The players in coffee value chain from 40 countries across the world visited coffee plantations located in Karenge of Rwamagana District and Musasa of Gaskenke District on Sunday.
They are in Rwanda to attend the third World Coffee Producers Forum taking place in Kigali from 13th to 15th February 2023.
At least 50 foreign delegates who went to Gakenke visited a coffee processing plant belonging to Dukunde Kawa Cooperative in Ruli Sector.
Eric Ruganintwali, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Division Manager at the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) has said that they preferred to take guests to Gakenke because the cooperative has a lot of best practices to share.
The visit was also an opportunity for guests to witness the process of coffee production from the plantation to the packaging stage.
Musasa has unique taste that it is among the most preferred coffee brands on the market.
It is grown on high altitude hills of Gakenke District at 2,000 kilometers above sea level.
Dukunde Kawa Cooperative was established in 2000 by 300 members from 10 sectors in the former Commune Musasa, Kigali Ngali Prefecture.
The cooperative which grows coffee on 392 hectares, has four processing plants and one coffee dryer.
Members have increased to 1993 of whom women make up 80%. It to produces high quality coffee and seeks to put farmers’ livelihoods at the center of its operations.
In 2004, the cooperative was the first in Rwanda to acquire Trade Fair licensing.
Through Dukunde Kawa cooperative, farmers attest transformed livelihoods as they have 220 jersey cows that have served as a source of milk and compost used to fertilize their plantations.
The cooperative also provided members with interest-free loans, built two primary schools nearby its operations and help them subscribe for community based health insurance subscriptions on time.
Dukunde Kawa has also built a plant that processes milk, produces cheese and yogurt.
The move comes after the industrial agency in partnership with FXB-Rwanda last week, Friday 10, 2023 launched a Phyto Social Enterprise Project (POSE) which seeks to increase the production of herbal medicinal products for local and regional consumption.
The event took place in Huye district where NIRDA’s Applied Research and Development Department is based.
The Huye Research Centre has a state of the art life sciences laboratory and a botanical garden where more herbal medicinal plants will be planted.
The POSE project seeks to valorize rich medicinal plant diversity, sustain local production of herbal medicinal products, and increase economic opportunities for the community.
It also seeks to contribute to the research on medicinal plants for their safety, efficiency, and quality control.
According to Dr. Christian Sekomo Birame, the Director General of NIRDA, the three-year project could ensure more herbal medicinal plants are cultivated and high quality phytomedicines produced and used as alternatives to modern medicine.
“We want to valorize herbal; we will first engage in the cultivation of herbal medicines in our botanical garden and work with the community around,” he said
“We will then use our life sciences laboratory to produce herbal medicines and then transfer to the private sector for commercialization, we want those products to be modernized and be sold in pharmacies as they are known to be an alternative to modern medicine,” added Dr. Birame.
He noted that NIRDA will also seek to commercialize already developed products while more research could be conducted on new ones.
Dr. Birame said that it will also help with other research institutions including the academia to do more research to turn herbal medicinal plants into improved phytomedicines.
The partnership will also see companies involved in production of herbal medicine trained to embrace the implementation of Good Manufacturing (GPM) process and comply with national standards and have them registered and certified.
“We also intend to create more jobs, through employing casual workers while the project will also have a few permanent staff, this is really a crucial project and we are optimistic it will have a positive impact,” he added.
{{ Why the project is very important}}
Despite the role herbal medicine plays in treating several diseases as an alternative to modern medicine, it has remained less developed and in the hands of traditional healers so that they don’t meet standards of being certified and accepted both at national and international market.
They are not aware of the properties of the active ingredients or how the doses should be adjusted according to the plant’s raw material used in the drug formulation processes
According to health experts, herbal medicine or phytomedicine play a big role in the health sector development and in the treatment of several diseases as an alternative way to modern medicine. However, official figures indicate that Rwanda imported 98 per cent of medicines and spent nearly US$100 million in 2019.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 88 per cent of all countries are estimated to use traditional medicine especially herbal medicines, acupuncture, yoga, indigenous therapies among others.
Besides, over 40 percent of pharmaceutical formulations are based on natural products and landmark drugs, including aspirin and artemisinin originated from traditional medicine according to WHO.
The WHO also says that the contribution of traditional medicine to the national health systems is not yet fully realized and traditional medicine workers’ facilities, expenditures and products are not fully accounted for.
