Three of the suspects were arrested on Monday, April 3, in Kabingo village of Nganzo cell, Muhanga sector in Muhanga District where they were found in possession of 74 metres of electricity wires, which were cut from the vandalized pylons.
Five others were arrested on Tuesday, April 4, in Ruyaga village, Mataba cell, Nyamiyaga sector in Gicumbi District with at least 60kgs of electricity wires also cut from pylons.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO) said that residents of Ruyaga village raised concerns over power outage caused by people, who vandalize lines to steal wires.
“Some parts of Ruyaga village experienced power outage in the night of Monday, April 3, after unknown people cut electricity wires connecting the village. Police and residents worked together to identify those behind the criminal acts, five of whom were arrested the following morning on Tuesday at about 7a.m, as they loaded about 60kgs of electricity wires in a Dyna vehicle,” SP Ndayisenga said.
The vehicle was also impounded, he added. They were going to sell the stolen wires as scraps.
It was the same scenario in Muhanga District where the village of Kabingo was in total darkness in the night of Monday after the power line connecting the village vandalized and wires stolen.
“Three people suspected of cutting and stealing the wires were arrested later that night with 74 metres,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Habiyaremye, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said.
Article 182 of the law determining offences and penalties states that any person who maliciously demolishes or damages in any way, in whole or in part of construction, building, bridge, dams, water pipes and their routes, railway rails or any other means of communication or electric power infrastructure, wells or any other constructions which do not belong to him/her, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years with a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
MONUSCO has been operating in eastern DRC for more than two decades, while the EACRF was deployed last November with a mandate to support regional efforts to restore peace and security in the volatile eastern DRC.
According to EACRF, the two commanders discussed possible areas of coordination and collaboration, including the delimitation of operational areas, battle space management, including airspace control, logistics support in terms of medical evacuation (MEDVAC), casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), and limited air transport capacity to remote bases, engineering support for defense preparations, opening of main supply routes, as well as information/intelligence sharing and surveillance.
The eastern DRC has been volatile for almost three decades and is home to over 120 local and foreign armed groups.
The EACRF is made up of four countries: Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, and Uganda. In March, Angola announced that it would deploy troops to DRC, but as part of a bilateral agreement with the Congolese government.
Since its deployment in November 2022, the EACRF has occupied areas in North Kivu province ceded by the M23 rebels in accordance with the Luanda Agreement.
The peace process, led by EAC continues despite persistent challenges in the region.
The team presented various medical supplies to the hospital Monday, including hand disinfectant, dental treatment equipment, medical isolation goggles, disposable sterile operating overalls, and electric operating table.
Upon receiving the donation at Masaka Hospital, Director General Jean Damascene Hanyurwimfura expressed his gratitude to the Chinese medical team for their generous support toward the hospital’s medical care.
“The Chinese medical team has been providing specialist medical support which has contributed to improved medical care at the hospital. The medical equipment donation would enhance the hospital’s capacity to diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for patients,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Zhao Shangjun, the leader of the Chinese medical team, said that the donation will help in providing specialized medical care to patients at Masaka Hospital.
“We discussed with the hospital authorities about the shortage of medical equipment in the hospital. Based on their needs, we donated various medical supplies to Masaka Hospital, including an electric operating table. We believe that this donation will significantly improve the hospital’s capacity to deliver quality medical care,” said Zhao.
At the event, Wang Jiaxin, the economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, said that providing medical supplies to Masaka Hospital is an annual activity of the Chinese medical team. “The better the hospital is equipped with medical care necessities, the better the service provided to local patients.”
He said that the medical cooperation between China and Rwanda has been going on for several years, with the Chinese medical team providing medical care support to Masaka and Kibungo hospitals. China started to dispatch medical teams to Rwanda in 1982.
Gasamagera was elected recently during the party’s 16th National Congress, which coincided with the party’s 35 years of existence and saw more than 2,000 party members in attendance.
The congress also witnessed the re-election of President Paul Kagame as the party Chairman and the election of Consolee Uwimana as the first female Vice Chairperson of the party.
Gasamagera, who previously served as the Rwandan ambassador to Angola, expressed gratitude to the party and its members, stating that he owes his existence to RPF-Inkotanyi.
As the former Commissioner in charge of Political Mass Mobilisation in the RPF, Gasamagera’s extensive experience is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the party’s policies and strategies going forward.
Gasamagera and new staff members were elected for five-year term.
Both heads of state were addressing members of the press on Tuesday as Kenyan President William Ruto visited Rwanda on the invitation of his counterpart, Paul Kagame.
