They were arrested in an operation conducted by Rwanda National Police on Friday, August 5, at about 5am, in Gishwati National Park on the side of Gatomvu Village, Mugarura Cell, Muhanda Sector. They were caught in possession of 4kgs of Wolfram.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that the illegal mining activities were reported by local residents.
“After Police was tipped off by local residents in Gatomvu village on illegal mining, an operation was conducted and the suspects were arrested red-handed with traditional tools excavating minerals. They had already mined 4kgs of Wolfram,” said SP Karekezi.
He reminded the public that illegal mining particularly in protected areas and vandalizing forest are practices that are punishable by law.
The suspects and the exhibits were handed over to RIB at Kabaya station for further legal investigations.
Article 72 of the Law N° 064/2021 of 14/10/2021 governing biological diversity provides that without prejudice to provisions of other laws, a natural person who undertakes minerals exploration activities or exploits mines or quarries in a protected area, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he or she is liable to a term of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than three (3) years and a fine of more than Rwf5 million and not more than Rwf7 million.
If the offence referred to in Paragraph One of this Article is committed in a national park or a strict nature reserve, the penalty is a term of imprisonment of not less than three (3) years but not more than five (5) years and a fine of more than Rwf7 million but not more than Rwf10 million.
This ranking was made in consideration of the living index. The latter compares the expected average cost of necessities such as food, clothing, entertainment, health care and other and how much each would cost you to have a living in that city.
It is calculated by comparing the prices of a range of goods and services on which consumers spend their money. Costs are broken down by category, like health care, food and housing, and weighted based on spending patterns and individual budgets.
{{Dakar}}
Dakar is the capital city of Senegal in West Africa with a population of over 16 million people. The report showed it is the most expensive city to live in. It has been on the top of this list since the beginning of this year.
Dakar is expensive because many goods are imported from Europe. The important food and household goods such as gas are very expensive to buy. It is one of the safest cities to live in but it is the most expensive.
{{Addis Ababa}}
The Ethiopian capital comes in second place. It is home to five million people. Addis Ababa has also been on the top of the list for quite some time. It is one of the most expensive places to buy property in Africa.
According to the latest data, the cost of living in Addis Ababa of a family of four estimated monthly cost is US$2,044 without rent. A single person’s estimated monthly cost is US$622$ without rent.
{{Abidjan}}
The Ivorian capital city comes after Addis Ababa. It is home to five million people. It has also been on the top of the list since the beginning of this year. In Abidjan, food and other basic necessities are very expensive.
The cost of living in Abidjan estimates that the monthly spending of a family of four is US$2,028$ without rent. A single person’s estimated monthly costs is US$588 without rent.
{{Harare}}
Harare is the capital city of Zimbabwe. It is home to two million people. The cost of living in Harare is very high due to heavy reliance on imports, most quality goods are imported and are double of their price in Europe or USA.
A family of four estimated monthly cost is US$2,003 without rent. A single person’s estimated monthly costs is US$573$ without rent, basic monthly utilities like electricity, water, heating and cooling.
{{Johannesburg}}
Johannesburg is home to six million people. It is the most expensive city in South Africa. The price of cars and fuel increased significantly over the past year, pushing up the cost of living.
It is estimated that the cost of living in Johannesburg is around half that of European cities such as London and Paris while the average salary is lower.
{{Pretoria}}
Pretoria (South Africa) comes after Johannesburg. It is home to 2 million people. In Pretoria, a family of four estimated monthly cost is US$1,934 without rent.
A single person’s estimated monthly cost is US$556 without rent. Pretoria is 62.11% less expensive than New York (without rent) which is the most expensive city in the world. Pretoria is 27.6% more expensive than Kigali even though the rent is 7.26% lower than Kigali.
{{Gaborone}}
Gaborone is the capital city of Botswana. It is home to 208,411 people and comes after Pretoria on the list of the most expensive cities in Africa.
A family of four estimated monthly cost is US$1,852.54 without rent. A single person estimated monthly cost is US$513.91 without rent. Gaborone is 24.94% more expensive than Kigali without rent, on average the rent is 28.82% lower than in Kigali.
{{Cape Town}}
Cape town is home to four million people. It is the 8th most expensive city in Africa according to the report by Statista.
A family of four estimated monthly cost is US$1,879.10 (31,127.18R) without rent, a single person estimated monthly costs are US$533.02 (8,829.50R) without rent.
Cape Town is 23.44% more expensive than Kigali without rent. Rent in Cape Town is 47.12% higher than Kigali.
{{Durban }}
Durban (South Africa) comes in 9th place with a population of 595,000. A family of four estimated monthly cost is US$1,906.74$ (31,585.01R) without rent. A single person estimated monthly cost is US$559.02$ (9,260.21R) without rent.
Durban is 24.07% more expensive than Kigali without rent. Rent in Durban is on average, 15.02% lower than in Kigali.
{{Marrakech}}
At the tenth place is Marrakech ( Morocco). It is home to over a million people and well known for its tourist attractions like Palaces, Mosques and royal gardens.
