The statistics were unveiled during the launch of road safety week in Rubavu district.
The week-long nationwide campaign targets various groups including drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, students and pedestrians to equip them with traffic rules and regulations tips and the overall road safety standards.
Speaking with IGIHE, the spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety department, SSP Ndushabandi said that “Road accidents claimed 138 lives and injured 246. From those, 53 lives were lost from Taxi-moto accidents, injuring 111 people.”
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda requested motorists to ensure discipline while on duty, so to prevent the loss of lives.
“Most of the accidents are caused by technical faults and are avoidable if drivers respected traffic rules.” He said
Statistics also indicate that fatalities caused by public services vehicles and trucks reduced to 40 per cent and 23 percent, respectively in the last four months compared to the same period last year.
The reduction, according to Commissioner of Police (CP) Rafiki Mujiji, doesn’t call for celebrations calling for responsiveness to prevent loss of even a single life to recklessness of motorists.
Speaking on thursday, during a consultative meeting between RNP, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) and owners or heads of transport companies, CP Mujiji appealed to owners and managers of transport companies to take an upper hand to ensure the behavior and discipline of their drivers on roads, and take action against errand members.
Speaking to IGIHE, Gicumbi Council Chairperson, Dieudone Kayombya confirmed the move saying that the trio was dismissed today over falling short on delivery.
“It is true; they were dismissed during a general meeting of the district council that took place today. The council has the responsibilities to evaluate executive committee’s performance and when is satisfied with performance, it is okay. But, when the council is not contented we can advise them, request them to increase performance or suspend them,” he explained.
He said that the council examined different reports and discovered poor performance.
“Among the reports include the audit report about management of development projects and audit report about schools management. The reports revealed mismanagement; the problem is the way they are addressed. The Council established that there were no sustainable measures to address these mistakes and measures to implement recommendations from auditors,” Kayombya explained.
He said that the audit was conducted in this fiscal year, but also reflected past years.
The District Council has nominated, council member Jean Claude Sewase as interim mayor.
The dismissal of Gicumbi Executive Committee comes few days after the wave of resignation and dismissal of mayors and vice-mayors across different districts.
In the elections, Friday, Habarurema got 180 votes of 197 voters and his competitor Félix Rukundo only 17.
The Vice-Mayor in charge of Economic Development is JMV Rusiribana while the vice-mayor in charge of social welfare is Alphonsine Mukangenzi.
Former Mayor Mbabazi and vice-mayors were dismissed on March 7th 2018.
Upon their dismissal, the Ruhango District Council Chairperson, Jérôme Gasasira Rutagengwa told IGIHE that all officials were dismissed after being accused of different malpractices in the implementation of different projects.
“We dismissed them from Ruhango District council due to malpractices. There are different improper deeds that have been made during the implementation of different projects as revealed by auditing report. Some mistakes were made by technicians but the political responsibility falls on the mayors’ shoulders,” he explained.
Rwakazina who was elected with a total of 146 votes (94.8%) while her competitor, Henriette Murekatete gained eight votes (5.2%) from 154 voters.
The elections was presided over by the Secretary General of National Electoral Commission, Prof Kalisa Mbanda.
Rwakazina said that based on existing performance contracts, she will prioritise the implementation of City Master Plan so that Kigali will be affordable city to people from different economic categories.
She pledged to develop women and youth cooperatives and added that she will always consult fellow City Hall staff for advice.
She said that the city needs partnership with different institutions capable of implementing city programmes, for her that’s a way to go.
The 45-year-old woman and mother of two children had been a lecturer in university of Rwanda since 2000 to 2008.
Rwakazina had also been the Vice-Secretary of Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) since 2010 to 2013.
Since 2013 to today, Rwakazina has been the coordinator of UN support programmes in Rwanda.
And now, IGIHE has brought out the special features of the life of those people who always have their travel passports in their pockets as if they were diplomats. They spend their days and nights on the roads for long cross-border travels transporting goods from countries to countries.
They always have cash on them, not because they are rich but to put up temporary residence all along their ways. You will find them putting saucepans on stoves in their parkings. They eat their food beneath the parked lorries, pray God from there and keep all their stuffs there. They sleep in there and you will find some with mosquito nets in there. To them, a lorry is their second but mobile home.
{{Making children all the way is creating cities
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Some of them get concubines on their ways. They call the practice making new homes and headquarters in the form of creating cities. But most of them will now tell you the practice is outdated especially because there are young people among them who say they are committed to their bright future.
Hussein Yusuph Kabale, an experienced driver having a wife and five children in Dar-es-Salaam, says a lot has changed in the 21st century and their profession has followed the new era.
“Sometime back, lorry drivers were making concubines all their way in what we called creating cities but a lot has changed. You cannot attain any development with that practice,” he said.
“The vehicle is a residence itself. It requires meals, drinks, sleeping… a lot that you can’t add the third residence. Where can we find those means?”
