The campaign conducted on Sunday, November 7, targeted cyclists organized in a cooperative called Kotamonyaka operating in Runda, Gacurabwenge and Rugarika.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, the commercial cyclists are among the victims but also cause road accidents.
“Cyclists are among road users, whose reckless and inappropriate behaviours cause fatal accidents. Some of them hitch trailers to pull them uphill and in some cases this has ended fatal. Others ride at night without reflector jackets and no head lights, which is deadly, and these are some behaviours that they were urged to do away with,” SP Kanamugire said.
The cyclists were also cautioned against overloading, reckless riding, and bad maneuvers.
They were also urged to refrain from any acts of criminality such as trafficking drugs or facilitating drug dealers, but rather join efforts to identify and report drug dealers and other illegal acts.
Speaking at the event in Rwandan capital city Kigali, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta commended the government of China’s multidimensional contribution to the development of Rwanda in key sectors ranging from investment, infrastructure, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), to mining, health, agriculture, defense and security.
Since Nov. 12, 1971, and more particularly after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the two countries have worked closely to strategically develop their political and socio-economic ties.
China currently ranks among the top investors in Rwanda which has created thousands of jobs in different sectors.
“Supported by the increasing high level political interaction and exchanges, our bonds of relationship have flourished at all levels,” Biruta said.
He reiterated his country’s appreciation for the solidarity and support of the Chinese following the recent donation to Rwanda 500,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines.
The minister reaffirmed Rwanda’s readiness to explore new ways to further deepen the two countries’ relations under existing bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
In addition to traditional cooperation areas, the two countries enjoy cooperation in e-commerce, trade in high-quality agricultural produce, as well as combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rwanda’s coffee beans are popular on China’s e-commerce platforms, where each kilo of beans sold in China can bring coffee farmers four more dollars.
Rwanda became the first African country to export dried chili to China. Some 50,000 tons of dried chili will be exported to China in the next 5 years.
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Rao Hongwei said over the years the two countries have developed high-level political mutual trust, “making bilateral relations as stable as a great rock in the face of any changes in the international situation.”
“Our economic and trade cooperation has gotten closer. China is proud to be Rwanda’s largest trading partner and largest project contractor,” he said.
The bilateral trade volume between the two countries in 2020 reached 321 million U.S. dollars despite the impact of COVID-19.
Since 1982, China has dispatched 21 medical teams to Rwanda, with a total of 258 doctors providing medical services to more than 700,000 local people, according to data from the embassy.
Over 5,000 students were enrolled by the Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda while more than 2,000 members registered with the Rwanda Kung-Fu Wushu Federation.
Hundreds of Rwandan students receive Chinese scholarships to study in China every year while more and more Chinese have been learning about Rwanda and visiting for sightseeing and business.
Noting that people-to-people exchanges have expanded, the envoy noted that the two countries support each other in international affairs and speak in one voice on many issues such as development and human rights.
China is grateful for Rwanda’s firm support on issues involving China’s core interests and major concerns, Rao said.
According to the ambassador, the friendship between China and Rwanda is not an accidental choice, but the result of like-mindedness.
“We both maintain that all countries, big or small, strong or weak, are equal. We both cherish national sovereignty and independence, and resolutely oppose any interference in our internal affairs by any country or external forces,” he said.
Upholding the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity, and good faith, China seeks to strengthen cooperation with Rwanda “for mutual benefit, win-win outcome and common development,” the envoy added.
“China will join hands with Rwanda to build a community with a shared future for the two countries, and for China and Africa at large,” he said.
The exercise took place on Friday 5th November 2021 at Nyundo Health Center and the vaccination site at the Rubavu-Goma border post, commonly known for its French alias as ‘Petite Barrière’.
Artistes who participated in the campaign include Andy Bumuntu, Alyn Sano, Jules Sentore, Patient Bizimana, Mani Martin, Peace Jolis and Miss Rwanda Grace Ingabire.
It was organized by Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation.
Residents commended the campaign highlighting that it is significant for them to increase efforts meant to contain the spread of the pandemic and help the country return to normal situation.
“It has proven that Rwandan artistes stand with us to fight COVID-19. Besides, I am excited to see my favorite singer, Andy Bumuntu and Peace Jolis,” said Assouma Uwase.
