It was a day of great rejoicing for those who were able to gather in places of worship and pray, 127 days after the churches were closed.
However, some places of worship postponed their reopening due to the fact that some have yet to line up their requirements; the ones that have been completed have been cleared while others are waiting.
IGIHE journalists went to the City of Kigali, as well as in other parts of the country, to see how the standard operating procedures were being followed.
Social distancing was the order of the day and there were no handshakes or hugs, which are the known modes of greeting among the faithful. Mass celebrants and the clergy wore masks and there was no holy communion.
After a temperature check and handwashing with clean water or hand sanitizer, believers went through their registration so that they can be monitored easily when needed.
Many of those who had turned up for the Sunday services returned home without attending due to overcrowding.
At ADEPR Muhima it was necessary to set up loudspeakers outside so that people could follow the teachings, while also continuing to be sensitized to follow the instructions.
Pastor Théogène Kanamugire, leader of the ADEPR Muhima, said they were well prepared to receive people while respecting the Coronavirus prevention measures.
“It is a happy day, we ask Christians that as we are rejoicing, we should observe the instructions,” said Pastor Kanamugire.
At the Cathedral of St Michel Parish, a digital system has been put in place to help members register and place people in such a way that allows them to know who will be attending what mass.
Father Innocent Consolateur, head priest at Saint-Michel Cathedral said the digital system works perfectly and makes it easier for people not to waste time registering on the church line.
“In the English Mass at 3 p.m., many were using this digital system and there was no problem. It also has a better approach when reporting to the relevant authorities,” he said.
In the Western Province, there are some districts that saw Christians gathering such as Rubavu, while others such as Rusizi have held meetings but churches allowed to open are only in Kamembe Sector.
In Musanze, when arriving at the church, a group of trained people were testing temperature using special devices, others were writing down people and phone numbers at the entrances of churches.
In the Eastern province, home to almost 4000 churches; only 45 of them were allowed to reopen, these churches are in 6 districts except in Gatsibo, where no church was allowed to open.
In the Ministry of Health, Zacharie Iyakaremye was appointed Permanent Secretary, replacing Dr. Jean Pierre Nyemazi, who took a leave of absence from the position in January.
Dr. Vincent Rusanganwa was appointed Head of Faculty Recruitment and Academic Partnership Department in the Human Resources for Health Secretariat while Joseph Shema was made the Head of Teaching Coordination and Quality Assurance Department in the Human Resources for Health Secretariat.
Still in the Ministry of Health Nicole Jabo was appointed the Advisor to the Minister of Health Esperance Kwizera became the Advisor to the Executive Secretary for Human Resource for Health Secretariat.
Armand Zingiro was appointed the Managing Director Energy Utility Company Ltd (EUCL), in the Ministry of Infrastructure, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs registered the biggest number of appointees to head different departments.
Those appointed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET) are:
1. Mr. KUBWIMANA RUGAMBA Eric, Division Manager, Americas, UN &
International Development Organizations
2. Mr. BUKUZAGARA Francis, Division Manager, African Affairs
3. Mr. KAMUSIIME Fredrick, Division Manager, EAC and Eastern African Affairs
4. Ms. BASOMINGERA Candy, Division Manager, Communication
5. Mr. MUSEFANO Bonny, Director, Northern and Western Europe
6. Ms. RUGASAGUHUNGA Yvette, Director, South and East Asia
7. Ms. MAZIYATEKE UWIMBABAZI Sandrine, Director Rwandan Community Abroad.
Gilbert Mucyo was confirmed as the Division Manager of the Office of the Government Spokesperson, which is also under MINAFFET.
Dr. Charline Mulindahabi was appointed the Rwanda Management Institute (RMI) Director General. She is replacing the Amb. Wellars Gasamagera, who was appointed Ambassador in Angola in July 2019; Dr. Mulindahabi will be deputized by Kizito Habimana, who was appointed the Deputy Director-General.
Jean Pierre Mugabo was made the Director General of Rwanda Forestry Authority while Teddy Mugabo was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA).
The cabinet also made key appointments in Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), which also got a new board chaired by Sir David King. Similarly, FONERWA also got a new board that will be chaired by Rachel Kyte.
In other appointments, National Electoral Commission (NEC) also got a new Vice Chairperson Nicole Mutimukeye and two commissioners namely Faustin Semanya and Uwera Kabanda Francoise.
Carl Manlan, Chief Operating Officer of the Ecobank Foundation said: “At Ecobank we leverage human capabilities and other core resources to partner for African transformation. We are passionate about co-designing partnerships to drive change at community levels across our pan-African footprint. The Euromoney Award for Excellence recognises our collaboration with African communities and like-minded partners.”
