The water supply system comes in handy to reduce exhausting treks as residents used to fetch water from far distant areas.
The infrastructure will also facilitate the provision of water in Mukingo sector where residents would use dirty water from marshlands, Butansinda Health Post as well as Gahombo A and B schools.
Josephine Ingabire, a resident of Kamushatsi village, Gatagara cell has revealed that IGIHE that the water supply system will help them improve hygiene.
“We had been hit hard fetching dirty marshland water after an hour-long trek. We are very excited for water infrastructure made available to help us improve hygiene and prevent poor sanitation related diseases,” she said.
The mayor of Nyanza district, Erasme Ntazinda explained that 79.5% of Nyanza residents have access to safe water adding that the infrastructure will be extended to Rwabusoro and Rwabicuma sectors.
The water supply system is among infrastructures launched in Nyanza districts to mark the celebration of Rwanda’s 27th Liberation anniversary.
Rwanda targets universal access to safe water by 2024.
The ceremony held virtually on Monday 12th July 2021 was also attended by some of diplomats accredited to the country, representatives from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rwandans living in Belarus and friends of Rwanda.
Speaking at the ceremony; Rwanda’s ambassador to Russia, Lt Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi reflected on bravery that characterized the youth that took part in the liberation struggle led by President Paul Kagame and commended them for sacrifice which became a foundation for Rwanda’s transformational journey over the past 27 years.
He also echoed the message of President Kagame delivered on 4th July 2021 as Rwanda marked the Liberation anniversary where he reminded Rwandans that attained progress is a result of working together.
“Twenty-seven years ago, Rwandans joined hands to liberate our country. Ever since we have worked together every day to renew our society and make Rwanda the best it can be for each one of us. I want to thank you for this,” reads the message.
After stopping the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, RPA Inkotanyi soldiers installed non-divisive leadership promoting unity, reconciliation, and inclusive development among Rwandans under the championship of Kagame.
Rwanda experienced serious economic collapse but has today become a resilient country with impressive transformations in various aspects of life that it is seen as a role model for many countries.
Lt Gen Kamanzi has urged the youth forming bigger segment of Rwandans living in Russia and Belarus to consolidate gains and advance Rwanda’s development further.
Vsevolod Tkachenko, the Director of the Africa Department at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended Rwanda’s resilience and efforts to promote unity and reconciliation over the past 27 years.
He reiterated his country’s commitment to support Rwanda’s development in different areas and commended existing bilateral relations since 1963.
The Vice President of Rwandan community in Russia and Belarus, Joseph Rutaganira encouraged the youth to emulate patriotism of RPA Inkotanyi soldiers who selflessly fought for the liberation of Rwanda and continue contributing to national development agenda.
Rwandan youth from different universities in Russia present during the event also voiced appreciation RPA soldiers for their sacrifice and pledged contribution to build the nation.
As she officially officiated the start of primary six national exams on Monday 12th July 2021; the Minister of Education, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya explained that the situation was unpredictable but commended public collaboration which led to smooth preparations.
“These learners would have sat for exams in November last year but there has been delays occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic. We were not sure if it would happen at this time due to emerging circumstances but we are happy for today’s blessing as students finally sit for national exams,” she said.
“Exams starting today will last three days. More students in ordinary level and upper secondary school finalists will begin exams on 20th July expected to last 10 days.We continue to make possible effort to ensure they don’t miss exams,” added Uwamariya.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. In a bid to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, the Government ordered the closure of all schools that saw all students returning home in March 2020.
Universities and higher learning institutions were allowed to reopen in September 2020 under strict COVID-19 control measures.
In October 2020, the Ministry of Education announced 2nd November as the reopening date for learners in primary 5 and 6 classes. Students from ordinary level, senior 5 and 6 also resumed studies the same day.
The second batch started the second term on 23rd November 2020. This includes learners in primary 4 classes, and secondary school students from senior 1, 2 and 4.
Following the crisis, national exams were also postponed to July 2021.
At least 452,053 are expected to sit for all national exams running from 12th to 30th July 2021.
The violators had gathered at the home of one Epiphanie Nyiramafaranga, 52, for the bridal shower of her daughter, contrary to the government directives against COVID-19 spread.
They had come from Muko, Rwaza, and Muhoza sectors. Some of the violators claimed they were ignorant about some of the directives.