Another resident, Yevani Ntawushiragahinda pledged to beef up efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic.
“I have received COVID-19 vaccine shot but it won’t provide loopholes for complacency. I remain committed to keep wearing a face mask and observe other instituted measures until the pandemic is defeated. People should take part in the vaccination campaign willingly to save their lives and protect other members of the community,” she said.
Miss Ingabire and other artistes who spoke to IGIHE, requested Rwandans continue participating in the vaccination campaign and stand against people spreading rumours on COVID-19 vaccine.
“I am among recipients of two COVID-19 vaccine shots. My message goes to unvaccinated people encouraging them not to be left behind because the vaccine is helping us to return to normal situation gradually. It is evident that we will fully recover from effects of the pandemic once everyone is vaccinated,” noted Alyn Sano.
Over 95,000 have been vaccinated in Rubavu district.
The Director General of Gisenyi Hospital, CSP Oreste Tuganeyezu has said that the vaccination efforts in Rubavu district are on good progress. He explained that the vaccine exercise which began with members of the elderly, people with chronic diseases and other workers whose line of duty put them at risk to catch the virus; has been extended to residents aged below 18.
“Today, we have fully vaccinated 64,681 residents while 96,450 have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine during the ongoing exercise. We encourage residents to seize the opportunity and participate in the mass vaccination campaign because we can only defeat the pandemic if we remain shun complacency altogether,” enthused CSP Tuganeyezu.
Andy Bumuntu also thanked organizers of the campaign and urged all Rwandans to get COVID-19 vaccine to help the country defeat the pandemic.
The artistes featured in the song ‘Tuzatsinda’ translated as ‘We shall win’ encouraging Rwandans to fight against COVID-19.
During the exercise held in Rubavu, the artistes also helped residents to fill their vaccination forms.
Considering its attractiveness, investors have started developing infrastructures at the prestigious hill to help people consume its beauty with great comfort.
Denise Irakoze is among entrepreneurs who explored the area and got inspiration to build an apartment stretched on 1670 square meters in Bwerankori cell, Kigarama sector.
The apartment is adjacent to Canal Olympia along nearby tarmac road. It has four units, two of them made of three rooms equipped with bathroom, latrine, sitting room and a modern kitchen.
Each of the two remaining two units has two rooms equipped with bathrooms, latrines, sitting room and modern kitchen.
The apartment also comprises of a shopping unit along the road.
Built of baked bricks, the building has ample parking with the capacity to accommodate 15 cars, a beautiful garden with ornamental trees and flowering plant providing fresh air.
The apartment is valued at Rwf800, 000,000. Interested buyers can contact the house manager on 0788573952 or the owner on 0788533791.
Howard G. Buffett is an American businessman whose foundation has supported the development of a center pivot irrigation project in Nasho sector.
The Nasho Irrigation Scheme project is made of 63 center pivots irrigation system, irrigating 1,173 hectares belonging to 2,099 smallholder farmers.
The inauguration of the project was graced by President Paul Kagame in 2020. It was developed to modernize Rwanda’s agriculture sector and specifically improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods.
The project, worth US$54 million, helps local farmers improve their livelihoods by enabling them to grow crops all year round, and allowing for a more efficient use of inputs, such as water and fertilizer, and by enhancing the yields and quality of the crops they grow.
Beneficiaries of the irrigation systems were grouped into a cooperative dubbed Nasho Irrigation Cooperative (NAICO); which utilize and maintain the infrastructure.
The scheme also consists of a solar power plant with a capacity of 3.3 megawatts to power the irrigation system, with 2.4 MW battery storage unit installed, to provide electricity to pump water and reduce the burden from farmers.
In addition, 144 houses (36 houses that are four-in-one) were constructed to resettle households from areas under pivot irrigation, and farm buildings.
About 24 km of existing roads within the project area were also widened and resurfaced and about 10 km of new roads created, which made it easy for installation of irrigation systems as well as transportation of inputs and produce.
Speaking at the inauguration of Nasho Irrigation Scheme last year, Kagame thanked Howard G. Buffett for the partnership that has become very productive in Rwanda’s agriculture and conservation to make a big difference for many lives.
WAKA Pay was officially launched on Friday 22nd October 2021 to ease customers’ transactions.
