Judicial spokesperson, Harrison Mutabazi confirmed to IGIHE that the court found him not guilty on all charges and ordered his release as well as his co, Jean Paul Gataha.
Gacinya had been arrested in December 2017. In January 2018, the court had remanded him to give ample time for preparation of hearing.
According to BNR, microfinance sector rebounded from loss posting and improved by Rwf0.12 billion to Rwf3.3 billion.
This was announced following the Quarterly Financial Stability Committee Meeting which assessed the performance of the financial sector as at end June 2018 as well as potential risks that could affect its stability.
“The committee noted that the financial sector remains sound and stable. The financial soundness indicators for banks, microfinance institutions and insurance companies are within the prudential requirements,” a statement by Central Bank signed by BNR Governor John Rwangombwa says.
According to Central Bank, the payment systems continued to perform in a safe and efficient manner.
BNR says that the asset quality for banks and microfinance institutions improved during the first half of 2018.
“The non-performing loan ratio in banks declined from 8.2 per cent in June 2017 to 6.9 percent in June 2018,” BNR says.
In microfinance sector non-performing loan ratio dropped from 12.3 percent to 8 percent.
Central Bank says that the growth in profits was driven by improved loan recoveries and a slower growth in expenses compared to incomes for both banks and microfinances.
Kagame was speaking Friday in South Africa while addressing the BRICS dialogue on the sidelines of the grouping summit.
BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
Kagame said that both organisations have common interests in an open fair and international system.
“Strengthening cooperation with BRICS, contributes to medium and long-term human security and wider benefits, especially employment, for Africa’s young population,” he said.
“We want to collaborate on key sectors, including industrialization, infrastructure, as well as peace and security, which are at the heart of the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” he added.
He said that continued investments in new technologies, as defined in the Fourth Industrial Revolution provide unlimited opportunities to realise common aspirations.
“Indeed, industrialisation makes more sense when we factor in new technologies. For Africa, the challenge is to ensure that the current momentum is not lost to us, but rather maintained and even increased,” he noted.
The Head of State said that the newly launched African Continental Free Trade Area, is set to change in positive and far-reaching ways how Africa does business with itself and the rest of the world.
He said they are working on a more unified and effective African Union, that will enhance continent’s governance and cooperation with partners around the world.
“There is clearly a convergence of interests, between Africa and BRICS members. What is most needed is a mechanism for effective delivery on agreed areas,” Kagame added.
The three-day summit taking place on its 10th edition was attended by President Michel Temer of Brazil, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Xi Jinping of China and host President Cyril Ramaphosa among others.
Kagame who is also the Chairperson of the African Union, is today expected to deliver remarks at BRICS Africa Outreach Session and attend a Business Networking Lunch hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
This year’s Summit is attended by President Michel Temer of Brazil, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Xi Jinping of China and host President Cyril Ramaphosa among others.
Convened annually, the Summit discusses spheres of political and socio-economic matters in which member countries have identified viable business opportunities, economic complementarities, and areas of cooperation.
The ranking was released by a United Kingdom based consultancy, Skytrax. The findings were released mid July during a ceremony that took place in Langham Hotel in London.
Skytrax conducts research for commercial airlines as well as taking surveys from international travelers to rate cabin staff, airports, airlines and airline lounges among others.
The ceremony had convened airline leaders and top airline management from across the globe to receive their 2019 World Airline Awards.
According to Skytrax, the World’s Most Improved Airline award reflects an airline’s quality improvement across the entire Awards programme.
It analyses an airline’s change in the global rating and performance improvements in different award categories.
Over 100 customer nationalities participated in the survey with 20.36 million eligible entries counted in the results.
According to Skytrax, the online survey operated from August 2017 to May 2018, together with invitations sent to previous year respondents in the survey database.
The top ten airlines are China Southern Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Fiji Airways, Ryanair, Japan Airlines, Air Mauritius, Malaysia Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Aeroflot and RwandAir.
The World Airline Awards were introduced in 1999 to provide a customer satisfaction study that was truly global. Travellers across the world vote in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to decide the award winners.