During the two-day state visit that began on Tuesday, both countries signed 10 cooperation agreements in the areas of education, health, agriculture and ICT among others.
President Ruto acknowledged the commendable progress made in the area, citing the presence of additional troops, including soldiers from Burundi and Angola, and the success of persuading armed groups to lay down their arms and respect agreements.
He made the disclosure at a time when M23 combatants continue to withdraw from captured areas including Bunagana, Sake, Mshaki, Neenero, Kilorirwe and others.
President Kagame similarly stressed progress in recent weeks and called on the “outside world” to support African leaders’ proposed solutions to the crisis.
He emphasized the need to “do more and register more progress towards the solution.”
After concluding the mission, Ms. Teferra, who led the IMF mission, announced that the team and Rwandan officials have come to an agreement at the staff level regarding the economic and financial policies required to complete the first reviews under the PCI and RSF arrangement. However, this agreement is still subject to approval by the IMF Management and Executive Board, with the Board’s consideration scheduled tentatively for May 2023. If the Board approves, Rwanda would have access to SDR 55.46 million (about US$ 74.6 million) under the RSF.
Performance under the program has been strong, with all quantitative targets for end-December 2022 met and all reform targets under the PCI and RSF progressing well and anticipated to be completed ahead of the Executive Board discussion.
Despite the strong growth of the economy, macroeconomic imbalances have emerged. GDP growth was 8.2 percent in 2022 due to robust output in the manufacturing and services sectors that outweighed weaker-than-expected agricultural production and a significant slowdown in construction activity.
Rising food prices, strong domestic demand, and weak agricultural performance due to unfavorable weather conditions have kept headline inflation persistently above 20 percent in recent months. High core inflation, which was at 14.4 percent in February, indicates broad-based and persistent inflationary pressures in the economy. Robust import demand coupled with high commodity prices and tightening global financing conditions have weakened Rwanda’s external position, causing foreign reserves to decline to 4.1 months of prospective imports at end-2022.
Given Rwanda’s vulnerability to external shocks, Ms. Teferra emphasized the urgent need to rebuild policy buffers. Another spike in global energy and fertilizer prices, a steeper decline in trading partners’ growth, or global financial market and geopolitical developments that adversely affect the availability of concessional resources will further strain external buffers and limit the policy space to confront developmental challenges and address climate change. To rebuild policy buffers, the authorities need to further tighten the fiscal and monetary stance.
To maintain fiscal sustainability, the government needs to raise domestic revenues while containing non-priority current and capital expenditures. Additionally, reforms to adopt effective and transparent public financial and investment management practices should accelerate, and institutional capacity to assess and manage state-owned enterprise fiscal risks needs to be strengthened. The National Bank of Rwanda should pursue a more decisive monetary policy tightening to contain inflationary pressures and promote exchange rate flexibility to ensure external stability.
Structural reforms should be sustained to tackle pandemic scarring and enhance socioeconomic resilience. More efforts are required to enhance access to healthcare and education, address learning losses, promote regional trade integration, and scale up and better target social protection. Continued reforms to allocate climate resources more effectively and transparently will be critical to mobilizing additional climate funding and achieving Rwanda’s ambitious climate agenda.
Ms. Teferra expressed her gratitude for the authorities’ excellent cooperation and candid and constructive discussions and reaffirmed the IMF’s support for the government’s efforts to implement its economic reform program.
The department of Testing and Licensing has started issuing electronic provisional driver’s license as Rwanda National Police (RNP) continues to shift its services from analogue to digital to improve service delivery.
The e-provisional driver’s license issued through Irembo digital platform brings to an end the old paper system, according to Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, the RNP spokesperson.
“Effective April 3, the department of Testing and Licensing will only be issuing e-provisional driver’s license to successful candidates and to those already holding valid ones.
Successful candidates and those holding valid provisional driver’s license will no longer have to go to the TL offices to go through the usual inconveniencing process of registration and issuance,” said CP Kabera.
Now, registration for provisional driver’s license for successful candidates as well those with valid ones is done online through Irembo, where an e-provisional driver’s license can be accessed and downloaded.
No additional payment required for those already holding valid provisional driver’s license.
“E-provisional driver’s license is fast, it facilitates candidates who passed the test to access it wherever they are and helps to fight forgery and other malpractices,” said CP Kabera.
Liliose Nyinawinkindi, the head of customer experience at Irembo said that shifting from analogue to digital services enhances service delivery.