Ade Ayeyemi, CEO of Ecobank Group said: “The Ecobank Foundation is doing amazing work in delivering on its commitment to improve the quality of life of people across the African continent. The Foundation should be rightly proud of its ceaseless impact and the real difference that it is making in numerous parts of the continent. Through the Foundation, our Group leverages its resources and capabilities to contribute to the economic and social development of Africa.”
Ecobank’s Corporate Responsibility primarily concentrates on the three key areas of health, education and financial inclusion. Recent partnership examples:
Ecobank’s three-year campaign to raise awareness of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and educate communities by providing key information about the dietary and lifestyle changes required to help prevent NCDs such as cancer and diabetes. Ecobank Day is our volunteer community day targeted at helping the vulnerable sectors in our local communities.
Ecobank’s Group Chairman Sustainability Award which emphasises our role in each country in designing innovative, replicable and scalable solutions driving sustainable environmental and social change. Ecobank Togo is the 2020 winner for its support for Government efforts to provide electricity to 300,000 rural households and businesses through solar energy kits.
African economies’ health recovery is vital and Ecobank contributed about US$3 million in the form of cash, healthcare equipment and medical supplies. Moreover, Ecobank deployed its financial capabilities for the African Union’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to enable every citizen and member of the diaspora to contribute to the pan-African Covid-19 response.
Earlier this month, Ecobank rolled out its ‘Zero Malaria Business Leadership initiative.’ Launched in partnership with Speak Up Africa, it aims to eliminate malaria across Africa through private sector led initiatives which increase financing and take stronger and better-targeted actions to support national malaria control programmes.
“Through the modified risk tobacco product application process, the FDA aims to ensure that information directed at consumers about reduced risk or reduced exposure from using a tobacco product is supported by scientific evidence and understandable,” said Mitch Zeller, J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products.
“Data submitted by the company shows that marketing these particular products with the authorized information could help addicted adult smokers transition away from combusted cigarettes and reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, but only if they completely switch. The FDA will closely monitor how IQOS is used by consumers to determine if these products meet this potential and do not cause increased use among youth. It is important to note that these products are not safe, so people, especially young people, who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using them or any other tobacco product.”
The IQOS Tobacco Heating System includes the electronic IQOS device that generates a nicotine-containing aerosol by heating tobacco-filled sticks wrapped in paper, specifically Marlboro Heatsticks, Marlboro Smooth Menthol Heatsticks, and Marlboro Fresh Menthol Heatsticks. The FDA previously authorized the marketing of these products without modified risk information in April 2019 via the premarket tobacco application (PMTA) pathway.
Today’s action pertains to the separate MRTP applications for these products and further authorizes the manufacturer to market these specific products with the following information:
“AVAILABLE EVIDENCE TO DATE:
• The IQOS system heats tobacco but does not burn it.
• This significantly reduces the production of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals.
• Scientific studies have shown that switching completely from conventional cigarettes to the IQOS system significantly reduces your body’s exposure to harmful or potentially harmful chemicals.”
Even with this action, these products are not safe nor “FDA approved.” The exposure modification orders also do not permit the company to make any other modified risk claims or any express or implied statements that convey or could mislead consumers into believing that the products are endorsed or approved by the FDA, or that the FDA deems the products to be safe for use by consumers.
There are two types of MRTP orders the FDA may issue: a “risk modification” order or an “exposure modification” order. The company had requested both types of orders for the IQOS Tobacco Heating System. After reviewing the available scientific evidence, public comments, and recommendations from the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, the FDA determined that the evidence did not support issuing risk modification orders at this time but that it did support issuing exposure modification orders for these products. This determination included a finding that issuance of the exposure modifications orders is expected to benefit the health of the population as a whole.
In particular, the agency determined the company demonstrated that because the IQOS Tobacco Heating System heats tobacco and does not burn it, it significantly reduces the production of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke. Furthermore, studies showed switching completely from combusted cigarettes to the IQOS Tobacco Heating System significantly reduces the body’s exposure to 15 specific harmful and potentially harmful chemicals.
The toxicological assessment also found that, compared with cigarette smoke, IQOS aerosols contain considerably lower levels of potential carcinogens and toxic chemicals that can harm the respiratory or reproductive systems. Additionally, the FDA found that the applications supported the required consumer understanding findings.
Today’s authorization requires Philip Morris Products S.A. to conduct postmarket surveillance and studies to determine the impact of these orders on consumer perception, behavior and health, and to enable the FDA to review the accuracy of the determinations upon which the orders were based.
