The statement released last night shows that 911 people have caught the virus out of 8350 sample tests while 984 recovered.
The majority of new cases were found in Kigali: 326, Rubavu: 70 and Nyamagabe: 63.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 45 950 people have been tested positive of whom 30 191 recovered, 15 238 are active cases, 71 are critically ill while 521 have succumbed to the virus.
A total of 392, 077 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The goods which include those that were banned in Rwanda, were seized from two smugglers identified as Jean Pierre Uwiringiyimana, 29 and Victor Kageruka, 24, who were also taken into custody.
Among the intercepted goods include 11 cartons of non-biodegradable polythene bags, 42 pieces of movit lotion, 24 weighing scales, 51 rolls of electric cables and 33 packets of Supermatch cigarette.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said that the goods were sneaked into Rwanda from Burundi.
“Police acted on a tip-off from residents that Uwiringiyimana and Kageruka would be smuggling good into the country from Burundi. On Wednesday at about 4pm, they crossed into Rwanda on a motorcycle with a sack of electric cables called Senegal, which are banned in Rwanda,” said Kanamugire.
Police officers, he added, trailed them to a house located in Uwimpundu Village, Muhembe Cell in Karama Sector where all the goods were recovered and the two suspects taken into custody.
The suspects disclosed that they intended to smuggle the goods to Muhanga town to supply one of their customers.
SP Kanamugire commended residents for sharing information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
He also warned against “unnecessary and cross-border movements” which leads to the spread of Covid-19.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Huye station for further legal process.
Under article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods and an automobile used in smuggling are auctioned, and the driver is fined of US$5000.
{{Tax fraud}}
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax.
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 Rwf300, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags.
Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) started the liberation struggle on 1st October 1990, considered the foundation for Rwanda’s transformational journey.
With dedication to common cause to reinstate dignity for Rwandans deprived of their rights, RPA soldiers including men and women endured tough days and nights and selflessly kept soldiering on until the liberation of Rwanda on 1st July 2021.
In the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the Liberation war, Rwandans made good choices guided by the philosophy of working together, promoting accountability and thinking big towards a shared vision to make Rwanda a peaceful, united, prosperous and self-reliant nation.
Even though the country won the battle, Rwandans still have a journey ahead to eradicate poverty, strive for self-reliance and consolidate gains.
As the country continues to put in place different measures to spur social-economic transformations along the resilience journey, Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) formerly RPA has not been left behind supporting the cause.
Beyond protecting national integrity and sovereignty, RDF has been for the past 27 years walking with Rwandans along the development journey implementing a number of development projects across the country through strong collaboration with different institutions.
Some of most recent projects include infrastructures built across the country ranging from health centers, schools, bridges, roads and providing decent shelters for vulnerable residents completed at over Rwf75 billion in the fiscal year 2020/21, as per figures from the Ministry of Defense (MoD).
During implementation of these projects to advance national development and uplift citizens’ wellbeing, RDF partnered with different Government institutions including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of ICT, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rwanda Environment Management Authority among others.
{{Hospitals, roads and bridges}}
Nyabikenke is among areas of Muhanga district where residents struggle to access health services. To find a durable solution, the Government of Rwanda started building a hospital at district level in 2013.
Later on, the contractor abandoned the project in 2014. Construction activities were put to a standstill until 2018 when the project was handed over Reserve Forces.
Currently, the hospital has reached final phases and expected to be inaugurated in the near future.
Upon completion, the hospital will give relief to Nyabikenke residents who used to seek services from Ruli and Kabgayi hospitals respectively in Gakenke and Muhanga districts.
Nyabikenke Hospital will be completed at Rwf9 billion.
In 2020/21 fiscal year, RDF also built two health centers in Karongi and Rusizi districts completed at a cost of Rwf715, 534,598.
Three more health posts worth Rwf232, 612,287 were also constructed in the districts of Gicumbi, Gasabo and Gakenke in the same year.
Other projects completed by RDF in 2020/21 include maternity wards in Nyarugenge and Rulindo worth Rwf185, 871,954 and a pediatric clinic worth Rwf17, 432,189 in Kamonyi district.
In partnership with other institutions, RDF also built 705 for survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi worth Rwf8, 995, 733,407 in 25 districts across the country and handed over 59 houses to families of retired soldiers disabled during the Liberation Struggle completed at Rwf947, 613,913.