“You can now access your e-provisional driver’s license on the palm of your hand on your smartphone at any time, at the nearest cyber cafe or Irembo service providers.
If you lose it, it will be easier to download another one on Irembo and the same goes for those who wish to renew it,” Nyinawinkindi said.
Those who registered to do practical driving test will now be required to present either soft or hard copy of the new e-provisional driver’s license to Police officers, if needed.
The meeting offered the opportunity to take stock of the expanding bilateral partnership and provided for constructive exchanges of views and discussions on issues of mutual concern, including on the global and continental level.
The Ambassadors and Government representatives reviewed a large array of domestic and international issues, ranging from economic development, governance and fundamental freedoms, reconciliation in Rwanda, regional relationships and continental issues, and global challenges, including peace and security, climate change or gender equality. In all these areas, the parties also explored the possibilities to identify areas to strengthen further their cooperation.
During the meeting, the EU also presented the implementation of its bilateral development programme, flagships under the EU Global Gateway strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.
The EU also presented the various TeamEurope Initiatives, supported by EU and Member States that translate some of the Global Gateway priorities while responding to priority needs of Rwanda’s National Transformation Strategy.
The EU’s multi-annual indicative programme for Rwanda focuses on the areas of Education, Skills and Jobs for Youth, the Green deal for development and Political and Economic Governance. Under the Global Gateway, the EU, Member States and finance institutions mobilised resources to enhance the enabling environment for BioNTech’s investment in vaccine manufacturing in Rwanda. EU and Member States are implementing jointly as “TeamEurope” their support for the climate-resilient agricultural transformation and to accompany the emergence of a network of smart cities in Rwanda.
The political dialogue was co-chaired by the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Vincent Biruta, and the Ambassador of the European Union, Ms Belen Calvo.
Rwandan Government was also represented by Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning; Dr Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, Minister of Justice and Dr Jean Damascène Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement.
Other representative on Rwandan side include Brigadier General Patrick Karuretwa, Head of International Military Cooperation in the Ministry of Defence; Dr Usta Kaitesi, CEO Rwanda Governance Board; Ambassador Yamina Karitanyi, CEO Rwanda Mining Board; Dr Emile Bienvenue, DG Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority; Mr Antoine Kajangwe, DG Trade and Investment in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Mr Richard Kayibanda, Registrar General in Rwanda Development Board.
On the EU side participated the Ambassadors of Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden, as well as representatives from Denmark, Luxemburg, Malta and Poland.
Of the agreements inked on Tuesday 4th March 2023, six were signed by both countries’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta and his counterpart Alfred Mutua. These include correctional services, diplomatic training, ICT, health, youth, and cooperative development. In addition, three agreements in education, agriculture, and gender were signed by each country’s respective ministers.
Rwanda and Kenya have enjoyed cordial bilateral ties across different sectors of development for a long time. Kagame said that the new areas of cooperation will bring people in both countries even closer, with regional integration and trade being a big part of the equation of private sector growth.
“We are happy that Rwanda is home to a large and vibrant Kenyan community, we are grateful for their contributions to our development. I hope that we can leverage this shared interest to equip our youth with the skills and knowledge to innovate and compete,” he added.
Kagame noted that the people of Rwanda and Kenya are also united by a common vision for a more stable region. Ruto said that the signed MoUs in different sectors will consolidate the relationship between the two countries, present a new momentum, and create new impetus for the expansion of engagements between both countries.
“Just like Rwanda is a gateway for us in the Great Lakes Region, we are also aware that Mombasa is an important port for the people of Rwanda and creates the synergy between our two economies, and we will continue building the network necessary for us to benefit from it,” he added.
Regarding the ongoing education system reform in Kenya, Ruto stated that the agreement in the education sector will assist in tackling the significant challenge of financing university education. The aim is to share experiences and identify ways to make education more relevant, easily delivered, and cost-effective.
Furthermore, Ruto highlighted that there will be an exchange of expertise and resources between the large referral hospitals in both countries in the health sector.
Ruto also affirmed the positive relationship between the two countries and their desire to strengthen and expand their friendship and unity.
It is worth noting that Rwanda and Kenya have ratified the One Area Network, which allows for reduced call rates between both countries, thus facilitating business growth.
To shed more light on the bank’s impact and future plans in Rwanda, IGIHE had a conversation with the Country Manager for Rwanda, Aissa Touré. Appointed to the role in December 2020,she provided insights into the Bank’s operations, including its activities and opportunities for the private sector.
