{MTN Rwanda yesterday handed over a cheque worth Rwf 3 million to support the families of vulnerable ex-combatants under the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission.
}
The cheque was received by the Minister of Local Government (MINALOC), Francis Kaboneka at the Ministry offices in Kacyiru.
“This gesture is part of the company’s long tradition of giving back to society because we at MTN Rwanda, realize and understand the importance of continued support towards the communities where we operate in a sustainable way,” said MTN’s Chief Executive Officer, Gunter Engling at the handover ceremony.
Honourable Kabonekat thanked MTN for its efforts and commitment in supporting vulnerable families.
According to Engling, MTN has supported a number of initiatives in the areas of Education, Health, Economic empowerment, Environment and Community Development through its Corporate Social Responsibility platform, MTN Foundation. The Foundation was created to focus on giving back to society and “Impacting the quality of lives in our communities” in a meaningful way.
{Police and students currently in their holidays in Kayonza District held a half-day meeting on December 3 in Mukarange Sector to discuss ways to reinforce the partnership in community policing and to fight drug abuse.}
While speaking to the students, AIP Eraste Niyibizi, the District Community Liaison Officer of Kayonza told the holidaymakers that the Rwanda National Police proactive concepts of community policing binds everyone in fighting and preventing crimes, which they should actively be part of.
“Through this community-based policing, Rwanda has become one of the safest places, but we still encounter challenges related to illicit drugs, and most of the cases we find involve your generation including students,” Niyibizi said.
“It’s both my role and yours to fight crimes, report wrongdoers like drug traffickers and users, but first be free from drugs and any wrongdoings and set an example,” he added.
The meeting came days after some of the holidaymakers and other youth in the district were arrested in drug-related crimes
Niyibizi took them through types of drugs that are common in Rwanda like cannabis, illicit gins like Kanyanga, Chief Waragi and locally made illicit brew; their consequences on users; the role of the youth in fighting drug abuse and the mode of timely information sharing.
One of the students, Emmanuel Ntambara proposed that such a meeting should be held regularly either with police officers and local leaders or among the youth themselves.
“This is not the only number of students from Kayonza, meaning that the more we pass on this message to many of our colleagues to more results we will get in fighting drug abuse,” Ntambara said.
His colleague, Jean Claude Sindikubwabo echoed the same message urging all the participants to be agents of change in their respective communities.
The students agreed to rich out to other students in the district to have another meeting next week in big number, to share ideas on how to fight drug abuse and criminality in general.
SOURCE:POLICE:[Police, holidaymakers in Kayonza discuss on fighting drug abuse->http://www.police.gov.rw/news-detail/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=5735&cHash=b1652b37d90552bf1c45b308a27e7225]
{A two-week United Nations Police peacekeeping course ended on December 4 at the Police Training School (PTS) Gishari in Rwamagana District with a call for the officers to aim for perfection and peace building in conflict-ridden nations.}
While presiding over the official closing of the international peacekeeping course, the Rwanda National Police Deputy Inspector General in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda thanked participants for their “dedication and enthusiasm to learn” which he said will help in shaping peacekeeping operations.
“What you learnt here is for your own benefit, the benefit of your respective institutions and people in missions where you will be deployed, so endeavor to put to use what you have learnt as we strive to make the world safer for all,” DIGP Marizamunda said.
He thanked the PTS leadership for conducting the course successfully and wished participants safe return back home.
The course organized in partnership with the Eastern African Standby Force (EASF) and the British Peace Support Team (BPST), brought together 60 Police officers from eight countries, seven from Africa and Denmark.
Participating countries were Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda Demark and Rwanda, the host.
The course was designed to offer participants with the overview of the UN and AU, the dynamics of peacekeeping operations, the expected challenges in the missions and techniques of overcoming them, the skills, knowledge and attitude mandatory for any police officer in a peacekeeping mission among other subjects.
It is intended to produce more skilled police officers to support the consolidation of the recently achieved full operational capability of EASF.
The EASF is one of the five regional multidimensional Forces of the African Standby Force (ASF) consisting of Military, Police and Civilian components with a mandate to enhance peace and security in the Eastern Africa region.
It was established as a regional mechanism to provide capability for rapid deployment of forces to carry out preventive deployment, rapid intervention, peace support operations and peace enforcement.
