Violating Zebra Crossing, one-way traffic, green zones and making U-turn at prohibited junctions; all become a common phenomenon. In some circumstances, these serious violations have resulted into preventable accidents.
In an effort to prevent these reckless human behaviors and to ensure safety of all road users, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) department of Traffic and Road Safety has now started operations not only to educate but also to penalize violators.
In operations conducted on Monday morning, October 24, along the newly upgraded Sonatube-Kicukiro centre highway; at least 150 road users were caught in various violations.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera warned against such high risk behaviors and urged all road users to abide by the traffic rules and regulations.
“In a space of just three hours, about 150 road users were caught in various violations. They include drivers and motorcyclists, who were speeding through pedestrian walkways, taxi-moto operators and cyclists who were riding on the wrong side of the road violating one-way traffic, and those crossing the road through green zones; motorists who were making U-turn at prohibited junctions; and pedestrians who were crossing the road through protected green zones, which is also prohibited,” CP Kabera said.
Most pedestrians claimed ignorance about regulations on green spaces of the road.
“I did not know that crossing through green areas of the road is punishable. I have been doing this unknowingly, but today, I was caught by the Police in the morning as I was rushing to work. This is a lesson to me, and I guess a lesson to many others,” said Theogene Iyangabiye.
Equally, Cyusa Louange argued that she used to cross the road from anywhere including through green spaces. “I was only thinking about not being hit by a vehicle or motorcycle but not the green spaces.”
CP Kabera said that this is a combination of operations and awareness to educate road users on road safety standards to influence behavioral change to save lives lost in accidents and to protect the environment.
“Motorists do not respect Zebra Crossing and make U-turn at prohibited junctions; cyclists have also made it a habit to violate the one-way traffic and pedestrians destroy the protected green spaces.
Sadly, there are also taxi-moto operators and cyclists, who ride through these restricted green spaces,” CP Kabera said.
He added: “People should not be penalized for putting their lives and those of others at risk of accidents. Respecting traffic rules and regulations should be an individual responsibility. These specific operations that have started today will continue.”
Although the first day of target operations was mainly on education, CP Kabera cautioned that the next step will be to penalize errant road users.
“Let me take this moment to say thank you very much to all that sent in the hearty Wishes for my BD,” he posted on Twitter.
“My life thus far been full to the brim!! I have succeeded because of/with you. Where I failed it has been bcz of me alone. I can’t complain!!! Many Blessings to you All !!! added the Head of State.
As Kagame turned 65, different people took to social media their best wishes expressing delight for another year granted to the Head of State.
These include First Lady Jeannette Kagame and their first born Ange Kagame.
“It is always a blessing to celebrate you @PaulKagame! Happiest birthday to a wonderful leader, father, grandfather and husband. 65 is a beautiful milestone indeed. I am ever thankful for the family we have been given. You are a gift to us all!” First Lady Jeannette Kagame tweeted.
Using her Twitter account, Ange Kagame also sent best birthday wishes to President Kagame and described him as an exceptional grandfather.
Paul Kagame became the interim president of Rwanda on 24th March 2000 replacing Pasteur Bizimungu who had resigned. He was elected in 2003 to carry on the duties.
Kagame was born on 23rd October 1957 on Tambwe Hill, currently in Ruhango District, Southern Province.
He is the last born in the family of six children born to Deogratias Rutagambwa and Asteria Rutagambwa.
As Kagame turned two in 1959, his family fled to the north-east part of Rwanda where they spent two years before moving to Uganda.
Like many other Rwandans, Kagame spent his childhood in refuge in Uganda where he studied primary and secondary school.
Kagame led the Liberation Struggle and triumphed after stopping the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The development was announced on 26th October 2021 under a broad plan to facilitate access to vaccines in Africa.
The project is expected to reduce Africa’s dependence on foreign countries where the continent has the capacity to produce only 1% of needed vaccines.
The African Union (AU) seeks to capacitate the continent to produce at least 60% of needed vaccines by 2040.
The facility to sit on 30,000 square meters, will be based on BioNTainer modular system. It will have two BioNTainers used for manufacturing of vaccines and drugs.