In Nyagatare district, RDF constructed 33-kilometer long water supply system at Rwf803, 340,612 to address water shortage.
In the education sector, RDF built eight Vocation Training Schools and one Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) worth Rwf11, 959,579,397 in the districts of Burera, Gicumbi, Nyagatare, Rulindo and Huye.
Among others, RDF rehabilitated, built four bridges in Bugesera and Nyabihu districts at Rwf402, 087,820 and constructed 187.965-kilometer roads completed at Rwf11, 784,788,025.
{{Model villages }}
In 2020/21, RDF constructed two Integrated Development Program (IDP) Model Villages respectively in Kinigi sector, Musanze district and Kinihira at Rwf27, 294,379,418.
They were an addition to other model villages including Kaduha, Mukuyu and Mugina in the respective districts of Nyamagabe, Gasabo district and Kamonyi.
These model villages built for vulnerable residents have basic infrastructures including health centers, schools, roads and electricity among others.
Resettled residents also benefit from other projects including livestock farming, poultry to prevent malnutrition and spur their economic growth.
The Government of Rwanda has been inaugurating model villages since 2016 in context of liberation anniversary.
So far, 82 model villages have been constructed across the country. Five of them including Rweru, Kazirankara-Nyundo, Horezo-Kanyenyeri, Karama and Gishuro were officially inaugurated by President Paul Kagame.
Rwanda celebrates Liberation Day every year on 4th July 2021.
The event was recently held in the State of Indiana, in South Bend city, where many Rwandans from different neighboring states like Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Tennessee came to celebrate together.
Nxumalo Ruhaya, the President of Rwandan Community Abroad (RCA) in Midwest welcomed participants and thanked the Embassy for sending Lt Col Raoul Bazatoha to grace the event.
Ruhaya also reminded Rwandans to uphold the legacy of men and women of RPA Inkotanyi who sacrificed their lives to free the nation everyone is proud to call home.
Lt Col Raoul Bazatoha, Defense Attaché to the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, who was among guests of honor reminded Rwandans of the history and long journey to liberate Rwanda from regimes that ruled since 1959 with ideologies of division and conquer, ethnic privileges, and discrimination and exclusion which led to the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
He shared the heroism of the Commander-in-Chief of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), President Paul Kagame who led the battle with a great vision to liberate the country and build a Rwanda without discriminations of any kind.
Lt Col Bazatoha also reminded Rwandans the country’s liberation was through a great sacrifice guided by a vision of a better society.
“Our liberation was earned and therefore sustainable. The complete liberation is to have urgency and be able to defend our dignity as Rwandans and as Africans. The potential strength we have together is greater than the sum of riches if we are divided,” he said.
Paying tribute to the men and women and all unsung heroes who died while stopping the genocide against Tutsi, Lt Col Bazatoha thanked Rwandans who helped during the liberation struggle. He pointed out great examples of citizens who contributed in different ways helping RPA soldiers to locate the enemy and fund raising from Diaspora among others. Lt Col Bazatoha urged Rwandans to stand united if they are to attain desired transformations.
“Our liberation continues now with efforts to become a knowledge driven and a self-reliance nation. We will achieve that through economic liberation and full participation of its people,” he stressed.
Lt Col Bazatoha urged the youth on patriotism and encouraged them to use their talents, education, expertise and experiences gained to build a better Rwanda.
Grace Mutesi, 24, Elyse Iradukunda, 21, and Jean De Dieu Uzabintwari, 27, were arrested on Tuesday, July 6, in connection with transferring Frw300, 000 from the Mobile Money account of one Daniel Hategekimana.
The money was allegedly wired by the trio to other mobile accounts on June 24, when the victim was having drinks in Urwuri bar owned by Jean De Dieu Nzabarushimana located in Agahenerezo Village, Rukira Cell, Huye Sector.
Mutesi is a bartender at Urwuri bar while Iradukunda and Uzabintwari also friends to Mutesi, were clients at the bar.
The Police spokesperson for the Southern region, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said that the case involves fraud, violation of the government Covid-19 prevention directives and rape.
“Nzabarushimana was operating a bar and bars are still closed, but the bar was als operating even in curfew hours–9:30pm. Secondly, the three people connived to obtain Hategekimana’s Mobile Money account PIN and stole his money after he got drunk.
Another serious case that is still under investigation involves Uzabintwari, who allegedly raped a woman later that night as he was returning home,” said SP Kanamugire.
