The first batch comprised of 188,000 vaccine doses arrived in Rwanda on Wednesday 18th August 2021 while the second is expected to be delivered on Friday.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije has welcomed the donation which comes in handy to complement national efforts to mitigate effects of COVID-19.
“We are grateful to the US Government for these vaccines. As Rwanda rolls out vaccinations across the country to save lives and mitigate the harmful impact of the pandemic, these doses are much needed and will be put to good use immediately,” he said.
Rwanda is the first country to receive vaccines from US government which coordinated closely with COVAX and the African Union on country allocations.
“The United States is pleased to provide these COVID-19 vaccine doses and to lead the world in bringing an end to this global pandemic. Your health is our health and our health is your health,” said Peter H. Vrooman, US Ambassador to Rwanda.
In addition to frontline personnel including community health workers, Rwanda has started vaccinating Rwandans and residents aged 40 and above as well as priority risk groups including pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions and the elderly to whom vaccines are administered in their homes by mobile teams. So far, more than 950,000 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
It has been two weeks since the rebels were quelled from major strongholds in Mocímboa da Praia following intense fighting.
IGIHE has learnt that Rwandan and Mozambican troops have started offensive operations to rebels’ hideouts.
Mbau is said to be among remaining hideouts equivalent to 10 percent of zones previously held by rebels.
According to sources, the joint forces maneuvered through Mocímboa da Praia and Mueda to attack rebels in Mbau.
It is also reported that the operation conducted on Wednesday was preceded by air strikes to disperse the enemy before land attacks. ]
Apart from Mbau, other regions still under the control of rebels include Siri I and Siri II.
During the ongoing fight, liberated regions are left under protection of Police forces as soldiers advance to chase out rebels.
Rwanda started the deployment of 1000 troops of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Rwanda National Police (RNP) to Mozambique, recently on 9th July 2021, to fight rebel groups linked ISIL.
The group sometimes calls themselves al-Shabaab, although they do not have known links with the Somali al-Shabaab.
The situation started worsening in October 2017 when armed extremists linked ISIL launched an insurgency in the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique.
Since then, Mozambique Defence Armed Forces have been battling the extremists while many civilians were displaced by the fighting.
The joint operations between Rwandan and Mozambican troops have started yielding where different regions including Palma, Awasse, Mocímboa Da Praia, Quionga, Tete, Zambia, Maputo, Nhica Do Rovuma, Quelimane, Chinda and Mumu have been seized from rebels.
The operations were conducted in Murambi and Masoro sectors in partnership with members of other security organs and local leaders.
The illegal miners belong to the same group that call itself ‘Abapari.’ At the time of their arrest, they were found in possession of 8.5kgs of cassiterite minerals.
The Acting District Police Commander (Ag. DPC) for Rulindo, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Pacifique Semahame Gakwisi said that the suspects were arrested following complaints raised by the residents, whose farms the group was digging in search for minerals near Rutongo mines.
“Police has been receiving several complaints from residents about people, who extract minerals in their fields close to Rutongo mines, especially during the night, destroying their crops, and Police had been trailing those involved until 17 people belonging to the group of Abapari, were arrested red-handed on Tuesday with 8.5kgs which they had extracted, and seized assorted traditional tools which they were using,” CIP Sebahame said.
The group, he added, was threatening residents, whose farms and crops were being destroyed, that they would harm them if they reported their illegal activities to the Police.
The DPC warned against illegal mining activities as well as destroying people crops and threatening them.
“To conduct mineral related business, including extraction, you must be licensed or an employee of a licensed company and operating in a specific area. Operating at night is risky to your life and threatening people will not shield you from being arrested because people understand their community policing rights,” CIP Sebahame warned.
Those 17 arrested illegal miners along with the minerals were handed over to RIB at Murambi station for further investigation.
Article 54 of the law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, states that; any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
The statement released last night also shows that 635 people caught the virus out of 10299 sample tests, seven recovered while 36 are critically ill.
The country has registered 3475 new cases out of 71,958 in seven days while a total of 961,563 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The cabinet was briefed on the COVID-19 test and vaccination ongoing across the country. It was noted that Rwanda was nearing one million vaccinations including frontline workers and the most vulnerable.
The cabinet was also updated on then recent ten-year Eurobond where the Government raised US$620 million at 5.5% interest rate.
In March 2019, Rwanda and DRC signed agreements to open airspace which saw RwandAir commencing flights to Kinshasa and vice versa.
Later in April 2019, RwandAir started operating three flights per week from Kigali International Airport to N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa.
Recently in June 2021, both countries also signed three cooperation agreements on the promotion and protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion between the two countries as well as a memorandum on gold mining.
The anticipated launch of new flights to DRC is expected to further ease movements and give a significant boost to trade between both countries.
Operating from Kigali, RwandAir is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines and operates one of the youngest state-of-the-art fleets on the African continent.
With a reputation for delivering a premium service to all its customers, RwandAir operates 12 aircraft with an average age of just under six years. The airline currently offers services to 25 destinations across 21 countries throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
In a message released via Twitter handle today, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has shade light on the partnership extension demystifying reportedly misleading reports about the deal.
“After a successful start to the 3-year partnership with Arsenal Football Club, the Rwanda Development Board decided in 2019 to renew the partnership, which was then announced on 14 May 2021, during the launch of the club’s 2021/22 away kit,” reads part of the message.
Arsenal and RDB initially teamed up back in 2018 with Visit Rwanda becoming the Gunners’ official tourism partner, as well as the club’s first sleeve sponsor.
