He presented credentials yesterday to the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during a virtual event that took place at the King’s palace in Riyadh capital city.
After presenting credentials, Amb. Emmanuel Hategeka commended existing bilateral relations and reiterated commitment to promote cooperation in different areas.
“Such a great honor to present my credentials to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman as Rwanda’s non-resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Looking forward to strengthening relations between the two friendly countries and people,” he said.
“While presenting my credentials to His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, I conveyed to his majesty the warm greetings of my President H.E Paul Kagame and his desire to strengthen bilateral ties between our two countries and our peoples,” added Amb. Hategeka.
He also took the opportunity to wish King Salma, ‘continued good health and well-being and to his country peace, continued progress and prosperity’.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud welcomed Amb. Hategeka and other envoys who presented credentials yesterday and extended greetings to heads of state from respective countries.
Rwanda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have enjoyed good cooperation in areas of health, Education, energy and infrastructure development. More opportunities for cooperation exist in technology, financial sector, tourism development, trade and investment in general.
With residence in Abu Dhabi, Amb. Hategeka also represents Rwanda to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“We are saddened by the loss of my brother and friend, President Magufuli. His contribution to his country & to our region will not be forgotten. My deepest condolences to his family and the people of Tanzania. The people of Rwanda stand with Tanzania during this difficult time,” he said via Twitter handle.
Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has died aged 61, the country’s vice-president has announced.
He died on Wednesday from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Samia Suluhu Hassan said in an address on state television.
Magufuli had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, and rumours have been circulating about his health.
Opposition politicians said last week that he had contracted Covid-19, but this has not been confirmed.
Magufuli was one of Africa’s most prominent coronavirus sceptics, and called for prayers and herbal-infused steam therapy to counter the virus.
“It is with deep regret that I inform you that today… we lost our brave leader, the president of the Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli,” Vice-President Hassan said in the announcement.
She said there would be 14 days of national mourning and flags would fly at half-mast.
According to Tanzania’s constitution, Ms Hassan will be sworn in as the new president and should serve the remainder of Magufuli’s five-year team which he began last year.
Magufuli was last seen in public on 27 February, but Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa insisted last week that the president was “healthy and working hard”.
He blamed the rumours of the president’s ill-health on “hateful” Tanzanians living abroad.
But opposition leader Tundu Lissu told the BBC that his sources had told him Magufuli was being treated in hospital for coronavirus in Kenya.
{{John Magufuli at a glance}}
-* Born in Chato, north-west Tanzania, in 1959
-* Studied chemistry and maths at the University of Dar es Salaam
Mount Kenya (MKU) has made the donation through existing partnership with Imbuto Foundation.
“Today, we received US$30,000 from Mount Kenya University Rwanda as part of a 5-year agreement to support 100 brilliant Secondary School students from vulnerable backgrounds, through the Edified Generation Scholarship. The University has pledged USD 150,000 towards this programme,” Imbuto Foundation has revealed via Twitter handle.
Initiated in 2002 by Imbuto Foundation, the ‘Edified Generation’ scholarship programme financially supports bright students from economically vulnerable backgrounds in their pursuit of education.
Sandrine Umutoni, the Director General of Imbuto Foundation has said that during this period of celebrating 20-year anniversary, they greatly commend the contribution of the university to fulfill its mission.
“It is a great contribution and support preparing the youth to efficiently serve the country in the future,” she said.
The Vice Chancellor at Mount Kenya University Rwanda, Prof Edwin Odhuno has told IGIHE that they are glad for Imbuto Foundation’s contribution to promote education.
“Imbuto Foundation supports education, particularly girls with vulnerable backgrounds. It induces pride to see graduates from our university becoming leaders. The fact that our graduates are assigned to major duties, is a reflection of quality education promoted among young people,” he said.
Prof Edwin explained that the university will train these 100 students after completion of studies and equip them with life skills in the areas of investment and entrepreneurship to complement their education.
The first day of the vaccination focused on Rwandan peacekeepers operating in the capital Juba and those serving under Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Among those, who received their first shot of the vaccine on the first day are 356 Rwandan Police officers, who include 319 constituting Formed Police Unit (FPU) I and II deployed in Juba, 18 Individual Police Officers (IPOs) as well as 19 serving in UNISFA.