Individuals interested in the subscription can access the platform via provided website link www.wakaglobal.com/welcome-to-waka-life/
Sign-ups involve an upfront payment of Rwf 30,000 joining fee plus the first month’s payment of Rwf 25,000. Each month users are charged Rwf 25,000 automatically on their debit card of choice so they don’t have to save up for a membership or worry about coming in to pay.
Among others, gym enthusiasts will be entitled to recurring payments lasting for twelve months.
Subscribers using WAKA Pay will be allowed access to all services that were previously exclusive to particular clients. These include the use of desired equipment at their preferred WAKA location and attending group training sessions amid other fitness programs.
Payments will be made through https://payment.wakaglobal.com/choose-location.
Jeannetta Craigwell, the Chief Executive Officer, has said that the new platform will easily facilitate more people to subscribe to the fitness programs.
“We have always felt we were not doing enough to bring health and fitness to as many people as possible. Now with WAKA Pay, we can,” she said.
Wivine Gwaneza, the marketing manager at WAKA Fitness has explained that the new platform gives relief to customers who would struggle to pay for a subscription at once.
“We integrated the system with clients’ debit cards so that they can be able to pay annual subscription fees in 12 installments of Rwf 25,000 every month,” she explained.
“A customer first has to go through the registration process and choose the gym’s location whether in town or Kimihurura. He/she then uses the card to make payments which can’t take longer than five minutes! It’s fast, easy and affordable,” added Gwaneza.
WAKA started operations in Kimihurura [at Papyrus restaurant] in 2014. It has expanded and opened a new branch in town where it has had another gym in the Makuza building since 2018.
WAKA has a team of trained professionals who can put you on a fitness program based on your targets and subscription length. The center’s equipment ranges from cardio equipment like treadmills and stationary bikes, a mini basketball/football court, a climbing wall(the first in Kigali), spinning studio, among other equipment.
Rwanda FPU-3 IV contingent of 160 female-dominated officers left Kigali International Airport (KIA) at about 10am under the command of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Marie Grace Uwimana.
They replaced FPU-3 III commanded by SSP Jeannette Masozera, which also returned home later in the afternoon after a one-year successful tour-of-duty.
On arrival at KIA, the officers were taken through the Covid-19 prevention protocols before they join their respective families and resuming their policing duties back home.
Commissioner of Police (CP) George Rumanzi, Commissioner for Operations and Public Order in RNP, presided over the departure and arrival of the rotated contingents, on behalf of RNP leadership.
FPU-3, one of the two Rwandan Police contingents deployed in South Sudan, conducts its peace support operation duties in Central Equatorial State including the capital Juba.
Rwanda FPU-1 of 240 officers is deployed in Malakal, Upper Nile State.
While welcoming the replaced contingent back home, CP Rumanzi thanked them for representing their country ably.
He commended the contingent for their professional conduct in fulfilling their duties.
SSP Gaston Nsanzimana, who guided the replaced contingent back home, thanked all officers for their discipline, which played a great part in the successful tour-of-duty.
“We assumed varied responsibilities related to the UN mandate to support the people of South Sudan, mainly protection of civilians, supporting the revitalized peace agreement and humanitarian assistence,” SSP Nsanzimana
The contingent, he added, conducted patrol and escort duties, capacity building to train the local police and other community policing groups, and social responsibility in sanitation and hygiene at police stations as well as supporting the conflict-affected groups such as women and students living in IDP camps.
The country which once underwent serious economic downfall, is currently seeking to be back on its feet working with Rwanda as a gateway to restore global influence through cooperation with the African continent.
It was revealed on Friday 5th November 2021 by Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias on his visit to Rwanda after holding talks with his counterpart of Rwanda, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
During their discussions, Dendias and Dr. Biruta signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in Political Consultations that will allow both countries to discuss prospects for deepening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interests including trade and investment, tourism, education and agriculture among others.
Rwanda and Greece also signed a MoU on cooperation in the field of diplomatic training to reinforce the collaboration between respective ministries of foreign affairs.
His visit coincided with the donation of 332,800 AstraZeneca doses of COVID-19 shipped to Rwanda on Friday 5th November 2021, an addition to more 200,000 doses secured from the country early September this year.
Minister Biruta said that the visit of his counterpart resulted from both countries’ commitment to strengthen engagements at bilateral and multilateral levels.
