The meeting which is part of the initiative by DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi, to convene a meeting of regional leaders to discuss security matters and the simmering diplomatic and bilateral relations.
In September, President Tshisekedi invited President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, Burundi’s Evariste Ndayishimiye and Angola’s João Lourenço in what was expected to be a physical meeting of the Heads of State to discuss regional matters.
However, the meeting has not taken place due to many reasons, mainly surrounding busy schedules of Heads of State as well as the New Coronavirus restrictions which made the organization of the meeting difficult. According to the organizers and hosts, DRC, the meeting will focus on peace, security, diplomatic and political relations.
The DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed that the meeting which had earlier been scheduled to take place in Goma, Eastern DRC, will take place virtually this time, with all countries expected to be on board.
The meeting comes at a time when relations between regional countries are not at their best. Rwanda has maintained that it remains ready to work with neighboring countries especially Uganda and Burundi if they are willing to address some of the challenges that have affected their relations.
Experts say if President Tshisekedi pulls off the meeting, it will be a major step towards fully restoring peace in the Great Lakes Region and could address all the security-related challenges and thaw relations between states.
Since taking office in January 2019, President Tshisekedi has expressed the willingness to restore relations between Kinshasa and neighbors in an effort to pacify the region and end decades of conflict particularly in the Eastern part of the mineral-rich country which has been ravaged by years of conflict and violence.
President Tshisekedi has also been crucial in the mending of relations between Rwanda and Uganda, working with President Lourenço on the Quadripartite summit to mend relations between the two countries.
The order comes after the PAC discovered that Rwf17million meant for payment of medicine supplied was transferred to a private account number in the names of the district official in question.
Kamonyi district officials explained the at this officer in question doctored the account names of payee from Camerwa- now the Medical Procurement and Production Division (MPPD)) to his personal account.
The district said they didn’t notice this embezzlement move on time and the suspect managed to withdraw over Rwf6.9million. By the time the fraudulent action was discovered only Rwf10million was remaining on the false account.
“By the time we realized it he (the accountant) had manipulated the account numbers transferring the money to his account, but the suspect was arrested, and sentenced to three years- which he served and ordered to refund the balance,” said Emmanuel Bahizi, the Kamonyi district Executive Secretary.
The ES also revealed that for four years now the district has failed to recover the balance even with futile efforts to confiscate the suspect’s property, thus the district council decision in 2019 to write off the debt in their financial reports.
Just like other PAC members, MP Jean d’Arc Uwimanimpaye was not convinced that officer in question managed to change the original account name and have the OP signed by the district chief budget officer (the Executive Secretary) without notice or involvement of other parties.
The District ES said that during the prosecution of the suspect, all top district officials connected to the financial transfers were investigated and the culprit came out as the district pharmacy account.
“The rest of us came out clean but we even found during the investigation that he had done similar fraudulent transactions on other funds,” Bahizi said, adding that after failing to recover the balance, the district council authorized to write of Rwf6.9million as a bad debt.
PAC Chairman Valens Muhakwa was also not convinced the other officials were not involved and questioned why the council quickly took the decision to write off the money without, to the least, following guidance of the ministry of finance and the Office of the Auditor General on the procedure.
“For us (parliament) we see this as lost money because these funds can no longer serve the original purpose. We therefore want to know why you took this decision yet this money was stolen as a result of connivance,” Muhakwa said.
Kamonyi district council Chair Emilien Nyoni and Mayor Etienne Muvunyi tried to defend their ‘write off’ decision and exonerate themselves from the fraud but Muhakwa warned them that they should actually be prepared for another court case or return the money immediately.
This was backed by all PAC members who demanded for a date, month and year when the remaining balance will be returned to Kamonyi district treasury.
“Give us the timeline, we don’t want to hear anymore excuse since this is already a loss that was caused within you authority of which the law provides that in such misuse of funds, the culprits are held responsible,” MP Beline Uwineza stated.
After a long debate in which the Mayor said that they had already received administrative punishments for the incident and the ‘write off’ was their last resort, PAC members settled on having a roadmap to when this money will be recovered.