The estimated monthly cost for a family of four is US$1,567.38 without rent. For a single person, the estimated monthly cost is US$447.92 without rent. Marrakech is 10.01% more expensive than Kigali without rent. Rent in Marrakech is, on average, 31.75% lower than in Kigali.
The land is a gift of Kenya to Rwanda. Amb. Masozera received the land title along with other envoys from five East African countries including Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which were also gifted land in the area.
The 4.047 hectares given to Rwanda will be used to build warehouses for in-transit cargos from Mobassa port before they are shipped to Kigali.
Rwanda already had land in Kenya. In 1986, the then President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi gave 12 hectares to Rwanda in the vicinity of Mombassa port.
Later, a Kenyan businessman identified as Salad Awale, filed a lawsuit claiming that the land belonged to him.
The businessman said that he had land titles given to him in 1986 valid for 99 years.
The Kenyan High Court ruled that the claimant’s title was not genuine as the details provided on the land differed with those stated on the land’s deed plan. The land was given back to Rwanda.
In 2019, Amb. Dr. Masozera told IGIHE that disputes related to the land had ended where the next move was to have it exploited.
At the time, he revealed that the land can be developed to reduce the time it takes for goods (shipped from or to Rwanda) at Mombassa port or offer the space for rent.
VUP was introduced in 2008 as an Integrated Local Development Program to fast-track poverty eradication, rural growth, and social protection.
Providing loans to individuals with promising projects and paid employment for poor households are among kinds of support extended to beneficiaries.
Speaking to members of the press recently, Kigali City officials revealed that they are set to enable street vendors to benefit from such services.
Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Socio-Economic affairs, Martine Urujeni said that they will make possible efforts to ensure street vendors have access to financial services under VUP.
“Through collaboration with Local Administrative Entities Development Agency – LODA, street vendors settled in markets are set to receive financial support to expand their businesses,” she said.
Urujeni disclosed that the city is working with relevant partners to set out terms and conditions for disbursement of loans to street vendors under VUP program for their businesses to thrive.
Kigali City started relocating street vendors to modern markets in 2016. At the time, over 12,197 street vendors were registered in the city including 5,058 from Nyarugenge; 5,149 from Gasabo and 1990 from Kicukiro District.
However, lack of capital was reported to be among challenges facing relocated street vendors pushing them to return to streets.
To address this issue, Kigali City has unveiled a plan to provide them with financial support after settling them in markets.
“We are working with different partners, particularly the Ministry of Local Government, LODA and local leaders to see how we can make follow up lest they abandon the markets,” noted Urujeni.
Normally, street vendors settled in new markets like Nyabugogo Modern Market or Gisimenti among others do not pay rental fees. They are also exempted from taxes for one year.
Apart from loans, Urujeni said that street vendors might also benefit from employments provided under the VUP program.
In the fiscal year 2022/2023, Kigali City allocated Rwf727.5 million for activities meant to stamp out the chaos of street sellers including the construction of new markets.
Kigali City registers 3977 street vendors to be given spaces in markets under construction.
Deng noted that Japan joined other members of G7 and the EU in issuing the statement which confounds black and white and attempts to justify the U.S. connivance at Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to China’s Taiwan region and infringement on China’s sovereignty, made unwarranted accusations and smears against China, grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, seriously violated basic norms governing international relations and the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan, and sent a seriously wrong signal to the international community.
“China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this,” Deng said.
Reiterating China’s position on the Taiwan question, Deng said that the Taiwan question concerns the political foundation of China-Japan relations and the basic trust between the two countries.
Noting that Japan had colonized Taiwan for a long time and thus bears serious historic culpability, Deng said Japan should be more cautious in its words and deeds.
“China strongly urges the Japanese side to abide by the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan and its political commitments on the Taiwan question, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and refrain from going further down the wrong path,” Deng said.
In disregard of China’s grave concerns and firm opposition, Nancy Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan. This constitutes a gross interference in China’s internal affairs. It gravely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously tramples on the one-China principle, and severely threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the spokesperson added.
It is said that the incident took place in the evening of Thursday as a Congolese soldier chased children grazing sheep to seize their livestock. They were grazing sheep in a plain separating Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Spokesperson of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga has told IGIHE that the soldier was shot after crossing into Rwanda.
Following the incident, his body was handed over to Congolese leaders at Kabuhanga Border.
There have been different incidents in the plain separating Rwanda and DRC where smugglers attempting to sneak into Rwanda and Congolese soldiers crossing into Rwanda were confused with enemies and shot dead.
Combatants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) terrorist group have been also maneuvering through the same plain to attack nearby sectors including Bugeshi, Busasamana and Cyanzarwe.
In June this year, a Congolese soldier was shot dead as he attacked Rwandan Policemen on guard with a rapid fire at the country’s small border with Rwanda in Rubavu District commonly known as ‘Petite Barrière’.
At the time, RDF released a statement indicating that the attacker who also opened fire on civilians crossing the border was shot back in self-defence.