The owner of the bar, Nzabarushimana was also located and arrested for violating the government directives.
Although the suspects admitted to stealing the money from the mobile account, they said that it was less than what Hategekimana claimed.
Mutesi, one of the suspects and an attendant at the bar told the Police that Hategekimana had accumulated a bill of Rwf39,000. In the process of clearing the bill, Mutesi managed to obtain the PIN which she shared with Iradukunda and Uzabintwari.
According to Mutesi, she wired Rwf50, 000 from Hategekimana’s Mobile Money account, Iradukunda stole Rwf15, 000 while Uzabintwari admitted to transferring Rwf160, 000.
SP Kanamugire advised the public to hide and guard their banking particulars to prevent such fraud or theft.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Huye station for further legal process in the theft and rape cases.
Article 134 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, states that any person, who is convicted of rape is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years but not more than 15 years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million but not more than Rwf2 million.
Anyone convicted for fraud under article 174, faces between two and three years in prison and a fine of between Rwf3 million and Frw5 million.
The deceased include seven women aged 91(from Ngororero district), 73, 58 (Rubavu), 61, 36, 19 (Kigali), 58 (Musanze) and three men aged 73, 62, 44 (Rubavu), 71 (Ngororero), 69, 35 (Musanze), 59 (Nyagatare) 52, 47 from Kigali city.
The statement released last night shows that 760 have caught the virus while 816 recovered becoming the highest number of recoveries in one day.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 45 039 people have been tested positive of whom 29 207 recovered, 15 325 are active cases, 67 are critically ill while 507 have succumbed to the virus.
The majority of new cases were found in Kigali: 330, Musanze: 65, Kamonyi: 52, Gicumbi: 38 and Rubavu: 37.
A total of 392,003 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The drivers were also taken into custody. They were showed to the media on Wednesday, July 7, at Rwamagana District Police Unit (DPU) in Kigabiro Sector.
Movements between City of Kigali and other provinces, and movements between districts across the country, are prohibited as part of the recent Cabinet directives to contain the pandemic of Covid-19.
RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the drivers had 14 people on board, who were being smuggled to different distinations in Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo and Nyagatare districts.
He added that the drivers had used the movement clearence permit contrary to the original intended purpose.
Joel Habarurema, a cab driver and one of the arrested drivers, said that he was intercepted by traffic Police officers in Ntunga.
“I had secured a movement permit to transport a customer to Kayonza District, but the client suspended the journey. Since I had a movement clearence, I decided to transport other people going to Kayonza but I was intercepted in Ntunga. Each passenger was supposed to pay Frw7,000 for the fares,” said Habarurema.
Gilbert Ruberintwari, another driver, said that he secured a movement permit to go home in Kayonza on July 6, but decided to transport four passengers on his way.
CP Kabera warned drivers against abusing the movement permit and using it in prohibited services.
“Some of the suspects are cab drivers while other had secured the movement permit for ginuine purposes but in the process decided to take advantage and use their vehicles to smuggle people out of Kigali to Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo and Nyagatare, which violates the Cabinet directives meant to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from one place to another,” said CP Kabera.
He added that Police officers on road are there to enforce the directives and warned anyone, who attempts to undemine the government instructions and misusing the movement permit in particular.
“Everyone must adhere to the directives to save lives rather than asking for forgiveness after deliberate violations,” CP Kabera said.
He was admitted to Estcourt Correctional Centre in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
Police had warned that they were prepared to arrest him if he did not hand himself in by midnight.
Zuma, 79, was handed the jail term last week after he failed to attend a corruption inquiry.
The sentencing sparked an unprecedented legal drama in South Africa, with a deadline imposed of midnight on Wednesday (22:00 GMT) for his arrest.
The deadline was imposed after Zuma refused to hand himself in on Sunday.
In a short statement, the Jacob Zuma Foundation said the former president had “decided to comply with the incarceration order” and hand himself in to prison authorities.
His daughter, Dudu Zuma-Sambudla, later wrote on Twitter that her father was “en route [to the jail] and he is still in high spirits”.
South Africa has never seen a former president jailed before.
Zuma was sentenced on 29 June for defying an instruction to give evidence at an inquiry into corruption during his nine years in power.
Businessmen have been accused of conspiring with politicians to influence the decision-making process while he was in office. But Zuma has repeatedly said that he is the victim of a political conspiracy.