The New Horizons probe has at last returned some of the super-sharp pictures it took of Pluto during its historic flyby in July.
The images released by the US space agency on Friday show details on the surface of the dwarf planet at a resolution better than 80m per pixel.
On Earth at this scale, one could easily discern a city park.
With New Horizons, we see crystal clear views of mountains, craters and smooth ice fields.
“These close-up images, showing the diversity of terrain on Pluto, demonstrate the power of our robotic planetary explorers to return intriguing data to scientists back here on Planet Earth,” said John Grunsfeld, the head of Nasa’s science directorate.
“New Horizons thrilled us during the July flyby with the first close images of Pluto, and as the spacecraft transmits the treasure trove of images in its onboard memory back to us, we continue to be amazed by what we see.”
The probe got to about 12,500km from the surface of the dwarf and acquired a mass of pictures and other instrument data.
But because of the vast separation to Earth, and the modest transmitter on New Horizons, the flow of information back home has been extremely slow.
Indeed, it is expected to take until late 2016 to get everything in the probe’s memory back on the ground.
The mission team prioritised what it wanted to see first, which included some general impressions of Pluto – the broad context. Now, nearly five months on from the flyby, we are being treated to some spectacularly detailed offerings.
Friday’s pictures come from a photographic strip that incorporates a segment of its icy flat terrain informally known Sputnik Planum, and the adjacent rugged al-Idrisi mountains.
“These new images give us a breathtaking, super-high resolution window into Pluto’s geology,” said New Horizons’ chief scientist, Alan Stern, of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado.
“Nothing of this quality was available for Venus or Mars until decades after their first flybys; yet at Pluto we’re there already – down among the craters, ice fields and mountains – less than five months after flyby! The science we can do with these images is simply unbelievable.”
All the pictures were acquired by New Horizons’ telescopic Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (Lorri).
The probe continues to move deeper into space. It is now about 167 million km beyond the dwarf planet and some 5.2 billion km from Earth.
The spacecraft has been put on a course to fly by another object known simply as 2014 MU69. This will occur in just over three years’ time.
However, the team does not yet have a budget from the US space agency to operate the probe at the roughly 45km-wide body. The scientists plan to submit a formal request for funding in the next few months.
SOURCE:BBC:[New Horizons: Sharpest images of Pluto’s surface->http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35013190]
{Texas sued the federal government over plans to resettle 21 Syrians, mostly children, over safety concerns.}
The US state of Texas has stopped trying to block Syrian refugees from resettling there after suing the US government over fears new arrivals could pose a security risk.
A total of 21 Syrian refugees, most of whom are 13 years old or younger, are scheduled to resettle next week in the cities of Dallas and Houston.
“All they’re asking for is safety,” said Lucy Carrigan, spokeswoman for the nonprofit International Rescue Committee (IRC), which is coordinating the Dallas resettlements.
Since the Paris attacks on November 13, at least 29 US governors have vowed to keep new Syrian refugees outside their state borders.
Texas on Wednesday became the first to take the federal government to court, but legal experts called the lawsuit futile, saying states have no authority over resettlements. The lawsuit was dropped on Friday.
“I think that it’s the first sign that Texas is beginning to see the light,” said Cecillia Wang of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Details about the refugees were closely guarded by resettlement organisers over safety concerns. Last month, armed protesters with long guns staged a small demonstration outside a suburban Dallas mosque.
The Obama administration has announced plans to accept about 10,000 Syrian refugees nationwide and defends the screening process as rigorous.
SOURCE:AL JAZEERA:[US state backs down from blocking Syrian refugees->http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/state-backs-blocking-syrian-refugees-151205055854547.html]
{FBI announces massacre was an act of terrorism, but analysts say ties to Islam shouldn’t be driving the media narrative.}
The religion of the attackers who went on a shooting rampage in California should not be become the main focus of the investigation, critics say, after the FBI announced the deadly assault was an “act of terrorism”.
Fourteen people were shot dead and 21 wounded after Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik allegedly stormed a party in San Bernardino attended by his co-workers and opened fire on Tuesday. The couple were later killed in a shoot-out with police.
Lawyers for Farook’s family noted media coverage has quickly moved to portray the attackers as Muslims, while past shootings by those of other religions never brought their faith to the forefront.
