Though the impact of the partial lockdown may not yet directly show any changes in figures whatsoever, the country posted good results in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
Two new cases were registered, bringing the total to 261. A total of 746 tests were done yesterday and the number of recoveries has increased to 128 with 4 registered in the last 24 hours.
The new format of the update does not mention the issue of cross border truck drivers who in a couple of days were largely affected and increased numbers in the country.
While the government has partially lifted lockdown, some people remain jobless; the system will help to easily identify those in need due to the effects of COVID-19.
“The government through a consulting company has developed a donation collection and distribution tool in order to help in the management and follow up on food distribution to families affected by COVID-19,” says the announcement.
‘Ngira Nkugire Management system’ is intended to facilitate the government in identifying and registering affected people, to manage and to distribute aid being provided. The system will ensure that beneficiaries get donations properly and also identify those who are yet to get foods and other basic living needs.
“The system will have the list of needy people, show those who have received the aid and quantity of the foods as well as those who are yet to get food and ensure they get it the next round.”
Prof.Anastase Shyaka, the Local Government Minister explained that the number of people who receive food rations could decrease following the partial lifting of the lockdown.
“People who will resume work will no longer receive food,” he said.
He stated that reforms are going to be undertaken among those who were getting food aid so as to remain with those whose jobs are still on lockdown.
“Those to continue getting support include motorcyclists whose jobs are still under lockdown and many others. We are going to discuss with concerned institutions to identify people whose jobs are still on lockdown,” he said.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) says that as a result of the current economic crisis caused by the pandemic, almost 1.6 billion informal workers, out of the global workforce of 3.3 billion, have suffered great damage to their capacity to earn a living.
Cogebanque PLC fraternity have also come up with a grand contribution of Rwf100 million to be injected in supporting government efforts in preventing the spread of the virus as well as strengthening resilience efforts.
A full statement from the Bank reads:
In view of the extraordinary challenges of COVID 19 pandemic,
Cogebanque PLC fraternity will contribute part of their remuneration to
the Government’s COVID 19 social protection programmes.
Cogebanque Management will make available a sum of RWF 100 million
to be handed over to the Government as it continues to oversee relief
efforts for families most affected by the ongoing crisis.
As we continue to work together as a community to curb the spread of
the virus, Cogebanque will continue to devote all necessary resources
to ensure our client’s personal safety, and that the community at large,
while also maintaining all the services that our customers count on.
We would also like to encourage all our clients, partners as well as the
general public to continue using e–banking channels such as our mobile
application Coge mBank, USSD solution *505# and Internet banking.
The federation that oversees Moto riders nationwide, has identified 7 Cooperatives namely Gecomo, Korandebe Motari, Koranumucyo Motari, Nyamocoop, Cyinyoni, Twiyubake and GCM Gatsata whose members will be beneficiaries of this initiative.
Based on FERWACOTAMO’s selection criteria of the most vulnerable households, 1,500 riders have been identified and will each receive Rwf 10,000 into their MoKash Savings Account.
Mitwa Ng’ambi, CEO of MTN Rwanda said, “We believe it is the responsibility of all organisations to assist where they can during the pandemic. With the necessary restriction on movement to curb the spread of Covid-19, we acknowledge motorists to be one of the groups most affected. In partnership with NCBA and Huawei, we saw it important to assist as much as we can. This is one of various initiatives we have put in place to support Rwandans during this difficult time.”
Accessible via MTN Mobile Money (by dialling *182*5#), MoKash is a Savings and Loan product offered by NCBA and MTN. MoKash provides 30-day term loans at 9% interest. Through MoKash, customers can also open savings accounts with interest of up to 7% per annum.
Lina Higiro, CEO of NCBA Bank Rwanda said, “The Moto is synonymous to Kigali living. In this time of crisis, it is a privilege to partner with MTN and Huawei to not only support, 1,500 Moto rider families during these challenging times, but to introduce an easy digital mobile savings option to cushion unlikely events like these in the future.”
Commenting about the partnership, Country Director of Huawei Rwanda, Mr. Toni Yangshengwan said, “We realise the need to support our fellow country people who have been hit hard by the impact of Covid-19 and take the responsibility to reach out to those we can in our capacity. I would like to thank MTN Rwanda and NCBA for this initiative and partnership, as I am sure it will help many. We encourage everyone to follow the guidelines given by the Government of Rwanda. Together, we will win.”
Thanking NCBA, MTN and Huawei, Daniel Ngarambe, Chairman of the FERWACOTAMO Association said, “We are humbled, and deeply appreciative by the generosity and tripartite partnership formed to support our most vulnerable members through this difficult time.
NCBA, MTN and Huawei remain committed to stand ready to leverage their core expertise, technology and infrastructure to support and align their interventions and responses with the efforts of the Government of Rwanda to contain and mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
Following the decision, some students at the University of Rwanda and Rwanda Polytechnic under government scholarship program have demanded to continue accessing their monthly stipend as they have to use internet and other online academic resources to continue with their education despite the lull. Some students have also sought clarification on the loans to be repaid to the bank.
Rwandan Development Bank (BRD), which is in charge of providing scholarships and bursary said on Twitter: The Ministry of Education will soon announce the government’s decision on the bursaries for the period from May to September. ”
In response, one of the students wrote: “Make decisions that are fair and impartial.
For me, it would be better if they gave [stipend] for a month or two. Now the rest you will give to the students at the beginning of the school because of the times we are in. I think we will get out of it [lockdown] when our families do not have enough [resources] to support us,” Manzi Keeper said.
Another student, Eric Nshimiyimana, responded: “Please make a good decision because IPRCs students seem to have never stopped classes at all, and it requires a lot of internets!!!”
