During the ceremony, Herzog thanked Gatera for Rwanda’s support in enabling Israel to have observer status at the African Union.
He also expressed interest in visiting Rwanda and Africa in general because he is convinced that there is tremendous potential in Africa.
Gatera assured the President that Rwanda will always support Israel noting that his country wants to see more people-to-people relationships.
Rwanda’s ambassador who was appointed to represent the country in Israel in June 2021, presented credentials on Monday 6th December 2021 along with three more envoys from Switzerland, the European Union and Italy.
Israel opened embassy in Rwanda on 1st April 2019. In an exclusive interview with IGIHE at the time, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Amb. Yuval Rotem said that opening the embassy in Kigali highlights the thirst to scale up relations.
Dr. Ron Adams is the current envoy overseeing Israel’s interests in Rwanda.
Rwanda and Israel relations date back in 1962 when the country obtained Independence.
In 2014, Rwanda became the first African country to sign bilateral agreements and later in 2015 opened embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.
In January 2019, both countries signed bilateral air service agreement to operate direct flights.
In the same year, RwandAir started flights to Tel Aviv.
Since 2012, Rwanda has been sending graduates from agricultural studies to Israel every year for hands-on training on different modern agricultural practices and paid internship.
Rwanda and Israel share common history as countries which experienced tragic history during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and Holocaust targeting Jews in the 2nd World War. From these scars, emerged courage and strength to work hard during the resilience process.
Kagame made the observation on Monday 6th December 2021 as he opened the two-day Meeting on Partnerships for Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa taking place in Kigali.
The meeting aimed at reviewing the ‘progress made so far on implementing the partnerships for vaccine manufacturing in Africa’, was convened by the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
The event follows the inaugural meeting held in April 2021 where participants were updated on the progress made so on the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa.
Major outcomes of the high-level Summit include a commitment to developing a detailed “Framework for Action” with key milestones on the way to reaching 60% local manufacturing of Africa’s routine vaccine needs by 2040, the launch of the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) and the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the African Union and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Afreximbank and the Africa Finance Corporation.
As he addressed participants today, Kagame highlighted that a significant progress has been made since the inaugural meeting of partnerships for African vaccine manufacturing took place eight months ago.
He commended the African CDC, led by Dr. John Nkengasong for taking the lead in the historic initiative with the support of the African Union Commission.
The President also extolled other partners for their ‘decisive contribution to advancing this agenda noting that the joint effort ‘has helped to prevent Africa from being yet again an after-thought’.
Despite achieved milestone, Kagame said that a lot of work still needs to be done.
“Africa’s challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in securing timely access to test, therapeutics and vaccines have served as a constant reminder that we need to be doing things for ourselves. This is not a new problem. But a crisis of public health is literary a matter of life and death. Africa must therefore build manufacturing and scientific capacity with a sense of urgency,” he said.
The President highlighted that the continent needs to work with partners to meet its aspirations.
“We can and must do something new and different. And when we need to do this for ourselves, that does not mean working alone. Vaccine research and production is fundamentally a global enterprise. We therefore have to work in partnership with each other as Africa and also with key partners around the world. That requires not only funding but also and even more importantly trust, “he said.
Kagame also said that entry into force of the new African Medicines Agency is one of the most important developments since the last meeting and commended the African Union’s special envoy Dr. Michel Sidibé for his role in accelerating the process.
The Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) entered into force as of 5th November 2021.
AMA aspires to enhance capacity of State Parties and AU recognized Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to regulate medical products in order to improve access to quality, safe and efficacious medical products on the continent.
President Kagame has explained that it is essential ‘to maintain the momentum and fully establish this agency without which, Africa cannot independently authorize and regulate medicines and vaccines’.
He emphasized that producing medicines and vaccines on the continent, presents an opportunity for trade and investment.
Recently, Rwanda and Senegal concluded agreements with BioNTech to begin the end to end production of the mRNA-based vaccines as early as next year.
Kagame said that Africans will benefit a lot from the local production where vaccine doses will be distributed within the continent, an addition to technology and knowledge transfer to African engineers and companies.