Their travel allowances differ but some say they receive at least $400 that they use for a weeklong or longer travels.
Ismael Rachid Lijonjo, 18, says he joined the lorry driving job at a young age because he got passion in it in his childhood and decided to side with the drivers to learn from them.
{{Quick customs services in Rwanda earn them savings
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Mr. Kabale says they are often faced with delays on the way that chop up their pocket money but Rwanda’s customs help them save from their allowances.
“Though we often face different hurdles like accidents and eating up our money before reaching the destination, the good thing I see in Rwanda is the quick services at the customs. It helps us save money because when the boss gives me money for a week and I spend two days on the way, I remain with a good package to take home. Anyone smiles when he is told to drive to Rwanda because they know the benefits,” he says.
Bakhressa Bakhar Katema, who has been driving lorries for 40 years, says since he started driving in the region, he has never seen good leadership like he is witnessing in Rwanda.
He says that Rwanda’s before 1994 period was marked by a bad experience whereby soldiers and other government’s armed forces were harassing drivers, something that is no more among the current forces.
“Whenever our lorries were involved in accidents, the forces would say that the foreign vehicle is wrong and punish its driver and leave the local ones walk free. But it has now changed, we are only required to respect the laws,” he says.
{{Offended by adultery allegations
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These drivers say they always feel bad when people allege them with cheating their spouses. They say one of the reasons that make them remain long in the job is that they walk away from adultery practices which can attract the curse from their families while driving a lorry also requires a stable and attentive mind.
Yusuph and Bakhressa Bakhar share the point that as their feet pose on the lorry accelerator and brakes, their hearts go out to their families and that they don’t have time to waste looking for women on their way.
Appeal for action against thieves in Musha
The drivers say they often incur losses over the thieves who cut out the sealed well labels on the trucks on an uphill road in Musha, Rwamagana District.
“There are thieves who try to loot from our trucks but they haven’t managed to steal the goods. They just cut out the sealing metals and we face up to $2,000 fines on each. It is a threat to us,” says Bakressa.
Mayor of Rwamagana, Mbonyumuvunyi Rajab, said that they are going to tighten security in the area to stop those thieves threatening lorry drivers.
Despite the threats in Musha, the drivers say the security in Rwanda is higher than in any other country they operate.
They say that they meet in countries like Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania many hurdles such as being forced to bribe police officers, bad roads and poor services.
CP Mujiji made the remarks on May 24, during a consultative meeting between RNP, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) and owners or heads of transport companies.
Statistics indicate that fatalities caused by public services vehicles and trucks reduced to 40 per cent and 23 percent, respectively in the last four months compared to the same period last year.
The reduction, according the CP Mujiji, doesn’t call for celebrations calling for responsiveness to prevent loss of even a single life to recklessness of motorists.
“Most of the accidents are avoidable if drivers respected traffic rules such as regulating speed, use of speed governors, respecting pedestrian pathways including zebra crossing, and avoiding bad maneuvers,” CP Mujiji said.
He appealed to owners and managers of transport companies to take an upper hand to ensure the behavior and discipline of their drivers on roads, and take action against errand members.
He appealed to business leaders to prevail upon truck drivers and buses to change road usage behaviors and attitude towards proper driving.
The meeting was in the framework of the ongoing Police Week, with the second week focusing on promoting road safety.
“We have been sensitizing motorists but we believe that owners and managers also have a big responsibility to monitor their drivers,” he said.
“We want to see the positive impact, no life should be lost due to causes which we can collectively prevent,” CP Mujiji.
Asaba Katabarwa, the head of Transport regulation department at RURA noted that some truck drivers we found to deliberately tamper or fault speed governors, which are often found offline on the RURA tracking systems.
As business people, Katabarwa said, they have economic benefits if drivers adhere to traffic rules and other regulatory instruments, but also losses if they violate them coupled with loss of lives and destruction of people’s property.
“President Kagame arrives in Ethiopia for a State Visit and is received by Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed,” a tweet reads.
Kagame visited Ethiopia after a two-day visit he concluded yesterday in France. In France, Kagame also attended ‘Viva Tech’, the World’s meeting for startups and leaders to celebrate innovation. He also held discussions with France President Emmanuel Macron. The discussions revolved around different topics including bilateral relations among others.
It is the first state visit Kagame held in Ethiopia since Dr. Abiy took over replacing former Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn in March.
Both Heads of States held discussions which were attended by Ambassador of Rwanda in Ethiopia, Hope Tumukunde among other officials.
Both Heads of States toured the exhibition on Thursday; an activity which marked the end of Kagame’s two-day working visit to France.
The exhibition was part of this year’s ‘Viva Technology’, the World’s meeting for startups and leaders to celebrate innovation together.
According to the Office of the President, Kagame who has been in France since yesterday alongside Macron attended the meeting.
