Kaboneka who was speaking Friday while closing a three-day local leaders retreat that took place in Kigali requested council members to exercise their powers in taking decisions serving people’s interests.
He said that some councils work properly, but others fail to take decisions due to own interests like personal interests in district tenders among others.
“There is a problem where some interests collide with decisions that would have been taken and end up by delaying them. I hope that this will change,” he said.
He said that both council and executive members should serve people, listen and solve their problems.
He requested leaders to change their mindsets and encourage people to work towards self-reliance.
The retreat brought together over 1300 leaders including Sector Executive Secretaries, District and City of Kigali Council Members, District Executive Secretaries, Provincial Governors and Executive Secretaries.
In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of Senate, President Trump said that the government of Rwanda continues to impose barriers to United States Trade which affects the exports of apparel products.
“I am providing advance notification of my intent to suspend the application of duty free treatment to all African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)-eligible goods in the apparel sector for the Republic of Rwanda 60 days after the date of this notification,” the letter reads.
“The Government of Rwanda continues to impose barriers to United States trade, specifically, barriers affecting certain United States exports of apparel products,” he said.
According to Trump, in spite of intense engagement by United States officials with the Government of Rwanda, the United States has been unable to resolve this matter.
“I have therefore determined that the Government of Rwanda is not making continual progress toward the elimination of barriers to United States trade and investment, as required by section 104 of the AGOA,” he said.
In the letter, Trump says that the suspension of duty-free treatment described above is a more appropriate response in these circumstances than the termination of the Government of Rwanda’s designation as a beneficiary Sub Saharan African country under AGOA, as it promotes the continuation of efforts between the United States and Rwanda to resolve outstanding issues.
“Although the Government of Rwanda has failed to meet critical benchmarks required to address these issues to date, it continues to express an interest in resolving United States concerns,” he noted.
He says that he will continue to assess whether the Government of Rwanda is making continual progress toward the elimination of barriers to United States trade and investment in accordance with the AGOA eligibility requirements, as well as whether this suspension of benefits is effective in promoting compliance with those requirements.
{{Rwanda Stands firm on banning second hand clothes}}
In February, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Vincent Munyeshyaka told IGIHE that since Rwanda entered in AGOA, they only exported handicrafts products which did not exceed USD one million for the country per year.
“Actually our business with USA under AGOA is 0.05%. It is a small business which we cannot rely on and develop our industries,” he said.
As a way to promote locally made products, particularly textile and shoes industries, Rwanda has hiked taxes on imported second-hand clothes and shoes in order to weaken them on local market, but promote locally made products under ‘Made in Rwanda’ Programme.
Munyeshyaka said that banning second-hand clothes is in line with the country’s programme to develop industrial sector.
Munyeshyaka said that currently made in Rwanda programme is creating between 20,000 and 21,000 of jobs per year.
He said that the industrial sector comes to the third place in contributing to the development of Rwanda’s economy with 16% after services covering 47% and agriculture 30%.
“Under the move to develop the economy of the country, we need to develop our industry sector. As you know no country has developed without investing in the development of industries,” he said.
In Kigali City, transport fare increased from Rwf20 per kilometer to Rwf22, a 5% increase and from Rwf19 to Rwf21, 7% for a passenger from one city to another.
According to RURA, the transport fare hike follows fuel prices increase, car insurance premiums and investments that have been put in place to improve transportation services in Rwanda.
The Head of Transport at RURA, Emmanuel Asaba Katabarwa said that the new prices will be implemented starting Monday 2nd April.
“Increasing fares of public transport is based on different changes in transportation sector since 2015, these include; fuel prices, speed governors, Cashless payment Tap&Go and car insurance premiums of public transport vehicles,” he said.
Transport fares were last revised November 1st 2015.
According to RURA spokesperson, Anthony Kulamba, the new changes consider the both people’s interests and investors.
“Hiking prices is not in the interests of investors only, but, it is in the interests of consumers for serving them properly,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of Rwanda Persons Transporters Association (ATPR), Eric Ruhumuriza welcomed the move saying that the price of their services had also gone high.
“We thank RURA for considering the level of investment in this sector. We have discussed it based on different new services that have been introduced and fuel prices that continue to increase,” he said.
According to RURA, they are also assessing prices for motorbike and taxi cabs and results from assessment will be made public in the not so distant future.
This marks a significant increase from Rwf6.8 billion in 2016.
The cooperative of security personnel; army, police and Rwanda Correctional Services Officers announced this in the general assembly on Thursday.
Zigama CSS Director General, Maj.Gen. Albert Murasira said that last year was good as they had targeted a profit of Rwf6.3 billion but they exceeded the target.
He attributed the increase to small expenditures as most of their activities are performed by cooperative members. He said that the profit came from providing many loans and good recovery process.