These postmarket requirements include a rigorous toxicity study using computer models to help predict potential adverse effects in users. The orders also require the company to monitor youth awareness and use of the products to help ensure that the marketing of the MRTPs does not have unintended consequences for youth use.
The company must also keep the FDA apprised of efforts to prevent youth access and exposure.
These requirements are in addition to the postmarket requirements and restrictions previously placed on these products in their April 2019 PMTA authorizations, such as reporting information to the FDA about consumer research studies, sales, and advertising information and adverse experiences, among others.
In particular, to limit youth access to the products and to limit youth exposure to IQOS advertising and promotion, the PMTA authorization placed stringent restrictions on how the products are marketed – particularly via websites and through social media platforms – by including requirements that advertising be targeted to adults of legal age to purchase tobacco products.
The company must request and receive authorization from the FDA to continue marketing the products with the same modified exposure information after the initial orders expire in 4 years.
The FDA also may withdraw the initial and any potential subsequent exposure modification orders if the agency determines that, among other things, the orders are no longer expected to benefit the health of the population as a whole, for example as a result of an uptake in use of the products by youth or former smokers, or a decrease in the number of current smokers who completely switch to the products.
The MRTP pathway outlined in the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act allows companies to submit applications for the FDA to evaluate whether a tobacco product may be sold or distributed for use to reduce harm or the risk of tobacco-related disease.
By law, the FDA must also ensure that the advertising and labeling of modified risk products enables the public to understand the modified risk or modified exposure information and to understand the significance that information has in the context of total health and in relation to all tobacco-related diseases and health conditions.
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices.
The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
Rwamuganza, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Godfrey Kabera, the Director-General in the Ministry of Finance, Eric Serubibi, the former Director-General of Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) and Christian Rwakunda, who was Deputy Director-General in Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) are being prosecuted for having conspired to mismanage the purchase of a building on the behalf of the government in 2018, causing losses to the government.
The judges upheld the remand for all six defendants, saying they have a case to answer.
One of the main things that the judges emphasized was the fact that they participated in negotiation meetings that led to the purchase of the building from its owner, a process they handled in a way that was contrary to public procurement laws.
In their appeal, the defendants had also questioned the primary court’s failure to consider the securities they presented to it in order to be granted bail, to which the intermediate court rejected the securities because their value was lower than the losses estimated to have been caused by the government officials.
Of all the defendants, Rusizana is the one who presented high-value security pieces of property worth over 4.3 billion Rwandan Francs.
The defendants’ lawyers argued that court documents indicate that the decision to remand them was made on August 23, 2020, which is due next month, but it emerged that the court registrar in the previous hearing was supposed to write “June 23, 2020,” the day the decision was made.
The court said that a mistake in writing does not provide strong grounds to release the defendants, adding that there are reasons to believe that releasing them would jeopardize the case, considering that businessman Rusizana continues to deny that there was a conspiracy to set the price between himself and the officials.
The judge said that after assessing each of the defendant’s culpability, they found strong reasons to believe that the decision to award Rusizana the deal was not done in a competitive manner and he cannot deny his involvement in the process.
The name of the dead Rwandan soldier has not been released. However, RDF confirmed to IGIHE that they were aware of the death of one of their soldiers.
The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, through his Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said he strongly condemns this attack that targeted a MINUSCA convoy in Gedze, Nana-Mambere prefecture in the northwest of the country.
“The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the victim as well as to the people and Government of Rwanda. He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured,” a statement from Guterres’ office reads.
“The Secretary-General recalls that attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. He calls on the Central African Republic authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this attack so that they can be brought to justice swiftly,” it adds.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed that the United Nations will continue to support national efforts to advance peace and stability in the Central African Republic, working closely with the country’s international partners.
MINUSCA, the UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic, works to protect civilians and support transition processes.
The authorities and 14 armed groups, which included 3R, signed a Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in February 2019.
“This criminal attack constitutes a new violation of the peace agreement by the 3R & its leader Abass Sidiki”, the UN mission said on Twitter.
Rwanda is the third largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. There are 5342 RDF troops in Amisom, Minusca, Unamid, Unisfa and Unmiss.
The crops that will be covered by the government in the matter of fertilizing in the 2021 A, B and C seasons are maize, beans, wheat, soybeans, rice, potatoes, cassava, bananas, vegetables, and fruits; while maize, wheat, and soybeans are the crops that will be needing added seed in those seasons.
Farmers are asked to use Smart fertilizers program to identify the amount of product they need and to join ‘Twigire muhinzi’ group.
Fertilizers traders should also use MOPA-based Smart Support technology, so as to buy fertilizers supported by the Government.
