It is in that regard, this Saturday 25 February 2023, Kigali Marriott Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton met on a football pitch at Cercle Sportif, Rugunga.
The soccer was a draw 1/1.
Four Points by Sheraton fans were convinced before the game starts that it was with no doubts they would overtake the match because they are the “fresh blood” of Marriott compared to their big sister, Kigali Marriott Hotel. Despite both teams’ efforts, the first half of the game ended with no scores.
Back from halftime, both teams came back stronger with a lively period; and the Four Point by Sheraton team players opened the score through Kwizera Isaac.
The Four Points goal became a wake-up call from the side of Kigali Marriott Hotel, just before the end of the second half, a player of Kigali Marriott Hotel, with action initiated from the left ended up equalizing through Bienvenu Muhoza.
With the high vibrations of energies of fans on both sides who were supporting their teams from the first to last minutes, the score remained there; drew 1 goal everywhere between the two teams, with the hope of supporters of both teams to have a second, return match.
We are looking forward to Round 2!
{ {{Nicole Ingabire Munyangabe is the Cluster Director of Human Resources at Kigali Marriot Hotel. }} }
The new employees trained in tailoring include those from vulnerable families, teen mothers and other needy members of the society.
The six-month training falls under ‘Igira Ku Murimo’ (Workplace Learning Support Programme) introduced by Rwanda Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Board on the funding of the World Bank. So far, over 25,000 beneficiaries have been trained.
Beneficiaries have told IGIHE that they are ready to take advantage of the training and job opportunities to contribute to individual growth and national development.
“It is not easy but commitment is paramount to achieve great things. We have ability to do what people with all parts of body can do. I was among trained individuals and exhibited good performance. My thanks go to the President of the Republic for having taken us out of isolation. I am hired by the plant but I have aspirations to grow and start my own business,” said Olive Mukanzabakurana, one of recruited employees living with disability.
Her colleague, Zachée Ntakiyimana said that skills acquired from the training offered by C&D Rwanda Ltd will help her lead decent life.
“They started training me from scratch because I had no prior background in tailoring. Today, I can make garments of all types. I am convinced that acquired skills are critical to improve livelihoods and help individuals create own businesses. I was jobless before but I believe this is the beginning of desired transformations,” she said.
An employee who spoke on behalf of colleagues also disclosed that acquired skills will help beneficiaries a great deal and thanked the Government of Rwanda for having introduced the Workplace Learning Support Programme and the management of C&D for giving them the opportunity.
The owner of C&D based in Kigali Special Economic Zone in Masoro, Gordon Gu told IGIHE that he is committed to continue supporting Made in Rwanda policy.
He explained that the company employs over 4,000 workers with a target to provide job opportunities to more than 7000 Rwandans to support national programmes meant to create new jobs.
Gordon Gu revealed that 90% of the company’s products are mainly exported to Europe and reiterated commitment to continue supporting Made in Rwanda.
He urged new employees to work hard to sustain the plant’s activities and make a great impact to Rwandans.
Jean Damascène Renzaho, an official from Rwanda TVET Board in charge of capacity building said that the Workplace Learning Support Programme is yielding good results since it was introduced three years ago.
He requested the private sector to support the programme as it contributes to skills development among the youth.
Rwanda targets to enroll 60% of students in TVET schools and provide jobs to 86% within six months of graduation by 2024.
The programme was initially expected to end in 2022.
Premier Ngirente made the disclosure on the first day of National Dialogue Council (Umushyikirano) on 27th February 2023.
Umushyikirano is convened every year to assess the state of the nation and Rwandans’ unity.
The previous meeting was held in 2019 but was suspended in the following years due to COVID-19 related restrictions.
Premier Ngirente has said that the previous meeting came up with 12 resolutions that had to be implemented within one year but highlighted that they were adjusted due to the emergence of the pandemic.
He explained that the economy continued to thrive during COVID-19 owing to instituted measures.
Dr. Ngirente said that the Economic Recovery Fund was established in 2021 where a total of US$350 million was injected in two phases.
The first phase saw over Rwf101 billion allocated to different sectors of the economy to facilitate business recovery.
Hotels, trade, transport and agriculture are among other sectors that benefitted from the funding.
“Rwf48 billion have been disbursed in the second phase and the program is ongoing. The funds are aimed at helping members of the private sector to recover from effects of COVID-19 and expand their investments,” noted Dr. Ngirente.
He also reminded participants that the government established the ‘Manufacture and Build to Recover’ programme.
The latter seeks to develop industries with a view to reduce imports.
“This programme had to end in 2022 but we agreed, last month, to extend it by two years,” he said.
