Kagame expressed the hope yesterday as he ended a working visit to Madagascar where he also held a tête-à-tête with his host President Andry Rajoelina at Iavoloha Presidential Palace.
The President and First Lady Jeannette Kagame were in Madagascar yesterday where they attended the 59th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Madagascar held at Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in the capital city, Antananarivo.
As he addressed members of the press, Kagame said it was a high honor to pay his first visit to the magnificent country on the 59th anniversary of the restoration of Independence.
He appreciated the invitation from Madagascar counterpart to join him and the people of Madagascar on the historic occasion saying the visit is also an opportunity to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
“This was the substance of the very productive discussions which the President and I have just held. Building on the MoU signed by our respective development boards earlier this year, we intend to enhance the trade and investment ties between Rwanda and Madagascar, particularly in the context of COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
Kagame also highlighted other priority areas for collaboration including technology, agriculture, and security.
“I was also pleased to invite His Excellency to pay a visit to Rwanda in the near future. We hope that we will continue to strengthen the ties between our two countries and our two peoples, and help propel our people to greater development,” he stressed.
President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame also attended a State Banquet hosted in their honor by President Andry Rajoelina and First Lady Mialy Rajoelina of Madagascar.
This is my first visit to Africa’s largest island. The natural beauty of Madagascar is legendary and truly breath-taking. However, we have found the warm, generous spirit of the Malagasy people even more striking.
He thanked his counterpart and the people of Madagascar ‘for according us the privilege of marking this historic day together as your guests. I also congratulate you.’ Kagame said the unity and strength of the nation were clearly on display that national unity is the highest political virtue as well as the foundation of sovereignty, security, and development.
“In Rwanda, by coming together to find solutions to our unique challenges, we found that we actually had the power and resilience to transform our lives for the better,” he noted.
“The demonstration of possibility, in the face of adversity, is the most important lesson of our experience. If Rwanda has been able to make progress, it means that others can do the same, or better,” added Kagame.
The Police Chief made the remarks yesterday at a special send-off function of 217 Police officers, who retired recently, held at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru.
Seven of the retirees are senior officers.
He said the function was held to recognize their contribution to national building.
IGP Munyuza urged the retired officers to remain committed to the cause of national building, particularly promoting national security.
“The country and Rwanda National Police in particular is proud of your contribution to national security in your role as law enforcers, some of your colleagues did not have this opportunity to have such an honour,” said IGP Munyuza.
He thanked them for the selfless service in security and liberation of the country.
“You are going with dignity,” he said.
IGP Munyuza expressed confidence that the retired officers will continue to give their contribution in the new capacities as members of the ‘Police Reserve’ before adding that RNP will continue to rely on their participation to maintaining security in their communities.
“We know you sacrificed a lot to building this country, and believe you cannot tolerate whoever can try to undo what you fought for,” said IGP Munyuza.
Retired Chief Supt. Dan Ndayambaje, speaking on behalf of the retired officers, thanked the Government for Rwanda for the opportunity to serve their nation.
The experience and skills acquired during their time as serving officers, Ndayambaje said, will also facilitate them in their new status as members of Police reserves and out of active duty.
The Formed Police Unit Three (FPU-3) commanded by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jacque Urujeni replaced the maiden female-dominated unit headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Teddy Ruyenzi, which was deployed to UNMISS in June last year.
The replaced contingent returned home later in the evening after a successful tour-of-duty.
The female contingent was pledged by His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda during the UN Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping Operations in 2015.
During the pre-deployment briefing, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza told the officers that they have been well trained and that they have the skills and readiness required to fulfill their duty.
“You are going in a country with different weather condition but you have been prepared and trained physically and mentally to stand such tests and to accomplish your duties,” IGP Munyuza said.
“Uphold the legacy of the contingent you are replacing, which has been credited for much success, work with other peacekeepers and the people of South Sudan and respect their cultures,” he added.
He reminded them that their conduct while on or off duty should reflect the image of their country and the force.
“Serve with commitment and discipline, it is what Rwanda stands for and it is what you must project while out there,” the Police chief emphasized.
He spoke at length about discipline, integrity, and respect for each and teamwork as pillars to the effective delivery of the mission mandate.
“Our country has achieved a lot in all sectors of development including security both locally and cross-border in peacekeeping missions, sustain that legacy and build from it,” IGP Munyuza said.