Exercise to submit candidatures for September Parliamentary Elections was closed yesterday.
Speaking in a press conference Thursday, NEC Chairperson, Prof. Kalisa Mbanda said that women make 61 per cent of candidatures received.
“We received 537 aspirants with 326 women (61%). We started evaluation process of documents so that we identify those with complete dossiers,” he explained.
He said that political parties submitted lists of 313 candidates of who 136 are women
RPF-Inkotanyi and six political parties which formed coalition submitted a list of 80 candidates comprising 46 women; Liberal Party (PL) submitted a list of 80 candidates with 33 women; the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) submitted a list of 34 candidates with 16 women; Social Democratic Party (PSD) submitted a list of 65 candidates comprising 20 women whereas PS-Imberakuri submitted a list of 54 candidates from which women are 21.
There were no independent women aspirants.
Of the 24 seats reserved for women , NEC received 179 aspirants; on two seats reserved for youth, the commission received 30 candidatures including nine women while one seat reserved for representative of persons with disabilities, NEC received 10 candidatures among which are two women .
Previously, NEC had issued forms to 17 independent candidates to collect signatures required to submit their candidacies.
According to Mbanda, some people may have dropped out of the race due to different challenges.
“Only five submitted their applications and we have no information about the remaining eight,” he added.
According to NEC Executive Secretary, Charles Munyaneza, the number of candidates has been increased compared to that of 2013 elections.
“In previous Parliamentary Elections, we had three political parties which are RPF, PL and PSD, but you have seen that new political parties submitted the lists of their candidates. This implies that as political space continues to room large, many people and political parties want to contest,” he said.
NEC says that the provisional list will be released on July 30th and the final to be released on August 8th 2018.
Campaigning process will start on August 13th and run until September 1st 2018 while elections are scheduled on September 2nd and 3rd to Rwandans living in the diaspora and those from the country casting their votes respectively.
In elections scheduled in September, Mpayimana also seeks to campaign independently.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Mpayimana said that he presented his candidature yesterday.
“Today (Wednesday) July 25th 2018, Mpayimana submitted all requirements to the electoral commission so that he could be eligible to contest for being a member of parliament in 2nd and 3rd September 2018 elections. Among the requirements include 780 signatures of supporters from all districts,” he said.
He thanked all supporters who signed for him to be able to submit a full dossier at NEC.
“Mpayimana thanks all people who signed for him, this is patriotism and love of democracy. It also raised confidence in him to represent citizens in Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies,” reads his statement.
For an an independent candidate to be eligible to compete for a seat in parliament, according to the electoral code, they should have 600 signatures of voters supporting the candidature.
For an independent candidate or political organization to be able to secure a seat in parliament, they should at least earn 5 per cent of the total vote.
In last year presidential elections Mpayimana earned 0.73% of the total vote.
In its 21st edition, the exhibition which runs for three weeks also attracted eight new countries.
Speaking in a press conference yesterday, the PSF Chief Executive Officer, Steven Ruzibiza said that the new exhibiting countries are Nepal, Bénin, Japan, Gambia, Togo, Congo Brazzaville, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
He said that for the first time, they received over 70 new exhibitors and makes a total of all exhibitors to 500. Among the exhibitors, 300 are Rwandans and 200 are foreigners.
“Particularly, this year, the majority of products are Made in Rwanda and the number of exhibitors continue to augment,” he explained.
Last year, the fair was attended by 433 companies including 289 from Rwanda.
Having increased number of exhibitors, according to Ruzibiza, helps attracting more foreign exhibitors.
Ruzibiza said that in this year’s exhibition, Made in Rwanda has been highlighted.
“People should embrace using locally made products; this exhibition is one aspect showing that Rwanda has industries. In October this year, we also anticipate another exhibition particularly for Made in Rwanda products,” he explained.
Taking place at Gikondo Expo Ground, payment for entrance in this year’s fair has gone cashless, with expo goers using Tap&Go cards usually used by Kigali public transport users.
The exhibition starts Thursday with official opening event set on Friday. It will run until August 15th 2018.
