The recovered electronics include a microphone, an audio mixer, and a voltage stabilizer, which were part of the sound system in the mosque.
They were recovered from one Shawali Ntwari, 23, in Gitoki Sector, who was also taken into custody.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region said that the arrest of Ntwali was due to information provided by some Muslim faithful at the mosque.
“They reported the case of theft and suspected Ntwari, who was an employee at the same mosque, to be behind it since he also went missing from that very day,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added: “As the search for the prime suspect–Ntwari–was underway, Police received information of someone in Gitoki, Gatsibo District, who was searching for clients to buy music instruments. Police officers went there posing as buyers and arrested Ntwari after authenticating the items to be the same stolen from the mosque in Rwamagana.”
Victims, he said, were notified of the recovery of their items, which are currently at Kabarore Police Station.
CIP Twizeyimana lauded residents, who were quick to share information after suspecting Ntwari to be selling stolen equipment.
“Whenever you suspect someone to be involved in anything unlawful, always call the Police. This will help to jointly fight and prevent crimes, recover anything that could be stolen or missing.”
Theft, under article 166 of the penal code, attracts an imprisonment of between one and two years and a fine of Rwf1 million to Rwf2 million, a community service of not more than six months or one of the two penalties.
The development was announced in statement signed by the Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente on behalf of the head of state. It reads:
His Excellency The President has suspected from duty Mr. GASANA Emmanuel, Governor of Southern Province and Mr.GATABAZl Jean Marie Vianney, Governor of Northern Province owing to matter of accountability under investigations.
Both Provinces have been cited in the 2019 Auditor General’s report as entities where public resources went unaccounted for but it is not yet clear if the suspension is linked to the report. President Kagame however during the National Leadership Retreat said many top officials, including Ministers would be held accountable in months to come.
Prior to his appointment as Governor, Gasana was the Inspector General of Police (IGP) while Gatabazi had been a Member of Parliament for 14 years.
The #INFORAFRICA Alliance aims to respond to the challenges faced by Africa in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
The campaign engages with hundreds of opinion leaders, celebrities and influencers to deliver preventive and lifesaving messages across the continent as well as supporting initiatives which fight the disease, create a positive impact on local communities and contribute to achieving resilience against the impact of the disease.
The #INFORAFRICA campaign already has the support of a variety of African influencers including African music legend Awilo Longomba, British-congolese comedian Eddie Kadi, British-Ivoirian superstar Afro B, journalist, activist and author Isha Sesay, Grammy award winning singer Mohombi, Nollywood superstar Destiny Etiko, Ghanaian actor John Dumelo, soccer players Tresor Lualua and Yannick Bolasie.
In addition to the global awareness campaign, #INFORAFRICA aligns with the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), African governments and their national health authorities to provide accurate information in order to stop the spread of the pandemic on the continent.
Funds mobilised will be directed towards reputable agencies such as the United Nations Foundation Solidarity Response Fund and the Africa Union Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT).
These funds will be used to support frontline efforts such as purchase ventilators, testing, personal protective equipment and hygiene kits (soaps, hydro-alcoholic gels, disinfectants).
Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Eddie Kadi, said:
“As the virus spreads away from African capitals, #INFORAFRICA, this unique continent-wide campaign, the first of its kind, will help amplify crucial life-saving messages to stop the pandemic across Africa. In such unprecedented times, artists and influencers must do their part and come together as a community to deliver messages of hope and unity to the very people who supported them during the course of their journey”.
As a prominent media platform in Africa, StarTimes has put a lot of efforts into raising awareness on the outbreak. It will keep doing so by disseminating the #INFORAFRICA influencer messages so their voices can reach more people on the continent, beyond African capitals.
StarTimes Vice-President Luis Lu said: “Today is a special day for Africa, even more special this year as the world is going through an unprecedented crisis. As the coronavirus is still threatening the continent, StarTimes is honored to join the #INFORAFRICA Alliance to bring people together and help them keep safe.”
Out of the 1,400 people who were tested on Sunday, only two tested positive for the virus, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 327 of which 237 have recovered.
Since the first the coronavirus case was reported in Rwanda in March, the country has conducted 58,477 tests.
The suspects identified as Ismael Niyiduha, 32, Emmanuel Ahishakiye, 20 and Emmanuel Nizeyimana were arrested on Thursday following information on the alleged theft.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that police officers received credible information on theft, suspected thieves and where the materials were hidden.