He also told the media that discussions with Dendias focused on exploring available investment opportunities.
“We have discussed and took them through available investment opportunities where they expressed willingness to cooperate with us to promote trade and investment particularly in tourism sector,” he said.
“The visit is a significant milestone in promoting bilateral relations in different areas drawing emphasis on trade and investment,” added Biruta.
Greece is among developed countries with its GDP per capita estimated at US$19,827 (over Rwf19 million).
The country’s economy heavily relies on services which account or 80% of GDP with tourism as the main contributor.
Greece is ranked the 7th country attracting a large number of tourists on the European continent and the 16th tourist destination globally.
{{Rwanda as gateway for deepened ties with Africa}}
Greece has not been actively involved in global investments mainly due to economic crisis the country has undergone since 2008, when details emerged that it had heavy, outstanding debts.
The Greek debt crisis was the dangerous amount of sovereign debt Greece owed the European Union between 2008 and 2018. In 2010, Greece said it might default on its debt, threatening the viability of the eurozone itself.
To avoid default, the EU loaned Greece enough to continue making payments.
Since the debt crisis began in 2010, the various European authorities and private investors have loaned Greece nearly 320 billion euros.
It was the biggest financial rescue of a bankrupt country in history.
As of January 2019, Greece had only repaid 41.6 billion euros. It has scheduled debt payments beyond 2060.
In return for the loan, the EU required Greece to adopt austerity measures. The country minimized expenses to get out of the situation, high taxes and repeatedly slashed salaries and pensions. The country has adopted national economic recovery plan that saw debts decreased, restored economy that it is currently on the path to normalcy.
Dendias has explained that Greece is back for international cooperation starting with Africa and a continent with promising economy.
“The latest bilateral agreement between our two countries was signed 35 years ago. To be open, we didn’t implement and this is totally unacceptable,” he said.
“We have decided that we want to enhance our relations with African countries, because, among others, Africa will be the economic powerhouse of the world. Some of the fastest growing economies are located in this beautiful continent,” added Dendias.
He explained that Greece found it necessary to cooperate with Rwanda as the right gateway to penetrate on the continent considering the country’s remarkable progress following the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
“We, Greece, have no colonial past and by extension we do not carry any historic baggage. Also, thousands of my compatriots Greeks have emigrated to Africa and they have created thriving Greek Communities around the continent. For us, the gate to Africa should be Rwanda. Rwanda has recovered from one of the worst genocides in human history; a genocide that is within living memory of many of us. Rwanda has set an international standard for reconciliation, reconstruction and national unity. You have clearly set a benchmark,” revealed Dendias.
The annual World Bank’s Doing Business Report places Rwanda among the best African destinations for doing business and a fast-growing economy.
Dendias emphasized that it is an advantage to cooperate with such a country with favorable business environment.
He also stressed the need to fast track MoUs signed between both countries enhanced cooperation with countries that share the same principles and the same values ‘especially the belief that International Law should be the norm in relations between countries’.
After holding talks with Minister Biruta, Dendias visited Kigali Genocide Memorial where he paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi laid there.
Among others, Dendias and his delegation also met with President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro where they held talks revolving around strengthening bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Greece, regional issues as well as the Africa-EU relationship.
He also held discussions with officials from different public institutions including Rwanda Governance Board.
Rwanda and Greece enjoy existing relations in different areas. In July 2021, Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Jean Bosco Kazura visited Athens, the capital of Greece to strengthen cooperation.
He was welcomed by Gen Konstantinos Floros, Chief of Defence Staff of the Greek Defence Force.
In 2018, both countries signed air service agreement.
This evaluation is derived after analysing banks through eight categories: growth, profitability, operational efficiency, asset quality, and return on risk, liquidity, soundness, and leverage. Overall, Equity was ranked 22nd in Africa and 761st globally based on its Tier 1 capital base of US$ 1,096 million.
Equity’s exemplary performance in the rankings comes on the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down several sectors of the local economy.
Prioritizing people and lives over profits, the bank made significant investments in protecting communities and stakeholders. In partnership with the Kenya COVID-19 Emergency Board, it provided PPEs to health workers in 56 county and national hospitals, and 60 faith-based facilities.