Nyiramafaranga also argued that she had invited very few people and never expected a big turn-up.
“All these are my friends, although I had invited only few, but when others got to know about it they all came to support my daughter and it became hard for me to turn them back,” Nyiramafaranga argued.
Musanze District Police Commander (DPC), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jean Pierre Kanobayire said the violator were found at Nyiramafaranga’s home at about 4pm, following a tip-off from a local resident.
“Police was informed by the resident about the prohibited gathering at Nyiramafaranga’s home. When Police arrived there, they found 24 women overcrowded in the living room fundraising for her daughter’s wedding scheduled for next month,” said SSP Kanobayire.
He warned that as directed by the Cabinet, parties in all settings are prohibited.
“You can imagine 24 people from different places converging in a small room, no social distancing nor face masks and the ventilation system is not adequate. If either of them was infected with Covid-19, it is likely that everyone there was infected,” said the DPC.
He warned against such reckless and inappropriate behavours, and called upon the public to continue sharing information on all violations, including those holding prohibited social gatherings such as parties.
The statement released last night also shows that 772 people have caught the virus while 833 recovered.
The majority of new cases were found in Kigali: 251, Kamonyi; 61, Musanze: 51, Gakenke: 46, Muhanga: 45 and Nyamasheke: 41.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 49 016 people have caught the virus of whom 33 356 recovered, 15 078 are active cases, 70 are critically ill while 582 have succumbed to the virus.
A total of 395, 919 have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme 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.
Newly imported oxygen plants complement the country’s efforts to increase local production in response to the recent spike in coronavirus infections leading to hospitalization.
Rwanda received the new oxygen plants on Thursday 8th July 2021 becoming an addition to existing seven ones that had the capacity to produce 230 cylinders (50 liters each) per day and 7000 cylinders of oxygen per month.
Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) has via Twitter handle revealed that installation of new oxygen plants is underway but but did not indicate the number of imported plants.
More hospitals to receive newly imported oxygen plants include Kibungo, Nyagatare and Rwamagana among other hospitals across the country.
“In line with Rwanda’s effort to increase oxygen production and distribution in hospitals, the Ministry of Health and Rwanda Biomedical Center are procuring several oxygen plants where the first batch has been already installed at Nyarugenge Hospital. More plants are planned to be installed in different hospitals as soon as possible,” reads the tweet.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 48 244 people have been tested positive of whom 32 523 recovered, 15 161 are active cases, 64 are critically ill while 560 have succumbed to the virus.
A total of 395,083 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme on 5th March 2021.
The statement released today shows that the two carriers have joined forces to offer RwandAir Dream Miles and Qatar Airways Privilege Club loyalty members access to each other’s destinations with the opportunity to ‘earn and burn’ points across their reciprocal route networks.
Under the new deal, RwandAir Dream Miles members will be able to fly to more than 140 Qatar Airways destinations using miles earned by flights bought through RwandAir.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club members will have the ability to earn miles on RwandAir’s flights, both within Africa and on long-haul routes, to destinations such as New York and London.
Commenting on the partnership; Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of RwandAir said that the national flight carrier ‘is incredibly proud to be the first Sub-Saharan African airline to enter into partnership with Qatar Airways Privilege Club’.
She explained that customer loyalty is of huge importance to RwandAir and Qatar Airways where both carriers strive to put the customer experience first and give recognition to their most frequent fliers.
“Now RwandAir Dream Miles customers will be able to earn and burn points to give them access to flights across Qatar Airways’ extensive route network, with the same reciprocal benefits to Qatar Airways Privilege Club members. We believe this initiative is a major step forward to greater cooperation between Africa’s most ambitious airline and one of the world’s most prestigious international carriers, and we look forward to further enhancing the benefits of our Dream Miles members,” noted Makolo.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker emphasized that the partnership with RwandAir opens up a world of possibilities for the customers of both airlines, allowing them to discover exciting destinations.
“Members of Privilege Club and Dream Miles can enjoy significant benefits including world class travel experiences on our strong complementary networks,” he said.
Since RwandAir launched its Dream Miles loyalty programme in 2011, it has grown in popularity and become a favourite of the airline’s frequent fliers.
The Dream Miles programme has four tiers of membership, with Emerald forming the entry level, entitling members to a free ticket using award miles, eligibility for a flight upgrade, as well as last minute cabin upgrades and up to 40kgs excess baggage using award miles.