In response, both the Mayor and Council Chair confirmed a commitment to recover the money in the books of accounts as a debt by next year, of which the debts will have been cleared from the books of accounts and find a way of repaying.
The caution comes after timbers were recovered at the home of one Telesphore Mudaheranwa in Busetsa cell of Kageyo sector, on October 4.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the police spokesperson of the Eastern region, said that residents living around the affected forest reported Mudaheranwa to Police for his continued deforestation practices which are negatively impacting the environment.
“Credible information from communities bordering the forest indicated that the suspect would sneak into the forest, cut trees and carry them to his home for timber.
Police went to his home where 44 logs of timber were recovered in his house,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added that illegal tree-felling is much carried out in the area, which has destroyed at least one acre of the forest.
Felling trees is done mainly for charcoal, timber, firewood and construction.
CIP Twizeyimana reminded the residents that it is their responsibility to protect the forests by reporting those involved and work against any environmental degradation practices.
“People must know that environmental degradation is a crime punishable by the law, and the illegal cutting of trees especially from protected forest falls under this category.”
The law on environment, prohibits cutting trees in forests or protected areas like national parks or burning them.
Article 59 of the same legal instrument, states that any person, who causes death, destroys protected plants, harvests or damages them, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to an imprisonment term of not less than three years and not more than five years and a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf3 million.
Msheireb Properties and Qatar Foundation collaborated with Harvard University to undertake a multi-year research study to establish a holistic framework documenting, analyzing and deciphering the principles of urban sustainability of selected case study cities in the Gulf region.
The launch of the book will bring together experts and professors from Qatar and the wider region, in addition to professors from Harvard University and guests. A unique blended in-person and virtual event will be hosted by Msheireb Properties and held simultaneously at Msheireb Museums.
The launch event will be followed by on-line panel discussions on October 14 and 21 to discuss topics related to ‘the historic environment, culture, and economy of the Gulf region’, ‘the development of urbanism, and public health of the Gulf region’, ‘the traditional neighborhoods and architecture of the Gulf region’, and a special session titled ‘The study of the past informs future sustainable urbanism in the Gulf.’
Eng. Ali Al Kuwari, Acting CEO, Msheireb Properties, said: “We are proud to launch this important book that provides a comprehensive and in-depth study on sustainable urbanism in the Gulf region and its impact on other aspects of life.
Sustainability, which is a core value of Msheireb Properties, has a huge impact on our present and future. This value is clearly reflected in our flagship development project, Msheireb Downtown Doha, which is an exemplary model of modern sustainable cities. We thank Harvard University for the great effort to conduct this study, which is the main reference for Qatar and the whole Gulf region”.
Msheireb Properties and Qatar Foundation sponsorship and funding of the book reflects their effort in supporting sustainable urbanism and preserving the environment through funding field researches, building strong relationships with scientific and research institutions such as Harvard University, and supporting the studies that have a direct benefit on Qatar and the region.
The GSU book is a reference for academic institutions, universities, libraries, and researchers in sustainability and urban planning. This ground-breaking body of research holds the potential to be transformed into useful guidance for making holistic, sustainable decisions for the future urbanism of the Gulf region.
The Gulf Sustainable Urbanism book is available in an electronic version and a special print edition of 900 pages, with nearly 1,000 illustrations/analytical diagrams in high-quality graphics.
The GSU book results from more than nine years of research; it started in 2011, with the first phase completed in 2020. The study covers three periods: past, present, and the future. Harvard University has completed the first phase, “The Past,” and released the first part of the book, which covered eight countries and ten cities bordering the coastal zone of the Gulf: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iran, and Iraq.
For more information and registration, visit: https://www.gsubooklaunch.com/
Follow our social media channels for updates:
The decade-long Gulf Sustainable Urbanism research project, commissioned from Harvard University by Msheireb Properties, part of Qatar Foundation, will release its findings on Wed 7th October – 6:30 PM (Doha Time). To register for the online launch, visit https://t.co/cbRgIGbpWapic.twitter.com/k8iBa7yJNx
— Msheireb Properties | مشيرب العقارية (@MsheirebDoha) October 3, 2020
The Rwandan Government had to set up measures and postponed the classes. Students had to return home and adapt to a new e-learning system.