“President Kagame and President Macron attend Viva Tech 2018, beginning their tour at the Rwanda stand showcasing Kigali Innovation City and 8 Rwandan start-ups. Marking the end of his two day working visit to France,” reads a tweet.
This year 60 tech companies from Africa exhibited their innovations and got opportunity to discuss with minds behind technology projects advancement around the World.
Among Rwandan companies that participated in the exhibition include Awesomity Lab, a company behind the technologies that will be used by car assembling plant, Volkswagen in Rwanda.
Also participated is AC Group, a tech company behind cashless payment in transport fare. Irembo, the government online portal through which different government services are offered was also present. Also Fab Lab and Pivot Access among others participated in the exhibition.
Rwanda’s Kigali Innovation City, a project which aims at nurturing science and technology experts for Rwanda and the world in general was exhibited.
In February, Cimerwa embarked on renovation and replacement of old machines and introducing new technologies which would enable the plant increase yearly production from 380,000 tones to 500,000 tones and 600,000 in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
The exercise affected the production capacity and caused cement scarcity on local market. Among other effects, the price was hiked and some construction projects were delayed.
Speaking in a press conference on Thursday in Kigali, MINICOM Minister, Vincent Munyeshyaka said that Cimerwa’s production covers 55% of local market. He said that the renovation will see the plant increase the production capacity.
He assured the public that normal cement supplies will have been restored available in June.
“Cement they are producing today is being distributed to people who had paid in advance, and the process will be over by May 31st. We believe that starting from June, Cimerwa cement will be available on the market,” he said.
As a way of closing the scarcity problem, Munyeshyaka said that they requested importers from Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya to increase the quantity of importation.
The Director General of Trade and Investment in MINICOM, Robert Opirah said that the importation volume was raised by 10,000 tones monthly.
Before Cimerwa productions reduce, Rwanda had been importing between 15,000 and 20,000 tones monthly.
“We discussed with importers and increased importation volume to the extent that 30,000 tones will have been imported this month only,” he explained.
According to MINICOM, different traders used the shortage and hiked the price. However, the ministry embarked on clamping down and penalized those who were found selling the cement at increased prices.
He said during an appearance from the Roosevelt Room the decision amounted to a “tremendous setback” and warned North Korea that the US military is ready to act should Pyongyang take any “foolish and reckless” action.
“Our military, which is by far the most powerful anywhere in the world that has been greatly enhanced recently as we all know, is ready as necessary,” he said.
But he left open the door to renewing the diplomatic thaw which had preceded the anticipated talks.
“If and when Kim Jong Un chooses to engage in constructive dialogue and actions, I am waiting,” he said.
In his letter, which the administration said was dispatched through established communication channels to North Korea, Trump wrote with chagrin the summit was off.
I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting,” Trump wrote. “Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place.”
Trump and Kim were scheduled to meet in Singapore on June 12, for what would have been the first face-to-face meeting between a US and North Korean leader.
{{Months of diplomatic advances}}
The decision ends months of diplomatic advances between the US and North Korea that Trump repeatedly heralded as the likely precursor to a historic peace deal and the denuclearization of North Korea. Now, the détente between Washington and Pyongyang appears in jeopardy, with a return to the bellicose rhetoric that has defined the US-North Korea relationship for much of Trump’s presidency once again peering over the horizon.
In his letter, Trump signaled a return to the bitter nuclear back-and-forth that colored his early interactions with Kim before the diplomatic opening.
“You talk about your nuclear capabilities,” Trump wrote in his letter to Kim, “but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.”
Still, Trump signaled direct talks with Kim could still be in the offing, writing that he “felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me” and that he looks forward to meeting Kim “some day.”
Even as the summit was canceled, North Korea was taking at least precursory steps to scale back its nuclear program. The regime appeared to destroy at least three nuclear tunnels, observation buildings, a metal foundry and living quarters at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site on Thursday, in a process observed by invited international journalists including CNN’s Will Ripley.
No weapons inspectors or nonproliferation experts were invited to witness the event, and it was unclear whether the explosions rendered the tunnels inoperable, or only caused limited damage.
{{How it happened}}
Trump withdrew from the summit after a North Korean vice minister of foreign affairs slammed Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday as a “political dummy,” the latest harshly worded statement from Pyongyang.
Trump and his aides were infuriated by the statement and wanted to respond forcefully, multiple people familiar with the situation told CNN. The specific and personal targeting of Pence is what irked US officials, three people familiar with the matter said.
The verbal broadside against Pence was just the latest harshly worded statement from North Korea over the last 10 days. Early last week, North Korea canceled a planned meeting with South Korea and threatened to pull out of the Singapore summit because of ongoing US-South Korean military exercises.
Trump and his aides had insisted over the past week that planning for the summit was still ongoing amid the increased bluster from Pyongyang. A logistics team was dispatched to Singapore to finalize details with North Korea officials. And a commemorative coin was stamped by military aides labeling Kim the “Supreme Leader.”
{{SRC:CNN}}
