President Mnangagwa arrived in Rwanda early this week to attend the Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit taking place in Kigali.
AGRF is Africa’s premier forum for driving the food and agriculture agenda in the continent.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, Mnangagwa was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
He met with by President Kagame at Urugwiro Village on Tuesday 6th September 2022.
Organized under the theme ‘Grow, Nourish, Reward — Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems’, the AGRF 2022 Summit is taking place in Kigali from 5th to 9th September 2022.
It is expected to provide a platform to reflect on the coordinated large-scale action by leaders, institutions, investors, coalitions, and individuals to accelerate action towards translating commitments made into actionable strategies and progress on the ground.
The summit also brought together leaders from governments, businesses, civil society, international organizations alongside innovators, financiers, experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, and youth.
The Secretary-General of Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland is among other leaders who attended the summit.
On Tuesday, President Kagame also received and held talks with the Vice President of Tanzania, Philip Mpango who is in Rwanda for the summit.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that both meetings discussed bilateral relations and avenues to strengthen intra-African cooperation and trade.
During the visit held on Tuesday 6th September 2022, the officials hailed the joint forces for maintaining security in Cabo Delgado province and were optimistic that the judicial systems and structures would soon begin to operate effectively since the security situation had significantly improved.
Rwanda started the deployment of 1000 troops of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Rwanda National Police (RNP) to Mozambique on 9th July 2021, to fight terrorists, honoring the request of Mozambique. The troops had increased to nearly 2000 by the end of the year 2021.
The situation in the country worsened since October 2017 when armed extremists launched an insurgency in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique.
Mozambique Defence Armed Forces battled the extremists but many civilians were killed and displaced by the fighting.
Before Rwandan troop’s intervention, terrorists had killed 3000 civilians while more than 800,000 were displaced. The insecurity had also put to halt all development projects in the area controlled by insurgents.
The joint operations between Rwandan and Mozambican troops yielded big where different regions including Palma, Awasse and Mocímboa Da Praia among others were seized from rebels.
Some of internally displaced citizens have been also helped to return home.
Maj Gen Albert Murasira also met with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence Industries, Madat Gazanfar oglu Guliyev.
The discussions between Rwanda’s Minister of Defence and his hosts focused on issues of common interest towards an Agreement on Defence Cooperation between Rwanda and Azerbaijan.
They donated scholastic materials to pupils of Lilia Payam Primary school and trained them on how to improve their hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of a variety of diseases.
Major Eugene Munyankera, encouraged the trainees to promote hygiene and sanitation as a foundation of good health, and encouraged them to call upon their colleagues who dropped out of school to rejoin.
Guido Okwana, the Deputy Head Teacher of Lilia Primary School thanked Rwandan peacekeepers for the training and provided support.
Those arrested include one Donathile Bayagambe, 40, a suspected major supplier of cannabis in Nyabihu and surrounding districts, who is also the alleged rightful owner of the 3,000 seized pellets as well as her two employees; Patrick Nizeyimana, 34, and Didier Bizimana, 31, who were delivering the narcotics to retailers.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), said that ANU first arrested Bayagambe’s two employees on Monday, September 5, at about 3:30pm, in Rwandarugari Village, Gasura Cell, Jomba Sector with a sack containing the 3,000 pellets of cannabis.
“Following the arrest of Nizeyimana and Bizimana, who were reported by the residents; they disclosed that they work for Bayagambe, who had given them the narcotics to supply her retailing clients.
Bayagambe was also located and arrested on Tuesday, September 6, in Kivuruga Village, Mwiyanike Cell, Mulinga Sector,” CIP Rukundo said.
The suspects are currently under RIB at Jomba station for further investigations.
“Nyabihu district is one of the transit routes for drug dealers, but the role of the public in identifying these routes and dealers through information sharing continues to yield positive results in breaking chains of supply,” CIP Rukundo said.
The pledge was made during a recent two-day visit of the bank’s Board Chairman, Bonaventure Niyibizi to interact with clients on 30th and 31st August 2022.
He said that the bank stands ready to work with them to respond to their needs in different aspects of development given that trade, agriculture, tourism and construction are among dominant activities in the districts.
“We want to tell you that I&M Bank is open to work with everyone to grow the economy, advance families’ progress an d the nation at large because we offer different top notch and fast services,” he said.
Clients commended the bank’s services particularly loan disbursement and urged the lender to increase branches and agents operating close to their doorsteps.
Salomon Mbarushimana, the Managing Director of Seed Potatos Fund, a company that multiplies potato seeds revealed that I&M Bank is a great development partner that has been closely working with clients to fix challenges for their businesses to thrive.
Landouard Gahonzire also commended the support he received when he applied for car loan.
“After submitting the application for car loan, the bank processed my request fast and informed me that the funds were transferred to my account. I was surprised because I thought they were calling me for clarification. I liked their customer care and quick services,” he noted.