The Manufacture and Build to Recover Program aims to fast track private sector investments in manufacturing and construction.
It is expected to play a big role in reducing the cost of setting up industries of key essential products as well facilitating the expansion of small and medium industries.
This programme worth US$1.8 billion is expected to provide over 36,000 job opportunities.
Rwanda has also emphasized that border security has been reinforced where its soldiers are standby to defend territorial integrity.
The statement released on Monday 27th February 2023, reads that Rwanda hails the outcomes of the recent meetings held during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, on the situation in Eastern DRC.
Rwanda has stated that taken resolutions complement existing ones adopted by regional mechanisms including Luanda and Nairobi processes with a view to find a solution to DR Congo’s problems through dialogues.
The decisions were endorsed by other international organizations including the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and US.
On 22nd February 2022, the United States released a statement commending the progress on restoring security in eastern DRC but accused Rwanda of supporting M23, asked the country to halt it and withdraw troops from Congo.
Rwanda has through a released statement insisted that the United States ‘appears consistently out of step with the decisions of the regional processes, and risks undermining them, by continuing to endorse the DRC Government’s false narrative blaming Rwanda for the crisis’.
“The repeated failure by the international community to condemn the DRC Government for the preservation of the FDLR encourages DRC to continue arming and fighting alongside this genocidal militia, which has conducted cross-border attacks in Rwanda while embedded with the Congolese army [FARDC],” reads part of the statement.
“This constitutes a direct and serious threat to Rwanda’s security. The FDLR is not a benign or inconsequential force, and the ultimate goal of its partnership with FARDC is to attack Rwanda,” adds the statement.
{{Congolese soldiers and mercenaries at common border area}}
Recent resolutions reached through meetings of regional heads of state demand concerned parties in eastern DRC to lay arms down to facilitate proper implementation.
Despite the resolutions, Rwanda has revealed, DRC defied the regional decisions.
“DRC has opted for continued military escalation in recent months, in defiance of regional decisions. In the context of increasingly bellicose statements by DRC civilian and military leaders, the DRC is deploying new hardware capabilities and foreign mercenaries in the common border area,” reads the statement.
Rwanda has said that it can’t idly sit by amidst its security threats targeting the country.
“Given Rwanda’s legitimate security concerns, defensive and preventive mechanisms have accordingly been reinforced to guard against violations of our airspace and borders. These contingencies are ready to act to prevent any cross-border threat, proportionately to its magnitude, origin, and nature. We will not allow any spill-over into Rwanda from any armed group, and total security for our territory and our people will be ensured,” Rwanda has affirmed.
The country has also expressed commitment to work within regional frameworks to contribute to stability in the region but insisted that it ‘cannot accept for its security concerns to be trivialized and ignored’.
Patricie Uwase, Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure made the revelation on the first day of the 18th National Dialogue Council (Umushyikirano) held at Kigali Convention Centre.
She explained that the issue of public transport has worsened in Kigali due to transport companies struggling to replace old buses. This has resulted in passengers’ long queues at bus terminals.
“In the near future, we will have introduced over 300 more buses in Kigali City,” said Uwase.
She disclosed that plans to buy new vehicles are in advanced stages.
“Considering the long time passengers spend waiting for buses, it won’t take long to address the issue because we have started negotiating suppliers and have already secured the budget through collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.
We have the money. The remaining thing is to place an order and have the buses used by transport companies upon delivery,” she noted.
“It will be done in no more than three months because placing orders and shipment take time. However, this plan is under consideration and its finalization is in the offing,” added Uwase.
The introduction of new buses will be done through partnership between the government and private sector.
Uwase has also highlighted that there are other alternatives being considered to address woes in public transport upcountry.
In January 2023, President Paul Kagame requested relevant institutions to address citizens’ problems including long dwelling-time for passengers using public transport buses.
He was officiating the swearing-in of new Senate President, Dr. Kalinda François Xavier.
At the time, the Head of State said that the issue needs to be solved durably.
Passengers have been expressing frustration over the delay of buses at bus terminals as it affects their work.
The Head of State made the disclosure as he officiated the opening of the 18th National Dialogue Council (Umushyikirano) at Kigali Convention Centre. The meeting brought together over 1500 participants while others followed it virtually from different sites countrywide.
He reminisced on primitive mindsets of people who always tend to lean on aid like weak people, sick or people with other problems noting that no one should be proud of it.
“I am not sure if there is a Rwandan proud of reliance on assistance forever. Until when they will continue giving us the aid? […] We should not be living this way,” he said Kagame.