According to Jean Damascene Ndayisaba, FXB-Rwanda Legal Representative hailed NIRDA’s commitment to improve herbal medicinal plants and turn them into quality products.
“We are committed to making this partnership a success,” he said. “We want to make sure that the community around us benefit from it through getting jobs and learning how to cultivate medicinal plants in their gardens,” added Ndayisab.
The National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), is a government institution that has been mandated with a mission to enable a generation of industrial innovators to become competitive through technology monitoring, acquisition, development and transfer and applied research.
Sources from Burundi confirm that products from Rwanda produced by Inyange Industries, drinks from SKOL are among others present on Burundi’s market nowadays.
Meanwhile, some goods from Burundi can also be seen in Rwanda’s markets. These include palm oil and sailver fishes from Lake Tanganyika even though their quantity is still insufficient compared to the past.
On 4th February 2023, President Paul Kagame went to Bujumbura in Burundi where he attended the extra-ordinary summit of regional heads of state on insecurity in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and met with his counterpart of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye.
The visit was also considered as one of great milestones along the process to restore bilateral relations as Kagame had been last in Burundi in 2013.
It is a fruit of ongoing process to mend ties between the two neighboring countries that had deteriorated since 2015 emanating from chaos that followed the re-election of former President Pierre Nkurunziza for a third term.
Burundi Eco news medium recently announced that drinks produced in Rwanda from Skol and Inyange Industries as well as cheese from the country are present in different markets in Bujumbura.
Before both countries’ relations worsened, Skol was among popular drinks in Bujumbura that some bars carried the name of the company’s drinks. Advertising billboards were also erected in different parts of the city.
As relations soured, some products from Rwanda were no longer shipped to the country which affected businesses in different aspects.
Volcano Express, a transport company from Rwanda has also resumed travels to Burundi. It recently announced that travelling to Bujumbura onboard the company’s buses costs Rwf15, 000.
In October 2015, Volcano Express’s office was destroyed in Bujumbura and searched by Burundi’s intelligence officials as the country accused Rwanda of supporting coup plot suspects who attempted to overthrow former President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Before both countries experienced strained relations in 2014, trade volumes totaled to US$20 million per annum.
Figures from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) released in December 2022 indicate that Burundi was Rwanda’s sixth re-export partner.
In December 2022, Rwanda exported goods worth US$290,000 (over Rwf290 million) to Burundi up from US$180,000 of the previous month.
This Sunday, IGIHE conducted a spot check to different markets across Kigali to assess the situation and stablished scarcity of products from Burundi.
“Silver fishes’ prices change overtime. They currently cost Rwf12,000 per kilogramme but it recently stood at Rwf9500. It depends on available quantity. The price reduces when they increase on the market and goes higher in case the quantity decreases. Besides, prices also go up when taxes increase at borders,” said one of vendors selling silver fishes from Lake Tanganyika in Nyabugogo.
Vendors of the silver fishes locally known as ‘Indundi’ affirm that they used to order them through Tanzania, thus affecting the pricing.
Despite their high cost, vendors say that the sardine fishes from Lake Tanganyika are the most delicious. The price of other types of silver fishes in the market stands at Rwf2500.
Felicité Tumwitizina, another vendor of silver fishes in a market known as ‘Kwa Mutangana’ also said that prices would drop if they get enough Indundi supplies.
A client comes to us and leaves instantly after learning about the higher price.
Other products from Burundi found in the market include apple fruits and mangoes among others.
Traders in Kigali say that fruits from Burundi have not yet started pouring in large quantities as usual.
“We do not have fruits from Burundi on the market. The majority of mangoes here are from Tanzania, Uganda and Bugarama,” said another trader.
On Saturday 11th February 2023, the Governor of Kayanza Province in Burundi, Col Remy Cishahayo visited his counterpart of Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi. Both leaders assured that the two countries are working hard to resume businesses as usual.
He conveyed the message on Sunday 12th February 2023 as he interacted with Rwandan diaspora in Europe during an event to celebrate National Heroes Day.
The virtual talks brought together Rwandans from across Europe and diplomats representing Rwanda to European countries.
The Minister of Youth and Culture, Rosemary Mbabazi; Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Olivier Nduhungirehe and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Germany, Igor Cesar; were among other guests who delivered talks.