“The person in charge of the construction site reported that there are some missing materials. He reported that the stolen materials were taken to a welding workshop belonging to Niyiduha,” said CIP Twizeyimana.
He added: “Indeed, assorted construction materials were recovered from the workshop and the Niyiduha arrested. Police later arrested Ahishakiye, who transported those stolen materials and Nizeyimana, the guard of that site, who sold them.”
“Law enforcement organs, local leaders and residents are working together to break the whole chain and to recover other materials still missing.”
Theft, under article 166 of the penal code, attracts an imprisonment of between one and two years and a fine of Rwf1 million to Rwf2 million, a community service of not more than six months or one of the two penalties.
The CEO of the airline Yvonne Makolo said that the airline will direct the funds in sustaining operations and expanding the airline as flights resume after a lull occasioned by coronavirus pandemic.
“We are looking at both, sustaining operations and expanding the airline but for now we are waiting to see if skies will reopen and we resume flying,” She said.
RwandAir grounded flights as part of the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 and only recently launched cargo flights in the region and beyond as an alternative as passenger flights remain suspended.
Last month, RwandAir announced that they would cut employees’ salaries by between 8 percent and 65 percent while the top management team forfeited their salaries. Makolo said the airline has not laid off any staff.
“We have not laid off any staff and we don’t hope to do so,” Makolo said, adding however that fully restoring operation will depend on the subsiding of COVID-19.
RwandAir recently resumed cargo flights to and from Guangzhou, China, flights from Mwanza, Tanzania, to Brussels as well as London in a bid to rake in revenue from the growing demand of goods.
Makolo said the plan is working out well with the demand for cargo shipment on the increase as many countries continue to impose travel restrictions to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
President Paul Kagame said the government would consider investing more money in the airline to sustain its operations last month.
A statement signed by the Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Salim Hitimana, informs Muslims that the prayer of the Feast of Iddil-El Fitri will be aired on Rwandan Television from 7 a.m.
This means that prayers will be held at home as the country continues to observe COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
The operation was conducted by the Police and local leaders to fight the increasing cases of illegal fishing and use of destructive fishing gears.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for Eastern Region, said all the suspects were fishing illegally at night in Lake Karaba and were using destructive fishing nets called Kaningini, which catch and kill even the young fishes.
“We have arrested the six people, who were doing illegal and dangerous fishing practices that affect fish growth and lead to fish depletion, especially when using such fishing gears that net and kill even the juvenile fish,” he said.
He advised people involved in these unlawful activities to refrain and warned of that operations are continuous.
“These operations are continuous and aim at arresting anyone that breaches laws and regulations governing fishing in Rwanda. Those who violate the law will face the wrath of the law,” CIP Twizeyimana warned.
CIP Twizeyimana further urged fishing cooperatives and communities living along the lake to report anyone they suspect to be involved in illegal or criminal activities in the waters.
“Conduct your fishing business in a legal and responsive way; report those who break the law including smugglers and drug traffickers,” he urged.
The law N°58/2008 of 10/09/2008 determining the organization and management of aquaculture and fishing in Rwanda provides that the right to fishing in public waters is only granted by a competent authority, which issues fishing licence.
Any person, who engages in fishing activities without authorisation shall be liable to a fine ranging from Rwf50, 000 to Rwf200, 000 and an imprisonment of 3 to 6 months or one of them and dispossession of the equipment used.
Article 11 outlaws use of “poisonous substances aimed at stunning, weakening or killing fish; applying explosives; using electromagnetic procedures or electrocution; flashing water with an aim of capturing fish; fishing where water organisms are reproduced.”
Statistics suggest that hand-to-hand payments have declined significantly these days as one of the means in taking caution against coronavirus transmission.
In March, the National Bank of Rwanda, (BNR), confirmed that within three months from March 19, 2020, no fee will be deducted from a person who withdraws money from a bank account to a Mobile Money account or from a Mobile Money bank account to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection.
According to a report by Insight2impact in collaboration with RURA, in the first week of the Stay Home program the number of transactions via mobile telephones reached 1.2 million, up from 600,000 in the previous week of Stay Home.
In the last week of April 2020, 1.8 million people transferred money through mobile telephone technologies in Rwanda.
From March 9 to March 15, a total of Rwf10.7 billion was transferred, and in the week ending March 22, the amount hit Rwf 24 billion.