Also vaccinated alongside Rwandan Police peacekeepers are 28 Police peacekeepers from other contributing countries as well as UN staff and a South Sudan Police officer, all who came voluntarily to get the first jab of the vaccine.
The vaccination exercise will continue in other states in South Sudan where Rwandan peacekeepers are deployed.
The exercise started on Monday, March 15, with Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
There are 445 Rwandan Police peacekeepers deployed in MINUSCA, who include three contingents; two Formed Police Units (FPUs) and a Protection Support Unit (PSU), each composed of 140 peacekeepers.
Others serve as Individual Police Officers (IPOs).
The statement released last night also shows that 62 people have caught the virus, 102 have recovered while 9 are critically ill.
Among others, 3990 people were vaccinated yesterday bringing the total number to 321,698 since Rwanda began countrywide vaccination program on 5th March 2021.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 20480 people have been tested positive out of 1,073,824 sample tests of whom 18906 have recovered, 1291 are active cases while 283 have succumbed to the virus.
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.
He died on Wednesday from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Samia Suluhu Hassan said in an address on state television.
Magufuli had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, and rumours have been circulating about his health.
Opposition politicians said last week that he had contracted Covid-19, but this has not been confirmed.
Magufuli was one of Africa’s most prominent coronavirus sceptics, and called for prayers and herbal-infused steam therapy to counter the virus.
“It is with deep regret that I inform you that today… we lost our brave leader, the president of the Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli,” Vice-President Hassan said in the announcement.
She said there would be 14 days of national mourning and flags would fly at half mast.
According to Tanzania’s constitution, Ms Hassan will be sworn in as the new president and should serve the remainder of Magufuli’s five-year team which he began last year.
Magufuli was last seen in public on 27 February, but Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa insisted last week that the president was “healthy and working hard”.
He blamed the rumours of the president’s ill-health on “hateful” Tanzanians living abroad.
But opposition leader Tundu Lissu told the BBC that his sources had told him Magufuli was being treated in hospital for coronavirus in Kenya.
{{John Magufuli at a glance}}
-# Born in Chato, north-west Tanzania, in 1959
-# Studied chemistry and maths at the University of Dar es Salaam
-# Worked as a chemistry and maths teacher
-# First elected as an MP in 1995
-# Became a cabinet minister in 2000
-# First elected president in 2015
Magufuli declared Tanzania “Covid-19 free” last June. He mocked the efficacy of masks, expressed doubts about testing, and teased neighbouring countries which imposed health measures to curb the virus.
Tanzania has not published details of its coronavirus cases since May, and the government has refused to purchase vaccines.
On Monday, police said they had arrested four people on suspicion of spreading rumours on social media that the president was ill.
“To spread rumours that he’s sick smacks of hate,” Mr Majaliwa said at the time.
{{A legacy set for debate}}
{{Analysis by Dickens Olewe, BBC News}}
John Magufuli cultivated an image of a rambunctious action man, a departure from his predecessors’ demure and stately styles.
His interventionist leadership won him fans beyond Tanzania, especially in the East African region where he once inspired the #WhatWouldMagufuliDo Twitter hashtag that was shared by supporters of his no-nonsense approach to fighting corruption.
There will be vigorous debate about his legacy and whether his successor should stay the course or change direction.
But this discussion cannot be divorced from the current trend on the continent, where support for democracy remains strong but most people are increasingly disillusioned by the failure to deliver the promised dividends.
So while a significant number of Africans would prefer an action-driven leader like Magufuli, they equally want leaders who govern honestly and a government that respects them and does not hide information about their president’s health.
Magufuli’s death has been attributed to a long-standing heart condition, but many will still suspect that he succumbed to Covid-19.
It is an irony that the pandemic he so strenuously denied has outlasted him, turning his once heralded presidency into a cautionary tale for the region and the continent.
Magufuli was declared president on his 56th birthday in October 2015. He was elected for a second term following a disputed poll last year.