“He [Farook] was an isolated individual without any friends,” lawyer David Chesley told reporters on Friday.
“When a Christian goes to shoot up an abortion clinic, the headlines don’t say ‘extremist Christian Catholic’ just like every headline is saying ‘Muslim massacre’ or ‘Muslim shooters’.”
Chesley noted while the FBI announced on Friday that the massacre was an act of terrorism, it did not say it had direct evidence of links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
US-based law professor Khalid Beydoun told Al Jazeera there are violent “fringe elements” within the Muslim-American community, but he noted the same goes for other ethnic or religious groups in the United States.
Beydoun said more than 350 gun crimes this year in the US were carried out by white men, while 63 percent of mass shootings have been committed by white males since 1982.
“This conversation needs to happen across racial lines, across religious lines… One religious community should not be indicted, and that’s the narrative being shaped right now within the popular media space,” Beydoun told Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, in the first poll on views of Muslim Americans taken after the mass shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 51 percent of Americans view Muslims living in the US the same as any other community.
Only 14.6 percent said they were generally fearful.
Amaney Jamal, a politics professor at Princeton University, said it’s “healthy” to see the majority positively viewing Muslims, but cautioned about growing fears.
“If terrorism is designed to create a larger gap between Muslims and Westerners, unfortunately they’re succeeding,” Jamal said. “The threat of terror is going to be fought by Muslims and non-Muslims together. You would like to see those gaps close so people are working together and not being fearful.”
SOURCE:AL JAZEERA:[Critics denounce ‘Muslim’ label on California shooters ->http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/critics-denounce-muslim-label-california-shooters-151205042350632.html]
{Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said it has joined forces with another militant group and together they staged an attack last month on a hotel in Mali’s capital in which 20 people were killed, according to an audio message posted online.}
The leader of AQIM, Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, said in the audio speech his group was joining al Mourabitoun and the Nov. 20 attack on the Radisson Blu hotel was a symbol of their unity.
The message was posted on Twitter on Thursday and seen by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors radical Islamist organizations in the media.
A prominent figure in Al Mourabitoun is veteran Algerian jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who has been a key figure for years in insurgencies across North Africa and the Saharan border region.
A third group, the Massina Liberation Front, also claimed responsibility for the assault in Bamako. Analysts say it is difficult to understand the organizational relationship between them.
The hotel attack comes amid deteriorating security in Mali two years after a French-led military operation to scatter Islamist militants who briefly occupied the desert north.
French troops and a 10,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force (MINUSMA) are struggling to stabilise the former French colony and strikes on both Malian and Western targets have spread further south and far beyond traditional militant strongholds.
SOURCE:REUTERS:[Al Qaeda group says staged Mali hotel attack in joint operation->http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mali-attacks-idUSKBN0TN2FU20151204#GxCYX5Yp0JU6h3S2.97]
{Cape Town – South Africans dare not fail former president Nelson Mandela’s legacy, his grandson has said.}
Nkosi Mandla Mandela, reflecting on the life of the former African National Congress leader and the first democratic president in South Africa, said it was rare for a soul to touch the entire human race in the way his grandfather had.
“A legacy worthy of celebration and a legacy worthy of emulation. uNkosi Dalibhunga is no longer with us but his legacy will live forever,” he said in a statement on Friday.
He wondered, the day before the second year anniversary of Mandela’s death, if enough was being done to carry forward the stalwart’s legacy.
“What can we do better to realise Madiba’s dream of national reconciliation, nation building and social cohesion?”
The Member of Parliament called for the establishment of an “economic Codesa” to take stock of achievements, challenges and the imperative of accelerating the radical economic transformation of the country. It was a reference to the multi-party Convention For A Democratic South Africa that helped chart a course to the political transition from apartheid to democracy.
“This process will require similarly extraordinary levels of skill, patience, inclusivity and determination to those exhibited by Madiba and his comrades at the birth of our democracy.
“We dare not fail his legacy and we dare not compromise the future well-being, stability and peace that our nation requires to achieve the fullness of our potential.”
Mandela said the second anniversary of the former president’s death would be an occasion to celebrate a life well lived.
“We draw inspiration from the many beautiful memories that we treasure – the twinkle in the eyes of an innocent child, the smile of encouragement shared with an ageing and fragile mother, the warmth with which he held the calloused hands of a farm worker, the words of solace to the grieving and suffering, and the hearty chuckle with friends and loved ones.”
