The motorcycles were recovered from suspected thieves in Ngoma and Gisagara districts.
One of the motorcycles; plate number RB 003X was recovered Thursday from the suspected thief identified as Alexis Tuyishimire, 20, in Ngoma, Mutenderi Sector.
The victim, Olivier Nsangiyumva had given the motorcycle to Tuyishimire to fix a mechanical fault. Tuyishimire was a mechanic in the neighbouring Kazo Sector.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that Tuyishimire cut off the communication after he was given the motorcycle to fix it.
“After fixing the motorcycle, he didn’t give it back to the owner, cut off the communications and he was nowhere to be seen. He told people at home that he was traveling to Kigali.
It later came to light that Tuyishimire had secured a buyer in Kigali but he was intercepted in Mutenderi with the motorcycle riding to Kigali,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added: “Tuyishimire was intercepted by residents but he abandoned the motorcycle and attempted to escape. Fortunately, Police and residents worked together to locate and arrest him few moments later.”
He thanked the residents for the community policing gesture to recover the motorcycle and to arrest the suspect.
Meanwhile, the second motorcycle TVS RD 048L was recovered from Eric Habinshuti, 34, on Saturday in Mamba, Gisagara District collaboration with local leaders.
Habinshuti was at the time selling it. The would-be buyer Vincent, who is suspected to be dealing in stolen items, fled and the search for him is still underway.
Six of those arrested were found in a betting house in Nyabugogo, white the other is a taxi-moto operator, identified as Claude Tuyishime, who was using water as alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Those found in the betting house include an employee, Fabrice Ndayishimiye, who was facilitating customers in the lottery.
Rwanda National Police spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera warned against behaviours and actions that expose people to the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 and hampering the government efforts against the pandemic.
“It is the first time that we have arrested people in betting services, but our wish is that no one should be arrested because the directives are clear and should be respected,” said CP Kabera.
He added: “Commercial motorcyclists were compliant on the first day but the following days, some of them started to violate the guidelines and a number of them have been arrested in these violations.”
Tuyishime had poured water in a hand sanitizer container to make it look like alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
“We have stood up against risky and prohibited behaviors by motorcyclists. We are aware some of them share their fabrics with their passengers while others have no sanitizers or use water poured in sanitizer containers. Both the motorcyclist and passenger will be arrested if found in such serious violations,” CP Kabera said.
He observed that taxi-moto operators were enlightened enough on the directives and what is required of them to be safe against the virus and to protect their clients.
Among the guidelines issued by Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority (RURA), taxi-moto operators and passengers must to carry hand sanitizers.
Motorcyclists are required to sanitize the helmets and ensure passengers sanitize their hands before boarding.
Both the motorcyclists as well as passengers have to wear their face masks and taxi-motor operators have to obey one-meter distance while in parking. Motorcyclists are also required to use cashless payment of fares.
As a new company, RFC was set to initiate its operations at the end of 2020, but in the face of the pandemic, it launched a crisis action plan prior to officially opening to help curb COVID-19’s impact on agriculture. RFC is a newly created joint venture between the Government of Rwanda and OCP, a Morocco-based fertilizer producer and world leader in the phosphate industry.
The emergency relief component of RFC’s plan is a donation of 500 metric tons of DAP fertilizers to provide essential supplies to smallholder farmers. The donation will cover over 5.000 hectares of land for season 2021.
The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana said that providing fertilizers to farms as part of emergency relief is in line with the government’s ongoing COVID-19 response intended to build the resilience of the country’s farmers, allowing them to increase productivity and continue producing enough to feed the population.
“This is a significant contribution to our work to provide farmers with the essential nutrients needed to boost agricultural productivity, thus ensuring enough food supply.” She added
In addition to the short-term relief, RFC is implementing agricultural development programmes that will help Rwandan farmers to become more adaptive to crisis situations in the long-term. RFC is developing a partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) to support the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and RFC staff with regional training on blending soil-specific and crop-specific fertilizers.
“This will ultimately enable the farmers to better understand their soil and create fertilizer solutions that are adapted to their crops and more resilient,” according to the statement of MINAGRI.
In total, almost 1.000.000 USD will be invested to set up more than 450 demonstration platforms to build capacity and increase market knowledge. The aim is to introduce farmers and relevant stakeholders to best farming practices for all stages of the harvest, from seed selection to nutrient management, mechanisation, and post-harvest handling.
RFC’s actions during the pandemic contribute to the recent calls from the African Union and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on African states and partners to “safeguard input supply chains for small-scale agricultural producers” in the context of COVID-19.
The lead fuel marketers in Rwanda have donated 5,000 liters to be distributed to thousands of motorists across the country.
The Vivo Energy Rwanda Managing Director, Sarah Doukouré, said the idea was hatched after realizing that motorists were among the worst affected by COVID-19 prevention measures, part of which included suspending taxi-motor activities.