He was hailed for his anti-corruption stance during his time in office, but he was also accused of cracking down on dissent and curtailing certain freedom.
His critics agree that Magufuli contributed to Tanzania’s development. He invested in large infrastructure projects such as a standard-gauge railway to connect the country with its neighbours, major highways, and a bus system in the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam.
He also increased electricity production, reducing the need for power rationing.
But it is his approach to Covid-19 that many analysts say will define his legacy. There has been little testing in the country and no plans made for a vaccination programme, leaving the country as an outlier.
In Tanzania, locals have reacted with grief and disbelief to the news of Magufuli’s death.
One, Joseph Petro, told the BBC he thought Magufuli was a “caring” leader, adding “he was helping people in one way or another”.
“I am really pained. I am personally pained,” he said.
Another, Illuminata Abel, offered similar sentiments: “He was not my relative, but he was someone who listened to people’s problems, and he was down to earth.”
The airplane loaded with AstraZeneca/Oxford SII vaccines distributed through Covax arrived in Kigali on 3rd March 2021.
Later in the evening, the aircraft of KLM airline landed in Rwanda carrying Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. Few days later, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta received the donation of 50,000 COVID-19 vaccines from India.
At the time, it was announced that Rwanda would receive vaccines every week but no delivery has arrived again.
Speaking to CNBC recently, the Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana has said that Rwanda targets to vaccinate 70% of the population by next year most importantly covering 20% of people who need to get the vaccine as soon as possible which is close to 3 million doses required prioritizing high risk groups.
On the arrival of next vaccines, he explained that they are pushing and monitoring to get next batches of vaccines in due course.
“We have different people who are helping us to get the doses quickly before the time for second dose for those who received the first but also for others who have not yet received any dose,” he said.
“We hope it is not taking long. It could be this month. We have some expected dates from our partners and we are working with many through the Covax system. We have some expected dates but previously, we have been saying it is coming this date, and then we had delays. That is why, I am saying we are not sure when but what we are sure of is that the vaccines are coming soon,” added Dr. Nsanzimana.
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), organized this year’s commemorative event, “Marching on Toward Sustainable Peace in a Pandemic Era”, as a platform to share direction for the future and case studies of different sectors cooperating across the world as peace messengers, responding to the pandemic and bringing peace in this new socially distanced world.
The host organization, HWPL, is a peace NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC and associated with UN DGC. For the purpose of ceasing all wars and creating a peaceful world as a legacy for future generations, HWPL has been carrying out 3 main peace initiatives – international law for peace, interfaith dialogue meeting, and peace education.
The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) includes principles of peacebuilding such as the prohibition of the use of force, development of friendly relations, and peaceful dispute settlement. It emphasizes international cooperation based on interfaith dialogue and civic participation to create a culture of peace. Since its proclamation on March 14th, 2016, the DPCW-based peacebuilding model went on to receive government recognition and support for inter-religious dialogue, peace education, youth and women’s peace activities.
As a member of the International Law Peace Committee (ILPC) who drafted the DPCW, Professor Ciaran Burke explained the background of how the DPCW was founded on “the conviction that judicial and other dispute resolution measure can replace the role of war with the rule of law.”
He also stressed the kernel of the DPCW by borrowing words from Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, is that “the envisioned effect of the DPCW is cumulative to scale up the moral and political responsibility of world leaders by crystallizing the legal obligations of their government thereby bridging the gap between law and politics.”
Efforts to institutionalize peace based on the DPCW are underway. Countries in Southeast Asia and Central America have begun to rebuild their national legal infrastructure based on the DPCW, and the local governments are officially declaring their support for the DPCW in order to implement peace principles. In South Asia, the DPCW was introduced into the university curriculum as an academic research course on the role of law for a peaceful society.
According to UNESCO, over 190 countries closed down educational facilities, and over 1.6 billion students lost their opportunity for sustainable education. As a part of the online campaign, “Teaching goes on”, HWPL’s peace education is now taught at 214 locations in 34 countries, providing online peace education for over 5,000 students 224 times in 15 countries.