Though he was forced out of office by his own party in 2018, the African National Congress (ANC), he retains a loyal body of supporters, especially in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal.
On Sunday, crowds formed what they called a human shield outside Zuma’s palatial home in an effort to prevent his arrest. Similar crowds gathered before he handed himself in on Wednesday.
{{An ignominious end}}
{ {{Analysis by Farouk Chothia, BBC News}} }
Zuma was once an illustrious political figure, who was jailed for fighting the racist system of apartheid in South Africa.
Now, he has been arrested for being contemptuous of South Africa’s most senior judges – the guardians of the democracy he fought for – as he tried to evade accountability over the deluge of corruption allegations he faced during his presidency.
It is an ignominious end to Zuma’s political career, but a proud moment for South Africa’s democracy. It shows that no one is above the law – not even a former president.
His supporters threatened to block any attempt by police to arrest him, but in the end they did not have to. The 79-year-old surrendered, knowing he could not defeat the might of the state.
The BBC’s Nomsa Maseko, who was outside Zuma’s home on Wednesday, noted that there was a large police presence outside the property that included armed officers and a paramilitary unit.
A delegation of senior officers are believed to have spent several hours inside the residence negotiating with the former president over his arrest.
A convoy of cars, one of which was carrying Zuma, was then seen leaving the house at high-speed shortly before the midnight deadline for his detention.
Zuma previously declared that he was prepared to go to prison.
However, he said that “sending me to jail during the height of a pandemic, at my age, is the same as sentencing me to death”.
He has also repeatedly said that he is the victim of a political conspiracy. He has testified only once at the corruption inquiry into what has become known as “state capture” – meaning the siphoning off of state assets.
In a separate legal matter, Zuma pleaded not guilty last month in a corruption trial involving a $5bn (£3bn) arms deal from the 1990s.
First Lady Martine Moïse was hospitalized following the overnight attack, interim Premier Claude Joseph said. The nation of more than 11 million people had grown increasingly unstable and disgruntled under Moïse.
“The country’s security situation is under the control of the National Police of Haiti and the Armed Forces of Haiti,” Joseph said in a statement from his office. “Democracy and the republic will win.”
The Haitian Embassy in Canada also confirmed Moïse was killed in a tweet.
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, the streets were largely empty in the Caribbean nation’s capital of Port-au-Prince, but some people ransacked businesses in one area.
Joseph said police have been deployed to the National Palace and the upscale community of Pétionville and will be sent to other areas.
Joseph condemned the assassination as a “hateful, inhumane and barbaric act.” He said some of the attackers spoke in Spanish but offered no further explanation.
Haiti’s economic, political and social woes have deepened recently, with gang violence spiking heavily in the capital of Port-au-Prince, inflation spiraling and food and fuel becoming scarcer at times in a country where 60% of the population makes less than $2 a day. These troubles come as Haiti still tries to recover from the devastating 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew that struck in 2016.
Moïse, who was 53, had been ruling by decree for more than two years after the country failed to hold elections, which led to Parliament being dissolved. Opposition leaders have accused him of seeking to increase his power, including approving a decree that limited the powers of a court that audits government contracts and another that created an intelligence agency that answers only to the president.
In recent months, opposition leaders demanded that he step down, arguing that his term legally ended in February 2021. Moïse and supporters maintained that his term began when he took office in early 2017, following a chaotic election that forced the appointment of a provisional president to serve during a year-long gap.
Haiti was scheduled to hold general elections later this year.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday 6th July 2021 at the Royal Palace in Manama, the capital city.
Speaking after the ceremony, Amb. Hategeka appreciated existing good relations between the two friendly countries and reiterated his commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation across fields of common interest.
“I am deeply honored to present my credentials to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as Rwanda’s non-resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. I look forward to taking our relations to greater heights,” he said.
“I conveyed to his majesty the warm greetings of my President H.E Paul Kagame and his interest to enhance bilateral ties between our two countries and our peoples,” added Amb. Hategeka.
He also took the opportunity to wish his Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa continued good health and well-being and to his country; peace, continued progress and prosperity.
Rwanda and the Kingdom of Bahrain enjoy good relations. Both countries established diplomatic ties on 2nd March 1998. Potential areas of collaboration include Trade and Investment, Tourism, Financial services, Energy, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
With residence in Abu Dhabi, Ambassador Emmanuel Hategeka is also Rwanda’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy.
