Police arrested Narcisse Havugimana, 40, in Kabeza village, Gihundwe cell, Kamembe sector after fleecing a local resident of Rwf100,000.
Havugimana had made the victim identified as Domitile Nyiransabimana, believe that he can facilitate the release of her detained husband, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region.
Nyiransabimana’s husband was arrested recently for allegedly stealing a mobile phone.
“On Saturday, April 9, Havugimana approached Nyiransabimana and made her believe that he is friends with the District Police Commander (DPC) and can easily negotiate the immediate release of her husband, but demanded Rwf100,000, apparently to offer to the DPC for the alleged service,” SP Karekezi explained.
Nyiransabimana fell prey of Havugimana’s fraud and deceit and wired Rwf100, 000 to his mobile account.
Nyiransabimana was prompted to call the Police after Havugimana could no longer pick her repeated phone calls.
“Havugimana was tracked and arrested in Gihundwe and handed over to RIB,”
SP Karekezi said.
He further warned the public against taking criminal procedures to release detained relatives.
“Do not believe that the Police will be bribed to engage in such criminal practices. Anyone, who comes to you with such ill-advise is an alleged criminal attempting to also lure you into similar illegal channel,” SP Karekezi emphasized.
Obtaining property of another person by deception, under article 174 of the law determining offences and penalties, is punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 3 years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
“Had a productive phone conversation with Prince Charles who we look forward to welcoming to CHOGM 2022. We discussed partnerships that include addressing climate change and the ongoing success of the Sustainable Markets Initiative,” President Kagame revealed in a tweet.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of members are small states, many of which are island nations.
CHOGM is customarily held every two years and is the Commonwealth’s highest consultative and policy-making gathering. Commonwealth leaders selected Rwanda as host for their next summit when they met in London in 2018.
The upcoming CHOGM due in Kigali will be the first to be held in Africa for over a decade.
It was due to have been held in Kigali in June 2020 but was postponed twice due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During celebrations of the Commonwealth Day recently on 14th March 2022, the Prince of Wales, Charles confirmed that he will be among other dignitaries attending CHOGM 2022 in Kigali.
At the time, Prince Charles also revealed that he will be accompanied by his wife.
Kagame arrived in Congo Brazzaville on Monday 10th April 2022 where he was received by his counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso upon arrival.
During his visit, the Head of State addressed the country’s both chambers of parliament before he was hosted to a State Banquet on the first day.
Speaking at the event, Kagame thanked his counterpart for inviting him to the country and warm hospitality extended to him.
He said that both countries have built strong foundation over the years noting that the multiple bilateral agreements that had to be signed on the following day demonstrate productive ties between Rwanda and Congo.
The Head of State also highlighted that both countries have what it takes to address common challenges joining forces to ensure that they continue to move faster towards progress and success.
On the second day of the visit, Kagame and his counterpart proceeded to a tête-à-tête discussions and presided over the signing of bilateral agreements in sectors of economic partnership, mining, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) handcrafts, culture and arts.
The President was accompanied by the delegation including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board, Clare Akamanzi among others.
[{{Related story: Peace and security in Africa remain high on the agenda – Kagame}}->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/peace-and-security-in-africa-remain-high-on-the-agenda-kagame]
The development was announced on Monday 11th April 2022 by French Ambassador to Rwanda, Antoine Anfré during commemoration talks bringing together the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) and members of the diplomatic corps in Rwanda.
The move follows long time of silence as the country declined to admit its responsibility in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which claimed lives of more than 1 million victims.
Amb. Anfré said that France has been denying its role in Genocide highlighting that it is time to put it to an end.
“We all know what happened here. There are findings of Duclert report commissioned by the President of the Republic. Researchers reviewed archives for two years to investigate French role during Genocide. The commission finally concluded that France had a huge responsibility in activities that led to Genocide,” he noted.
The envoy said that France is intensifying efforts to try Genocide suspects through trials held in Paris.
The recent cases include those of Claude Muhayimana who was sentenced to 14 years in December 2021 and Laurent Bucyibaruya, the former head of Gikongoro Prefecture being tried among others.
“We want to handle at least one case every six months. It might not be enough but efforts are put in place on collaboration between leaders, Police and the judiciary that French and Rwandan judiciary are working together on this,” Amb. Anfré noted.
France accommodates many Genocide fugitives who have not yet appeared before court yet other related trials are delayed.
One of fugitives arrested in France in the recent past is Felicien Kabuga who is being tried by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Other Genocide suspects living in France include Dr. Eugène Rwamucyo, Colonel Laurent Serubuga, Agathe Kanziga Habyarimana and Stanislas Mbonampeka among others.