Stressing the importance of strengthening partnership for sustainable education, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Mali to UNESCO, S.E Monsieur Oumar KEITA, said, “We must unite in a spirit of cooperation to ensure peace at the national and international levels. We must consider the need for a comprehensive legal approach that will lead citizens in their everyday lives, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion. The preamble to DPCW with 10 articles and 38 clauses speaks of that very well.”
Regarding the importance of religion in spreading hope and peace during the pandemic crisis, Allama Syed Abdullah Tariq, President of the World Organisation of Religion & Knowledge, said, “Whenever humanity faces a difficult time era, there has been a religion which gives them hope and courage to overcome crises. Religion has its power to narrow down differences among us and unite us to be strong enough to break through obstacles. Such efforts will fertilize the culture of peace when the current generation is in desperate need for hope.”
Since it began in 2014, HWPL’s interfaith dialogue meeting also known as the WARP Office meeting is now expanded to 129 countries, seeing an increase in online meetings because of the pandemic. The religious communities in the WARP Office meeting also have held several pan-religious prayer meetings, meditation, and peace camps to reach out to people of the world who are facing hardship due to the pandemic.
International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), an affiliate of HWPL, is building a peace network of youth around the world with the Youth Empowerment Peace Workshop (YEPW), which was inspired by the DPCW’s peace realization process, to achieve youth empowerment proposed in the UN SDGs and Youth 2030.
Mr. Reuben Sapetulu, Deputy Secretary Agent for the United Nations Youth Association of Zambia (YUNA Zambia), said, “I participated in the delivery of 3,000 peace letters to the minister of justice in Zambia for the DPCW proposal. My commitments are simply because I agree that the DPCW is an effective way to bring a cessation of war and world peace. The YEPW was also inspired by the DPCW’s peace realization process. Spreading peace culture based on the DPCW is certainly the way to achieve peace. World leaders, please pay attention and support what the DPCW is stating about the peace realization process.”
Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL urged cooperation and unity for achieving peace by saying “No property or anything can become a legacy in the future. We must create a world of freedom, peace, and love without war, and make it an eternal legacy for our descendants. This is what we need to do in this era. Although the process of submitting the DPCW to the UN was paused for a while due to the corona pandemic, as much as this desire to achieve peace, there is no change.”
In a statement released today, Imbuto Foundation has revealed that the donation is meant to support COVID-19 testing efforts.
“Imbuto Foundation is delighted to deliver the donation of 2 BIORAD Machines to the Rwanda Biomedical Center in support of the current efforts towards the COVID-19 pandemic testing capacity at the National Reference Laboratory,” reads the statement in part.
RBC has via Twitter handle announced that these testing kits come in handy to reinforce national laboratory’s existing COVID-19 testing capacity.
“Today RBC received 2 Biorad machines donated by Imbuto Foundation. These Biorad machines will boost our efforts in effectively carrying out COVID-19 PCR tests. We are very grateful to Imbuto Foundation for this donation,” reads the tweet.
The decision follows public concerns that the newly imposed taxes were higher.
The new tax went into effect from July last year as stipulated by the law on immovable property of 2018.
Minister Ndagijimana has told RBA that an assessment will be conducted next year to review previously implemented changes. Outcomes of the assessment will be considered to determine new tax on immovable property.
The Minister also explained that the extra amount will be considered during the next tax cycle for people who had paid taxes using revised rates.
Among others, he revealed that the deadline for payment of the land tax has been extended until April 30, 2021.
The land tax has brought mixed reactions particularly among Kigali city dwellers since July 2020 when they were required to pay between Rwf 0-300 per square meter up from 0-80.
It raised concerns among residents affected by COVID-19 pandemic with fears that their land would be auctioned due to failure to clear higher taxes.
A resident of Kigali city had raised the concern to President Paul Kagame, who also tasked Minister Ndagijimana to provide clarifications. The latter assured that citizens’ worries were understood and being reviewed.
Kagame said that tax should be corresponding to citizens’ means but highlighted that it is not possible to find solutions suiting each individual.
The new tax law on immovable property indicated that people would only be taxed for additionally owned houses beyond the residential one.
The tax for non-residential house rose from 0.1 % to 1% of the asset’s total value.