He also reminded them that the Rwandan culture of human security goes beyond borders even in peacekeeping missions.
The deployment of the female-dominated contingent is in line with the national gender policy on gender promotion and equality.
It also reflects on how further Rwanda responds to international peace in the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 that stressed the important role women can play in peacekeeping and conflict resolution.
The UN resolution calls for more women in decision-making positions, a gendered perspective to be “mainstreamed” across peacekeeping and for more women to participate in field operations as police and as human rights observers.
Women constitute about 30 percent of the seven FPU contingents deployed in various South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR) and Haiti, making Rwanda the second largest contributor of female peacekeepers.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Amb. Claver Gatete made the statement yesterday to the parliamentary chamber of deputies as he provided explanations on challenges identified during their previous tours in different sectors between January and February 2019.
The visits were meant to assess the implementation of development programs and projects eradicating poverty.
The issue of asbestos roofs was among areas of concern.
The Government of Rwanda took the decision to eliminate asbestos roofs ten years ago over associated health risks including cancer among other incurable diseases.
When asked to provide explanations on the progress of eliminating asbestos roofings still found on public, private and individuals’ buildings, Gatete said: “The progress of eliminating Asbestos roofs from public buildings stands at 57%. The rest is 43% to be dealt with. In non-public buildings, asbestos has been eliminated at 66%. We need at least Rwf 4.3 billion to squarely address the challenge.”
“We believe the challenge of asbestos roofing on all public buildings will be completely eliminated within one year,” said Gatete.
He said, private investors are also mobilized to support government in eradicating asbestos roofs.
President Paul Kagame recently talked about the matter as he visited Nyabihu and Musanze districts during previous presidential outreach program at Busogo stadium.
He said the decision to eliminate the hazardous roofs was taken ten years ago but still exists at different buildings across the country.
Affected farmers usually use jerry cans, buckets among other plastic containers, saying they find it hard to effectively clean the containers which also attract much heat during sunny days, spoiling the milk which is rejected by milk collection centers.
Farmers have thus appealed for support to get standard milk cans to maintain quality of milk.
“We have quite a number of cows in Gishwati farms. We have higher milk production but we face difficulties with supplying milk. We use jerry cans of which hygiene is uneasy to maintain. Indeed, milk supplied in jerry cans is susceptible to perishing when it is exposed to the Sun. This leads to the rejection of our milk at the collection centers,” said Enock Ngiruwonsanga.
The representative of Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) at Nyiragikokora Milk Collection Center, Jean Pierre Manirabaruta said they sometimes reject over 20 liters of substandard milk a day.
“We often experience such issues of substandard milk because some farmers still use plastic containers like jerry cans and buckets among others. At times we realize the milk is spoiled on arrival. It is difficult to articulately clean such plastic containers,” he said.
Manirabaruta however explained that the challenge is being addressed under the new plan to distribute standard milk containers to farmers.
The representative of Rwanda Dairy Development Project (RDDP) in Nyabihu district, Alexandre Mbyayingabo said the process of distributing milk cans to farmers is underway.
“The Ministry of Agriculture through RDDP operating in 12 districts countrywide, started addressing the issue with the distribution of milk cans, cooling tanks and equipment to test milk standards among others. The initiative launched is in line with improving quantity and quality of milk and accelerate farmers’ progress,” he said.
MINAGRI through RDDP plans to distribute 20,000 dairy equipment including coolers, milk cans and milk testers, among others.
Farmers in Gishwati will receive 3,465 including 4 coolers in a bid to eliminate losses emanating from supplying milk in sub-standard containers.
It is said that both spouses were drunk and got in heated argument when the woman pushed his husband who hit the head on the ground.
The Executive Secretary of Mutarama cell where the incident took place, Seraphine Mukantibiringirwa has told IGIHE that the old man died on Monday night.
“Each of the spouses had spent the day taking alcohol in separate bars. They got in heated argument and engaged into a fight as they returned home. The old woman pushed back his husband whose head hit the stone in the courtyard and started bleeding. He died on the way to the health center,” she said.
Mukantibiringirwa explained that the suspect has been kept in custody at Byumba police station as investigations get underway.
Organized by Wealth Fitness International, the meeting was meant to train participants in doing business but was halted by police and RIB following the crowd’s chaos at KCC.
It is said that applicants were promised US $ 197 after the training session which enticed the youth to register and attend in big numbers.