SOURCE:NEWS 24:[We dare not fail Madiba’s legacy – Mandla Mandela->http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/we-dare-not-fail-madibas-legacy-mandla-mandela-20151205]
{Most ministers who were defeated in the NRM primaries have bounced back to contest for parliamentary seats as independent candidates.}
Some of them had indicated earlier that they would run as independents, citing irregularities in the party primaries.
Those nominated as independents include Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire who lost the NRM flag for Ruhinda County parliamentary seat to Capt Donozio Kahonda. Gen Otafiire petitioned court to block Kahonda’s nomination on NRM ticket but his application for the interim injunction was not granted.
Other ministers include Education minister Jessica Alupo, minister for Primary Health Care Sarah Opendi, State minister for Regional Cooperation Asuman Kiyingi and Henry Banyenzaki, the State minister for Economic Monitoring.
Others are; junior minister of Lands Idah Nantaba and former Ethics and Integrity minister Nsaba Buturo who were all nominated to run as independents.
Incumbent MPs Michael Mawanda, Simon Peter Aleper, Vincent Kyamadidi and Xavier Kyoma who lost in the NRM primaries were also nominated as independents.
Museveni’s opinion
President Museveni last month said it was difficult to be harsh on independents without proof that they had lost in free and fair NRM primaries.
However, earlier this week, Mr Museveni gave a green light to those who had lost in the NRM primaries to contest if they were not satisfied with the outcome of the party elections which were marred by irregularities.
If the number of candidates nominated on various political affiliations is something to go by, the next Parliament may be dominated by independent candidates. This follows the conclusion of nomination for parliamentary seats that saw independent candidates out-numbering the official party flag bearers.
Out of the 555 parliamentary candidates sampled by Saturday Monitor, 324 are independents while 69 are Forum for Democratic Change official flag bearers.
Other political parties such as Uganda Peoples Congress and Democratic Party fielded less than 10 candidates across the country yet Ken Lukyamuzi’s Conservative Party, Beti Kamya’s Uganda Federal Alliance and Peoples Progressive Party fielded less than five.
There are at least 43 independent candidates in the current Parliament.
Most independent candidates who were nominated had participated and lost in the NRM primaries some of whom include incumbent NRM MPs and ministers.
Some of the independents are, however,aligned to former prime minister Amama Mbabazi who also is standing as an independent presidential candidate on the Go Forward platform.
SOURCE:DAILY MONITOR:[FULL LIST: 7 ministers contest as independents->http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/FULL-LIST–7-ministers-contest-as-independents/-/859108/2984286/-/13afpsez/-/index.html]
{TAXPAYERS are obliged to ensure maximum adherence to their tax obligations to avoid facing heavy penalties including criminal sanctions as well as frustrating the economic development of the country.}
Retired President, Mr Ali Hassan Mwinyi, made this call in Dar es Salaam on Thursday during the Accountants’ Annual Conference held at the new Accountancy Professional Centre (APC)– Bunju organised by the National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA).
Mr Mwinyi noted that non-compliance amounted to a penalty of 100 percent of the underpaid tax which will be charged for any transfer pricing adjustments made as part of a tax audit.
“Further, non-compliance with transfer pricing documentation requirement attracts a penalty which includes imprisonment for maximum of six months or fine of not less than TZS 50 million on conviction,” said Mr Mwinyi.
Achieving the maximum tax obligations is not possible without participation of accountants as well as registered tax practitioners. “With newly introduced Tax Administration Act, the scope of involvement of accountants in tax issues has been increased,” he said.
Management teams of the ministries, independent Government Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Accounting Officers must be subjected to refresher training on some elements of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and the benefits that may have accumulated from good quality financial statements Audit firms in the country have been called upon to attend special capacity seminars and cooperate with quality reviewers to ensure the quality of audit services are enhanced and achieved as per quality review exercise.
The Governing Board Chairman of NBAA, Prof Isaya Jairo, pointed out that their profession will strive to improve services offered in an effort to support the Fifth Phase Government to hasten economic growth and development of the country.
“Thus the conference has featured 19 topics which are related to governance, ethics, auditing, taxation, finance and accounting, economics and other important issues to the professional development” noted Prof Jairo.
