As the race was flagged off at 9:00 a.m in Kimironko, cyclists rode through Kigali Special Economic Zone in Masoro, Kagugu, Gitikinyoni and Base before crossing the finishing line in Gicumbi.
Main Kent was the first to cross the finish clocking 3 hours 17 minutes and 40 seconds and maintained 2 seconds ahead of Anatoli Budiak riding for Terengganu Polygony Cycling while the next rivals including Alan Boileau of B&B Hotels, Eyob Metkel and Muhoza Eric arrived three seconds later.
Axel Laurence of B&B Hotels has taken the yellow jersey after clocking 10 hours, 45 minutes and 7 seconds during the four stages.
He maintained a difference of ten seconds between the next rivals on the general classification. These include Madrazo Angel Ruiz riding for Burgos and Natnael Tesfazion of Drone Hopper.
The top performing Rwanda is Muhoza Eric who took the 13th position.
The tournament will continue on Thursday 24th February 2022 with the fifth stage where riders will set off from Muhanga to cross the finishing line in Musanze after covering 124,7 kilometers.
The stadium was built by a Turkish company dubbed Summa. The latter also extecuted other mega projects including the construction of Kigali Arena, Dakar Arena among other handball courts.
Kagame is among dignitaries invited to attend the inauguration of Senegal Stadium, a 50,000 seater multipurpose Olympic complex.
The stadium will bear the name of former President Abdoulaye Wade who accepted the decision taken by President Macky Sall.
Other Heads of State who attended the ceremony include Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Erdogan’s visit reinforces his country’s willingness to expand investment in Africa.
Erdogan went to Senegal after visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo. The next destination on his itinerary is Guinea-Bissau.
George Weah, the President of Liberia, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau and Adama Barrow of Gambia , FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe were also present.
It is reported that he has died in the United States of America (USA).
Joe Ritchie who was granted Rwandan nationality headed RDB from 2007 until 2009.
In 2017, Joe Ritchie was among among nine individuals decorated with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medals in recognition of their exemplary service to the nation in various capacities.
His death follows the loss of another friend of Rwanda, Dr. Paul Farmer who died on Monday 21st February 2022.
The two friends of Rwanda whose death is announced in 24 hours were decorated with the medals on the same day.
In August last year, he attended the Presidential Advisory Council meeting which discussed various topics including the COVID-19 pandemic and current affairs.
It was chaired by President Paul Kagame. Among others, the meeting brought together Rwandan and International experts who offer strategic advice to the President and the government.
Also present at the meeting were Louise Mushikiwabo, the Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa among others.
International experts who attended include Ashish Thakkar, the Founder of Mara Group which established phones manufacturing plant in Rwanda ; Dale Dawson, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bridge2Rwanda.The latter is a foundation formed to help expand Rwanda’s global network of friends, to encourage foreign direct investment and to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study abroad.
The council also hosted Kaia Miller, Mauro De Lorenzo, Joseph Ritchie, Michel Roux, Dave King, Paul Davenport, Rod Reynolds, Pastor Rick Warren, Scott Ford and Christian Angermayer.
Dr. Farmer breathed the last on Monday 21st February 2022. The UGHE announced that the renowned American physician and philanthropist died while sleeping. He has been in Rwanda for almost one month where he lectured at UGHE.
He has been a friend of Rwanda for more than 20 years who significantly contributed to the advancement of the country’s health sector. In 2019, President Paul Kagame decorated Dr. Farmer with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medal.
He had wished to stay in during his advanced ages, sources reveal.
As the bad news dominated the media coverage on Monday, health officials headed to Butaro where Dr. Farmer was staying to get first-hand information on circumstances of his death.
Following his demise, President Paul Kagame is among high profile personalities expressed condolences to the bereaved family noting that he will be cherished for his contribution to national development.
He said that is hard to find the words to express the sad news of the passing of Paul Farmer, a philanthropist who ‘combined many things hard to find in one person’.
The Head of State went on to explain that ‘the weight of his loss is in many ways personal, to the country of Rwanda [which he loved and to which he contributed so much during its reconstruction], to my family and to myself’.
Ange Kagame, the daughter of President Kagame has said that it hard to meet a human being as special, kind and impactful as Paul Farmer was.
Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States of America (USA) has said that he, his wife and their daughter Chelsea are devastated by the sudden passing of Dr. Paul Farmer whom they described as one of the most extraordinary people ever known.
The family has through a statement revealed that it is an honour to have worked closely with him in Haiti, Rwanda and beyond; to serve alongside him on the board of the Clinton Health Access Initiative; and to be counted among his multitude of friends around the globe.
“Paul Farmer changed the way health care is delivered in the most impoverished places on Earth. He saw every day as a new opportunity to teach, learn, give, and serve—and it was impossible to spend any time with him and not feel the same,” Bill Clinton tweeted.
Bill Gates has also shared his feelings via Twitter noting that the demise of Dr. Farmer is a huge loss.
“What a devastating loss. Paul is a hero, and I was fortunate to call him a friend. I have never known anyone who was more passionate about reducing the world’s worst inequities in health—or who did more to live by his values,” he said.
“Paul was never happier than when he was caring for patients in one of the clinics he helped create. My heart goes out to his family and friends, his colleagues, and all the people whose lives he touched, “Bill Gates added.
Bill Gates expressed optimism that his work will continue through Partners In Health, the organization he co-founded which he described as ‘a phenomenal legacy’.
Melinda Gates, the ex-wife of Bill Gates also expressed sentiments of sorrow for the passing of Dr. Farmer, her teacher whom she considered a friend and role model.
“I’m heartbroken that my teacher, mentor, & friend Paul Farmer is gone. He taught me what it means to listen—to really listen—instead of charging in with my own solution. He showed me how to channel my anger about the barriers that hold people back into relentlessness & optimism,” she tweeted.
Melinda Gates highlighted that she will miss her dear friend and ‘continue to be inspired by him, every day’.
Samantha Power who once served as US ambassador to UN has mourned Dr. Paul Farmer and eulogized him as a person who shared everything with others.
“He saw the worst, and yet did all he could to bring out the best in everyone he encountered. Indefatigable, mischievous, generous, brilliant, soulful, skeptical, idealistic, beloved. A giant,” she tweeted.
The Director General of World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also revealed via Twitter handle that he was deeply saddened and heartbroken by the death of a friend and global health champion.
“He led so many efforts for health equity and against root causes of injustices. We must never stop continuing his legacy. You will be so greatly missed my friend,” he said.
Dr. Farmer was renowned for his efforts to provide health care to low-income nations. Born in North Adams, Mass., he graduated from Duke University in 1982 and went to Harvard University, where he earned an M.D. and a Ph.D. in anthropology.
He served as a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In 1987, Farmer founded Partners in Health in Haiti with the mission to provide high-quality care to patients from impoverished backgrounds and those living far from health-care facilities. Over the next three decades, PIH expanded to countries across Africa and Latin America, to Russia and to the Navajo Nation in the U.S.
In 2020, he won the million-d0llar Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, an honor that goes to an individual who has made major contributions to advancing ideas that shape the world.
As per existing law, income not exceeding Rwf30,000 per month is taxed zero percent, while that ranging from Rwf30,001 and Rwf100,000 has to pay 20 percent tax rate, and above that is taxed 30 percent.
The adopted draft law proposes Rwf60,000 as the minimum taxable income instead of Rwf30,000 and the reduction of tax after two years since the law was enacted.
Once enacted, income ranging from Rwf60,001 and Rwf100,000 will be taxed 20% initially to be reduced to 10% after two years. Workers earning from Rwf100,001 and Rwf200,000 will be taxed 30% to be reduced to 20% after two years.
The proposal was tabled to reduce the tax burden on low-income formal workers and promote employment.
IGIHE has learnt that the draft law was not immediately presented to the parliamentary Standing Committee on National Budget and Patrimony but rather was returned to the Government for further review.
Even though the draft law is still under review, there is optimism that the clause meant to reduce tax burden on low income earners won’t be annulled.
Parliamentarian Théogene Munyangeyo has told IGIHE that approving the proposal would hugely contribute to citizens’ progress.
“Raising the taxable income would be a great relief to citizens. This should be more optional than increasing salary because it would cause price hikes. By doing so, citizens’ kill two birds with one stone with possible avenues to run income generating activities,” he said.