Of the hybrid maize seeds grown in the highlands, the most expensive type is PAN691 which will be sold at Rwf 962the Kg and the cheapest will be RHMH1520 and RHMH1601 which will be sold at Rwf 453 the Kg.
Hybrid seeds grown on mountains and in the valleys, the most expensive will be PN53 which will be sold Rwf 1547 the Kg, the lowest price will be RHM104, RHM1402, and RHM1407 which will be sold at Rwf 453 the Kg.
OPV corn seeds will be sold at Rwf 295 the Kg. Soybeans are currently sold at Rwf 425 and Rwf 396 and wheat is currently sold at Rwf 346, Rwf 318, and Rwf 426 the Kg, respectively.
In Regards to added fertilizers; Urée is set at Rwf 447, DAP is at Rwf 480, NPK 17:17:17 costs Rwf 603, TSP is at Rwf 523 while MOP costs Rwf 481.
These directives, signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gérardine Mukeshimana, stressed that anyone who is caught smuggling or misusing seeds and fertilizers will be punished.
Only four companies have been so far allowed to import fertilizers from the country under the Nkunganire program and sell them through Agro-Processing Trust Corporation Ltd (APTC); these include Yara, ETAG Inputs, Rwanda Fertilizer Company, and Tubura.
Sarah Doukouré is replacing Eddy Sebera who was President of the Club for the last 2 years.
The handover ceremony took place on July 9, 2020, and it was attended by Members of the Rotary Clubs of Rwanda.
For more than 50 Years, Rotary Clubs in Rwanda have contributed to improving access to clean water, quality of education, fight against epidemics such as the eradication of rabies, the eradication of ignorance and poverty, the protection of the environment and the struggle for peace.
Eddy Sebera said that during his two years in charge of Rotary Club Kigali, much has been done to improve people’s lives.
“We have contributed in the health sectors, education, among others.’’ He said
He said that the club has grown positively with more women on board.
“This year of presidency went very well and I am particularly happy about it. You Rotarians are responsible for it based on your commitment to the Club. You have been regularly present to encourage me while making a valuable contribution to the dynamism of the Club by showing me your confidence as your President.’’ Said Sebera.
Sebera added that he has no doubt with his successor, Sarah Doukouré would continue to lead the Rotary family in a positive direction and advised her to continue the spirit of changing our world to a better place.
“I’m happy and I know Sarah will take us far.’’
Sarah Doukouré joined Rotary in 2017, being the first woman to hold this position in the last 10 years in the Rotary Club Kigali.
She said that becoming president as a foreigner shows how Rotary Club Kigali is open to anyone who wants to contribute.
“This day marks a new beginning in my calling as a member of the Rotary club. It is a heavy responsibility because it means that next year I will be representing all the projects we will have.’’
Among projects she will focus on are projects related to helping those affected by COVID-19.
“Rwanda has been reacting to the pandemic in a very strong and positive way….this gives us, as Rotarian the will and engagement to do the same; to continue to contribute and to help the community because that is what we are here for.” She said
She also stressed that she will continue to work to increase the number of new female members.
“For the past three years, I have been trying to recruit other women into the Rotary Club. Today we are about ten women out of 30 members of the Rotary club of Kigali. We really want to recruit more women to join us, that would be my honor and that will be my focus.’’ Doukouré added
During her term, Doukouré Says she will be working hand in hand with Eddy Sebera as Vice President and in charge of Projects; Karema Carole is in charge of Fundraising; Ndoba Mugunga in charge of the Foundation; Kayitare Florent has been appointed as the Secretary of the Club at the same time as looking after the Youth Affairs; Ida Alexandra is the Deputy Secretary while Kaburame Julien is the Treasurer.
Jeannette Rugera, the Assistant District Governor of Rotary in the District 9150, was present in the ceremony to represent the District and she assured the new President of Rotary Club Kigali to be there for her as she resumes her new role.
“It is a pleasure to have a woman as the president of Rotary Club Kigali; I will be here to assist. We will be working together, there are a lot of projects that we will be working on together focusing on needed medicine for these special times of fighting COVID-19.’’ ADG Rugera said
In its contribution to the prevention of COVID-19, Rotary Club Kigali Doyen donated 4,000 bags to Rutsiro residents; donated 13 million Frw to both Kigali University Hospital (CHUK) and King Faisal; they also donated more than 900 liters of hand sanitizer and cleaning equipment to RBC. They also donated 3 million Frw to support Solid Africa, a charity that cares for patients in public hospitals and helps them get food.
In Rwanda, Rotary is made up of six clubs including Musanze, Kigali Mont Jali, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen, Kigali Gasabo and Butare with 112 members.