{{Excerpts:}}
{{IGIHE: Which mega projects currently being implemented by the AfDB in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda?}}
{{Aissa Touré:}} The bank has been working with Rwanda since 1974, since then we have provided US$2.9 billion worth investments in many sectors. As we speak, we have a portfolio of 26 projects worth US$1.5 billion. These projects are mainly in the area of infrastructures including water, sanitation, transport and energy. This accounts for 87% of our entire portfolio.
The remaining projects are in skills development and human capital in general and interventions to support the private sector to thrive and be able to contribute to the socio-economic transformations of Rwanda.
Within infrastructures, 46% of our projects are for energy, 28% are in water and sanitation and 13% in transport.
These include Kivu Belt game changing project, Carnegie Mellon University – Africa, School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE), Kagitumba-Kayonza- Rusumo and Base-Rukomo-Nyagatare roads, the Kivu Watt project and Kigali Bulk Water Project to name few.
The impacts of these investments are massive because we believe that providing services such as water and sanitation, roads and energy, education, access to schools and hospitals facilitate a lot in many aspects because when you have electricity , you can go for agro-processing , you can have start businesses. Our impact has been massive.
During COVID-19, the Bank provided US$100 million as direct financing public support as a contribution to the recovery fund the government put in place.
It is a long partnership, we are a trusted partner, and the second largest development partner of Rwanda after the World Bank.
We are currently preparing a new project in transport that will need public investment to get the infrastructure done. Once this investment is done next year, we will come with private sector investment because the government has requested the bank to support on electric buses.
This is something that we are very excited to do because this is a new avenue for development in Rwanda. We are happy to be part of it.
Lastly, as part of the new international airport in Bugesera and the expansion of the airplane fleet in the country require qualified human capital to manage, operationalize and sustain these investments the Bank will support to the government to set up a Centre of Excellence for Aviation Skills (CEAS).
It is a project of around US$24 million to set up an academy where all the skills that are needed in the aviation value chains, from pilots and other people working at the airport will be trained.
{{What are projections to help Rwanda achieve its goals?}}
In Rwanda, the bank has what we call a country strategy paper which defines what the bank could be doing in the country for a period of time.
In Rwanda, the country strategy runs from 2022 to 2026. It is designed around two mutually reinforcing pillars. The first one is strengthened physical infrastructure to enhance productive resources and reduce the cost of doing business; and the second one is around improve skills and financial capabilities to foster private sector and productivity-led growth. because these are critical for meeting NST1 and would even be more critical for the NST2 that is in the making.
We have that strategy, it has been formulated with the government and it is really a participatory process. Within that, we have what an indicative pipeline which runs from 2022 to 2024, we have discussed with the government what they will be doing and what they want us to focus on.
We provide resources to countries. We are very soon going to disclose to all country members including Rwanda what the allocation will be from 2023 to 2024.
{{ How do you promote private sector development in Rwanda?}}
In 2023, Rwanda got a very consistent private sector window under the AfDB Window of US$242. Usually, this window finances lines of credit to Band of Kigalu, BRD, Equity among others but we really want the private sector to come and have direct access.
The Bank needs to do more outreach and awareness raising on its Private sector financing opportunities. In May this year, we will have a private sector road show to engage with the private sector federation, RDB and big players on private findings opportunities.
We look forward to having this dialogue with the private sector for them to know the instruments that we have, the conditions and the sectors that they can use it for.
{{How are you working with countries to tame rising inflation?}}
Economic hardships started with COVID-19 which has been challenging for all countries especially African ones with borders closing and lockdowns etc… When countries like Rwanda were starting to slowly recover, we had the Ukraine and Russia war.
When COVID-19 hit, the Bank and the Government agreed the financing of the year 2020 would go to the budget support. We provided the entire envelope to the COVID 19 recovery fund.
When the Ukraine-Russia crisis hit last year, the bank quickly put in place the African Emergency Food Production Facility provide 20 million African smallholder farmers with certified seeds. Initially, Rwanda was not a beneficiary of this facility.
We had to make a case and that facility has been exhausted but Rwanda with US$1 million. Discussions are on-going with the Ministry of Agriculture on how that money could be used.
We had last December the Dakar Summit on agriculture and because you see that inflation is mainly in food items especially for Rwanda.
Rwanda presented a very good case in Dakar last year, and we are trying to unpack different investment schemes especially because the private sector is key to making those investments a reality.
We are working to see how we can better support countries, address and mitigate the impact of inflation.
Last year, we also gathered all Eastern African countries, made a study on the impact of inflation and the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Each country had an opportunity to present measures put in place. It was also a good moment to learn from each other.