The lender also supported 17,800 Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholars to cope with the prolonged school closure. It provided them with solar-powered radios and lamps with a mobile charging unit that allowed them to continue learning while providing for their life’s essentials financed by a monthly stipend with the support of Mastercard Foundation.
During the multi-crisis year, Equity focused on social impact investment, forgoing Kshs. 1.5 billion in waived mobile transaction fees, waiving Kshs.1.2 billion in loan rescheduling fees and accommodating Kshs.171 billion (or 31%) of the loan book for up to 3 years of principal and interest repayment breaks to enable businesses to survive.
Commenting on the ranking, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr. James Mwangi noted that the ranking is an indication that Equity remains robust despite the challenging operating environment.
“These global rankings are truly an affirmation befitting the financial strength and professionalism of the Bank, as well as the measures we took in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We strengthened our capital buffers by retaining profits and withholding dividend payouts, took long-term loan facilities that strengthened our liquidity buffers, supported host communities and our clients to mitigate the impact of the crisis on them by waiving fees and rescheduling their loans to match loan repayments to new cashflow patterns,” he observed.
Equity Group, which operates in six countries, weathered the COVID-19 disruption to register a 98% growth in its 2021 half-year Profits After Tax to Kshs.17.9 billion up from Kshs.9.1 billion the previous year. The Group, which is the largest bank in the region in assets, also reported a growth in total assets to Kshs. 1.12 trillion up from Kshs. 746.5 billion the previous year. Customer deposits grew by 51% to Kshs. 820.3 billion up from Kshs. 543.9 billion in the same period, retaining the lender’s position as the biggest bank in deposits, market capitalization and with a customer base of over 15 million customers.
The Banker’s global and regional rankings have been industry-standard measures of financial institutions performance for over 50 years. The Banker’s Top 1,000 World Banks ranks the largest banks by Tier 1 capital, a key measure of banking strength.
In addition, they analyse more than 120 data points tracked by The Banker Database year-on-year. The ranking is an invaluable resource for benchmarking bank-to-bank, as well as understanding the health and wealth of the global banking industry.
{{About Equity Group Holdings}}
Equity Group Holdings Plc is a Pan-African financial services holding company listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Uganda Securities Exchange, and Rwanda Stock Exchange. The Group has banking subsidiaries in Kenya, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and a Commercial Representative Office in Ethiopia. It has other subsidiaries in investment banking, insurance, telecom, fintech and social impact investments.
Equity Group is the largest bank in the region in assets of Kshs 1.12 trillion (USD 11.2 billion). It is also the biggest bank in deposits, market capitalization of USD 2billion and with a customer base of over 15 million customers. The Group has a footprint of 337 branches, 56,772 Agents, 32,269 Merchants, 697 ATMs and an extensive adoption of digital banking channel.
The Banker Top 1000 World Banks 2020 ranked Equity Bank 754 overall in its global ranking, 62nd in soundness (Capital Assets to Assets ratio), 55th in terms of Profits on Capital and 20th on Return on Assets. The Banker’s Top 100 African Banks 2020 placed the Bank in position 7 overall among the top 10 Banks in
Africa, 5th place on soundness, position 9 on growth performance, 8th on return on risk and position 6th in terms of profitability and on leverage category.
In the same year, Moody’s gave the Bank a global rating of B2 with a negative outlook same as the sovereign rating of the Kenyan government due to the Bank’s strong brand recognition, solid liquidity buffers and resilient funding profile, established domestic franchise and extensive adoption of digital and alternative distribution channels.
Marios Themistocleous, the General Secretary of the Primary Health Care at the Ministry of Health, responsible for the coordination and management of the National vaccination programme in Greece has explained the donation is a result of fruitful bilateral relations.
“This is a testament of friendship and deepened relations between Rwanda and Greece,” he said.
Themistocleous stressed that Greece wants to further strengthen existing ties in the future.
The vaccine doses which arrived at Kigali International Airport on 5th November 2021, are an addition to a donation of 200,000 doses Rwanda secured from the country recently in September.
At the time, Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga, the Minister of State in charge of Primary Health Care at the Ministry of Health explained that the donation is a result of fruitful cooperation between both countries’ militaries.
He revealed that received doses would be used to increase the number of vaccine recipients in rural areas as the case for Kigali.
Over 4 million have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine while more than 2 million are fully vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