In addition, Silver tier members, who have earned 25,000 ‘Tier Miles’ or taken 20 flights in a year, are entitled to an additional 10kg of checked-in baggage, can earn 25% bonus miles on all RwandAir flights and be given priority on the waitlist.
Gold tier members, who have earned 50,000 miles or taken 40 flights a year, enjoy a wide range of benefits, including 50% bonus miles on all RwandAir flights and 15kg extra checked baggage allowance.
They can also receive a free ticket and complimentary upgrade to the higher cabin using miles, as well as priority check-in, baggage tagging, Business Class lounge access and high priority on the waitlist.
RwandAir’s most highly-valued frequent flyers can benefit from Diamond tier status in reward for earning 100,000 miles or taking 60 flights a year.
Benefits include 100% bonus miles on all RwandAir flights, an additional 23kg of checked baggage and one free upgrade to Business Class per year when travelling in the Economy cabin.
Following two years of consecutive Diamond status, their tier will be automatically extended for a further two years.
{{About RwandAir}}
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.
{{About Qatar Airways Privilege Club}}
Privilege Club launched in 2000 as the loyalty programme by Qatar Airways and features four tiers of membership – Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, giving members a range of exclusive privileges and benefits that have been designed and tailored to make travelling even more rewarding.
Members can earn Qmiles when flying with Qatar Airways and with oneworld® airlines, and other airline partners, as well as with a number of financial and lifestyle partners. Qmiles can be redeemed towards a range of rewards including award flights, cabin upgrades, extra baggage, Hotel & Car Rewards and more.
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.
Many civilians have been displaced by the fighting.
Following different attacks, the militants seized the port town of Mocimboa da Praia August 2020.
Over fifty people were beheaded by terrorists in the province in April 2020 and a similar number in November 2020.
Among others, the militants seized Palma on 24th March 2021, murdering dozens of civilians displacing more than 35,000 of the town’s 75,000 residents.
So far, intensified fight between rebels and Government soldiers for the past four years has claimed lives of 3000 civilians leaving over 800,000 displaced.
The incessant violence prompted the visit of Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi to Rwanda in April 2021 where he discussed the problem with his counterpart Paul Kagame.
The statement released by the Government of Rwanda ahead of sending troops to Mozambique reads that the deployment is a response to the request of the Government of Mozambique.
The joint force is expected to work closely with Mozambique Armed Defence Forces (FADM) and forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in designated sectors of responsibility to fight the terrorism group that has captured Mocimboa da Pria town for four months.
Among others, the Rwandan contingent will support efforts to restore Mozambican state authority by conducting combat and security operations, as well as stabilization and security-sector reform (SSR).
The deployment is based on the good bilateral relations between the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Mozambique, following the signing of several agreements between the two countries in 2018. It is also rooted on Rwanda’s commitment to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine and the 2015 Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians.
{{The cost}}
It is reported that Rwanda sent 35 senior military officers to assess the situation in Mozambique following the visit of Filipe Nyusi to Rwanda.
After situational analysis and identifying areas of contribution, Rwanda decided to send 1000 joint forces and cater for related cost during their mission to the Southern Africa country.
Speaking to IGIHE recently; RDF Spokesperson, Col Ronald Rwivanga explained that the most important thing is to fight terrorism because the cost of insecurity is relatively higher than the cost of war to quell insecurity.
“Wars are costly but insecurity costs higher. We are convinced that countering insurgency in Mozambique will address security issues stemming from the situation that would spread to the entire Southern Africa region. It is better to consider the losses incurred by insecurity before putting an emphasis on the cost to restore peace,” he said.
Col Rwivanga has revealed that the mission is not time-specific.
“The duration of the fight will depend on emerging situation. The time to end the insurgency is not time-specific. We shall come back after accomplishing our well defined mission,” he affirmed.
{{Modelling self-reliance }}
Dr. Ismaël Buchana, a researcher and political analyst has said that Africa needs to develop self-reliance to address problems prevailing on the continent including insecurity which have existed for over 60 years.
Speaking to the media recently on the decision to reduce forces deployed in peace operations in Sahel, French President Emanuel Macron explained that it is not his country’s core business to protect security for African nations.
Dr. Buchana has explained that the statement should leave a major lesson to Africans.
“The time has come for Africa to start solving own problems across all areas without leaving behind security because it is not a must for foreign countries to protect Africa. We should understand that it is our responsibility to work hard for desired progress and build strong security systems to meet our aspirations,” he stressed.