“This morning at around 08:45 a.m., an unidentified Congolese soldier armed with an AK 47 rifle crossed the “Petite Barrière” border in Rubavu District and began shooting at Rwandan security personnel and civilians crossing the border, injuring two Rwandan police officers. A Rwanda National Police officer on duty shot back in self defence, to protect civilians crossing the border and border agents,” reads part of the statement released in June.
RDF also disclosed that the Congolese soldier was shot dead 25 metres inside Rwandan territory and requested probe into the circumstances.
The agreement will see Nziza Training Academy representing and selling its technological solutions in Rwanda.
Based in the United States of America (USA), Bentley Systems develops, manufactures, licenses, sells, and supports computer software and services for the design, construction, and operation of infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Nziza Training Academy is a skills development center for architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing professionals that offers high-level professional training on computer aided programs used in technical projects’ studies.
Apart from existing professional training programs, Nziza Training Academy enjoys the exclusivity to represent, train, and resell engineering and design technologies in architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries from other world’s giant companies including Autodesk, Midas, Protasoftware, Microsoft and Planswift.
With the recent agreement, Bentley Systems joins the circle of the world’s giant tech companies that have already approved working partnership with Nziza Training Academy.
The approval was also witnessed by the management of Bentley Systems all the way from their office in Dublin- Ireland to sign the deal authorizing Nziza Training Academy to work as a channel partner in Rwanda.
As per regulations of Bentley Systems, Bentley Channel Partners deliver, implement, train, support, and enhance its offerings to users through their industry expertise and proven sales and technical knowledge of our products and solutions.
Its channel partners are carefully chosen, selectively authorized companies that focus on small and medium-sized organizations to improve Bentley users’ long-term growth and satisfaction.
Following the agreement, Nziza Training Academy will be offering the full-size delivery of Bentley’s famous products including AutoPipe, MicroStation, OpenFlows, OpenGround, Plaxis, ProjectWise, SoilVision, Staad Pro, Synchro Pro, and so on.
Recently on January 31, 2022, Bentley Systems completed the acquisition of Power Line Systems, an American company also known as a leader in software for the design of overhead electric power transmission lines and their structures that owns software technologies known as PLS-CADD, PLS-POLE and TOWER among others.
The move will see Rwandan companies and entities within the energy sector benefiting from access to Bentley and power lines systems locally.
For any software needs or more information, you can contact Nziza Training Academy at +250785568718 or email the sales department via sales@nzizatraining.ac.rw
“Effective from 08.08.2022, the booster dose will be administered at all vaccination sites focusing on members of the elderly aged above 60 and others with low body immunity,” reads a statement released by the Ministry of Health.
Figures from the ministry show that a total of 8,870,113 people (97.9%) have so far received two doses of COVID-19 while 5,269,254 (58.1%) received the first booster dose.
Among others, the country has registered 1466 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic emerged in March 2020.
The types of vaccines used to administer booster doses include Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna among others.
The supposedly leaked report of UN Group of Experts indicates that it has “solid evidence” that Rwandan troops have been fighting alongside the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and providing it with weapons, ammunitions and uniforms among other support.
The Government of Rwanda released a statement announcing that it cannot comment on an unpublished and unvalidated report.
Reuters has published a story featuring findings of the supposedly leaked report that Rwandan troops and the M23 jointly attacked the Congolese army camp in Rumangabo in May.
“When the M23 took control of the strategic border town of Bunagana in June, Rwandan soldiers were either present or had provided equipment to the rebels,” reads part of the report’s findings published by Reuters.
The report reads that the target of the M23 and Rwandan operations in Congo has been the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist group which Rwanda accuses Congo of using as a proxy.
It also indicates that some members of Congo’s army have supported and fought alongside a coalition of armed groups including the FDLR.
These allegations were not part of a recent experts’ report submitted to UN Security Council in June 2022.
On the other hand, it is said that the mid-term report will be released in December where the Government of Rwanda considers the allegations as a tactic to distract people from the real issues.
“Until the problem of FDLR, which operates in close collaboration with the DRC army, is taken seriously and addressed, security in the Great Lakes region cannot be achieved. This is happening in full view of MONUSCO, which has been present in DRC for more than twenty years, but with no solution in sight,” reads part of a statement released by Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Rwanda reported different incidents where rockets shelled on its territory from DRC injured civilians and destroyed houses.
It is said that investigations were made and were part of UN Group of Experts’ report in June.
“Rwanda has a legitimate and sovereign right to defend our territory and citizens, and not just wait for disaster to unfold,” adds the statement.
It also indicates that the presence of M23 and its origins are well-known as a problem of the DRC, which they seek to make a burden of other countries yet Rwanda hosts tens of thousands of Congolese refugees, some of whom stayed there for more than 25 years.
“As regional frameworks are trying to manage the situation in Eastern DRC, Rwanda has consistently raised the alarm with the United Nations and other international actors about this infringement of the security of our country. Rwanda is working for peace and stability, from which Rwanda and all our neighbours can benefit,” reads the statement.
