist at the patina of time. And I do not see how Mrs. Polony, at the time when she expressed herself on France Inter radio, could ignore that the intention of Marianne to lie on this subject had been publicly proved. And let’s not forget she was working for Marianne from 2002 to 2009. So we have to consider her words pronounced on France Inter in the light of her determination to keep on promoting a thesis that I consider to be the worst way to deny this genocide.
As a conclusion, I would like to say that accusing the victims of a genocide to have somehow participated in their own extermination is inflicting them much worse than the denial of the genocide they have been the target of. Considering that the french law against genocide denial would be a « yes or no game » is not only playing with this law but is also insulting the intelligence of the judges. Making the victims of a genocide guilty of the genocide they suffered from is the worst way to deny a genocide. Because what is a crime but suicide when the killer is the victim ?And don’t tell it’s not the same. According to the Polony/Rever tandem, a Tutsi from the RPF would have killed his Tutsi blood brother who remained in the country? A nephew killed his uncle? But from what sick mind have such a theory come from ? And how can we spread it?
What I fear above all is that, without any sanction, other media will be offered a precedent enabling them to establish a bit more, in public opinion, these thesis of inversion of victims and killers. That would even reinforce the slogan which was the leitmotif of the Genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda in 1994. We remember that RTLM called on the Hutu population to kill the Tutsi before they kill them themselves, according to an alleged plan of Tutsi to do so. Have we already forgotten the Protocols of the Elders of Zion ? And what about remembering of its use within the exhibition « The Jew and France » in 1941 which aimed at making Parisians believe that the Jews had a plan to dominate the world ? This exhibition lasted until January 1942, only a few months before the Veld’Hiv roundup, in a Paris whose inhabitants had been previously brainwashed in order to facilitate it. What we are judging today is the use of this type of inversion for deadly purposes. I dream that this trial will help put a stop to these mirror accusations which, one day or another, will lead us to new exterminations.
{{Serge Farnel
Web site of Serge Farnel’s inquiry : [www.bisesero.net/en->https://www.bisesero.net/en/]
Serge Farnel is an aeronautical engineer, professor, journalist and writer. His writings explore novel, poetry, theater, investigative journalism as well as scientific pedagogy.}}
In the latest operations conducted on Monday, March 7, Police apprehended two major drug dealers in Rulindo and Nyabihu districts with combined 12kgs and 115 pellets of cannabis.
Vestine Iradukunda, 27, was apprehended at about 1pm, in Buramba Village, Cyohoha Cell, Base Sector, Rulindo District with a bundle containing 12kgs of cannabis
Jean Pierre Hakizimana alias Kazungu, 28, on the other hand, was arrested at about 7pm, in Bugarama Village, Bukinanyana Cell, Jenda Sector of Nyabihu District with 115 pellets of cannabis.
The Northern region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, said that Iradukunda was arrested due to information provided by local residents.
“Police received credible information that Iradukunda and her husband are major drug dealers, who sneak cannabis into Rwanda from Uganda through porous borders. An operation was conducted at their home where officers searched and found a sack containing 12kgs of cannabis. Iradukunda was arrested but his husband managed to flee,” said SP Ndayisenga.
Meanwhile, Jean Pierre Hakizimana was arrested red-handed in Bukinanyana with 115 pellets of cannabis.
According to SP Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, Hakizimana was at the time found in possession of 100 pellets, which he was going to supply a client in Bukinanyana Cell.
“Police also searched his house, where other 15 pellets were recovered. We commend the role of the public in identifying and arresting drug dealers,” said SP Karekezi.
The suspect and exhibits were handed over to RIB at Bushoki and Jenda stations, respectively, for further investigation while the search for members of the rings is still underway.
Article 3 of the Ministerial order nº 001/moh/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation classifies cannabis in the category of “very severe narcotics.”
Article 263 of the law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general states that any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
In case of “very severe narcotic drugs” the offender is liable to between 20 years and life imprisonment and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
President Kagame has via his Twitter handle sent best wishes to women in Rwanda and beyond as they celebrated the IWD 2022 on 8th March.
“Today, we celebrate the resilience of Rwandan women who have been at the center of Rwanda’s transformation journey,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
From the beginning, the Head of State said, RPF has walked the talk by creating an environment that enabled women to take their rightful place.
“Gender equality has always been central to the politics of RPF. The progress we see in Rwanda today is the result of this commitment to inclusivity,” he noted.
Equality is a right not a favour. We must challenge ourselves to do even more and better to ensure that the next generations of our daughters and granddaughters inherit a nation where their aspirations have no limits,” Kagame added.
Rwanda has earned international reputation for its efforts to empower women and promote gender equality.
The success was a result of the country’s commitment to inclusivity, which among other things, saw the country giving women the floor in decision making positions.
For instance, women have 61 % and 50% representation respectively in Rwanda’s parliament and cabinet.