Munyangeyo explained that it was long ago since the establishment of existing tax on income stressing the need to have it revised and aligned with financial stability.
“The law has existed for long. If it was established at a time when a dollar was exchanging for Rwf300 or Rwf400, but apparent that the amount has doubled, the revision will ease citizens’ burdens,” he noted.
The existing tax on salary would see some private companies employing a large number of people limiting their salary to Rwf30, 000 to cut expenses.
Once the proposal is approved, Munyangeyo said, it would see some workers’ salary increased without incurring losses to the Government.
He explained that some employees seemed to be limited to that amount of money while others kept working without employment contracts.
Munyangeyo observed that raising the taxable income will facilitate investment while enabling people to diversify sources of income.
IGIHE has learnt that the entire proposal was returned to the Government after it emerged that many clauses needed to be revised.
As the proposal was being reviewed, some parliamentarians suggested that the minimum taxable income should increase to Rwf100, 000.
Following his demise, President Kagame paid tribute to Dr. Farmer, expressed condolences to the bereaved family noting that he will be cherished for his contribution to national development.
“It is hard to find the words to express the sad news of the passing of Paul Farmer – the person, the Doctor, the philanthropist. He combined many things hard to find in one person. The weight of his loss is in many ways personal, to the country of Rwanda [which he loved and to which he contributed so much during its reconstruction], to my family and to myself. I know there are many who feel this way in Africa and beyond,” Kagame tweeted.
“My deepest condolences to Didi, his wife, their children, family and friends,” he added.
Dr. Farmer, the co-founder of Partners in Health (PIH) and UGHE was among nine individuals decorated with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medals in 2017, in recognition of their exemplary service to the nation in various capacities.
He will be remembered for his great contribution to the progress of health sector in many countries including Rwanda.
The management of the university has also extended condolences to his family, his colleagues at Partners in health and the UGHE Family.
Partners In Health is a Boston-based nonprofit health care organization founded in 1987 by Paul Farmer, Ophelia Dahl, Thomas J. White, Todd McCormack and Jim Yong Kim.
Known locally as Inshuti Mu Buzima, PIH has worked in Rwanda since 2005, helping the government fight HIV, improve maternal and child health, and bring integrated, high-quality health care to more than 860,000 people across Burera, Kayonza, and Kirehe districts.
{{[Related story: Dr. Paul Farmer, founder UGHE passes on->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/dr-paul-farmer-the-founder-ughe-passes-on]}}
News about his death started circulating today around 3p.m.
His death was communicated by the management of UGHE which also expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Chancellor, Professor Paul Farmer who was the co-founder of Partners in Health [PIH] and the University of Global Health Equity, which occured today. He has been an inspiration for most of us at UGHE,” reads part of the statement.
“This is so sudden, an unimaginable catastrophe to all of us and the global health community as a whole. A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Please, join us to mourn the passing of our beloved role model, our leader, our dearest friend and our Muganga Mwiza [good doctor]. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues at Partners in health and the UGHE Family. We request for your prayers as we go through this difficult time,” adds the statement.
It is said that Dr. Farmer has been suffering from high blood pressure which might be related to his death.
IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that Dr. Farmer has been in Rwanda for one month where he lectured at UGHE and attending to patients at Butaro Hospital.
Dr. Farmer is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Margaret Mead Award from the American Anthropological Association, the Outstanding International Physician (Nathan Davis) Award from the American Medical Association, a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, and, with his PIH colleagues, the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
Dr. Farmer was among nine individuals decorated with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medals in recognition of their exemplary service to the nation in various capacities.
He has also served as a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Farmer was known for his efforts to provide health care to low-income nations. Born in North Adams, Mass., he graduated from Duke University in 1982 and went to Harvard University, where he earned an M.D. and a Ph.D. in anthropology.
In 1987, Farmer founded Partners in Health in Haiti with the mission to provide high-quality care to patients from impoverished backgrounds and those living far from health-care facilities. Over the next three decades, PIH expanded to countries across Africa and Latin America, to Russia and to the Navajo Nation in the U.S.
