Last week, Kagame also held a phone conversation with King Charles III and expressed his condolences for the queen’s death. King Charles III is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II who ascended to the throne following the passing of his mother.
Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday 8th September 2022. Following her demise, King Charles III was formally proclaimed Britain’s new monarch at a meeting of the Accession Council held at St James’s Palace last Saturday.
President Kagame went to England coming from the United States of America (USA).
Other dignitaries who have arrived in the country for burial of Queen Elizabeth II include USA President, Joe Biden; the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau; Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern and Anthony Albanese of Australia among others.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that the Head of State chaired the council on Saturday 17th September 2022 on his visit to New York in the United States of America (USA).
The meeting was attended by leaders including The Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo; Pastor Rick Warren; Senior Economic Advisor to the President, Francis Gatare; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta; the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire and Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro, a lecturer at McGill University in Montréal, Canada.
PAC is comprised of Dr. Donald Kaberuka, the former President of Africa Development Bank (AfDB); Scott Ford, a Scottish businessman; Kaia Miller the founder of Aslan Global; Michael Fairbanks, an economic expert who served as a lecturer at Harvard Business School; Prof. Michael Porter; Michael Roux who once overseen Rwanda’s interests in Australia and Dr. Paul Davenport who headed Alberta University among others.
The meeting takes time at a time when Rwanda’s economy continues to recover following effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) recently announced that Rwanda’s economy increased by 7.5% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year.
The economy is also projected to grow by 6% in 2022.
Kagame is in the United States of America (USA) to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week.
The discussed Car Free Day is a mass sports event which takes place twice a month in Kigali City.
The sporting event serves to make Kigali a green city while promoting a healthy lifestyle. The bi-monthly Car Free Day usually takes place between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. every first and third Sunday of the month, bringing together city dwellers for physical fitness exercises.
The exercise started in 2016, aimed promoting healthy lifestyle among Rwandans and help them benefit from other health activities like screening for non-communicable diseases.
Car Free Day provides a platform to educate people on healthy lifestyle choices in general and creates awareness that roads are not only built for vehicles but also for pedestrians.
Among others, the mass sports helps to reduce air pollution.
Meanwhile, the community work aims at sharing the practice of ’Umuganda’ as one of the homegrown solutions aimed at uniting people and help the community to protect their environment.
Umuganda can be referred to as an activity of “coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome,” a practice that has long existed in Rwandan culture but only recently became mandatory.
Umuganda was carried out to build or renovate a house for a member of the community and till farm lands among others.
As per history, Umuganda was adopted by the first and second republic after Rwanda’s Independence in 1962 and used as a platform to spread political ideology among people, hence distorting its goal.
Since 2007, the Government of Rwanda revised the program’s priorities to align them with activities promoting national development, contributing to national budget and socialization among people.
Umuganda is conducted every last Saturday of the month. It brings together all Rwandans aged between 18 and 65.
The activity has had a huge impact to beneficiaries in a short time span. For instance, over 400 families living in dilapidated structures in Nyanza District were helped to live in decent houses in 2017.
They were built through community work and local leadership’s support which provided roofing sheets.
His suspension was announced in the night of Friday 16th September 2022 through a statement released by the Office of Prime Minister and signed by Dr. Edouard Ngirente on behalf of President Paul Kagame.
“Today September 16th 2022, Mr. Didier Shema Maboko has been suspended from the position of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports [MINISPORTS], with immediate effect,” reads the statement.
Reasons for his suspension have not yet been announced as it happens to other leaders.
Born in 1934, Jim Inhofe is a senator in US Congress who has been representing Oklahoma State.
Inhofe, 87, is the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and its past chairman. He served previously as chairman and ranking Republican of the Environment and Public Works Committee.
Inhofe recently announced that he would retire effective January 3, 2023, after 35 years in Congress and a career in politics spanning over 50 years.
On Thursday 15th September 2022, Rwanda’s Embassy in the United States (US) hosted a breakfast at the US Capitol in appreciation of Senator Jim Inhofe’s career and friendship with Africa and Rwanda, in particular.
In a message he sent, President Paul Kagame stated that Senator Inhofe’s dedication to Rwanda has nurtured relationships that have helped strengthen the bonds between Rwanda and the United States.