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the education sector, including disrupting the normal schedule in this area. In search of answers, some schools have introduced a new online-based learning method. The process is slow and still facing some challenges.
In light of the reopening of schools and universities, leaders in the Education sector will gather at the Leaders Roundtable to discuss the Education in the New Normal. The program is organized by Kora Coaching Group (KORA) together with IGIHE
and the University of Rwanda.
The purpose of the event hosted as a Live Stream this Friday 9th of October at 14:0 is to inform and ensure that no one is left behind through EdTech.
The #LeadersRoundTableSeries is a monthly live discussion organized by KORA. This platform is mainly aimed at educating and advising leaders in Rwanda, Africa and the world on how to solve certain issues that affect communities around the world.
Among the panelists are the Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, Prof. Phillip Cotton and the former VP of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Dr. Youssef Travaly, who’s currently Executive Chairman of AllSightsAfrica.
KORA Coaching Group (KORA) is a pan African company with operations in Rwanda and South Africa. KORA provides bespoke coaching and consulting services to clients around the globe.
Its subsidiary, Kora Coaching & Business Academy (KCA) is the first Rwandan Coaching Academy, which provides Global Coach Training Certification Programs in Executive & Leadership Coaching as well as Life Coaching.
Certified Professional Coaches graduating are Business Leaders who serve Rwanda and export their expertise to Africa and the rest of the world.
Hence putting Rwanda on the map of the Global Coaching Industry. For more information, please visit www.kora-coaching.com
Oluseun Onasoga, Executive Director of Business Development at Access Bank Rwanda, explained to IGIHE that Access Bank is committed to its customers and this was reinforced due to one of the Bank’s core values – {{passion for customers }}
“We recognize that the customer is “King” and our processes, actions are created with the intent of ensuring the customers experience at every of our touch points are not only exceptional but seamless, stress-free and professionally engaging. Our vision, mission and core values are built around making a positive impact to our customers – first and also the market we operate in.” says Oluseun
The Bank has been in the market for about a decade plus. In our drive to be a better team player to our customers, The Bank increased its equity which is targeted at ensuring we are able to deliver bespoke financial and digital solutions to our customers ensuring that our customers see us not only as a Bank but a “team player” a financial partner, an institution built to be more than banking…
This year’s theme, ‘Dream Team’ highlights the importance of teamwork in providing outstanding service to all customers. This theme is more so relevant for us having invested substantially in digital solutions and process upgrade, to project our customers as the most important part of the Access Team and to ensure that the way we think and behave is entirely to our customers’ benefit.
There will be different activities expected to take place in the Customer Service Week, including meeting with customers in one-on-one sessions, using social media and reaching out to them in different ways, and exciting surprises.
Oluseun also mentioned that beyond this week, the Bank still has plans to celebrate its customers through the launch of some of our digital solutions that will affirm our commitment to be a team player to the customer.
While the world is grappling with Covid-19 impacts, Access Bank Rwanda has made its efforts to understand the difficulties their customers are navigating through, and so they “provided them with financial guidance they needed in this difficult time”.
This was done during our extensive – Executive Outreach Engagement which was done in Q2-2020. Such guidance was crucial to customers who were pondering which move to take next, as the pandemic shut down any door for future predictions.
The bank has also intensified its remote connectivity platform with its customers through investing in digital financial solutions, which enable customers to access their Bank easily and conveniently conduct their financial transactions.
Access Bank Rwanda is part of Access Bank Group, which has presence in 12 different countries across Africa and beyond including: Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, The Gambia, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Kenya, Lebanon, UAE, China and United Kingdom making it one of the biggest financial institutions on the continent.
“Let’s take a moment to appreciate our teachers, especially in this challenging time. Students and parents recognize your indispensable service, now more than ever,” the President said.
He added: “Let’s work together to reopen our classrooms safely and get back to learning.”
Last week, the Ministry of Education announced that effective this month, schools will begin gradual reopening, having been closed since March, after the first case of Covid-19 was registered in the country.
The reopening will start with universities and will gradually get to other sections.
The dialogue brought together over 112 participants including government institutions, Non-governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Development Partners, academicians, members of the private sector and media.