The project’s managers indicate that preparations to begin operations are underway where the Human Resource Manager has been already recruited.
It will be closely monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO), African Medicines Agency (AMA), African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda-FDA) among others.
As the project was announced, it was revealed that BioNTech facility in Rwanda will provide job opportunities to 100 until 2024.
The local plant will be collaborating with employees from Germany to train new workers recruited to manufacture vaccines or oversee their standards in Rwanda.
IGIHE has learnt that the recruitment of local employees will be done in three phases.
The first comprises 24 managerial positions to recruit people who will oversee the plant’s activities.
The first phase took heed of human resources management, technology, security and construction.
The next phase is expected to draw emphasis on the recruitment of workers in the laboratory and others to facilitate the plant’s daily operations.
Sources reveal that BioNTech has so far received over 2000 applications from individuals interested to work at the facility based in Kigali in the first phase.
It is said that 90% of these applications are from Rwandans. Six staff members have been hired out of the 24 positions while interview tests are being conducted for more 30 positions.
All basic equipment will be shipped to Rwanda from BioNTech.
BioNTech says that the two BioNTainers to be set up in Rwanda will be comprised of 12 containers 12, each with the size of (2.6m x 2.4m x 12m).
It is expected that 50 million COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines will be manufactured in Kigali every year, once the new facility is successfully set up.
The production capacity might increase proportionally to the number of new containers installed.
The first BioNTainer module is expected to arrive in Africa towards the end of 2022 while the production of vaccines is set to begin in 12 months after their shipment to countries that will host such facilities.
Vaccines manufactured under this program will only be reserved for locals and other African countries.
The support is extended to female agents under ‘Twese Initiative’ launched by the telecom to work with different organizations to roll out activities with impact to the community.
Through this initiative, MTN Rwanda equips female agents from across the country with different skills and gives them Kiosks among other kinds of support helping them to run businesses.
MTN will also bring them together in cooperatives and provide funding to expand businesses.
As part this initiative, MTN Rwanda interacted with 100 female agents operating in Kigali City recently on 21st October 2022. They were tipped on how to run businesses smoothly and enlightened on ways to fight against violence.
Chief Sales and Distribution Officer at MTN Rwanda, Norman Munyampundu said that they decided to empower the female agents in a bid to align their efforts with national priorities.
“We are aligning our efforts with the government’s program to empower women. It is under this context that we decided not to leave behind people working with us,” he said.
Munyampundu highlighted that the female agents will be supported to speed up business growth.
“We have approached these women to provide them with the right skills and empower them, especially through the provision of equipment, capital and teach them how to grow their businesses,” he noted.
Agents also commended the telecom for staying closer to them to ensure success of their businesses.
“We have been working smoothly with MTN. This is not the first time the telecom provides funding to members of the society. We are excited to be among beneficiaries this time around and look forward to business growth and improved livelihoods of our families,” said Chantal Nyirahatambineza.
“We are very pleased and hope to work together for our businesses to flourish. The support given to us will reduce barriers we used to face, thanks to acquired knowledge and skills,” revealed another agent identified as Diane Kampile.
‘Twese initiative’ will be rolled out across the country. Last year, MTN Rwanda donated Rwf10 million to the National Union of Disability Organizations of Rwanda (NUDOR) to procure various types of essential materials for people with disabilities through this initiative.
The spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety department, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rene Irere, said that fatal accident occurred at about 4 p.m. when a HOWO truck registration number RAD 421E, experienced brake failure as it was sloping towards Kinamba from Yamaha in Amizero Village, Amahoro Cell, Muhima Sector of Nyarugenge District.
“The truck lost its brakes and rammed into another vehicle before rolling over the bridge. A team of medical personnel immediately rushed to the scene to save lives.
Unfortunate, six people, including the driver of the truck; and pedestrians who include two children, lost their lives. Bodies of the deceased were taken to Kacyiru hospital,” SSP Irere said.
Four other people, who sustained serious injuries, he added, were evacuated to the hospital for medical attention.