As the crowd of participants flocked Kigali Convention Center today morning, they were required to pay an attendance fee yet they could not even fit in the room booked for the meeting.
The room was overcrowded and resulted into chaos as the big crowd that could not find space inside the meeting room stayed outside wandering around the premises of Radisson Blu Hotel.
The chaos kept growing until the management of KCC called security for intervention, bringing in Commissioner of Police for Operations and Public Order, CP George Rumanzi and Peter Karake, the Director General for Crime Intelligence and Counter Terrorism at Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
CP Rumanzi told attendees of the meeting that it is halted following a call from Convention Center management for intervention to stop the chaos.
He explained that training people is not the problem but the anomaly lies in poor coordination of the meeting.
“The organizer doesn’t even know the exact number of invitees. Attendees staying outside outnumbered 10 times the number of people inside the conference room. The registration process is also ambiguous. It causes problems. That is why we have intervened with RIB. There is evidence that it is an issue to be investigated,” he said.
Security officials revealed that over Rwf 15 million in registration fees has been collected from participants. Following interventions, it was agreed that participants who paid for attendance get their money reimbursed.
According to sources, each participant had to pay either Rwf 15,000 for a VIP or Rwf 4,500 for an ordinary seat.
Karake said that RIB is going to investigate the case and requested complainants, to file claims at RIB station in Remera.
Col Jeannot Ruhunga, the Secretary General of RIB also visited the scene at Kigali Convention Centre and requested participants to return home promising that relevant institution will follow up the matter.
He assured attendees who had already paid that their money will be recovered.
Akagera National Park’s Eastern Black Rhino population has grown with the arrival of five new individuals from European zoos following a translocation undertaken by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and African Parks, which manages Akagera National Park in partnership with the RDB.
Two male and three female Eastern Black Rhinoceroses were released into the wild of Akagera on Monday 24th June 2019, with the aim of increasing the genetic diversity of the park’s rhino population and aiding efforts to restore the critically endangered subspecies in Rwanda and the region.
Talking on the arrival of the new rhinos, Jes Gruner, Akagera National Park Manager said the newly translocated rhinos will bolster the founder group introduced in 2017, contributing to the reestablishment of a robust Eastern Black Rhino population in Rwanda.
“This unique achievement represents the culmination of an unprecedented international effort to improve the survival prospects of a critically endangered rhino subspecies in the wild. Their arrival also marks an important step in Akagera’s ongoing revitalization, and one that underscores the country’s commitment to conservation,” he said.
Originally hailing from Safari Park Dvůr Králové (Czech Republic), Flamingo Land (United Kingdom) and Ree Park Safari (Denmark), and selected from the EAZA Ex Situ Programme (EEP) for Black Rhino, the five rhinos began their journey from the Czech Republic on the 23rd June following months of preparation at Safari Park Dvůr Králové. Every precaution was taken to minimize stress and ensure their well-being throughout the translocation process. They were flown to Kigali before being transferred to Akagera National Park by truck.
On the afternoon of 24th June, all five Eastern black rhinos were released into enclosures in the park where they will remain for at least three weeks to ensure they have time to acclimatize to their new environment. Once they have adjusted, they will be released into a 10-hectare sanctuary where they will continue to be closely monitored for several months as they establish themselves in the area before being released into the wider park.
Clare Akamanzi, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board said the country is committed to the long-term success of Eastern Black Rhinos in Rwanda.
“Their health and well-being is crucial to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection efforts, both in Rwanda and across Africa. We couldn’t be prouder of the strong community-led conservation efforts that make their new home, Akagera National Park, one of the most vibrant and spectacular Big Five Parks in the region, and we are sure that the Park’s newest residents will settle in well,” she stressed.
“Tourists visiting Akagera National Park will get to witness a truly wonderful sight, the Eastern Black Rhino in its natural habitat,” added Akamanzi.
Akagera National Park, a protected savannah habitat in Rwanda that contains excellent black rhino habitat, has undergone a remarkable transformation since African Parks assumed management in 2010 in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board.
In 2017, ten years after Eastern Black Rhinos had last been seen in Akagera, the species were reintroduced with the translocation of 18 individuals from South Africa through a project supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
The founder population that now numbers 20 adapted well, demonstrating the park’s potential to sustain a black rhino population while underscoring the extremely high levels of security and effective park management provided by African Parks and the Government of Rwanda.