Through its mRNA Tech transfer in South Africa, the World Health Organization is working with South African companies to build a valuable knowledge base for the African continent.
The Head of State said that this commitment and other initiatives underway in various countries are evidence of a strong momentum which must be supported and sustained.
“Because of this terrible pandemic, an opportunity has been created to fundamentally change the pharmaceutical production landscape on our continent. This window will not stay open forever. Now is the time to act, decisively and quickly together. As Africa and also globally,” he noted.
The event, jointly hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of ICT and Innovation as well as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, offered learning opportunities to help start-ups scale and grow their business to compete across the continent.
The SCIP bootcamp brought together private and public partners of the programme, including top industry experts from Volkswagen, Angaza Capital, Viktoria Ventures, and more.
Together with subject matter experts from entrepreneurship support organisations, MEST and AfriLabs, these partners offered masterclasses, co-creation workshops, pre-pitch practice and networking events that equip the supported start-ups with the needed skills and knowledge to grow and better fine-tune their solutions after the programme.
After almost two years of operating under the difficult conditions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, start-ups closed the event praising the opportunity of meeting fellow innovators and local and international partners in-person again. For some entrepreneurs, the bootcamp was the first opportunity of in-person pitches and networking since they started operations only two years ago.
Since SCIP’s launch in September 2021, start-ups commenced their six-months journey to scale innovative products which can boost the potential of urbanisation, ensuring smart cities achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By scaling innovations for smart cities, the programme concretely contributes to Africa’s urban transformation and the creation of new jobs in Rwanda and beyond. This is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prior to this Bootcamp, 31 start-ups were selected out of more than 300 innovators that responded to the call for applications issued from April to May. The selected start-ups are grouped in three tracks addressing common topics of smart cities: Cleantech & Smart Housing, Smart Mobility and Fintech for Affordability. They had participated in a virtual Bootcamp in October as part of the programme.
SCIP is part of the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation – also operating under the brand Invest for Jobs – and Make-IT in Africa implemented by GIZ on behalf of BMZ. The Programme’s implementation is supported by Luvent Consulting, AfriLabs and MEST.
{{About GIZ}}
As a service provider with worldwide operations in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ works with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions. GIZ is a public-benefit federal enterprise and supports the German Government and a host of public and private sector clients in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
{{About the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation}}
Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts and
financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to team up with companies to create good jobs and training opportunities in the partner countries, of which there are currently eight, and to preserve them during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim is also to improve local working conditions. The Special Initiative is implemented by GIZ and KfW, among others. Further information is available at www.invest-for-jobs.com.
{{About Make-IT in Africa}}
Make-IT in Africa believes in African innovation and digital technologies for a green and inclusive development. In close collaboration with start-ups, local innovation enablers and political partners, it empowers entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems. Together it aims to strengthen an environment in which the full potential of digital innovation can unfold.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements the project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Further information is available at www.make-it.africa
The incident took place on Saturday 4th December 2021 when the student in first year, pursuing Science and Technology related courses went to swim along with his colleagues.
The university’s management has told IGIHE that the young man was seen floating in critical condition, shortly after submersion.
He was immediately taken to Kabutare Hospital where he breathed the last around 8p.m on Saturday.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that they were hosted at Village Urugwiro on Sunday 5th December 2021 but did not mention areas of discussions.
The discussions were also attended by Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije.
The Meeting on Partnerships for Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa will take place in Rwanda from 6th to 7th December 2021.
It is taking place at a time when Rwanda is among other African countries selected as vaccine manufacturing hubs.
The plant to be established in Rwanda is expected to help the continent reduce over-reliance on imported vaccines.
Dr. Nkengasong and Prof. Fisseha last met with Kagame in May 2021 at Village Urugwiro.
Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation is a charitable not-for-profit organization focused on promoting the health of women and girls throughout the world.
Prof. Fisseha is a globally-recognized leader in reproductive health and rights and a lifelong gender champion.
She currently serves as the Director of Global Programs at the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, as well as Chief Advisor to the Director General of the World Health Organization.