“We tried to use little money in expenditures like in operational process and their wage payments. We also provided many loans and invested in bonds which resulted in earning much profit than we expected,” he explained.
Last year, the cooperative provided loans amounting to Rwf145 billion.
In 2015, the cooperative cut the interest rate on loans from 15% to 13%, which Murasira said increased well-being of members and development of the cooperative.
Members who acquire loans of less than Rwf5 million pay at the interest rate of 13% while those acquiring more than that pay at the interest rate of 15%.
The Chairman of CSS Board of Directors, Dr. James Ndahiro said that the secret behind progressive performance improvementis based on ownership of all members and contribution towards their development.
In a controversial auction that left members of Rwigara family discontented, the court bailiff, Védaste Habimana sold the tobacco at Rwf512 million. The tobacco was bought by Murado Business LTD.
Of the Rwf6 billion the government wants to recover from the Rwigaras, about Rwf5.5 billion is still needed.
Speaking to IGIHE yesterday about the next to be done for government to recover the taxes, RRA Commissioner General, Richard Tusabe said that they will auction more Rwigara properties.
“If the money is not enough, we should seek where to get it. We shall get it from other properties,” he said.
At the tobacco auction yesterday, the Rwigara family was not contented with the value that was given to their properties. They said that the tobacco had a value of around Rwf1 billion.
The family rejected the offer and said that the auction was conducted illegally.
However, Tusabe emphasized that no law was violated in conducting the auction.
“Nothing we can do without following Rwandan laws; everything was done clearly, no procedure was ignored and no law was violated. Nothing that can prove that we violated laws,” he said.
Asked whether it was possible to suspend the auction as stated by laws when property owner is not satisfied with the value at the first day, Tusabe replied; “Let’s do our work, isn’t it?”
Yesterday Rwigara’s daughter, Anne Rwigara who is also the family’s businesses representative requested the court bailiff to stop the auction, but the court bailiff told her to go to court if they were not satisfied.
Auctioned yesterday are the stocks o tobacco that had been seized last year.
The auctioned stocks include different types of tobacco such as Premier Filter (5553 cartons); Filter Star (1033 cartons); Filter Star King (328 cartons); Premier Super Menthol (191cartons) and Filter Star Soft (90 cartons). Each carton contains 5000 pieces of tobacco making a total of over 35 million pieces.
A Police statement says that yesterday, a joint team of officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Ministry of Health, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other stakeholders carried out a physical verification visit to refugee camps housing Burundian refugees in Bugesera, Nyanza and Rusizi districts.
“As refugees gathered for the exercise, their leaders started to incite them to reject any assistance from these institutions,” the statement reads.
“As a result of instigating violence among fellow refugees, 33 ringleaders were identified and arrested. They include 31 at Gashora Transit Centre-Bugesera; one at Nyarushishi Transit Centre-Rusizi; and one at Muyira Transit Centre-Nyanza,” the statement reads.
According to Police, the incitement, an act punishable by the penal code, was endangering the lives of refugees in the camp, as well as that of officials.
Police say that now, the situation in all the camps is calm.
Early this month, over 2500 Burundian refugees entered in the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The refugees refused all food assistance processed from industries.
The ruling coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) on Tuesday elected Dr. Ahmed as a leader from the country’s largest ethnic group the Oromo. Being party leader paves the way for him to become Prime Minister once approved by the parliament.
“Made a tel call with Dr. Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia to congratulate him and through him entire EPRDF as well as people of Ethiopia for selecting him as able compromise PM yet to be confirmed by parliament soon!!,” Kagame said in a tweet.
Kagame congratulated Abiy on behalf of AU.
“As chairman of the AU, on behalf of other African leaders wanted to express our solidarity with the Ethiopian people and their leaders as they continue to find from within and among themselves solutions to the recent political problems they faced!,” the tweet reads.
“Looking very much forward to having Ethiopia continue to play its historical central role effectively and soon on our Continent!!” Kagame said.
Once approved, Dr. Ahmed will take over replacing former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn who resigned last month. Desalegn said that his resignation was vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy.
Kagame was speaking Wednesday to local leaders that are in Kigali for a three-day retreat.
The retreat brings together over 1300 leaders including Sector Executive Secretaries, District and City of Kigali Council Members, District Executive Secretaries, Provincial Governors and Executive Secretaries.
Speaking about persistent problems and leaders working from the office and end up without seeing those problems addressed, the Head of State said that they should seek solutions or provide explanations to the people.
“You should leave offices and reach people, discuss their problems and orient them. Sometimes people think that problems are there because the government does not care about them, but, that’s not the reason; there should be a response or clarification of the problem. That is our responsibility,” he said.
Kagame said that leaders should rethink about poor implementation of their responsibilities and then take decisions.