Lt Gen Kabandana said that the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was possible because of bad leadership that promoted ethnic divisionism, spread hatred and excluded a segment of Rwandans.
“All those aspects came into play along with refuge and other problems that led Rwanda to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. After the Genocide, the country was reduced to ashes. So, we needed far-sighted heroes, committed to reshape Rwanda beyond and spearhead the resilience journey of the nation and its people,” he said.
Lt Gen Kabandana has however disclosed that there are individuals who harbored intentions to hold back the country after RPA soldiers stopped the Genocide.
“A large number of security threat architects wanted to threaten the country and had strength. The majority of them was in Congo. We went through such situation for long,” he noted.
“From 1995 to 2001, there were several wars. The infiltration attacks were tough, the struggle to bring back over 3 million Rwandans taken hostage in Congo […] All these activities required heroism and dedication,” added Lt Gen Kabandana.
At the time, Lt Gen Kabandana highlighted, the majority of the country’s enemies wanted to commit genocide again over various reasons.
“It was necessary to thwart them lest they hold back the country’s progress. The third enemy and still exists today is genocide ideology. The enemy always reproduces, and brings into existence those who are still stuck in the dark history,” he said.
“Building the nation and consolidating gains requires bravery and everyone’s contribution. Today’s war does not require fighters with bows and guns […]”
{{Warning to security threat architects}}
Lt Gen Kabandana urged Rwandans to strengthen their unity because its absence affects the entire country as it happened in the past leading to refuge, ethnic divisionism and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He explained that Rwanda’s developments after Genocide against the Tutsi are fruits of heroes’ dedication.
“The country cannot exist without heroism because there are many reasons why other countries or enemies want another to be destroyed. There are individuals who still think that our country can experience aforementioned problems again,” noted Lt Gen Kabandana.
“So, it requires resolute bravery and dedication for the country to restore its reputation and trust among its people which send a lesson to dissidents that it is impossible to destabilize the country,” he added.
Lt Gen Kabandana further revealed that there are individuals harboring intentions to attack the country but have failed because the country is safeguarded.
“There have been attempts. There are still people wishing to do it but did not stop willfully. They are unable to make it happen. There are soldiers, other security organs and citizens who must embrace heroism to protect territorial integrity […] It is the foundation for everything we do because the country would be in danger without safeguarding its integrity,” he said.
“I want to assure you that Rwandan soldiers are capable, they are dedicated enough, we have heroes of all categories among them. These values do not only characterize them here but also in other places where they are needed for intervention,” disclosed Lt Gen Kabandana.
He pointed out countries including Mozambique, South Sudan and others where Rwandan troops continue to exhibit excellence in their mission to restore peace going hand in hand with values of promoting unity and heroism.
Lt Gen Kabandana joined Rwandan army in 1990 and was among soldiers who fought the Liberation Struggle.
He once served as Defence Attaché to the Embassy of Rwanda and held different positions as a Brigade staff officer in charge of Civil Military Affairs, Chief Instructor at Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, and Deputy Chief Military Personnel Officer in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan -UNMISS Sudan.
Among others, Lt Gen Kabandana was once the Chairman of the Military Tender Board: Chief of Logistics, RDF HQ; Commandant of Rwanda Military Academy and Director of Rwanda Peace Academy.
He was promoted from the rank of Major General to Lieutenant General towards the end of last year after completing his tour of duty as the Joint Task Force Commander of Rwandan Security Forces deployed to fight terrorists in Mozambique.
Minister Mbabazi also commended Rwanda’s heroes for their contribution to make Rwanda an internationally recognized country which is currently contributing to different peacekeeping missions.
She requested participants of the discussions, particularly the youth, to take responsibility and leading step to desist those who misinterpret history.
The new mercenaries from Bucharest in Romania arrived in Goma town on Tuesday 7th February 2023.
Sources from FARDC have confirmed that they are accommodated at La Joie Plazza Hotel.
It is said that the recruitment will bring the total number of mercenaries fighting in eastern DRC to 340.
Increasing mercenaries evidences the country’s stand to fight instead of respecting resolutions reached through Luanda and Nairobi processes to end hostilities by means of dialogue.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta told parliamentarians last month that relations between Rwanda and DRC are not good even though there are established regional mechanisms to end ongoing tensions.