“We have watched you invest in learning about and understanding Rwanda and other African countries. We have also watched you educate your peers on the importance of Africa and countries like Rwanda as worthy global allies,” he said.
“You have shown that a productive relationship with the United States is mutually beneficial for our people and contributes to greater security and stronger economies,” added Kagame.
Senator Inhofe appreciated the warm welcome he was always given whenever he traveled to Rwanda.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr.Vincent Biruta revealed that he considers Senator Inhofe as a man of profound wisdom who embodies the symbol of friendship between Africa and the US.
“I think of a man of principles who devoted his life to public service and did it with integrity, selfless work ethic, and determination,” he said.
Dr. Biruta and Rwanda’s Ambassador to the US, Mathilde Mukantabana also presented a painted gift to Senator Inhofe.
“The shields and spears in this painting symbolize the readiness to defend and fight for your country. The moon and the rays symbolize power and wisdom. And the fact that these elements appear in pairs in this painting means unity,” explained Minister Biruta.
African Diplomatic corps and officials from Congress, Pentagon, and State Department also attended the breakfast.
Bamporiki appeared before the court in the morning of Friday 16th September 2022.
The former state minister who could not be seen by journalists upon arrival at the court’s premises, exited the courtroom through the exit door normally designated for judges.
He appeared before the court wearing glasses, a blue trouser, suit and white shirt without a defence lawyer.
As the hearing began, Bamporiki told judges that he was not ready for the court’s session without his defence lawyer who was attending elections of Rwanda Bar Association (RBA) taking place on the same day.
The court accepted his request and adjourned the hearing to 21st September 2022 at 8:00 a.m.
Bamporiki was suspended from his duties in May this year owing to matters of accountability that were under investigation and placed under house arrest.
Following his suspension, Bamporiki posted a message on his Twitter handle admitting that he received a bribe and apologized to the President of the Republic.
Article 4 of the law N° 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting against corruption states that any person who offers, solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/ herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate or uses his or her position to render or omit a service, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years with a fine of three (3) to five (5) times the value of the illegal benefit offered, solicited or received.
The mass relocation which began in the morning of Thursday 15th September 2022, followed a period of voluntary relocation where families willing to do so would approach leaders to facilitate their resettlement.
The exercise was initiated through collaboration between local leaders and security officials to ensure a smooth relocation.
It has been five years since the government announced plans to relocate families from the slum but residents expressed frustration against the decision and the expropriation model.
Residents claimed for monetary compensation but the government insisted that relocating them to a model village is the only durable solution lest they end up setting up in other slum areas.
On Thursday, some residents against the decision were reminded that the relocation is in their interests to leave hazardous zones prone to disasters. The area will be developed for projects of public interests that pose no threats to the population.
The Deputy Government Spokesperson, Alain Mukuralinda has said that the relocation goes on in a proper arrangement.
“Properly coordinated resettlement to decent places is the right of every Rwandan and the responsibility of the government to oversee its execution. The relocation of residents from Kibiraro and Kangondo to Busanza was planned ahead that no one will be subjected to harassment,” he said.
Théogène Ngendahayo from Kangondo II is among relocated residents. He received a unit comprised of one bedroom, a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom and toilet inside the building.
Despite initial resistance, he finally agreed to move to the new estate from a disaster-prone zone.
“I had many structures but their value is below the newly received shelter. I thank the government for overseeing our interests and the support extended to citizens to move to decent houses,” said Ngendahayo.
The man who had a small house with three bedrooms and a sitting room has called on reluctant residents to change their mindsets and leave the high-risk area.
The Deputy Executive Administrator of Kicukiro District, Adalbert Rukebanuka has said that the model village has all needed equipment and infrastructures for residents to lead dignified life.
“These residents are joining previously relocated batches and need not worry because their wellbeing and safety is guaranteed. Residents staying in this village range from different segments including public servants and traders among others. This should send a message to reluctant families that living here does not restrict them from continuing their businesses to feed their families and contribute to national development. They are welcome to the village,” he said.
Busanza Housing Estate is located in Kanombe sector in Kicukiro district. It is comprised of different blocks to accommodate families who were living in Kigali’s largest slum bringing together three zones; Kangondo I, Kangondo II, and Kibiraro I.
Each of resettled residents will receive a unit equivalent to his/her properties.