“First of all if you take time and reassess yourself on why you don’t fulfill your responsibilities or why they always remind you about what you should have done, it helps to change cultures, mindsets or working conditions. You should challenge yourselves on what to change to serve people better,” he said.
Kagame said that when they fail to assess themselves, the result from poor working conditions affect people.
“We will not keep you there doing things which can cause loss or bad effects to other people, you must be held accountable about it,” he said.
The auction took place at Gikondo at the ‘Premier Tobacco Company Ltd’ premises on Wednesday.
The court bailiff Védaste Habimana opened the auction asking price of Rwf433,727,966 and the tobacco was finally bought by Murado Business LTD.
At the auction was Anne Rwigara, late Assinapol Rwigara’s daughter who is also in charge of the factory’s operations and his brothers.
The family was not contented with the value that was given to their properties. They said that the tobacco had a value of around Rwf1 billion.
Anne Rwigara requested the court bailiff to suspend the auction as stated by law when property owner is not satisfied with the value at the first day.
Anne said that they still have the case filed at Nyarugenge Commercial Court, requiring for suspension of the auction.
“It is not necessary to sign a cheque. A case has been filed in court to stop this auction and as you know today at 2:00pm there is a hearing. As you also know that property owners are allowed to reject the value when they are not contented. We as Rwigara family reject this offer,” she said.
The court bailiff told the family that the auction was conducted legally and if they are not satisfied they should go to court.
“I’m the one heading the auction, we are not in the court, if you have any concern about the auction go to court. I have nothing else to argue with you,” he said.
The stocks of the tobacco were seized last year by Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to recover tax Rwf6 billion arrears that they claim the factory owe the government. Auctioned were different types of tobacco including Premier Filter (5553 cartons); Filter Star (1033 cartons); Filter Star King (328 cartons); Premier Super Menthol (191cartons) and Filter Star Soft (90 cartons). Each carton contains 5000 pieces of tobacco making a total of over 35 million pieces.
{{Origin of the auction}}
RRA has repeatedly said that it approached Rwigaras asking them to pay arrears but the family turned a deaf ear.
Richard Tusabe, RRA Commissioner General, told the press last month that the auction was delayed by the fact that The Rwigaras also owe huge debts to different people and banks, among other reasons.
Previously, the Rwigara family had filed a case in the Commercial Court of Nyarugenge in January 2018, accusing RRA of illegally seizing its bank accounts and assets, claiming that RRA’s acts had prevented their tobacco factory from recovery but the court ruled in favour of RRA.
The family’s lawyer, Janvier Rwagatare, told the court that the Premier Tobacco Company’s computers, books of accounts and warehouses had illegally been seized by RRA, leading to the factory’s stalling in operations.
He said raw materials used to make cigarettes were decomposing in the warehouse because of lack of access and requested the court to order RRA to withdraw all seizure orders. He added that the factory had lost all clients after being out of business for seven months.
However, RRA lawyers Clement Gatera and Bajeni Byiringiro argued that the assets including books of accounts, computers and finished tobacco products had been seized legally following the company’s failure to clear arrears.
The judgment made on 5th February ruled that RRA had seized the factory legally and dismissed the case. The family’s business representative Anne Rwigara said the decision would be appealed but IGIHE has not learnt of the appeal so far while the 30-day maximum period for appeal has expired.
Under the project, BRD will provide loans to Bank of Kigali, I&M Bank, Access Bank and KCB; and those banks will also provide loans to people and businesses who will need to invest in renewable energy.
Last year, the Government of Rwanda through BRD, launched a $49 million (over Rwf41 billion) project which will enable 445,000 households get access to electricity through renewable energies by 2023.
The project will facilitate small and medium businesses and 1.8 million people to get access to electricity specifically those who do not have access to national grid.
BRD Chief Executive Officer, Eric Rutabana said that the signed agreement is a way to approach people with projects that need loans to buy materials which they will use in renewable energies.
“Projects to fetch electricity from renewable energies like solar and small hydropower plants among others will get funding, for individuals who will need to connect their homes or buy materials will be able to acquire loans,” he said.
He said that through the six-year project, $46 million will go in electricity related activities, whereas other $3 million will go to support partners like Saving and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), banks and micro-financial institutions which will provide loans to people and investors.
According to BRD, private sector role is paramount towards achieving the government’s target to have 100% access to electricity by 2024.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Bank of Kigali’s Chief Commercial Officer, Vincent Gatete said that the partnership comes as response to the interest rates which are high and discourage people working in energy sector.
The Managing Director of KCB Bank George Odhiambo said “As a business we are ready to see this project successful and we consider this as a catalyst to offset other development projects in Rwanda,”
Under the seven-year government programme, the government has targeted that in 2024 all households will be connected to electricity, 52% of them will be connected to National Grid whereas 48% will be connected to other sources of energy.