Amb. Anfré highlighted that knowledge about Genocide will continue to be shared as a contribution to the fight against Genocide denial and trivialization.
He also noted that more efforts need to be put in place to strengthen bilateral relations given that both countries are envisaging joint projects.
Amb. Anfré explained that there are opportunities for future collaboration between both countries through the promotion of French language and other prospective areas of cooperation.
“France wants to be back in the right direction with Rwanda. The visit of President Macron and admitting the role of France had a great significance that we can focus on the future after getting on common ground for our past,” he revealed.
France’s role during the Genocide is mainly related to its support to the Government of former President Juvenal Habyarimana as Tutsis were being murdered on the basis of their identity.
French Ambassador to Rwanda, Antoine Anfré has said that the time has come for his country to end silence on its involvement.
He was speaking at the commemoration talk bringing together diplomats accredited to Rwanda and the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) held on Monday 11th April 2022.
Amb. Antoine Anfré served as the second secretary of the French Embassy in Uganda (1987-91) and later as the first secretary.
That is when he started following up issues of refugees in Uganda and the region.
As RPA launched attacks to the regime of Habyarimana, he explained that the country sought support from three countries including Belgium, France and the then Zaire led by Mobutu.
The ambassador revealed that Belgian soldiers did not spend long time in Rwanda while those from Zaire left a bad reputation where Habyarimana himself wanted to take them back home as they were accused of crimes including looting and rape.
“Only French soldiers stayed for long until 1993 under Opération Noroît. However many people draw much attention on Operation Turquoise which started from June 1994 as Genocide was being executed,” he said.
Through Opération Noroît, Antoine Anfré revealed, France helped Habyarimana’s soldiers to repulse the first attack of RPA soldiers during which their commander Maj Gen Fred Rwigema was killed.
At the time, Habyarimana’s soldiers mostly used helicopters that ‘one might be curious to know who piloted them’.
The ambassador stressed that the former regime had been mired in bad governance characterized by ethnic discrimination.
Amb. Anfré further stated that the French soldiers were trained enough to conduct operations and received orders from France.
“These soldiers were sent on the order of president Mitterand. He wanted to support Habyarimana who was an intimate friend. They were here from 1990 until 1993,” he noted.
As the soldiers supported Habyarimana to repel back RPA attacks, MRND was in advanced preparations of Genocide.
Amb. Anfré said that it was an addition to previous attempts to kill Tutsis on accusations of being the country’s enemies.
As the envoy said, France had enough information on the preparation of Genocide.
“I was a junior diplomat being the second advisor to the embassy in Kampala from 1987 until 1991. In May, I returned to France and wrote a report that we are going through the wrong path in Rwanda that we are heading to the worst direction, where one million people would be killed in 100 days,” he revealed.
Antoine Anfré stated that he knew ‘RPF was eager to win’ the war even though the beginning seemed complicated.
“I kept saying that RPF will once take power in Kigali. I also maintained that the more the war lasts long, the more many people would die. I observed that as a junior diplomat who had witnessed how NRA fought to take power.”
Amb. Antoine Anfré said that he got more suspicious as the then Rwandan leaders continued to sow ethnic discrimination.
He explained that there was a small group of people in France that did not consider the situation in the right context for the sake of getting promoted and allowed such activities to continue by making wrong analysis on the leadership of Habyarimana.
At the time, the envoy narrated, the group from France reported that the Government of Habyarimana democratic on grounds of the establishment of multiple political parties that included CDR and Hutu Power noting that there is freedom of expression with reference to RTLM and Kangura.
“They chose to ignore all these facts. Whoever rose an alarm from France would be silenced because they were convinced that the leadership of Habyarimana would have been defeated, had it not been the support of France,” said Amb. Antoine Anfré.
At the time, he explained, America had lost soldiers in Somalia where it seemed that the then US President Bill Clinton was not willing to get involved in what was happening in Rwanda.
As Genocide was topped by RPF, there were more mistakes as Genocide perpetrators were helped to cross to DRC with their weapons.
{{Genocide perpetrated by Rwandans}}
Amb. Anfré has said that RPF kept soldiering on until it stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi even though many victims had already lost lives.
He however stressed that Genocide was executed by Rwandans despite France’s involvement in the dark history.
“The Genocide was perpetrated and stopped by Rwandans. It is apparent that the international community, first of all France, overseen the Genocide that would have been prevented,” Amb. Anfré observed.