According to NISR, in the second quarter of 2022, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current market prices was estimated at Rwf3,279 billion, up from Rwf2,668 billion in the second quarter of 2021. Services contributed 47%, Agriculture 25%, Industry 21% while Net direct taxes accounted for 8 % of GDP.
Addressing reporters after the announcement of growth figures, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana noted that despite global supply bottlenecks and inflation, the economy has continued to grow a strong indicator that that overall recovery.
“For the first two quarters the economy has registered over 7% growth. At this rate our 6% growth projections for 2022 is achievable,” Minister Ndagijimana said.
{{Performance by Sectors}}
In terms of sector performance, overall, agriculture grew by 2%. This growth was due to an increase of 17% in the production of export crops boosted by 19% increase in coffee production and 2% in tea production. Food crops decreased by 1% due to a decrease in the harvest of season A 2022 when compared to season A of 2021.
The industry sector registered a 6% growth. industry increased by 6% while services increased by 12%. Mining and quarrying grew by 9%. Manufacturing grew by 10% boosted by 8% increase in food processing, 14% increase in beverages, 18 increase in textiles, 10% increase in wood manufacturing and 21% increase in manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products. Given the high growth in construction during the second quarter of 2021 (33%), the sector did not grow further in the second quarter of this year.
The overall service sectors performance was 12%. Within services, wholesale and retail trade increased by 17%; transport activities increased by 27% with 119% and 13% growth in air transport and land transport respectively. Among other services, hotel and restaurants increased by 193%, financial services increased by 10%, telecommunication services increased by 8%, Professional and Scientific Services increased by 2%. Health Services increased by 4% while Education Services increased by 14%.
Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday 8th September 2022. Following her demise, King Charles III was formally proclaimed Britain’s new monarch at a meeting of the Accession Council held at St James’s Palace last Saturday.
Queen Elizabeth II will be buried on Monday in Windsor Castle, about 23 miles west of London, alongside her husband and royal predecessors in St. George’s Chapel.
King Charles III is the first born among four children of Queen Elisabeth II. He had been designated as her successor in 2018.
Through a message posted on his Twitter handle, Kagame has also revealed that Rwanda is committed to work with the new King of UK to deliver on Commonwealth agenda.
“I had the opportunity to express through a phone conversation, my sincere condolences to His Majesty King Charles III for the passing of his mother Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he tweeted.
“Rwanda looks forward to working together with King Charles III to move the Commonwealth agenda forward in service of all our citizens,” added Kagame.
President Kagame assumed duties as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office for two-year term in June this year as Rwanda hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
He replaced the former UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson who resigned recently.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Its combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under.
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.
The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights.
Its work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality.
Once completed, it will be the third cement manufacturer in Rwanda after Cimerwa Plc located in Bugarama of Rusizi District in Western Province and Prime Cement Ltd operating in Musanze District in Northern Province.
The two plants don’t have the capacity to meet the demand which results into hiked cement prices.
However, the issue is set to get a solution through a project run by Anija Prefabricated Construction Rwanda to build a cement factory in Muhanga Special Economic Zone.
Headquartered in Ethiopia, Anjia Prefabricated Construction runs operations in other countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The latter is developing a cement factory in Muhanga on 67 hectares expected to manufacture cement and other construction materials.
The management of Anjia Prefabricated Construction has revealed that the plant is expected to produce 1,000,000 tons per year and create over 1200 jobs after completion.
Construction of the plant estimated at US$100 million (approximately Rwf102 billion) have reached advanced stages and expected to be completed in February 2023, according to contractors.
Muhanga District vice Mayor for Economic Development, Eric Bizimana has told IGIHE that construction activities currently stand at 70%.
“The plant is under construction in a place dedicated for factories. Setting up this plant will cement investors’ confidence to invest in Rwanda, particularly in Muhanga,” he said.
“The plant will also contribute to the creation of new jobs and increase the quantity of locally produced cement,” added Bizimana.
This factory also plans to make a special type of cement used to build bridges crossing water bodies.
Products for cement production are expected to be sourced from Rubavu and DRC where the company has another plant.
With the production capacity of 600,000 tons per year, Cimerwa has been in operation since 1984.
Prime Cement also produces 600,000 tons per annum expected to be increased to 1.2 million tons in 2023.
Figures show that Rwanda’s demand for cement was estimated at 800,000 tons before 2020 yet local plants had the capacity to produce only 480,000 tons per year.