He disclosed that FARDC is openly engaged in collaboration with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Minister Biruta also revealed that the coalition never ceases saying that it will finally strike Rwanda.
“I told you what happened recently including fighter jets that have been violating Rwanda’s airspace. Besides, you have seen mercenaries brought by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past few days. It is said that they are around 300 mercenaries living in Goma. It done openly,” he said.
Dr. Biruta highlighted that the African Union (AU) signed a convention on 3rd July 1977 for the elimination of mercenary activities on the continent.
He explained that the recruitment of mercenaries in DRC is done with intentions to attack Rwanda and the country is not condemned despite the signed ‘treaty for eradication of mercenaries’.
Dr. Biruta however assured that FARDC soldiers and those mercenaries will be dealt with the way the come if they cross the red line and attack Rwanda.
The Urban CPI is considered as the headline index for monetary policy purposes. In addition, select detailed item indices are published for items judged to be important or experiencing extreme price movement.
In January 2023, reads the report released yesterday, food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 41 percent on annual basis and increased by 2.7 percent on monthly basis.
‘Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ increased by 8.3 percent on annual basis and increased by 0.1 percent on monthly basis. Transport increased by 12.6 percent on annual basis and increased by 0.5 percent on monthly basis.
The data also show the “local products” increased by 21.4 percent on annual change and increased by 1.4 percent on monthly basis, while prices of the “imported products” increased by 18.5 percent on annual basis and increased by 0.8 percent on monthly basis.
The prices of the “fresh products” increased by 44.6 percent on annual change and increased by 3.6 percent on monthly basis.
The prices of the “energy” increased by 18.2 percent on annual change and increased by 0.2 percent on monthly basis.
The prices of the “general Index excluding fresh products and energy” increased by 15.2 percent on annual change and increased by 0.7 percent on monthly basis.
The ETM provides a life-saving channel to evacuate refugees and asylum seekers in need of international protection from Libya to Rwanda. While these individuals temporarily remain in Rwanda, the ETM provides shelters as well as access to health, psychosocial support, and livelihood trainings for evacuees during the processing of their files and identification of future solutions, including award resettlement to third parties.
This latest round of funding builds on earlier phase I support package of €12.5 million between 2019 and 2022.
The EU also funds another ETM in Niger, through which more than 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers have been evacuated out of Libya since 2017.
Commenting on this funding; the Ambassador of the European Union to Rwanda, Amb. Calvo Uyarra said that the ETM is a crucial life-saving initiative to evacuate people facing major threats and inhumane conditions in Libya to safety in Rwanda.
“It is a significant example of African solidarity and and of partnership with the European Union. We are grateful to the Government of Rwanda for hosting these men, women and children until such time, durable solutions can be found,’ she said.
UNHCR Rwanda Representative, Aissatou Ndiaye also said that the European Union has been a vital partner and donor to UNCHR Rwanda’s operations over the last few years.
She disclosed that the agency is thrilled to continue the partnership through the latest round of funding to the ETM.
“The needs of asylum seekers and refugees strapped in Libya are immense. Through the ETM and Government of Rwanda support, solutions are being found to bring them to safety, first in Rwanda and then subsequently in third countries through resettlement. Over the next years, we aim to support about 3,000 more people to find solutions to their plight,” she noted.
Since 2019, over 1500 refugees and asylum seekers have been hosted at Gashora Transit Center of whom more than 900 have sent to third countries in Europe including France, Sweden, Belgium and Finland among others.
Minister Ndagijimana announced that the proposed budget revision will increase the Government spending by Frw 106.4 billion, a 2.3% increase to Frw 4,764.8 billion from Frw 4,658.4 billion announced in the original budget in June, 2022.
This revised budget will support continued economic recovery, supplement job creation efforts and continue to facilitate businesses to recover from covid-19 impact. Additional Investments in education, healthcare, ICT, and agriculture will be at the forefront of the ongoing government effort to invest in Rwanda’s future, through the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1).
“Despite persistent challenges stemming from COVID-19 effects, global supply chain issues, inflationary environment and impact of climate shocks, our economy continues to show strong signs of recovery. Over the first three quarters of 2022, the economy registered an 8.5% growth, with signs of beating projections. This budget revision reflects these successes, and the effectiveness of the economic recovery plan in keeping businesses afloat, encouraging new investments, creating jobs, and maintaining strong social protection for vulnerable citizens”, Minister Ndagijimana said.