Dr. Nkengasong is also a leading virologist with over 30 years’ experience in public health.
As the founding director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and former deputy principal director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Center for Global Health, Dr. Nkengasong has used his public health expertise to champion effective and accessible approaches to strengthening global health equity.
During COVID-19, he was also appointed as special envoy to the director general of the World Health Organization for pandemic preparedness and response.
In 2019, Rwanda’s exports to DRC were estimated at US$372 million accounting for 32% of total exports.
Despite effects of COVID-19 pandemic which saw the value of exports to the country dropped to US$ 88.6 million, DRC remained the second largest export market for Rwanda.
Besides, both countries are members of the Economic Community for the Great Lakes Region (CEPGL) while DRC is in final processes to become members of East African Community (EAC).
As both countries’ heads of state exchanged visits in June 2021, they agreed on enhancing trade cooperation and free movements.
The latter implies the need for upgraded border infrastructures, increasing flights connecting both countries, building ports and railway among others to facilitate trade.
Cross border trade between both countries is mainly exercised in the districts of Rubavu and Rusizi through different border points including La Corniche One Stop Border Post known as Grande Barrière (main border).
Similar infrastructures are set to be developed in Mururu sector of Rusizi district on the side of Rwanda and Rusizi II in Bukavu on the side of DRC.
The One Stop Border Post to be built in Rusizi is expected to give a boost to the implementation of projects under the framework of both countries’ heads of state.
Figures from the Directorate General of Rwanda Immigration and Emigration shows that more than 12,000 people crossed through Rusizi border before COVID-19 emerged on daily basis.
These include informal cross-border traders, passengers using public transport buses from or to Bukavu town, pedestrians crossing for business reasons and truck drivers.
Every day, the Rusizi-Bukavu border was crossed by 150 cargo cars including 60 trucks before the pandemic which fuelled a drop in traffic to between 6,000 and 7,000 traders. The traffic for cargo cars also dropped to between 70 and 100 daily.
As he laid the foundation stone marking the beginning of construction activities of the a $22 million One Stop Border Post known as Rusizi II, the Governor of Western Province, François Habitegeko told IGIHE that the project will facilitate free movement of people and goods and improve service delivery as well.
“We need state-of-the art border infrastructure to improve services. Once completed, the latter is anticipated to increase traffic because we don’t want people to spend long time seeking clearance,” he said.
{{Investors urged to tap into presented opportunities}}
Rusizi One Stop Border Post is a joint project between Rwanda and DRC where both countries immigration and emigration officials will be operating in the same building.
This means, passengers will get movement clearance at one time from both sides.
Banking, customs clearance and foreign currency exchange will be among other services offered in the same building.
The Chairman of Private Sector in Rusizi district, Théophile Rugamba has told IGIHE that the one stop border post is expected to improve services and boost trade.
“The facility was long overdue as it is expected to improve services for Rwandans and Congolese. I would like to encourage fellow businesspeople to work together to tap into presented huge opportunities so that we can smoothly carry out our activities and increase exports to the country,” he said.
The Deputy Governor of Northern Kivu Province, Marc Malago Kashekere also stressed that the border facility will be beneficial for both country’s security and enhanced trade among others.
He made the revelation on Friday 3rd December 2021 as he presented national plans to recover the economy and boost national vaccination efforts.
As at 2nd December 2021, a total of 100,381 people had caught the virus out of 3,497,196 sample tests since COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Rwanda on 13th March 2020. Of these, more than 48,000 (48%) are men while men are 51,250 (52%).
Among others, 38347 people who tested positive are aged 29 while 62,034 (62%) are aged 30 and above.
The report from the Ministry of Health shows that 98,830 (98%) have recovered while 208 are active cases including 175 patients attended to through home-based care.
Moreover, 1343 have succumbed to the virus of whom 726 (54%) are men while 617 (46%) are women.
Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021 as part of the country’s response to the pandemic where the target of vaccine recipients might be reached before the set deadlines.