Although the truck had a valid mechanical inspection certificate and installed with a speed governor, SSP Irere advised drivers to always inspect the status of their vehicles before embarking on the journey and to fix any mechanical fault that can lead to road accident, loss of lives and property.
The Spokesperson of RIB, Dr. Murangira B. Thierry has told IGIHE that Mulindahabi has been arrested along with other employees.
They are arrested under an ongoing investigation on cases of theft and misappropriation of public resources at IPRC-Kigali.
Their arrest follows a decision by the Government of Rwanda to temporary close the school for two weeks to allow for ongoing investigations into the aforementioned cases.
The statement released on Sunday by the Ministry of Education took immediate effect.
It indicated that no one is allowed to enter the campus premises during this period while students on campus were to be facilitated to return home.
The statement further reads that students will be informed on the reopening date and encouraged individuals with useful information that could benefit the investigation to contact the nearest RIB office.
Eng Mulindahabi has been serving as the Principal of IPRC Kigali since July 2011.
The Rwanda Formed Police Unit One (RWAFPU-2) and Rwanda Protection Support Unit (PSU) both operating in the capital Bangui supported the communities that were recently displaced by floods and currently sheltered at Ecole Primaire Kina of 3e Arrondissement.
At least 120 people were given free medical consultation and medication. The peacekeepers also donated foodstuff to the affected communities.
The humanitarian activity was organized by the MINUSCA Joint Task-Force for Bangui (JTFB) to support communities that were displaced by floods.
It was attended by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG), Lizbeth Cullity, the JTFB commander, Brig. Gen. Alognim Takougnadi and officials from the CAR Ministry of Health.
The FPU-1 and PSU operates in the capital Bangui while another FPU contingent is deployed in Kaga-Bandoro, about 400 kilometers from the capital Bangui.
The FPUs specialize in public order management, delivery of humanitarian assistance, escort duties and protection of UN facilities.
The PSU undertakes special duties such as protection for VIPs, including the SRSG, his two deputies, the Prime Minister of CAR, President of the National Assembly, Minister of Justice and the Head of MINUSCA Police Component, among others.
The development has been disclosed to the public by Burundi’s Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security via Twitter.
“All borders between Burundi and neighbouring countries are open,” reads part of the statement posted on Twitter.
The move was welcomed by Rwandans and Burundians who have been eagerly awaiting for the reopening of borders to ease free movement following tensions that escalated in2015.
Burundi accused Rwanda of supporting coup plot suspects who attempted to overthrow the then President Pierre Nkurunziza. Rwanda repeatedly rejected the allegations but accused Burundi of supporting security threat architects and armed groups intending to destabilize Rwanda.
Bilateral relations took a new shape through discussions to de-escalate tensions since 2020 when President Evariste Ndayishimiye took power.
The closure of borders halted free movement between both countries’ people and incurred losses for traders running businesses in Burundi and Rwanda.
Trade between Rwanda and Burundi has dropped from US$20 million per year in 2014 to US$0.01 in the third quarter of 2021.
Meanwhile, Rwanda closed the border with Burundi as COVID-19 emerged in March 2020.
On 7th March 2022, Rwanda reopened all land borders but Burundi did not do the same.
According to The New Times, Musoni arrived in Rwanda on Friday 21st October 2022.
He was handed the sentence in 2015 by Stuttgart Court in Germany on counts of leading a terrorist organization. He was accused of with the then President of FDLR, Ignace Murwanashyaka handed 13-year sentence after he was found guilty of war crimes in relation to five FDLR attacks in eastern Congo and of leading a terrorist organization.
At the time, Germany’s Federal Court of Justice rejected an appeal by Musoni, who was given an eight-year sentence, but overturned Murwanashyaka’s conviction and sent his case back for a retrial.
The court cited legal errors in the reasoning of the original verdict that could have counted both for and against Murwanashyaka, including doubts about the war crimes conviction and whether he encouraged or facilitated attacks on villages.
It also said that section of the Stuttgart court’s verdict was contradictory in parts.
Murwanashyaka and Musoni lived in Germany where they had been granted asylum and coordinated FDLR.