The report shows that although the vast majority of people who transfer money through mobile phone technologies are men, women have also increasingly using the platform, registering 31% but in the fifth week of Stay home it was 36%.
Oxfam has been operating in Rwanda since the 1980s working alongside millions of Rwandans to eradicate poverty and address the injustices of inequality while supporting the most vulnerable and marginalized to improve their lives and remain resilient to external shocks.
The statement issued by OXFAM reads in part:
We are glad to see that Rwanda has been engaged on the right path of economic
growth and shared prosperity for all Rwandans.
Oxfam as an organization began its ten-year strategic review in late 2018, determined to build a more diverse global footprint better suited to a rapidly changing world. The changes are meant to enable Oxfam to be more effective in working with partners and communities to tackle global poverty and inequality and help people to survive humanitarian crises.
Oxfam will be shifting more decision-making power to the global south and re-orientating its teams to work in ways and on issues that are more tailored to their specific local contexts.
Oxfam currently operates in 66 countries and 20 affiliates. It will retain its physical presence in 48 countries, six of which it will explore as new independent affiliate members.
It plans to increase resources to some of these programs and refocus how each works, according to the different specific needs of local people. It will phase out 18 of its country offices. The changes in total will affect around 1450 out of nearly 5000 program staff and 700 out of nearly 1900 partner organizations. Oxfam will honor its existing commitments to its partners and donors.
“For the past years, Oxfam globally, and in Rwanda, has continually invested in building strong partnerships and transferring knowledge and expertise to local partners in Gender Justice, Sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers, participatory governance and humanitarian response and preparedness, peace and stability as well as in influencing and advocacy for the poorest, as a mean of cementing ownership and accountability of its work on the ground. We will build on those efforts as we plan for a responsible phase out process to ensure that the organization’s legacy remains a part of the country’s capacity to continue the fight against poverty and inequality”, said Alice Anukur, Country Director of Oxfam in Rwanda.
Oxfam International Interim Executive Director Chema Vera said: “Looking strategically at where and how we operate is the essential first step in ensuring that Oxfam can continue to make the best possible contribution to fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice, and to influence for change as effectively as possible. We’ve been planning this for some time but we are now accelerating key decisions in light of the effects of the global pandemic.”
“In some countries, Oxfam will have a deeper footprint as we focus our program resources and strengthen our local partnerships to maximize impact. In others we will focus more strongly on our humanitarian or influencing goals.”
“Inevitably, we have had to make some very difficult choices about where we will no longer have a physical presence. This reorganization will take time to complete. We feel a deep sense of responsibility to the countries where offices will be closed, and we will do everything we can to ensure the people we work with will be able to look to the future with confidence. This includes continuing work with partners and allies in countries where there will be no Oxfam office, to support social movements and influence governments and private sector for positive change.” Vera continued.
“Like many charities, organizations and business, Oxfam’s finances have been seriously impacted by the coronavirus crisis. Continuing uncertainty including about the spread of the virus and how quickly countries will come out of lockdown make that difficult to accurately quantify at this stage. Many Oxfam affiliates have been hit by shop closures and cancelled fund-raising events. Many are already saving costs in the immediate term, including by freezing staff hires, furloughs, travel budget cuts and voluntary salary cuts particularly by senior staff. Some are beginning to restructure their operations what will contribute to greater efficiency across the Confederation.
“The coronavirus has made Oxfam’s work helping the world’s most vulnerable people more vital than ever while, at the same time, it is impacting on our capacity to deliver. We are enormously grateful to our donors and supporters whose continuing generosity is helping us rise to this unprecedented challenge. I would like to place on record my deepest thanks to our staff and the brilliant work they have achieved in helping the people and communities we work with improve their lives. The organizational changes we have announced today, combined with further phases of transformation in the months ahead, will be the foundation for our future over the coming decade as the longerterm effects of this devastating pandemic become clearer,” Vera said.
“The tough decisions we announce today will allow us to continue making a positive impact on the lives of people living in poverty in ways we believe will be even more relevant and focused than before. It is the blueprint too of how we will usher in changes to the rest of our network to support it, ensuring that the global Oxfam confederation is on a stable financial footing” he said.
Oxfam’s Executive Board will now begin reshaping the confederation’s affiliate network over the next two months in order to secure long-term benefits and financial stability. It will improve how its affiliate members share services together to support its new global presence, rationalize exactly where this happens, reduce administrative costs further and restructure its international secretariat.