“The number of vaccine recipients increases gradually as fruitful results of rolled out campaign. As at 2nd December 2021, a total of 6,065,691 people (46%) had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine since the program began,” Premier Ngirente said.
Rwanda is among countries that hit the target of vaccinating 10% of their population by September 2021 as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Premier Ngirente said that Rwanda targets to cover 30% (3,915,533) of the population by December this year and 60% (7,831,066) by the end of next year.
“We are about exceeding these targets,” he revealed.
{{Increased vaccine recipients}}
Premier Ngirente said that the number of COVID-19 vaccine recipients are expected to reach 9,063,245 (69,4%) next year, following the country’s commitment to start administering vaccines to people in the age bracket between 12 and 17.
“All these people will have been vaccinated by December 2022 but we might hit the number before in consideration of expended efforts,” he revealed.
In Kigali City alone, more than 869,000 dwellers (89.2%) aged 12 and above have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine while 1,032,499 have received the first dose.
The vaccination efforts in the remaining parts of the country have seen 2,755,727 (34%) people fully vaccinated while 5,033,192 (62%) have received the first dose of COVID-19.
Rwanda has been administering eight types of COVID-19 vaccines. As at 2nd December 2021, the country had received 12,900,760 doses that can be used to vaccinate 6,736,220 people excluding the booster dose.
Rwanda received these doses through COVAX, a global initiative aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines, direct purchases while others were donated by partner countries.
The duo was sentenced by Nyarugenge Primary Court on Friday 3rd December 2021.
CSP Kayumba and SP Ntakirutimana were found guilty of crimes including theft, unauthorized access to computer system data and impersonation while co-accused intelligence officer at the prison identified as Ephraim Mutamaniwa has been acquitted.
Another co-accused Olivier Amani Twizere was also acquitted even though he had pleaded guilty of charges against him.
During trial proceedings, the Prosecution said that CSP Kayumba approached Olivier Amani, an inmate at Nyarugenge Prison who has IT skills, to help him steal money belonging to Kassem Ayman Mohamed, a British national also incarcerated in Nyarugenge Prison.
Kassem would normally use his visa card to buy medication and food, and leave the card to the person in charge of social affairs at the prison after use.
The Prosecution explained that Kayumba ordered the officer to give him the visa card, and took it to Amani to help him withdraw money that was on it.
In January 2021, it was reported that Kassem Ayman Mohamed, a resident from the United Kingdom detained at the prison was robbed Rwf9, 144,300,000 equivalent to 7,679,911 pounds.
The money was stolen from his ATM card which he used to shop medication and foods twice a month.
Twizere admitted that he stole money from Kassem on order of CSP Kayumba.
Twizere explained that he was obliged to obey his boss lest he would be threatened and accepted after reporting himself several times to the office of CSP Kayumba to plot the theft.
As Twizere said, he was requested to check balance on inmates’ ATM cards where he established the amount of money possessed by Kassem.
CSP Kayumba who was also present in court immediately appealed against the ruling.
He had appeared in court for the first time along with co-accused, ten months ago.
Dr. Uwamariya made the revelation on Tuesday 2nd December 2021 as she officially opened the 13th Policy Dialogue Forum of the International Task Force on Teachers.
The centre is expected to provide training for primary, secondary school and universities’ management with a view to equip them with relevant skills to carry their tasks efficiently.
“Responding to the question of teachers requires Governments, International Organizations and civil society members to work in synergy and find adequate solutions for teachers together. In this line, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with partners, is in the process of establishing an African Centre for School Leadership, with the aim of supporting Governments in Africa to build capacity in promoting effective school leadership, for improved quality of teaching, and learning outcomes,” said Dr. Uwamariya.
She explained that teachers also benefit from other training programs polishing their competencies especially in ICT.
Dr. Uwamariya also shared Rwanda’s solutions to address emerging challenges in the education sector where teachers were provided with laptops and equipped with relevant skills to continue assisting students through online classes during COVID-19 pandemic.
Some school leaders have revealed that teachers still need more training programs because they have not yet acquired enough skills.