They were charged with 26 crimes against humanity and 39 war crimes.
The duo was arrested in 2009 in Germany while their trial began in 2011.
Musoni was born in 1961 and settled in Germany in 1986 where he worked as a computer specialist.
He returns to Rwanda after serving his sentence while his boss Murwanashyaka died in prison in 2019 before completing his sentence.
The CPC congress has realized its goals of unifying thinking, fortifying confidence, charting the course and boosting morale, Xi told 2,338 delegates and specially invited delegates present at the closing session of the weeklong congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. “This has been a congress of holding our banner high, pooling our strength, and promoting solidarity and dedication.”
At the closing session presided over by Xi, the congress elected a new CPC Central Committee, with 205 members and 171 alternate members, and a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) consisting of 133 members.
The congress passed a resolution on the report of the 19th CPC Central Committee, a resolution on the work report of the 19th CCDI, and a resolution on an amendment to the CPC Constitution.
The congress noted that the establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has set the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on “an irreversible historical course.”
The report of the 19th CPC Central Committee charts the course and establishes a guide to action for the new journey for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for realizing the Second Centenary Goal, Xi said.
Hailing the report “a guiding Marxist document,” Xi said it is a political declaration and a program of action for the CPC to rally and lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in securing new victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The CCDI work report underscores the significance of using the Party’s own transformation to steer social transformation, and declares the Party’s firm resolve to keep improving conduct, promoting integrity and fighting corruption with sober-minded determination to make this an unceasing endeavor, Xi said.
On the revised CPC Constitution, which came into effect as of the date of adoption, Xi said it encapsulates the theoretical, practical and institutional innovations made by the Party.
The revised CPC Constitution sets out clear requirements for upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership, promoting the Party’s full and rigorous self-governance, continuing and improving Party building, and advancing the Party’s self-reform, he said.
The new developments in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era since the 19th CPC National Congress have been incorporated into the Party Constitution.
Advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization has been designated as the central task of the Party on the new journey of the new era at the 20th CPC National Congress. This central task has been included in the revised Party Constitution.
Also added to the Party Constitution are statements on gradually realizing the goal of common prosperity for all, pursuing high-quality development, developing a broader, fuller and more robust whole-process people’s democracy, elevating the people’s armed forces to world-class standards, resolutely implementing the policy of One Country, Two Systems, and resolutely opposing and deterring separatists seeking “Taiwan independence.”
Holding dear humanity’s shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom was also included in the Party Constitution.
On the newly elected CPC Central Committee, Xi said it is a broadly representative and well-structured body with highly qualified members who meet the standards for Central Committee membership, match the expectations of ordinary officials and the general public, and reflect the realities of the Party’s leadership teams and contingent of officials.
The new CPC Central Committee will definitely be capable of shouldering the historic mission of rallying and leading the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects and in advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts, he said.
“We believe that all the decisions and plans set out at the congress and all its outcomes will play a significant role in guiding and underpinning our efforts to build a modern socialist country in all respects, advance national rejuvenation on all fronts, and secure new victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics,” Xi said.
Xi called on the delegates to firmly keep in mind the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission and the country’s most fundamental interests, and firmly keep in mind that “this country is its people; the people are the country.”
During the congress, the central committees of other political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce as well as public figures from all ethnic groups and all sectors in China offered their congratulations, as did members of the public through various means. Political parties and organizations in many countries around the world also sent congratulatory messages.
“The presidium of the congress wishes to express its heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them,” Xi said.
Having come through a century of great endeavor, the Party is once again embarking on a new journey on which it will face new tests, Xi noted. “We are fully confident and capable of creating new and even greater miracles on the new journey of the new era — miracles that will amaze the world.”
Xi urged all Party members to stay closely rallied around the CPC Central Committee and hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
“We must remain confident in our history, exhibit greater historical initiative, and have the courage to fight and the mettle to win,” he said.
Xi called on the Party to stay focused, determinedly forge ahead, and unite and lead all Chinese people in striving to fulfill the goals and tasks set out at the 20th CPC National Congress.
