Rwandans have been worried about new variant which saw COVID-19 preventive measures tightened due to spiking positive cases.
Following the sharp rise in new cases particularly in Kigali City, the Government extended curfew hours, suspended bars and live bands among other stringent measures.
As he appeared in a RTV talk show on Sunday revolving around the status of the pandemic; the Director of vaccine programs unit at RBC, Dr. Hassan Sibomana reassured Rwandans that things have not yet fallen apart.
“We should not sink into worries over the Omicron variant because it is not more severe than other experienced variants. It has been observed that it spreads faster but patients do not fall critically ill,” he said.
Dr. Sibomana mainly attributed the minimal effect of the variant to the fact that a large number of the population has been vaccinated.
“Having positive cases without critically ill patients is a fruitful result of the vaccine because we have already administered vaccine doses to a significant number particularly in Kigali City,” he noted.
“As you know, we have vaccinated over 90% of the population in Kigali City. Besides, a large number of people have been vaccinated in secondary cities while other districts have not been left behind,” added Dr. Sibomana.
He expressed optimism that COVID-19 will be beaten like any other pandemics.
“I am expressing optimism that the pandemic will be defeated because we usually do not expect to defeat virus-caused pandemics in one year or two. It is difficult but we are hopeful that we can beat infectious diseases like the case for measles which was defeated with vaccines over time,” Dr. Sibomana revealed.
As of today, Rwanda administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to 7,707,304 people while 5,504,040 have been fully vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program.
Among others; a total of 196,636 people have received the third booster dose of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health indicates that the country has enough stock to administer the second and booster doses of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health says that the country has enough stock to administer the second and booster doses of COVID-19.
More vaccine doses are expected to be delivered gradually in coming days.
As the world continues to mitigate effects of COVID-19, Rwandans are reminded of the critical importance to adhere to preventive measures including proper wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing and washing hands frequently among others.
A police spokesperson said the man was facing charges of arson, housebreaking and theft, and would appear in court on Tuesday.
Firefighters worked for hours to extinguish the blaze.
President Cyril Ramaphosa called it a “terrible and devastating event”, as he vowed parliament’s work would continue.
Footage from the scene on Sunday showed a plume of black smoke filling the sky, with huge flames coming out from the roof of the building.
Officials said the fire started on the third floor offices and quickly spread to the National Assembly (the parliament’s lower house) chamber, reports the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko in Cape Town.
The parliament is not currently in session because of the holidays, and no injuries were reported.
Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbambo said the suspect is also expected to be charged under the National Key Points Act, which protects sites of strategic importance. Further details were not immediately available.
In a statement on Sunday night, South Africa’s parliament confirmed that there had been “significant damage” to the New Assembly Wing of the building, which includes the National Assembly chamber where lawmakers sit. It also said some offices had been “severely gutted”.
The fire, which began shortly after 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT), came the day after Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s state funeral at St George’s Cathedral, near parliament.
Mr Ramaphosa, who visited the scene, said news of the fire was a “terrible setback to what we were basking in yesterday”, and added that Archbishop Tutu would also have been devastated.
He said the building’s sprinkler system had not functioned properly, and praised firefighters for responding to the fire in minutes.
Jean-Pierre Smith, a member of the Cape Town mayoral committee for safety and security, told reporters that the roof above the old assembly hall was “completely gone” and further damage inside the old chamber had not yet been evaluated.
“It is not possible to see whether it’s damaged. We hope it is not because it has so many historical artefacts, but you can’t gain access to it without breaking the doors down and we don’t want to do that,” he said.
He also said that parliament’s fire alarm only rang when firefighters were already on site.
Fire and rescue service officials earlier said it would take hours to put the fire out completely because of the carpets and wooden floors in the building.
The damage from the fire can be seen in this image made available by the city of Cape Town:
The Houses of Parliament in Cape Town are made up of three sections, with the oldest dating back to 1884. The newer sections built in the 1920s and 1980s house the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the government is based in Pretoria.
Mr Ramaphosa on Sunday spoke of his sadness at “this destruction of the home of our democracy”.
Parliament, meanwhile, said “all efforts” would be made to limit any disruption to its work.
Cape Town’s Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the city’s Council Chamber would be made available as an alternative place for parliament to meet.
“We want to see parliament continue its important work, and we will do what we can to help,” he said.
It was the second fire at the parliament in under a year. In March there was a fire caused by an electrical fault.
Last year, a fire ravaged part of the University of Cape Town’s library, which was home to a unique collection of African archives.