She explained that the donation is part of a contribution to recovery efforts, giving relief to people whose health and livelihoods are continuously affected by the novel coronavirus.
“Although all of us were affected in one way or another, there is a special group among us who were severely impacted by the lockdown- the taxi-moto operators. Their only source of income was put on hold yet they have families to feed,” she said.
“As we adjust to the normal situation, they need a bit of hoist to be able to get back on the road. In this regard, Vivo Energy Rwanda pledges 5,000 litres of fuel to be donated to commercial motorcyclists across the country,” added Doukoure.
Doukouré says the fuel will be provided to the most impacted motorcyclists, with the help of the Rwanda Motorcycle Cooperative, Ferwacotamo.
One of Engen customers and a motorist, Ndatimana Aimable, praised the initiative, saying it will go a long way in giving a big push to motorists that had difficulties getting fuel as they resume work after a long lull.
Ndatimana shares this sentiment with his colleague Harerimana
“Staying at home had a very big toll on our incomes and life has been full of daily survival struggles. The Engen kind gesture has come in handy,” appreciated.
“We’re going to start work but we were just starting with nothing. All our small savings had got exhausted. Thank you Engen for helping us,” Ferwacotamo member, Mayor Ngarambe said.
In addition to the fuel, Engen Rwanda has also provided masks to the motorists as a way of further ushering them back into business.
For those wishing to donate to this campaign, they can do so via Twitter using #FuelMyMoto where they can agree to donate fuel or money and even pay for it using MTN Mobile Money by typing * 182 * 8 * 1 * 222222 * money #.
The Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, told IGIHE that the man infected with Coronavirus was a driver from outside Rwanda.
Normally people crossing the border are examined when they are about to enter the country and then put in quarantine but when it is found that someone has met or stood in a place, these measurements are taken and the place he passed through is disinfected.
In Rwanda, 431 people have been diagnosed with Coronavirus, while two have died and 283 have recovered from the virus. Of all the infections, the largest number are males as they account for 81.44% of the total number of 351 people.
As the world was celebrating the World Food Safety Day, under the theme “Food safety, everyone’s business”, it was noted that food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers; everybody has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and will not cause harm to our health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that Lack of adequate food hygiene can lead to foodborne diseases and death of the consumer; children being the most vulnerable to these diseases, whereby per year numbers about 125 thousand children death.
KCP Ltd has been working in Ruhango district, the Southern province, for now eight years and distributes its products throughout the whole country.
Mbabazi Christian, the Chief Executive Officer of KCP Ltd in an interview with IGIHE, said that the company is on a good track, receiving raw products from farmers from five different districts in the Southern Province, with branches in the eastern province in Bugesera district and there two have started working in partnership with farmers in the area.
“We have the capacity to receive about 120 tons of raw product from farmers per day. We have expanded from the Southern to the Eastern province and are encouraging every area of the country to have cassava plantations and become our suppliers. The factory work at only 35% of its installed capacity.”
{{How is the quality?}}
While talking about the quality, Mbabazi said that the government has greatly contributed in bringing quality product, among which was the introduction the Rwanda Standard Board (RSB) that has played a great role in providing internationally recognized and customer suited standardization services.
“The RSB and other companies work in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry; they can penalize you if you are ever found selling product that are not up to the quality standard.” He said
“There are many other companies that are working in cassava flour processing. But Kinazi remains the market giants.”
There is a risk exposition to people consuming bad quality products
Mbabazi said that people should be more careful as they purchase their flour; they need to see if their products are certified by the RSB.
“We do what we have to do as a company nationwide, this starts from the factory; we have a team that examines each of our products before distribution to make sure that they are all up to the quality standard. We ask of the people that consume our products to be aware because if they are not careful they might easily consume bad quality products that can have bad consequences on their health.”
Though they have not been identified yet, there are people abroad who are said to be selling Kinazi cassava flour but have it repackaged as their own product and sell at a very high price.
KCP Ltd Quality controller, Viateur Ngabonzima said that the company has standards by which they examine the cleanness of their productions starting for the staff member, to the machines used in processing among other things.
“Kinazi cassava flour has been certified by the RSB. It was also accredited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, thus has been allowed on the US market,” he said.
The Kinazi factory currently has a market in Rwanda and on the European continent; exports are at more than 40%, where they plan to expand to the United States because there is a large market.
The company says that its flour is not only made of bread but also can be mixed with other flour and made into Cake, Capati, Pizza among others.
These include those who gathered for prayers as well as driving and language school teachers and their students, who were found in related lessons.
At least 14 people were praying; 11 of them found in the bush in Nyanza, Kicukiro district while three others in a prayer-room in Nyamirambo district; the other 15 including teachers and students, were in a room learning languages and traffic rules and regulations.