“It was not however prepared by French people but was prepared by Rwandans, some of whom were tried in Arusha, in France while others are roaming in France….”
Amb. Anfré said that France has been denying its role in Genocide insisting that it is time to put it to an end.
“We all know what happened here. There are findings of Duclert report commissioned by the President of the Republic. Researchers reviewed archives for two years to investigate French role during Genocide. The commission finally concluded that France had a huge responsibility in activities that led to Genocide,” he noted.
Amb. Anfré highlighted that knowledge about Genocide will continue to be shared as it contributes to the fight against Genocide denial and trivialization.
Else, he said that France is intensifying efforts to try Genocide suspects through trials held in Paris.
The recent cases include those of Claude Muhayimana who was sentenced to 14 years in December 2021 and Laurent Bucyibaruya being tried among others.
“We want to handle at least one case every six months. It might not be enough but efforts are put in place on collaboration between leaders, Police and the judiciary that French and Rwandan judiciary are working together on this,” Amb. Anfré noted.
{{The future of Rwanda and France}}
Amb. Anfré has said that more efforts need to be put in place to strengthen bilateral relations given that both countries are envisaging joint projects.
He explained that there are opportunities for future collaboration between both countries through the promotion of French language and other prospective areas of cooperation.
“France wants to be back in the right direction with Rwanda. The visit of President Macron and admitting the role of France had a great significance that we can focus on the future after getting on common ground regarding our past,” Amb. Anfré revealed.
He explained that his country has many projects like fostering collaboration in different projects in the areas of transport, hosting conferences and sports events among others.
Amb. Anfré further stated that the World Cycling event to be held in Rwanda in 2025 will be the first of its kind hosted in Africa where both countries will work together to ensure it is a success.
France recently announced US$500 million grant to Rwanda until 2023.
Among others, French Development Agency (Groupe AFD) has provided Euro 218 million funding to Rwanda from 2019 up to date
Shortly before presenting his credentials to the Governor-General, Ambassador Gatete had a brief meeting with Senator Kamina Johnson, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Jamaica. They exchanged on areas of bilateral cooperation such as sports, tourism and development.
The virtual presentation preceded the arrival on Wednesday, April 13th of President Paul Kagame for his State Visit to Jamaica.
He was hosted on the first day of his visit to the country on Monday 11th April 2022 after addressing both chambers of the country’s parliament.
President Kagame thanked his counterpart for inviting him to the country and warm hospitality extended to him.
The visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations will be characterized by the signing of agreements on the second day in the sectors of economic partnership for the promotion and protection of investments, mining, SMEs and handcrafts, culture and arts, as well as youth, sport, and civic education.
Kagame said that both countries have built strong foundation over the years noting that the multiple bilateral agreements to be signed demonstrate productive ties between Rwanda and Congo.
The Head of State also said that both countries have what it takes to address common challenges joining forces to ensure that they continue to move faster towards progress and success.
“Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and other global crises, African countries cannot afford to do things alone. And it is in this background President that we value so much the friendship between the Congolese people and Rwandese and I value our relationship with you Mr President,” he noted.
President Kagame was accompanied by the delegation including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board, Clare Akamanzi among others.
The Head of State made the revelation as he addressed both chambers of Congo Brazzaville parliament. He highlighted that both Congolese and Rwandan people are united by one goal of building universal sustainable development.
“The people of Rwanda and the Republic of Congo are united by a common vision of a stable and prosperous region. We also share the aspiration to bring African countries and people together, working for a strong, thriving continent,” Kagame noted.
The President also urged the Parliamentarians to take action towards achieving continental prosperity.
“We know the problems that Africa faces. And we also know the solutions. What is missing is for us to move together, from words to action, with a sense of urgency. We cannot take pride in saying the right things, for decades, and then find ourselves many years from now, having said the right things, but not actually achieved much. We need to move to deliver what we have promised ourselves, but above all promised our citizens,” Kagame said.
“It is high time to do better,” he added.
The President said that Africa’s integration should be expedited. ” Africa has been talking about integration and unity for as long as Africa has existed. We need to continue making fast steps. With the vast knowledge and resources our continent has, there is no reason to still be where we are today,” he underscored.
Kagame pointed out an example of the East African Community (EAC) which recently admitted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the 7th member noting that it is a significant development, because strong Regional Economic Communities, are essential building blocks for successful continental integration, including the immense opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
As he talked about security, the Head of State thanked his counterpart of Congo Brazzaville, Denis Sassou N’Guesso for his contribution to resolve difficult situations in Libya where he was the Chairperson of the African Union High Level Committee on the issue.