The dialogue was based on an independent rapid assessment undertaken between June and July 2020 in eight district of Rwanda (Nyagatare, Kirehe, Musanze, Gakenke, Rulindo, Kamonyi, Muhanga, and Nyamagabe) and surveyed farmers and enterprises dealing with 22 various horticulture crops.
Speaking today during the policy dialogue, Dr Charles Ruranga, EPRN’s Chairperson of Board of Directors said: ‘’We are joining Oxfam to reiterate the need for action to be taken now by all actors including the
Private sector, as any delay only serves to worsen the already fragile situation of those affected by this global pandemic, and make the recovery process more expensive.’’
Oxfam in Rwanda Country Director, Mrs. Alice Anukur added: “This rapid assessment’s main objective was to collect scientific facts and evidence of the issues faced by horticulture value chains’ stakeholders as they battle the difficult effects of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that such dialogue will multiply in various platforms, as we all seek to provide strong recommendations to various entities for policy programming interventions to support many smallholder farmers’ families who are among those who have been mostly affected by this global pandemic.’’
COVID-19 pandemic is bringing not only global health risks, but also unprecedented economic damages and agriculture is among the affected sectors.
Prior to COVID-19, Rwandan horticulture sub-sector was playing a crucial role in the country’s economy and it contributed about 50% of non-traditional export revenues and provided income to hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers.
Fruits and vegetables covered an estimated 1.18% and 0.47% of the aggregate land occupied by all crops in Season A 2020 compared to 1.14% and 0.63% and 6.0% of the previous Season A 2019 (NISR, 2018).
However, the sub-sector is still dominated by smallholder farmers with per capita land size of 0.6 ha; weak market linkages to agribusinesses, limited and non-competitive input providers, processors, and traders.
Similarly, weak market- oriented production and aggregation, low value chain development and market connectivity constitute some of the major constraints that the government continues to address. Additionally, women who are outnumbering men in horticultural organizations by significant margin of 56.5% to 44.5% are yet to profit from the benefit of the sub-sector.
The Oxfam study and today’s dialogue have highlighted recovery pathways while acknowledging Rwanda’s efforts already undertaken including budget allocation to Agriculture sector in the recovery plan, providing safety nets (food distribution) as part of social protection, making essential the Agriculture services during the lockdown, innovations around e-commerce, supporting local exporters by negotiating subsidized (40%) price for transportation with RwandAir, supporting farmers in aggregating, making markets attractive to foreign investors and dealing with pre-COVID-19 existing challenges like availing agricultural inputs.
The dialogue was enriched by panelists from key institutions and diverse participants from the sector with recommendations and lessons learned including strengthening coordination, information sharing, sustaining dialogue, better targeted response that is informed by deeper gender analysis and effective involvement of private sector.
Oxfam and EPRN highly recommend that that COVID-19 response must target those in most need who are least able to cope with the shocks caused by the pandemic.
The effects of this pandemic have worsened an already delicate sub-sector which was supposed to benefit many women and contribute significantly to reducing poverty and food insecurity in many rural areas of Rwanda.
If decisions are not implemented faster and support provided soon to smallholder farmers and other horticulture value chain actors to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, the situation could become irreversible or remain for much longer and become more expensive to remedy.
A team of five EJVM members was received and briefed by Maj Alexis Nkuranga, the RDF 1 Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer on how RED Tabara’s combatants were apprehended. He told them that RED Tabara combatants on 29 October 2020 at 10 am, crossed Burundian border in Nyungwe forest and fell in an ambush of 1 Inf Bn soldiers where all were immediately arrested, disarmed and escorted to rear areas for further investigations.
Col Rigobert Ibouanga, the EJVM team leader, on his part informed the media that their mission was to verify and report back to EJVM Command on the cross-border incident.
“Our mission here today is to investigate the incident and thereafter we will submit the report on 7 October 2020 to the EJVM Hierarchy”, the team leader disclosed.
He also said that the cross-border incident shall be discussed during the next International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Chiefs of Defence Staff meeting.