Also arrested is Joselyne Mbabazi, the owner of the driving and language school located in CHIC building in the city center.
These are among the prohibited activities in this period as per the government directives on curbing the spread of novel Coronavirus pandemic.
The violators were paraded to the media this Friday afternoon, at Remera metropolitan.
Joselyne Mbabazi, the owner of the school argued that she misinterpreted the directives.
“I thought the directives bind schools that only fall under the Ministry of Education,” Mbabazi said.
“Now, I understand that I breached the directives. I regret the risky and dangerous decision to reopen the school with students from different parts of Kigali. One infected case could have easily contaminated others,” she added.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera advised against such prohibited and risky actions instead of being forced.
“There are some people, who are still trying to find ways to breach the safety guidelines. We advise them to stop because they will be arrested in one way or another,” CP Kabera said.
“If the directives highlight schools, you do not have to classify your school as private for the sake of violation. You do not have to put your life at risk. You can pray and learn from your home. Directives are clear, if you do not understand them, seek clarifications from concerned organs instead of claiming that you misinterpreted them.” He added
The spokesperson thanked members of the public, who reported the unlawful actions and called for maximum compliance.
He warned that “whoever breaches the directives will be arrested.”
“Had a very good call with my friend PM @narendramodi, we discussed our historically good relationship and the support India continues to offer us,” President Kagame posted on Twitter
The President said he thanked Modi for the medical supplies and equipment India donated to Rwanda in this fight against Covid-19.
The India Premier responded with a tweet thanking President Kagame for the leadership shown in the fight against the pandemic.
“India is honoured to support your efforts, not only for fighting the pandemic but also for advancing Rwanda’s impressive development story,” PM Modi said
“Rwanda is, and will remain, an important pillar of India’s relationship with Africa.” He added
Like India, China, Qatar and Germany have also voiced their support to Rwanda’s fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Indian Association Rwanda (INAR) on April 8 donated medical supplies worth two million Rwandan francs to the local authorities to help with testing and treating Covid-19 patients.
Modi made a two-day state visit in Rwanda in July 2018, becoming the first Indian head of government to set foot in Rwanda and during the visit, he announced the setting up of an Indian high commission in Kigali, which has since been established.
The positive cases announced came out of 1,558 tests conducted countrywide, mainly in the two border towns of Rusumo, bordering Tanzania and Rusizi which is on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Ministry of Health said that the new cases relate to the Rusizi and Rusomo clusters, they have been isolated and contacts traced.
The total number of cases in the country is now 420 while two new recoveries were registered, bringing total recoveries to 282 while active cases are now 136.
With Rusizi and Rubavu districts still in isolation for at least two weeks as the country tries to contain the possible spread of COVID-19 in the community; the government said mass testing will continue as the country looks to slowly return to normal though borders remain closed.
The Ministry of Health said that the new cases relate to the Rusizi and Rusomo clusters, they have been isolated and contacts traced.
Talks to buy Bharti Airtel’s shares are not far off, but analysts say the move by both sides will boost India’s technology economy.
The agreement between the two companies is expected to give a 5% of Bharti Airtel stake to Amazon Inc. based on the state of the market these days.
Bharti Airtel is ranked third in India’s telecommunications services industry with a strong rivalry with Reliance Jio.
Some people told Reuters that the method Reliance Jio used to lead other telecommunications companies in India and Bharti Airtel could.
Initially, Amazon had wanted to buy between 8-10% of Bharti Airtel shares. Just because the talks are still at the beginning […] the agreement may change or terminated.
Amazon plans to immediately look at other money transfer options that will help Bharti Airtel customers get their products cheaply.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, as the agency he represents does not disclose information about what they will or will not do in the future.
Only a statement from Bharti Airtel says it is already working with various technology companies that want to deliver their products and services to customers.
Shares of Bharti Airtel in the financial and stock markets rose 6% on Thursday, June 4, after the publication of a talk show between them and Amazon.
In the last six weeks, Jio company competing with Bharti raised $ 10 billion from investors including Facebook.
Google’s Alphabet Inc. is also looking for ways to invest in India’s second Vodafone Idea in providing telecommunications services.
Amazon is booming in the Indian tech market due to its rapid expansion as the country’s population is growing, reaching 1.3 billion.
Amazon plans to invest $ 6.5 billion in online business and will make it easier to use Bharti’s Internet at a lower cost as long as the two companies reached an agreement.
It was in December 2017 that Bharti Airtel, a subsidiary of Airtel Rwanda, bought all the shares of Tigo Rwanda, a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular SA. The purchase agreement, signed in New Delhi, India, gave Airtel Rwanda a 100% stake in all Tigo Rwanda shares.
Bharti Airtel is the world’s largest telecommunications company with more than 403 million customers in 18 African and Asian countries.