Just under a decade of management with improved law enforcement and strong community and economic development initiatives has seen poaching practically eliminated, key species including lion and rhino returned, significant support fostered for conservation, and vibrant tourism leading to Akagera being 80% self-financing.
The long-term viability and genetic health of Rwanda’s Eastern Black Rhino population requires the introduction of additional animals. The five newly translocated individuals—two males and three females whose ages range from two to nine—were carefully selected and result from the foresight and vision of EAZA in helping to supplement wild populations in secure parks in Africa with genetically-robust individuals successfully bred and nurtured by the EEP.
“The success of the EEP has enabled us to supplement natural populations of rhinos in Africa,” said Dr. Thomas Kauffels, Chair of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
“Modern zoos are a key part of the conservation landscape, and our collaboration with Akagera National Park and the Rwanda Development Board demonstrates how zoos can contribute directly to the conservation and recovery of endangered species in protected landscapes,” he added.
Extensive security measures have been implemented to ensure the long-term safety and well-being of Akagera’s rhinos. They include an expertly trained rhino tracking and protection team put in place in 2017, a canine anti-poaching unit, and the deployment of a helicopter for critical air surveillance to enhance protection of the park – all made possible with funding provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
Black rhinos are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with fewer than 5,000 black rhinos remaining across their range in the wild, and of these approximately 1,000 are the critically endangered Eastern black subspecies.
This translocation, which is being carried out according to IUCN guidelines, represents an urgent and valuable opportunity to expand the range of the black rhino with the help of captive-bred rhinos to supplement and repopulate wild populations. It also forms part of the Government of Rwanda’s vision to revitalize and protect its natural heritage to create a future in which both people and wildlife can thrive.
Trainees include Police, military and civilians from the host Rwanda, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and allied participants from Norway.
It’s intended to address issues regarding concepts of gender mainstreaming, SGBV causes and forms in Post conflict situations. It further provides participants with skills, knowledge and techniques of investigating cases related to SGBV during conflict situations.
The commandant of PTS, Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, while opening the course, said that training is an effective measure to address most of the challenges in regard to contemporary policing and to enforce national laws.
“This course is very paramount to Rwandans as a post genocide country, on one hand, but also in line with functions in peacekeeping operations in region and across the globe,” CP Nshimiyimana said.
The course is line with developing capacity and capabilities of EASF for future deployment in Peace Support Operations.
“This course answers most of our enduring questions in the protracted struggle to professionalize our police forces. Such crimes thrive in insecure and chaotic countries where most of you will be deployed for your peacekeeping missions, and you will be expected to investigate and handle such crimes efficiently,” the commandant said.
The head of Police Component at EASF, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dinah Kyasiimire, observed that SGBV has devastating long term effects on the lives of victims, their families and communities, and impedes development.
EASF is one of the five regional forces for Peace Support Operations (PSOs) with multidimensional components that consist of military, police and civilians, and mechanism to provide capability for rapid deployment and intervention, peace support and peace enforcement.
The reduction in data prices is expected to drive further internet connectivity, facilitate business growth and enable communication.
Speaking about the new 4G offers, MTN Rwanda’s Chief Marketing Officer, Richard Acheampong said, “We at MTN believe that every Rwandan deserves the benefits of a modern connected world. Our reduction in pricing indicates our commitment to internet connectivity and making high-speed internet affordable for all.”
Data continues to be one of the fastest growing sources of revenue and subscriptions for MTN Rwanda, with data revenue year on year to date growth of 52.6%.
“MTN continues to see a steady growth of data subscribers on the network and we expect this trend to continue now with the reduction in 4G bundles. Through our pro-customer centric approach, we are not only offering our customers lower rates but also giving them the experience of a good quality network,” added Acheampong.
2018 saw U900 being deployed across the whole network countrywide to drive network efficiency and offer better customer experience. The population coverage went from 53% as of 2017 to 92% in 2018. The plan continues in 2019 that entails upgrading the capacity of 3G sites to enable them to carry more traffic, as well as the building of additional sites.
MTN Rwanda continues to be customer-centric and introduce affordable products and services that will deliver a bold digital world to its customers. This will happen with more affordable data, reliable network and affordable Internet-enabled handsets such as the newly introduced entry-level smartphone, ‘Ikosora’. This combination not only drives smartphone penetration but allows for affordable digital inclusivity. With MTN data, everyone has an offer that suits their needs, regardless of budget.