Musanze District Vice Mayor for Economic Development, Andrew Mpuhwe Rucyahana said that the district has ample opportunities in trade and development which cannot be tapped into without strategic investment.
He extolled I&M Bank Rwanda for its contribution to the district’s development and urged residents to continue working with banks to achieve envisioned progress.
Incorporated in 1963, I&M Bank (Rwanda) Plc is the oldest Bank in Rwanda. It is today one of the leading players in the industry with a strong footprint across the country.
I&M Bank Rwanda offers the full range of personal, business, institutional and corporate banking products throughout its locations. The Bank has been listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange since March 2017.
The Bank is also a subsidiary of I&M Group Plc, a leading regional financial services group in Eastern Africa with a presence in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda as well as a joint venture in Mauritius.
“Congratulations @trussliz on your election as Prime Minister of the UK. We look forward to further strengthening the existing close ties between the UK and Rwanda and wish you success,” Kagame tweeted.
On Tuesday 6th September 2022, Liz Truss was appointed Britain’s next prime minister by Queen Elizabeth II at the Balmoral estate in Scotland, shortly after Boris Johnson met the monarch to formally offer his resignation.
“The Queen received in Audience The Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss MP today and requested her to form a new Administration,” reads part of a statement released by Buckingham Palace.
“Ms Truss accepted Her Majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon her appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury,” adds the statement.
Liz Truss, 47, becomes the 15th UK Prime Minister since Queen Elizabeth II was installed on the throne.
Liz Truss officially takes office one day after Britain’s conservative party’s members elected her as their leader in a tough race against Indian-origin former chancellor Rishi Sunak.
She replaces Boris Johnson who resigned in July this year.
Truss assumes office at time when the UK and Rwanda are working together to implement the Migration and Economic Development Partnership that will see migrants and asylum seekers staying in the country illegally deported to Rwanda.
At AAAC 2022, representatives from over 50 African countries will gather to discuss challenges, best practices and solutions in anesthesia and critical care.
During the event, Gradian will launch K-O2, its newest product alongside manufacturing partners Canon Virginia Inc. (CVI) and product development partner 10XBeta.
The K-O2 is a point of care oxygen generator and delivery system designed to improve oxygen access across a variety of healthcare facilities, an urgent need exasperated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Gradian will also launch a redesigned version of its flagship product, the UAM, an anesthesia machine designed to work in the absence of electricity and medical oxygen.
Commenting on the company’s commitment to improved healthcare; the CEO of Gradian, Lina Sayed said: “We have seen exceptional leadership on the African continent, especially during the last 2+ years of an ongoing global pandemic. We know that our greatest strength is the healthcare providers who have worked endlessly to provide high- quality care to patients, which is why we’re especially excited to launch new anesthesia and oxygen therapy innovations developed based on the feedback of doctors across the continent.”
Gradian will also showcase new anesthesia and ventilation solutions for enhanced delivery of exceptional products to customers, made available through partnerships with world-class companies like Penlon, Amoul, and MTTS.
Throughout the event scheduled between 7th and 10th September 2022 at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV), members of Gradian’s executive, engineering, and clinical training teams will be available for interviews on site.
{{About Gradian Health Systems}}
Gradian Health Systems is a nonprofit medical technology company that works in partnership with healthcare providers to design and introduce user-centric solutions that address gaps in technology solutions, training, and customer service.
With innovations in anesthesia, critical care, and oxygen therapy, Gradian has enabled healthcare teams to provide high-quality, safe care to more than 2.2 million patients across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Working in partnership with health facilities, national governments, global NGOs, and medical technology partners, Gradian is also revolutionizing the way that life-changing innovations are introduced by ensuring that healthcare providers are fully equipped to use their products with a hands-on training and reliable customer support model.
This collaboration builds on Gradian’s decade plus work developing and supporting medical technology in resource-limited settings and CVI’s 37 years of established manufacturing excellence and medical device expertise.
CVI will assume manufacturing operations for Gradian’s flagship product, the UAM, an anesthesia machine designed to work in the absence of electricity and medical oxygen and establish manufacturing operations for Gradian’s newest product – the K-O2. CVI plans to be in full scale production of both products by the end of 2022.
The UAM and K-O2 are specifically designed to better enable access to anesthesia and oxygen therapy, respectively, by addressing resource constraints that often prevent medical providers from being able to deliver continuous care for patients.
Commenting on the development; Lina Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Gradian Health Systems said: “We are very excited to partner with Canon.”
“At Gradian, we know how important it is to work with partners whose missions align with ours. Canon’s proven expertise is unmatched – both in manufacturing and as a partner to work side-by-side with us to build a better future in healthcare. We are looking forward to what we hope will be a longstanding relationship with Canon,” she added.