He explained that there is no dignity in persistent reliance on aid and reminded that the beneficiary ends up being disappointed.
“They support you and get slapped in return. They get on your wick until they teach you cultures, how to behave and end up in a situation where Rwandans seem to have no culture because of the aid,” noted Kagame.
The President has also reminded leaders to represent citizens’ interests instead of prioritizing personal gains.
Umushyikirano is Kinyarwanda’s equivalent of ‘dialogue’. During the dialogue, participants exchange ideas, share experiences, peer review and question each other. Today Umushyikirano is known as the National Dialogue Council.
As part of efforts to reconstruct Rwanda and nurture a shared national identity, the Government of Rwanda drew on aspects of Rwandan culture and traditional practices to enrich and adapt its development programs to the country’s needs and context.
The result is a set of Home Grown Solutions – culturally owned practices translated into sustainable development programs. One of these Home Grown Solutions is Umushyikirano.
Governed by the Rwandan Constitution (Article 168), Umushyikirano is a forum where participants debate issues relating to the state of the nation, the state of local government and national unity.
The statistics show that Rwandans increased by 2.3% by the time the population census was conducted. Of these, 48.5% are men while 51.5% are women.
The increase corresponds to birth control methods that saw the fertility rate per woman falling to 3.6 births in 2022 from 4.0 in 2012, 5.9 in 2002, 6.9 in 1991 and 8.6 in 1978.
As per released figures, the fertility rate for a rural woman stands at 3.8 births and 3.2 for an urban woman.
The first census conducted in 1978, put the Rwandan population at about 4.8 million. The second census was conducted in 1991, with the population rising to 7.1 million. The population growth rate between 1978 and 1991 was 3.1 per cent.
The third census, in 2002, indicated that the population had grown to 8.1 million.
The previous one, which put the population at 10.5 million, was done in 2012.
They reside in 3,312,743 households with each comprised of 4 members.
Considering the source of income, 2.2 households (69%) depend on agriculture.
Meanwhile; 72.1% Rwandans live in rural areas while 27.9% dwell in urban areas.
The Eastern Province has the largest number of population representing 26.9% (3,563,145), followed by the Southern Province with 3,002,699 (22.7%), Western Province with 2,896,484 representing 21.9%, Northern Province with 2,038,511 (15.4%) while Kigali City has 1,745,555 representing 13.2%.
The census also indicated that the number of youth aged below 30 reduced from 70.3 in 2012 to 65.3% in 2022. The number is also projected to fall to 54.3% in 2050.
Meanwhile, the population aged between 16 and 64 increased from 53.4% in 2012 to 56/0% in 2022. The number is expected to go up to 61.4% in 2050.
The trade fair bringing together exhibitors from over 100 countries was officially opened on 25th February 2023 in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron. Rwanda is participating for the second time.
The trade fair attracts players from the agriculture sector across the world to showcase their products and share expertise.
This year’s trade show which runs from 25th February to 5th March, brought together 1012 exhibitors from around the world of whom 25 are from Rwanda.
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has also participated in the exhibition to showcase investment opportunities available in Rwanda.
National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) is also represented.
Every year, exhibitors spend eight days showcasing their products and sharing expertize on best practices.
Rwanda has a lot to showcase as the country has productive land, and conducive environment promising to help investors make huge returns.
In the second quarter of 2022/2023, the value of Rwanda’s agricultural exports increased by 64.1% and generated US$260.2 million up from US$167 million recorded in the same period last year.
Coffee is among commodities that generate handsome amount for the country and its value increases every year.
In the second quarter of 2022/23, coffee exports increased by 73% while tea exports increased by 5.9%.On the other hand, pyrethrum exports reduced by 11.4%.
During the week from 11th to 17th February this year, Rwanda generated US$1.9 million from tea exports and US$629 million from coffee exports.
Horticultural exports also generated over US$578 million in the same week.
The main destinations were the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Germany, France , Democratic Republic of Congo and Qatar.
Among others, exported cereals and livestock products generated US$1.8 million and US$204,000 respectively.
Rwandan companies participating in this year’s agricultural show in Paris include Mahwi Grain Millers Ltd, Zatoms, Brampire Ltd, Aux Délices Honey Ltd, CGB ltd/Raphi coffee, Aubin Produce International, COOPAC Ltd, High and Lum as well as Geantox.
Participants will be able to sell their products, connect with potential buyers, network with various importers, and most importantly showcase and promote Rwandan quality Agri-export products to the rest of the World.
The trade show was held for the first time in 1964.
The Minister of Interior, Alfred Gasana presided over the pass-out of the 18th intake, and gave them the rank of ‘Police Constable.’