“Many teachers have not yet acquired enough ICT skills but we are grateful that the Government of Rwanda and other partners have expended much effort in teachers’ training to carry out their jobs smoothly,” said Father Jean Paul Mushimiyimana, the head teacher of teacher Training College (TTC) Zaza.
{{Teachers’ gap}}
Figures from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) show that Sub-Saharan Africa alone requires 15 million more teachers to reach the educational goals by 2030 whereby stakeholders need greater investments and innovative approaches to face this issue.
Carlos Vargas-Tamez, Head of Teacher Development at UNESCO’s Task Force for Teachers attributed the gap to two major reasons including meager salary and the nature of teacher’s job.
Carlos Vargas explained that the percentage of national budget allocated to the education sector is still insufficient where it should be between 15 and 20% instead of the current 3 to 6% within all countries.
He revealed that the inadequate budget results into low salaries for teachers and discourages people interested to pursue courses in education.
Teachers play a critical role to advance quality education. However, they need to be provided with an environment that values willingness to take risks and help them improve livelihoods.
Considering their outstanding contribution to the society, the Government of Rwanda has put in place different initiatives to improve their wellbeing, facilitating them to access financial services and salary increment among other social protection programs.
To this end, Rwanda plans to facilitate interested teachers to pursue studies up to Master’s degree with fully paid and non-refundable scholarship.
Among others, the Government has committed to provide half of school fees for students enrolled in Teacher Training Colleges (TTC) after revising existing curriculum.
Students pursuing courses in education at the university will not be required to refund the scholarship as so long as they are serving in the education sector after graduation.
Other incentives for teachers include salary increment to motivate them, improve their wellbeing and subsequently paving the way for quality education.
Since 2019, teachers from secondary and primary schools started receiving 10% annual salary increment. An additional 10 percent was made in 2020.
The increment was also considered in the fiscal year 2021/2022 despite difficult times of COVID-19 the country is going through.
Dr. Uwamariya explained that these incentive programs are expected to attract public’s attention to this profession.
It also goes hand in hand with increasing the number of teachers and reduce students’ overcrowding.
In 2020 academic year, the Government of Rwanda recruited 28,000 teachers and placed more 30,000 in 2021.
The funding worth Rwf2 billion was secured through the partnership between Rwanda and Belgian Development Agency, Enabel.
Enabel works with the Government of Rwanda on different projects meant to promote poultry, pig farming and agro-processing.
Normally, commercial banks provide loans with interest rates between 16% and 17%. The interest rate on loan from Saving and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) can go up to 22% while the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) offers loans at 12%.
The Rwf2 billion funding will be channeled through the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) which will also work with commercial banks to lend it out to beneficiaries with poultry, pig farming projects as well as those producing animal feeds effective from January 2022.
Dr. Solange Uwituze, the Deputy Director General in charge of Animal Resources Research and Technology Transfer at Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) has told IGIHE that beneficiaries will receive loans at 8% interest rate.
“If someone applies for Rwf50 million loan in a commercial bank, the latter will consider 8% interest rate to be paid by the farmer or animal feed producer while the Government will cater for the remaining 8%,” she said.
Dr. Uwituze explained that the interest rate subsidy will not go beyond Rwf100 million.
“The Government shall only pay the interest rate not exceeding Rwf100 million for a farmer or animal feed producers requesting loan under this financing scheme,” she revealed.
Beneficiaries will have to go through existing loan application processes. Those without collateral will continue seeking assistance from Business Development Fund (BDF).
The Government mulls increasing the Rwf2 billion allocated to the fund depending on available means.
Poultry and pig farming are among projects benefitting from the subsidized National Agriculture Insurance Scheme launched in 2019.
It is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in collaboration with partners including Radiant Insurance, Access to Finance Rwanda, Prime Insurance and Sonarwa.
Under the subsidized agriculture insurance scheme, a farmer provides 60% of insurance fees while the Government caters for 40% of farmers payments.
The cost of insurance equals 4.5% of the total value of the cow.
So far, a total of 208,749 chickens and 3,020 pigs have been insured.