Three of the dealers were foiled on Saturday, January 1, by the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) in Rurembo Village, Byahi Cell, Rubavu Sector of Rubavu District with 2526 rolls of cannabis.
They are Benjamin Muhawenimana, Jean Claude Ntakirutimana and Olive Muhawenimana.
The Western region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi said that Police first arrested Benjamin.
“ANU had mounted a check point along Rubavu-Musanze highway to randomly search passengers trafficking either narcotics or smuggled goods. In one of the buses, they recovered a luggage belonging to Benjamin containing 2,510 pellets of cannabis. He was immediately taken into custody,” said CIP Karekezi.
Benjamin also later disclosed that he was trafficking the narcotics to City of Kigali, where he had customers. He further told ANU officers that he bought them from two other suppliers; Jean Claude Ntakirutimana and his wife Olive Muhawenimana.
“Benjamin led the ANU officers to the home of Ntakirutimana in Rubavu sector where they recovered 16 pellets of cannabis and over Rwf160, 000 apparently paid to the by Benjamin for the narcotics. The couple was therefore arrested.”
In a related operations, one Cyprien Munyanshongore, 42, was also arrested the same day in Karanka Village, Rukore Cell, Muganza Sector in Nyaruguru District with 5kgs of cannabis.
According to the Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, Munyanshongore is a suspected poacher, who was also found in possession of an Antelope, which he allegedly killed in Nyungwe National Park.
“Munyanshongore sneaked into Nyungwe and killed an Antelope. Park rangers got the information, they trailed him in the park where they saw him slaughtering the antelope, and packed it in a sack. When they apprehended him, they found the sack also containing cannabis weighing 5kgs,” SP Kanamugire said.
All the suspects were handed over to RIB in Rubavu and Nyaruguru.
Article 58 of Law N°48/2018 of 13/08/2018 on environment states that; any person who hunts, sells, injures or kills a protected animal species and products thereof, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years and not more than seven (7) years and a fine not less than Rwf5 million and not more than Rwf7 million.
In article 3 of the Ministerial order nº 001/moh/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation classifies cannabis in the category of “very severe narcotics.”
Article 263 of the law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general states that any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
In case of “very severe narcotic drugs” the offender is liable to between 20 years and life imprisonment and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
This latest donation brings the total current US donation of COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda to 3,295,730 doses. This gift is a symbol of the continued U.S. commitment to partner with the Government of Rwanda to protect the health of the Rwandan people. The vaccines arrived at Kigali International Airport on the evening of 1st January 2022.
The latest donation brings the total current U.S. donation of COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda to 3,295,730 doses. This gift is considered a symbol of the continued US commitment to partner with the Government of Rwanda to protect the health of the Rwandan people. The vaccines arrived at Kigali International Airport on the evening of January 1, 2022.
Commenting on the development, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Deborah MacLean said: “The United States has provided more than 3 million vaccine doses to Rwanda. Nearly 2 million additional doses are due to arrive this month. This further shows our strong commitment to and partnership with Rwanda.”
Since the pandemic emerged, the United States has stood side-by-side with the Rwandan people committing nearly Rwf30 billion to combat COVID-19.
The United States has pledged to donate at least 1.1 billion doses of COVID-19 doses globally by 2023. As we work together with COVAX, WHO, UNICEF, and partner countries, United States commitment remains steady and strong to make sure vaccines are delivered where they are needed most to end the global pandemic.
Sesonga breathed the last this weekend at Kanombe Military Hospital where he has been getting medical attention after retirement.
The man renowned for efforts in fighting drugs trafficking in Nyagatare district also served as Police Commander in Kirehe, Gatsibo, Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts.
The executive secretary of Tabagwe sector, Celestin Munyangabo who lived with the deceased has told IGIHE that Sesonga has been getting treatment for quite some time until he breathed the last.
He eulogized him as a man of peace who always modeled virtues in the community.
After retiring from Police service, Rtd CSP Sesonga became the leader of Tabagwe model village in Nyagatare.
The government directives require everyone to be home by 10pm.
According to the RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera, the 102 people caught at Bauhaus Bar are among over 7,000 violators arrested across the country in the past 24 hours.
“Across the country, Police in partnership with local authorities arrested over 7000 people in varied violations. About 500 of them were found in bars, which were either operating without permission or working in prohibited hours, including the 102 arrested at Bauhaus bar in Nyamirambo on Saturday at about 1am,” said CP Kabera.
Erneste Kalisa alias Samusure, one of those arrested at Bauhaus bar, said that they were affected by the heavy rain prompting them to stay inside the bar drinking.
All the 102 violators were found inside the bar, which was operating behind closed doors.