Years of industry and manufacturing experience make both Gradian and CVI uniquely qualified to embark on a collaboration designed to deliver top of the line solutions that enable providers to offer premier care for their patients. By combining their excellence in manufacturing and product quality, the two organizations aim to create world-class products that address some of the biggest healthcare challenges to date.
“CVI and Gradian share many of the same values – a commitment to our customers, quality, and efficient manufacturing services to name a few,” said Ronald Kurz, Sr. Director and General Manager, Business Operations Group / Medical, Canon Virginia, Inc.
“Our corporate philosophy, is driven by the Japanese principle, ‘Kyosei,’ the concept that all people, regardless of race, religion, or culture, are harmoniously living and working together into the future,’ and we are proud to be working with a partner who is equally committed to this mission. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service and resources to our partners and are very excited to see what the future holds for healthcare world-wide.”
Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a relationship that aims to build on both companies’ commitment to addressing inequities in healthcare and helping to ensure that everyone has access to the best health services possible.
{{About Gradian Health Systems}}
Gradian Health Systems is a nonprofit medical technology company that works in partnership with healthcare providers to design and introduce user-centric solutions that address gaps in technology solutions, training, and customer service.
With innovations in anesthesia, critical care, and oxygen therapy, Gradian has enabled healthcare teams to provide high-quality, safe care to more than 2.2 million patients across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Working in partnership with health facilities, national governments, global NGOs, and medical technology partners, Gradian is also revolutionizing the way that life-changing innovations are introduced by ensuring that healthcare providers are fully equipped to use their products with a hands-on training and reliable customer support model.
Learn more at: [gradianhealth.org->https://www.gradianhealth.org/]
{{About Canon Virginia, Inc.}}
Located in Newport News, Va., Canon Virginia, Inc. serves as the Canon manufacturing, engineering, recycling, and technical support center for the Americas.
Canon Virginia produces new products using advanced manufacturing methodologies while also serving as a factory service center providing expert customer service in the repair and refurbishment of Canon products.
Canon Virginia’s manufacturing services extend to injection mold making, contract manufacturing, medical contract manufacturing and aftermarket services.
For more information, call 1-866-99-CANON or visit https://www.cvi.canon.com/manufacturing- services/.
The institution’s management appeared before the committee as the hearing from government institutions to provide explanations on mistakes pointed out by the Auditor General (AG)’s report in the fiscal year 2020/2021 began on Monday 5th September 2022.
The pieces of land in question were bought at Rwf137 billion. The AG report indicates that the land has been idle for ten years where RSSB spent more Rwf394 million on it.
The expenses include taxes and the cost associated with its management.
The Director General of RSSB, Regis Rugemanshuro has revealed that the institution bought the pieces of land for future use because the value of land increases overtime.
“The pieces of land were bought for future projects. If the land is not bought early for future use, planning to build houses in the next 15 years would not be lucrative enough. However, buying the land earlier helps to mitigate risks of high cost it in the future,” he said.
The Chairperson of PAC, Valens Muhakwa questioned RSSB’s decision to buy plots of land without a clear plan for development.
“The institution should be far-sighted. You have the land but don’t know how it will be exploited. This is the problem being discussed. This is done by citizens trying to secure the future. Should RSSB be in a land banking race with citizens?”
Reacting to the concern, Rugemanshuro said: “What you say is true. There was no plan for all bought plots of land to determine whether they will be developed for business or something else. However, considering designed master plans, RSSB bought them in strategic locations ideal for different activities. In some instances, we handed over some plots of land unsuitable for our study plan.”
Parliamentarian (MP), Jean René Niyorurema also wondered how the institution can buy the land to be kept for 10 years yet the government informs the general public that those whose land remains undeveloped will be confiscated as per legal provisions.
“Keeping the land is not the sole plan. We also work with available investors willing to develop the land. Besides, we buy new land for clear reasons,” replied Rugemanshuro.
MP Jean Claude Ntezimana maintained that buying land before prices go high is not a bad idea but insisted that RSSB has what it takes to obtain information regarding the master plan for a particular area.
“For instance, you push forward public interest reasons while expropriating residents in Kiyovu cy’Abakene. It becomes meaningless for a citizen who passes by the area and realizes that the land is still idle. You have to buy pieces of land knowing better that you won’t face losses,” he said.
MP Christine Bakundufite said that RSSB was wrong to consider the Rwf137 billion worth land project because ‘it would have generated profits from other businesses’.
“This report shows that you have spent Rwf394 million. The longer it takes to develop the land, the more you increase losses,” she said.
PAC also indicated that the land owned by RSSB across the country is exploited at 3%.
RSSB explained that efforts are underway to set out a clear plan with which specific projects suitable for these pieces of land and their implementation timeframe will be determined not later than 2023 to develop the land in line with national development blueprint.
The institution also revealed that its land located in areas where the projects cannot materialize will be sold.