In 2020, he won the million-d0llar Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, an honor that goes to an individual who has made major contributions to advancing ideas that shape the world.
He was the first cross the finishing line clocking 3 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.
Dujardin registered the same time with other riders in his peloton including Rwandan Uhiriwe Byiza Renus who emerged the fifth.
Following today’s race, Alexandre Geniez who also rides for TotalEnergies maintained the yellow Jersey with 3 hours, 33 minutes and 6 seconds setting the difference of six seconds ahead of Restrepo Jhonatan, the second rider on the general classification while Dujardin took the third place.
Uhiriwe Byiza Renus is the best performing Rwandan emerging 22nd on the general classification.
Tour du Rwanda will continue on Tuesday 22nd February 2022 with the third stage from Kigali to Rubavu covering 155.9 kilometers.
The 14th edition of Tour du Rwanda will cover a total distance of 937.1 kilometers.
The race has attracted 19 teams competing in eight stages across Rwanda.
Picture a world without e-commerce. A world in which every purchase demands physical presence of the buyer; where one sets for the market with only hope that products will be available; where dear ones from afar cannot cherish us with presents; where parents and caregivers cannot get supplies without compromising on other responsibilities; where the busy have to spare time (and fuel) for shopping despite the activity not requiring their presence. That is a world without e-commerce.
Fortunately, our world is different. Shopping is faster, cheaper, convenient, and provides more choices to the consumer. How did we get here? Yvette, an e-commerce pioneer in Rwanda and the founder of {{[Murukali->https://murukali.com/]}}, takes us back to the challenges and solutions of the early days, and her business’s partnership with [{{Vanoma}}->https://vanoma.com/].
{{How did you come to start an e-commerce business?}}
I had the idea to start Murukali when I couldn’t find any place to order supplies for my family while on maternity leave. Back in 2015, mobile payments weren’t nearly as ubiquitous as they are today, and home delivery as a service was rare.
{{What was the idea, and what challenges did you face?}}
The idea was to make shopping possible from anywhere at the touch of a button. We wanted to make sure anyone could sort through quality-controlled products, pay, and have them delivered without leaving their home or workplace. While it might sound like a no-brainer today, this was 2015, and people were skeptical it could be done in Rwanda, to say the least.
Every new business faces challenges, but ours had them twofold. On one hand, we had to build an e-commerce business, but given the state of infrastructure, we also needed to build a logistics arm as well. It was a significant challenge, especially with capital allocation at that point.
{{What were the problems in delivery?}}
Delivery companies of the time were unreliable. For instance, one company opened up shop and left after a short time, some other companies would directly compete with us and steal some of our customers, and bureaucracy at the post office wouldn’t allow us enough flexibility and fast response to our clients’ needs. So in the end, the better option was to make delivery an in-house service.
{{How did the pandemic affect the business, and how did you manage?}}
The pandemic was a challenging time in many ways. During lockdowns, people turned to e-commerce for almost all shopping, and we saw around a 40% increase in business. That meant more people to serve, and this time they had fewer options and reliability was at a premium.
It was then that I came across Vanoma (Nisawa at the time). They were young people with a focus on delivery and a degree of professionalism I was yet to see in the business. The company had the technology to order a delivery online which significantly sped up our process and reduced room for human error. The drivers were also reliable and communicated problems to help serve our customers better. Vanoma has made the business a lot easier to manage since one can focus all resources on the e-commerce side of the business with added security that delivery is taken care of.
{{What would you tell sellers still reluctant to embrace e-commerce?}}
I would say e-commerce makes it much easier to promote and sell products. Many producers sell exclusively through their physical stores and partnerships with supermarkets. These stores can only market so many products, and with many suppliers available, conflicts of interest can arise. Predictably, when producers introduce new products, customers rarely notice. With e-commerce, it is a lot easier to advertise new products with even more control of the brand message. E-commerce also affords you a suite of digital marketing tools to connect directly to people. Through social media and other means, you can easily reach as many people as you like with the news and offers. Moreover, people can see product details and buy instantly from wherever they are.