University students say that if they were given a bursary they would be productive these days since they don’t have much to do. It also helps them monitor online courses and build on these extraordinary moments. Those in the final years say they need to do research and write their dissertations.
Students at the University of Rwanda and Rwanda Polytechnic are given a monthly stipend of Rwf40,000.
While the government has partially lifted lockdown, some people remain jobless and the system will help to easily identify those in need of food aid due to the effects of COVID-19.
“The government through a consulting company has developed a donation collection and distribution tool in order to help in the management and follow up on food distribution to families affected by COVID-19,” says the announcement.
‘Ngira Nkugire Management system’ is intended to facilitate the government in identifying and registering affected people, to manage and to distribute aid being provided. The system will ensure that beneficiaries get donations properly and also identify those who are yet to get foods and other basic living needs.
“The system will have the list of needy people, show those who have received the aid and quantity of the foods as well as those who are yet to get food and ensure they get it the next round.”
Prof.Anastase Shyaka, the Local Government Minister explained that the number of people who receive food rations could decrease following the partial lifting of the lockdown.
“People who will resume work will no longer receive food,” he said.
He stated that reforms are going to be undertaken among those who were getting food aid so as to remain with those whose jobs are still on lockdown.
“Those to continue getting support include motorcyclists whose jobs are still under lockdown and many others. We are going to discuss with concerned institutions to identify people whose jobs are still on lockdown,” he said.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) says that as a result of the current economic crisis caused by the pandemic, almost 1.6 billion informal workers, out of the global workforce of 3.3 billion, have suffered great damage to their capacity to earn a living.
The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Karenzi Hakizimana, was found at home by security and local officials as they were inspecting the implementation of the directives to fight COVID-19.
The search came about when it was discovered that some people in this neighborhood in Rusave Village, were selling alcohol in their homes during the lockdown period.
According to officials, while searching in his home, officials found Hakizimana eating meat that looked strange and his attempt to deny the officials’ entry raised more suspicions.
“He held a knife and threatened to stab whoever tried to enter. Security eventually subdued him and a search of his home was conducted,” said David Muhigirwa, the executive secretary of Nyakariro Sector, where the incident took place.
During the search, officials found other body parts of a ten-year-old and proceed to take the suspect into custody ; they later established the deceased was a child from a neighboring home.
“He killed the child and decapitated the body, eating some of the organs which he first roasted,” said Muhigirwa, saying that this was a strange case that investigators are still probing to establish the circumstances around it.
Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) spokesperson, Marie Michelle Umuhoza said that the suspect is in detention at Muyumbu RIB post, and he is being charged with murder and desecration of a corpse.
The suspect’s parents said that the 27-year-old man had been living in Uganda since he was 15, and only returned about eight months ago. It is also said that he has been showing abnormal behavior since his return, but he was not taken to any health facility.
There are reports indicating that some unscrupulous bus operators are selling tickets to passengers, promising to transport them to Kigali yet all travels from one province to another are still under ban.
Some incidents were reported in Musanze park, where bus operators promised to take passengers up to Shyorongi, and then others would pick them up and take them to Kigali, an act that has been pronounced as illegal.
RURA Director General Lt Col Patrick Nyirishema has warned the perpetrators, saying they are making a grave mistake which cannot e tolerated.
“People from upcountry provinces have places where they are not supposed to cross. That is, all roads from the provinces to Kigali have police checkpoints to ensure that people are not breaking those measures, which means they are being monitored,” Nyirishema said.
The cabinet meeting last week decided that from Monday, public transport or private vehicles will be allowed to operate in the central part of the province. But public and private transport between Kigali City and other provinces will continue to be suspended.
“In Kigali, the COVID-19 pandemic became most prevalent and that’s where the ‘stay at home’ started from so that we can prevent it … You can go from Huye to Muhanga, whether by your car or by public transport, which is legal, but not from one province to another it’s legal,” Minister for Local Government, Prof Shyaka Anastase said.
On April 20, 2020, the price of crude oil in the United States (West Texas Intermediate, WTI) reached less than zero dollars, starting to sell at – 37.63.
The amount of petrol was so high that the store started to be small. Analysts say they have refused to set up the cost of transporting and storing it, according to Cushing in Oklahoma where there are large stocks.
“The drop has resulted from a change in prices for petroleum products at the international market,” reads part of the RURA statement dated 3rd March 2020.
Fuel importers cited cases of lack of storage facilities as several trucks have spent weeks at Gatsata over failure to offload which causes extra costs on both importers and suppliers. The Ministry of trade promised to find a solution to the problem.
Importers have instead paid people to taken away the fuel and get it out of their hands.
RURA announced referring to the statement on cabinet resolution on 30th, 04, 2020 to further contain the COVID-19 outbreak; allowing some activities to resume.
RURA states that transports will resume on the 4th of May 2020.
“Passengers are informed that the transport services that operate within Kigali city are prohibited from operating outside of Kigali.”
However, transport working in the provinces will operate within their respective provinces. Passengers are required to wash their hands prior to entering the bus, always wear facemasks and they must comply with the social distancing of at least one meter while getting on or off the bus.
Public transport buses will carry half number of passengers and operators are required to clearly mark to clear mark permitted passengers’ seats on the bus with an empty seat separating passengers from another.
The transport tariff has been adjusted in a way that in the City of Kigali fare is increased from 22frw/km to 31.8frw/Km. As for provinces fare, RURA said that the fare increased from 22frw/Km to 30.8 frw/Km.
“This will enable operators to sustain the service while observing social distancing guidelines.”