Shadia Uwizeye, the manager at Bauhaus bar, admitted that they decided to close the doors to prevent being detected when it started raining.
“We were operating during prohibited hours because Police found us at about 1pm. It was a new year and we did not think that we would be caught. This will not happen again,” said Uwizeye.
The executive secretary for Nyamirambo sector, Claudine Uwera said that they got surprised when they found Bauhaus Bar operating with a big gathering inside and doors closed.
“While enforcing the government directives against Covid-19, we got surprised when we arrived at Bauhaus Bar which was operating behind closed doors with lights switched off, and we called the Police,” said Uwera.
CP Kabera said that those caught at Bauhaus bar had been warned earlier to go home before the curfew starts, but decided to undermine the directives intentionally.
He warned against such errand behaviours which contribute to further spread of Covid-19 infections.
All the violators were taken to Kigali stadium where they were educated on the health measures, tested for Covid-19 at own cost and handed administrative fines, accordingly.
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CP Kabera, however, said that despite such violations, the festive period was calm with no serious security incidents.
On the new year and eve of the new year, he added that four serious accidents were registered across the country.
Police in the country has identified the suspect as Masuzo Venus who was arrested on Thursday at Mponda Primary School during an operation police conducted after receiving a tip from well-wishers.
Malawi based media houses have reported that the suspect was found trafficking 18 bags of charcoal in a motor vehicle registration CZ 4963 Mazda Bongo.
Masuzo Venus is expected to appear before court soon to answer a charge of trafficking in forest produce without a licence.
During their stay, the peacekeepers also provided medical care services to people living around Lainya County. To date, 41 children and adults have benefited from different medical services.
The Temporary Operating Base was established on 13th December 2021 and will be maintained until end of January 2022.
Madam Geetha PIOUS, Head of Field Office at UNMISS Headquarters Juba, thanked Rwanbatt3 on the job done.
“People in LAINYA are happy with the TOB and appreciate Rwanbatt3 for providing medical assistance to them. People of Lainya received security during festive season and can now move without fear of attack, thanks to the TOB located near” she said.
RITF has grown by leaps and bounds becoming a strategic platform through which major businesses from around the world have penetrated the Rwandan market. This is made possible through organizing Business to Business meetings as well as Business to Government meetings.
The event mainly showcases products in various sectors such as ICT, banking and finance, agribusiness, arts and crafts, infrastructure, Automotive and general trading.
The recent trade fair which took place from 9th to 30th December 2021 at Gikondo Expo Ground in Kicukiro District of Kigali City, attracted new participants including the East African Business Council (EABC) headquartered in Tanzania.
Speaking to IGIHE; the Executive Director of the East African Business Council (EABC), John Bosco Kalisa has shed light on reasons that attracted the council’s participation and anticipated outcomes.
Kalisa revealed that he has had plans to promote the council’s visibility through participation in different exhibitions held in EAC, which he hopes are being attained gradually.
Kalisa was appointed the Executive Director in June this year. Following his appointment, the council has participated in three regional exhibitions including the ones held in Tanzania and Rwanda.
“The participation helps me to make a step further towards fulfilling my pledge for citizens of the East African community. We also plan to attend more exhibitions in other EAC member states,” he said.
Kalisa went on to explain that creating room for increased investments in one of EAC partner states EAC is part of the council’s mandate.
The participation in exhibitions is also considered an opportunity to lure investors where it has started yielding good results. For instance, Kalisa explained, it has received different businesspeople interested to become EABC members that some of them have started filling forms preceding their admissions.
“Many people miscomprehend EABC as the bloc for large businesses only which is not true. Small businesses are not excluded. Every willing trader is permitted to join. This is the kind of mobilization we have been carrying out at this expo,” he said.
Kalisa further disclosed that the campaign in partnership with host countries has been fruitful evidenced through attracted new countries.
“EABC has conducted mobilization in partnership with Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation. You have seen that this expo has attracted Mozambique, the democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Tanzania. Such sensitization is usually a result of joint efforts between EABC and the host country,” he underscored.
EABC was established in 1997 with the mandate of representing and promoting the interests of the EAC business community, provide value-added services that enhance trade and competitiveness, and to participate actively and positively influence legal and regulatory formulation to improve the business environment.
It also seeks to reduce trade barriers in the region.
Commenting on his projections, Kalisa said that he has very challenging projections to take the council to greater heights and expressed optimism to have them achieved within his five-year tenure.
“If God grants me more days of life, I intend to raise the intra trade within EAC from 15% to 40%. It is a hard task to achieve but I believe that God will give me strength to make it happen,” he stressed.