“Africa has capabilities to protect security but it requires solidarity because security problems are transnational. That is why Africa had set ambitious target to silence the guns by 2020. The target was not fully attained but there has been a major progress in conflict management,” added Dr. Buchana.
According to the Global Terrorism Index published on 25th November 2020, the “centre of gravity” for the Islamic State group IS has moved away from the Middle East to Africa and to some extent South Asia, with total deaths by IS in sub-Saharan Africa up by 67% over last year.
The report also revealed that ‘the expansion of ISIS affiliates into sub-Saharan Africa led to a surge in terrorism in many countries in the region’.
Seven of the 10 countries with the largest increase in terrorism were in sub-Saharan Africa. These include Burkina Faso, Mozambique, DRC, Mali, Niger, Cameroon and Ethiopia. They are an addition to countries with persistent conflicts including Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad among others.
The report points out that in 2019 “sub-Saharan Africa recorded the largest number of ISIS-related terrorism deaths at 982, or 41 per cent of the total”.
On the other hand, 20% of small arms worth US$1 billion traded globally are sold on African continent.
Dr. Buchana has explained that Rwanda’s efforts to restore peace in CAR and Mozambique should be emulated by other African countries.
“Rwanda is not the most powerful country on the continent in terms of economy and military power. By taking the front lead to intervene in peace restoration efforts, Rwanda is showing a good exemplar to other nations,” he noted.
RDF Spokesperson, Col Rwivanga has also emphasized that Rwanda’s contribution reflects that Africa has what it takes to solve own problems.
“This mission carries many lessons particularly striving for self-reliance as Africans. It demonstrates that Africans have the capacity to solve problems existing on the continent. The contribution by Africans to normalize the situation in Mozambique is of great value. The gesture should be considered to show what we can achieve in other areas including health sector where collaboration is paramount to address our problems,” he said.
Currently, Rwanda is the third largest UN troop-contributing country in the world with more than 6,000 military and police personnel to different peacekeeping missions.
The man’s body was found on Sunday 11th July 2021 hanging in a forest located on Ntora hill with a rope around his neck.
The Executive Secretary of Gisozi sector, Providence Musasangohe has told IGIHE that the man left a suicide note before hanging himself.
“He committed suicide yesterday morning. He was first seen by residents hang in a tree with a rope made of mosquito net around the neck. After alerting local leaders, security officials and Rwanda Investigation Bureau arrived at the scene and took the body at Kacyiru Hospital for postmortem,” she said.
As Musasangohe revealed, the man left a suicide note explaining that he was no longer able to endure hard life.
The driver identified as Innocent Mutabazi, 43, was also arrested when the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) and Traffic and Road Safety department intercepted the vehicle in Uwimana Village, Giheke Cell, Giheke Sector.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, Mutabazi was reported by residents.
“RPU received information about Mutabazi, who works for Merez Petroleum company, had transported gas cylinders from Kigali to Merez station in Gihundwe sector, Rusizi District.
However, on his way back to Kigali, he loaded the illegal products including narcotic drugs and skin bleaching products, and other smuggled goods such as powdered milk, in Giheke sector and covered them with gas cylinders,” CIP Karekezi said.
He added: “Police responded to a tip-off, mounted a check point in Uwimana village, Giheke cell where Mutabazi was arrested red-handed with 60kgs of cannabis, skin bleaching lotions and other goods.”
Following his arrest, Mutabazi disclosed that he was hired by dealers operating in Nyabugogo to pick the illicit goods at a specific point in Giheke, on his way back.
He identified one of the dealers that hired him only as Claude and that he was to be paid Frw200, 000 upon delivering the goods.
CIP Karekezi warned drivers against aiding drug dealers and smugglers.
He commended residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspect and urged them for continued timely reporting of criminals.
{{What the law says}}
Cannabis is classified among the very severe narcotic drugs in Rwanda.
Article 263 of law No 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses 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.
Upon conviction for “very severe narcotics,” the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
Article 266 of the same law, states that any person, who produces, sells or prescribes harmful products; cosmetics or body hygiene substance or any other products derived from plants, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or one of these penalties.
Under article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods and an automobile used in smuggling are auctioned, and the driver is fined of US$5000.
{{Tax fraud}}
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax.