That contract was reportedly worth US$30 million over three years.
By the end of the first year of the partnership, Rwanda’s tourism revenue increased by 17% to US$498 million in 2019 from US$425 million in 2018.
Leisure tourists from Europe increased by 22% and by 17% from the UK.
According to RDB, the renewed partnership will build on the gains made over the last 3 years and ‘contribute towards Rwanda’s economic recovery strategy following the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the tourism sector’.
“The partnership will also continue to leverage Arsenal’s expertise to develop football locally in Rwanda, with a focus on improving the quality of coaching at the grassroots level for girls and boys,” adds the tweet.
“We are excited to open Mihindi Café and campsite this Saturday. Planning to visit this weekend? Pass by the coffee shop for a coffee or a craft beer from Kweza Craft Brewery, who are partnering with us for the official opening,” reads the tweet.
Located in the northern part of the park, Mihindi Campsite expected to be opened on Saturday 21st August 2021 and will have a coffee shop known as Mihindi Café.
The park’s management has also revealed that 100% of the profits from sales at the coffee shop and camping will be reinvested back into the conservation activities of the park and subsequently help to reach self-sustainability target.
It was built upon the request of tourists who would not find all services needed in the northern part of Akagera National Park.
The northern part of Akagera is among most visited sites but had lacked infrastructures where tourists would stay for refreshment yet it takes approximately six hours to reach the southern part of the park which is home to several facilities for tourists.
The campsite is expected to accommodate 15 tourists per day. Children and adults spending a day at the camp will pay US$30 and US$50 respectively.
Mihindi is an addition to existing similar facilities including Shakani Campsite, Muyumbu Campsite and Mutumba Campsite.
The Online Olympiad is a competition for teams that represent their national chess federations.
The tournament is held online due to effects of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Chess Olympiad is biennial worldwide event that attracts participants from all countries affiliated to FIDE.
The 2021 FIDE Online Chess Olympiad in Rapid Format, which runs from 20th August to 15th September 2021, will see over 1000 players from 155 countries divided in 4 divisions with the top countries like Russia, China, Ukraine, India being in Division one (Top Division).
Rwanda will join the tournament on Friday 20th August 2021 in Pool B of Division 4.
11 rounds will be played in three days from Friday to Sunday. The pool of Rwanda comprises Uganda, Somalia, Kenya, Namibia, Qatar, Kuwait, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Malawi, and Lesotho.
Few weeks after launching this campaign, IGIHE caught up with Sharon Mazimhaka, General Manager, Corporate Services and Company Secretary at MTN Rwanda to shed light on anticipated outcomes of the campaign to be rolled out countrywide for four-months.
Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the campaign was launched early July 2021 with the objective to reinforce awareness around the importance of properly wearing face masks as a way of curbing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
The campaign seeks among other things to encourage the public to adhere to all COVID-19 preventive measures instituted by the Ministry of Health.
As Mazimhaka explained, MTN Rwanda is deeply invested in the well-being of the communities within which it operates where the telecom is convinced that setting an agenda to extend awareness on recommended health guidelines would be a step further to ensuring safe communities and returning to normalcy.
“Wearing face masks properly is one of key initiatives individuals can take to play their part in containing the spread of COVID-19. The aim of the campaign is to motivate individuals to push through and continue to wear face masks properly and also adhere to other containment measures including social distancing, washing hands among others. This campaign is an opportunity for us to support national efforts in response to the pandemic,” she said.
In addition to the four-month campaign, MTN Rwanda contributed 20,000 face masks and 500 Oxygen saturation monitors as further support towards the ongoing public health needs.
In light of the campaign, MTN Rwanda pledged to support 40 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are running e-commerce businesses by zero-rating access to their websites for MTN customers and granting them 3 months-FREE access to MoMo Biz (a digital platform that enables businesses to easily conduct end-to-end MoMo transactions).
“The Government has encouraged people to go cashless and embrace digital transactions which is another way of reducing transmission of the virus. By supporting SMEs with zero rate access to e-commerce platforms, we are convinced that it will help to reduce crowds in market places and complements guidelines to keep social distancing,” stated Mazimhaka.
She stressed that the telecom is not only concerned about generating returns but also takes heed on the wellbeing of members of the community.
“We are much concerned about our communities and understand that it is our responsibility to use the resources we have to play whatever role we can, especially during this pandemic, to help them to stay safe,” she noted.
Apart from ‘One More Push’ campaign, MTN Rwanda has been engaged in diverse projects that are geared towards positively impacting communities in the areas of Economic Empowerment, Education and Health.
These include recent partnership with HeHe, a technology company that enables businesses in operation optimization. This partnership consists of financial support for SMEs in the agribusiness sector and providing trainings in digital marketing to better equip them to market their products on local and international ecommerce marketplaces.
In June this year, MTN Rwanda pledged to construct six hand washing facilities at various schools in Nyamasheke District to underwrite efforts in place to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus.
Through the annual ’WeCare Month’ campaign held in June 2021, the telecom also donated Rwf100,000,000 to the Ministry of Education through its newly established institution Rwanda TVET Board to facilitate the infrastructure of 10 computer labs in various TVET schools across the country.
The One More Push campaign was adopted from MTN Group as a way to reinforce the message of wearing face masks properly to combat any further spread of the coronavirus.
It runs for four months and will be present on radio, TV, outdoor and digital media channels.
Among others, MTN Rwanda has pledged to offer its communication channels to the Ministry of Health and Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) to disseminate important messages to the public on COVID-19 preventive measures.