The ceremony was also attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Felix Namuhoranye, Governor of the Eastern Province, CG Emmanuel K. Gasana, RCS Commissioner General, Juvenal Marizamunda, DIGP in charge of Administration and Personnel, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza, among others.
At least 419 new Police officers are women with other 40 officers expected to join Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS).
The new Police Constables also include 147, currently pursuing bachelor’s of Law, Information Technology, Languages and Professional Police Studies at the National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District.
Minister Gasana said that the pass-out shows the willingness of the government to support the Police in its work, increasing the number of Police and giving them the necessary knowledge to help them do their job well.
The basic course and other training at different levels, he added, are important pillars in building force professionalism.
“The dedication, hard work, good behavior and unwavering character show us that you will behave well in your work and help the Rwanda Police to achieve its tasks,” Minister Gasana said.
The knowledge and skills acquired, he said, should become a good package in their duties.
He urged them to work well with other police officers, be passionate and honest about their work, defend the pride of Rwanda and avoid any actions that can damage the good image of the Police and the country.
The Police, he said, have the responsibility to guarantee the security of Rwandans and their property, prevent road accidents, fight against crimes and all other activities that may threaten the peace and security of people in Rwanda.
The Minister reiterated that Rwanda National Police is well positioned in the implementation of its duties, both at home and across the borders in peacekeeping and security operations, which defines Rwanda as one of the countries in the world with stable security.
He challenged the new officers to add value to these humanitarian activities that makes Rwanda proud.
Minister Gasana further commended the impact of the RNP beyond its safety and security obligations, to support and promote the welfare and wellbeing of the people.
To the new Police Constables, he asked them to continue in that direction, be exemplary in obeying the law, support government programmes and to instill the same good culture among Rwandans.
“The different programmes that the government has for the Police, include improving the skills of the officers through internal and external training to help them get the latest tools, necessary for their daily work; so that the Police can provide better services to Rwandans and visitors.”
The PTS Commandant, Commissioner of Police (CP) Robert Niyonshuti said that during eleven months, the graduands covered, among others, skills at arms, drills and duties, martial arts, public order management, Police operations, law, community policing, road safety, and use of force and firearms.
“They demonstrated commitment, selflessness, performed well in training with discipline, which will guide them to execute their obligations efficiently,” CP Niyonshuti said.
Over the past 11 months, he said, the PTS conducted other training programmes for 8810 Police officers, including cadet course, Formed Police Units (FPU) and Individual Police Officers (IPO) set to be deployed to UN peacekeeping missions.
The School also conducted training for those to be deployed to Mozambique to support the security operations in Cabo Delgado Province; Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) course, driving and gunnery, DASSO, and youth volunteers.
The official handover between IGP Namuhoranye and the outgoing Police Chief, CGP Dan Munyuza was held at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru and presided over by the Minister of Interior, Alfred Gasana.
The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy IGP in charge of Administration and Personnel, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza, the new Deputy Police Chief in charge of Operations, CP Vincent Sano, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Benjamin Sesonga, commissioners and senior officers of the RNP.
Minister Gasana thanked the President of the Republic for the continued support of the RNP to be a professional force that guarantees the safety of the people.
“A lot has been achieved to ensure the safety and security of the people because of good leadership; we can not recline,” Minister Gasana said.
He thanked the outgoing Police Chief for his sacrifice, dedication and immense contribution to the force during his tenure.
IGP Namuhoranye also expressed gratitude to His Excellency the President for the trust and confidence bestowed upon him to continue playing his part in the national security.
“I thank His Excellency for the strategic guidance he gave us to fulfill our obligations.
We will carry on as a team, work with other institutions both in Rwanda and abroad to better provide security as our primary responsibility,” IGP Namuhoranye said.
He thanked his predecessor for his role in building a professional Police force.
“Your contribution to security will always be remembered. We will build on that to work adeptly including increasing the capacity of officers.
Rwanda National Police will do everything possible to maintain the security of Rwandans. We will continue to work with other institutions and the citizenry to achieve these goals,” IGP Namuhoranye reiterated.
The outgoing Inspector General, on his part, thanked the President for trusting him with the Police responsibilities since 2018, and the support rendered by the line Ministry of Interior.
He wished the new IGP and the entire RNP leadership the best of luck in their new responsibilities.
Over the years, a lot was done to further professionalize the force and to offer quality services, including training and to improve the capacity of officers, infrastructure development and to acquire modern and hi-tech policing tools.
CGP Munyuza, who thanked the RNP family for the support over the past years, expressed his commitment to continue playing his part in the security and development of the Police and the country in general.