Nkurunziza Egide, the Commander of the captured RED Tabara Combatants told the media that they infiltrated into Burundi from South Kivu DRC via Lake Tanganyika on 23 August 2020 and since then they were fighting against Burundi Defence Forces and Imbonerakure militias. He narrated how on 29 September 2020, were arrested by the RDF after found themselves on the Rwandan territory.
The Commander responded that since they were not familiar with terrain, they didn’t recognise whether they had crossed into Rwanda and consequently, they fell into an ambush laid by RDF troops along Rwanda-Burundi border in Nyungwe forest.
CATCHYZ Ltd is launching the first and largest classified online marketplace in Rwanda, ([www.catchyz.com->https://blog.catchyz.com/]) where buyers and sellers can connect with absolutely no commission.
{{What is CATCHYZ?}}
CATCHYZ Ltd is a Rwanda-based company that will be operating all over East Africa, where anybody from the region can consult the application for FREE.
CATCHYZ can be used in Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, the Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With an ability to automatically translate into any of the five languages you use on your phone. CATCHYZ targets to make buying and selling much easier; the languages being, Kinyarwanda, English, French, Swahili and Lingala.
CATCHYZ has your best needs at heart. You are able to search whatsoever you want and you will find it. On the other hand, you will be able to sell absolutely anything you want to for FREE.
CATCHYZ has different categories and sub-categories for all businesses which leaves nobody out. The sections are, but not limited to; vehicles, electronics & appliances, mobile phones, real estate, women’s fashion, men’s fashion, home & garden, job seekers& services, books, sports & music, agribusiness & food, business & industrial, pets, babies & kids.
To find the shop you want, you can search for a location and get the items you need easily. You can start your own online business as well on CATCHYZ for FREE.
For example;
If you have old things you don’t use anymore, you don’t have to throw them away. Someone might want what you don’t want so you can, instead, sell through CATCHYZ for FREE.
CATCHYZ brings you services like tutors, transportation, cleaning, medical, home repair etc. Buy a car, house, phone, television etc. with absolutely no commission.
CATCHYZ Ltd aims to help the market, to simplify buying and selling by giving the buyer a wide variety of products and services. They can easily be accessed and also exposing the seller’s business to different people all over the country, who would eventually become potential customers. The goal is to connect the cities all over the country in business, with absolutely no commission.
{{Your account}}
You can easily manage your account by editing your personal information, name, number, email, change profile picture, password and modify the notification settings.
CATCHYZ offers different packages such as;
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• Silver; for businesses that would like to appear at the top.
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Once you have a shop, you can view your followers and following, where you will know which customers are really interested in your products or services and will also be able to post your items yourself which is all completely FREE. You can also add an admin or employee to help you moderate your shop.
CATCHYZ has made it easier for you to communicate and chat with your customer directly through chat, comments, reviews or questions. With these options, one can easily communicate with their customers and know how to improve their business.
As a client, you can now communicate with the seller to express your thoughts or directly to CATCHYZ account manager. We bring you a professional search box, simple access to chat, notifications, comments and statistics that aid in campaign.
{{Registration}}
You can register with CATCHYZ on either the website or the mobile applications for Android and iOS. Registration and browsing through the website can be done on your phone, computer or laptop by the use of web browsers such as: Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Etc. And the mobile application can be used on both Android and iOS, and will soon be available on Huawei Harmony OS.
Here’s a fun fact-:
CATCHYZ comes to you with offers you would not easily find elsewhere such as; giving out FREE Tecno Spark 5 (with five high quality cameras) to randomly selected registered winners. There will be 2 lucky winners every week. Register on CATCHYZ and get a chance of winning a brand new Tecno Spark 5.
Payment Options Available at CATCHYZ:
• Visa/MasterCard
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{{So why should you use CATCHYZ? }}
With the help of this remarkable online classifieds marketplace, you as a buyer, in the comfort of your own home, will able to access different shops not just in the city you are currently in, but all around the country.
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Every business owner’s dream is to increase sales, which is why CATCHYZ is here especially for you. With businesses opening up every day, competition has spiked, with customers buying from what is nearest to them.
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Download CATCHYZ app from play store or apple store today or visit our website www.catchyz.com
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Email: info@catchyz.com
Telephone: +250780606666