In terms of sales, e-commerce brings more predictability. Things such as heavy rains and storms can easily cut the customer supply. This can be dreadful, particularly with fresh food sellers and bakeries where a day without sales means a whole inventory wasted. Rush hour traffic jams are also getting worse. If you consider numerous stops people have to make including dropping/picking up kids or going to the gym, it becomes clear that there simply isn’t enough time to shop conveniently. Put simply, sellers are missing out on customers just because of accessibility issues even on regular days. Online sellers can expect the same amount of orders regardless of weather or traffic conditions.
{{Where do you see the future of e-commerce in Rwanda?}}
I see a bright future for e-commerce in Rwanda. Some of the hardest challenges have almost completely been solved: mobile payments are ubiquitous and companies like Vanoma ensure a smooth delivery experience. There is untapped potential for youth employment and value creation for people of all levels of wealth. This is something I think businesses and the government can work together to bring to fruition.
Even though the sector has seen dramatic growth, we still need mindset shifts in order to involve as many people as possible. Out of habit, some people are yet to see the benefits in convenience and saving time that e-commerce affords. E-commerce customers through platforms like ours have a much wider selection of goods and prices. Sellers too could gain much from having their products listed online for anyone to see, not just the few that can make it to the physical store.
{{What advice would you give to aspiring e-commerce entrepreneurs?}}
As for all entrepreneurship, it is important to give yourself time. Results do not show up on the first day, and, in fact, they usually take years to materialize. When you’re starting a business, mute both the inner and outer critics for about five years and see where the journey takes you. Feedback is important, but a bias towards optimism is crucial, especially in the rough first days. As for e-commerce, a lot of work has been done to ease the business for both sellers and buyers. Experiment with many things, and see how your customers respond. E-commerce also evolves rapidly. It, therefore, pays off to keep an eye out for useful innovation from across the world.
The letter dated 14th February 2022, to which IGIHE has a copy, was signed by six pastors including Claude DJessa, Dieudonné Vuningoma, Pierre Kaberuka, Richard Muya, Charles Mudakikwa and Paul Daniel Kakimunu.
They accuse Gitwaza of using Zion Temple for personal gains and poor conduct. The letter also reads that he has abandoned the church leaving it to a strange person which led to funds misuse and poor coordination.
The group of pastors informed Gitwaza that he is dismissed from the church’s leadership due to arrogance and fuelling ethnic divisionism among Zion Temple followers.
As he spoke to followers of Zion Temple during Sunday church service, Apostle Gitwaza reacted to the letter and thanked the Government for diligence in settling the issue.
“I stand here to thank our Government starting from President of the Republic and all government institutions for carefulness to strive for security that Rwandans deserve. You have seen letters asking me to resign this week, with intentions to dismiss me. All that happened worried us. However, we thank God that our country thoroughly analyzed the situation and rejected the unfounded allegations,” he said.
On allegations that he abandoned duties, Gitwaza told congregants he is opening new churches nowadays.
He was heard at different times telling followers that an apostle is someone who strives to spread the Gospel and launch churches in various places.
“As you know, I am opening new churches and my work continues. I will be back soon,” Gitwaza said.
The 50-year old man recently revealed that he planned to establish Zion Temple branches in 50 States of the United States of America (USA) in five years.
He has so far opened churches in six States including Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan and Texas where he has been staying.
Gitwaza was also accused of funds misappropriation.
Zion Temple owns numerous properties including five schools across the country, a health facility in Kicukiro district, Authentic Radio and Television as well as Authentic International Academy among others.
Gitwaza also responded to rumors that he might have fled the country after days without appearing in Rwanda.
“You should not lend your ears to people spreading rumours that Gitwaza fled, is summoned by RIB, that an arrest warrant was issued against him. I have never been summoned by RIB and don’t expect it to happen because I can’t deceive Rwandans and Rwanda,” he said.
Recently, Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) reacted to the letter requesting Gitwaza to resign informing the six pastors that their plea is unfounded adding that they do not have power to do so.
RGB also requested concerned leaders copied-in the letter to follow up the matter to ensure that nothing destabilizes the security of Zion Temple followers.
The pastors were also asked the pastors to stop protests against Gitwaza as soon as possible.
Gitwaza launched Zion Temple in 1999. Gitwaza started with 120 Christians that had increased to more than a million worldwide 2019 as he told IGIHE in 2019.