{{Key changes in the 2022-2023 Revised Budget}}
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The proposed revised budget contains several important adjustments, such as an increase of domestic revenues by Frw 115.2 billion from Frw 2,372.4 billion in the original budget to Frw 2,487.6 billion – a 5 % rise, while domestic financing increased by Frw 39.4 billion from Frw 282.6 billion in the original budget to Frw 322 billion.
A stronger recovery has increased government revenues, including Frw113.2 billion increase in tax revenue from Frw 2,067.7 billion in the original budget to Frw 2,180.9 billion representing 5.1% increase. Furthermore, non-tax revenue is expected to increase by Frw 2 billion from Frw 304.6 billion to Frw 306.7 billion, thanks to the continued recovery through increased internally generated revenue streams.
{{Expenditure }}
In the revised budget Government expects to increase spending by Frw 106.4 billion from Frw 4,658.4 billion to Frw 4,764.8 billion. The expenditure envelope has been revised to reflect the changes for some items under recurrent spending, capital expenditure and net lending outlays.
{{Recurrent Expenditure}}
On the original budget estimate of Frw 2,543.2 billion is being raised to Frw 2,705.5 billion showing a net increase of Frw 162.3 billion, while on capital expenditure, there will be a decrease in capital spending of Frw 66.5 billion from Frw 1,847.2 projected in the original budget to Frw 1,780.8 billion to support key recurrent expenditures, such as increase of the number of teachers and their salaries, supporting universal school feeding program, and additional fertilizers to boost coffee production.
The earthquake jolted the Southeast of Türkiye and neighboring Syria early Monday on 6th February 2023.
As of today, media reports indicate that over 4000 victims have died in the strong earthquake.
In Türkiye, at least 2,921 people were killed and 15,834 others were injured in the earthquakes, the country’s Anadolu agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
In neighboring Syria, at least 711 were killed and 1,431 injured in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Tartus, said the Syrian Health Ministry. Media reports also cited rescue workers as saying that 733 were killed and over 2,100 injured in the rebel-held region in Syria.
Leaders of different countries have provided support for the countries to strengthen emergency response and sent messages of comfort.
President Kagame has also condoled with the bereaved families through a message posted on Twitter.
“My deepest condolences to President Erdogan, the people of Türkiye and of Syria for the immense loss of life and destruction following the earthquake. The people of Rwanda stand in solidarity with you during this time of sorrow,” he tweeted.
Turskish President, Erdogan has declared seven-day mourning to honour victims of the earthquake.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Türkiye’s southern province of Kahramanmaras at 4:17 a.m. local time (0117 GMT) on Monday, followed by at least 78 aftershocks. The quakes were also felt in Lebanon, Israel and Cyprus.
Turkey is among countries that are often jolted by earthquakes. In 1999, strong earthquake killed over 17,000 people in Northwest of the country.
The deadliest earthquake struck the country in 1939 and took lives of 33,000 people in Erzincan Province located in eastern Turkey.
The incident occurred in the morning of Friday 3rd February 2023 when the maize drying facility which caved in, took 11 lives and left more than 30 people injured.
The drier belongs to Duharanire Ubukire – Gasagara Cooperative based in Gasabo District of Kigali City.
Following the accident, the government assured to take measures to ensure the safety of built up structures is reinforced to avoid similar incidents in the future. The deceased were buried on Sunday in Rusororo.
Minister of State in charge of social Affairs at the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), Assumpta Ingabire represented the government during the ceremony.
She condoled with the bereaved families and others whose relatives sustained injuries. Ingabire told them that the government stands with them during these difficult times and ‘will continue to stay closer to them’.
“On behalf of the Government of Rwanda, we have come here to sympathize with you. You lost siblings, children and parents but we are also saddened by the incident because it is a loss to the country. These brothers have died but they leave a good legacy – the legacy of work,” she said.
“The government will continue to stay close to you to move on with life, be it in terms of wellbeing or sustaining the cooperatives’ activities. There are recommendations to reinforce safety on facilities used by citizens and we assure that this incident won’t repeat itself,” added Ingabire.
It said that the accident resulted from heavy weight of maize on the drier’s wooden structure and wind that shook it.