“Peace and security in Africa remain high on the agenda, and both Rwanda and Congo are committed to efforts to resolve ongoing difficult situations, including in the Sahel region, Ethiopia and Somalia,” he stated.
Kagame also reminisced on Rwanda’s contribution to restore peace in the Central African Republic and Mozambique.
“We continue to work with Mozambique to mobilise additional support, needed to sustain the positive gains, and achieve the long-term peace and stability, required for socio-economic development,” he said.
On the second day of the State Visit, the two Heads of State are expected to hold a tête-à-tête followed by a bilateral meeting alongside their respective delegations.
Following the bilateral talks, representatives from both delegations will sign bilateral agreements in the sectors of economic partnership for the promotion and protection of investments, mining, SMEs and handcrafts, culture and arts, as well as youth, sport, and civic education.
President Kagame accompanied by his host Sassou Nguesso will also visit a milk factory in Oyo town.
Sylvestre Bigenimana, Byanguhave and Mbarushimana were arrested on Sunday, April 10, in a cassiterite mining concession located in Rusebeya Sector, Remera Cell in Kabarerwa Village. The concession belongs to Better Generation Machinery Limited.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said the suspects were arrested after the mining firm reported the alleged theft of their minerals.
“The management of Better Generation Machinery Limited called the Police reporting people, who had entered into their concession to steal minerals.
In reaction to the information, Police arrested Bigenimana, Byanguhave and Mbarushimana in the concession with 38kgs of cassiterite,” SP Karekezi said.
He added that the trio belong to a group that either steals or conducts illegal mining in various concessions and in residents’ fields.
Illegal mining activities in Rutsiro are common in the sectors of Mukura, Rusebeya, Gihango and Musasa. Cassiterite and coltan are the common minerals in the area.
Article 54 of the law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, states that; any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
Nzakamwita,79, who served as the Bishop of Byumba Diocese was sent to retirement recently after Pope Francis appointed Papias Musengamana to replace him in February 2022.
The appointment was announced three years after Bishop Nzakamwita wrote to the Pope to grant him retirement which is reached at the age of 75.
Speaking to Radio Rwanda, Bishop Nzakamwita has revealed that he wants to spend his retirement time at Rwesero Junior Seminary.
“I chose the seminary when asked the preferred place where I was to be given an apartment for my retirement. The seminary is a home where we upbring future priests. All students educated there might not become priests but they become good leaders and well educated people. It has been observed that seminaries produce good leaders and parents who properly assume their parenting duties,” he said.
“So, I am set to join the seminary as their grandfather. I am going to educate children and grandchildren in collaboration with the seminary’s management so that we can nurture them and train them to be generous and strive for personal development to become useful children and aspiring future leaders of this country. It will also be a good pathway for dedicated priests to continue helping Christians along the journey of Christianity,” added Bishop Nzakamwita.
He joins other retiring Bishops including the former Bishop of Kibungo Diocese, Frederick Rubwejanga, Thadée Ntihinyurwa of Kigali, Alexis Habiyambere of Nyundo, Anastase Mutabazi of Kabgayi and Kizito Bahujimihigo of Kibungo.
The Archbishop of Kigali Diocese, Antoine Cardinal Kambanda recently told IGIHE that the Catholic Church has a great memory on activities of Bishop Nzakamwita.
He explained that Nzakamwita contributed a lot to reconciling Rwandans as he particularly led Christians with fresh wounds of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Cardinal Kambanda also revealed that Nzakamwita served the church as much as he could in his capacities in spreading the Gospel and contributed to family development through the resolution of disputes and promoting their wellbeing among others.
Bishop Nzakamwita was born on 20th April 1943 in former Commune Kiyombe of Byumba Prefecture in the current Nyagatare District.
From 1952 to 1957, he studied Primary School in Kabare, Rushaki and Rwaza, from where he continued studies at Rwesero Junior Seminary.
He joined the Nyakibanda Major Seminary in 1965 and ordained priest on 11th July 1971 in Rushaki Parish. He began apostolic duties at Ruhengeri Cathedral where he spent five years before moving to Janja Parish as Chief Priest.
In 1989, he went to I Lumen Vitae in Belgium for further studies and returned in 1991 to teach at Rutongo Major Seminary until 25th March 1996 when he was appointed Bishop of Byumba Diocese. He was installed Bishop on 2nd July 1996.
He is among protectors of friendship pact due to his contribution to unity and reconciliation among Rwandans after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