Kagame explained to the social media influencers that the history of Rwanda’s liberation struggle of 1990-1994 is one, which every Rwandan associates with; he said many individuals sacrificed their lives to liberate the country after many years of suffering.
“During our time many of us were refugees, not only those who were out of the country but even those who were in the country because they were deprived of their rights in many cases,” he noted.
Kagame was among the people who abandoned their studies and life to join the struggle to fight against the regime that presided over three decades of misrule which culminated in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
“These people (Rwandans) should probably have decided to do something else, but they chose to sacrifice and be part of the liberation struggle,” he said in a televised session.
The Head of State was asked about his personal experience throughout the 26-year journey after the liberation, and all the way to leading the country into a stable nation.
“I didn’t embark on the liberation journey with being a president in mind. I never really targeted to become a president,” he said.
“But certain actions may have led me to where I am. It’s not as if it’s a job interview where you apply,” he added.
President kagame said Rwanda has done all it can to fight the pandemic, indicating that more people in the country have recovered from the virus compared to the active cases; he emphasized that defeating the pandemic requires working together with neighbors.
“No country has all the answers to it but we have to listen to science and do everything to curb the spread of this virus,” he told 20 influencers who were meeting at the Campaign Against Genocide Museum at Parliament.
Kagame also commented on the possibility of improved ties between Rwanda and Burundi, saying the government was ready to work with the new leadership in Burundi led by President Évariste Ndayishimiye.
“There is history that led to the bad relations between our two sister countries but we are ready to work with President Ndayishimiye of Burundi to address those issues,” he noted.
Commenting on the status of regional trade and cross border movement of goods, the Head of State said that there were challenges in movement of goods into and out of the country occasioned by challenges of cooperation by regional countries.
“I have seen in the media false reports that truck drivers entering Rwanda have been harassed and mistreated. That isn’t true. What we do is test truck drivers entering for Covid-19 and that’s what we agreed in the EAC,” kagame said.
President said that Rwanda has been facing difficulties despite attempts to seek ways to work together with other countries often being put in scenarios that could raise the country’s vulnerability to the pandemic.
The President said that cooperation is the only sure way to ensure that trade and movement of goods can continue at the same time managing the pandemic.
“My problem is not who has more cases than the other, our problem is that we should work together to manage it, to control it, there are ways known to do that and through cooperation we can have a very good understanding… There is one way of doing it for everyone; it is cooperation, feeling for one another. And knowing that if we don’t some will suffer more than others,” he said.
He however noted that Rwanda will continue to engage neighboring countries with awareness that post-Covid-19, there will be multiple areas of continued cooperation.
When President Kagame was asked what he thinks about Black Lives Matter, his answer was ‘yes, they do matter’
“I don’t think there is more value with a person of a certain skin color than the other one of a different skin color. Black people have been discriminated against not in just one place but in many places,”
“In fact, some of them have been discriminated even on their own continent, this continent of Africa,” President Kagame said, adding that it shouldn’t have happened and Black Lives Matter is an opportunity to make things different.
President Kagame said that racism should have no room; it doesn’t matter when it happened in the past, or it is happening now, it is wrong because there is no life or race that matters than the other.
“I think some people can easily distort that if you are saying that black lives matter, it is as if you are saying other lives don’t matter. I don’t think that is the issue, that is not correct,”
President Kagame said Black Lives Matter movement is important because it highlights how people have suffered under injustice, under racism, under prejudice.
President Kagame emphasized that saying that Black Lives Matter does not mean that other lives don’t matter but rather a reminder that black lives need to be treated better and not be looked at as lesser humans.
The Minister on Wednesday, issued the warning to everyone involved in the mismanagement of public resources while addressing the media at the Ministry headquarters in Kigali.
After a meeting in Rusororo, during which President Kagame asked senior officials to stand and answer questions, different high-ranking officials were summoned by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) to give response to questions regarding misuse of public resources.
The Attorney General said that it should be normal for senior officials to be investigated or questioned in line with safeguarding public resources.
“Leadership is also a mission that people are entrusted with to go and deliver and one of the things that need to be observed seriously is that when you are in power, the trappings of power, the temptation to abuse, might come,” said Busingye.
“We should get used to the fact that leaders are summoned by investigators and questioned or even imprisoned…this is because of the high regard in which this government holds accountability,” Busingye said.
Basing on calls for accountability made by President Paul Kagame to the Expanded National Executive Committee of the ruling party, RPF-Inkotanyi, Busingye said that accountability is a foundational value on which the party is built and must be embraced by all leaders.
“Leadership is a mission people are entrusted with to go and deliver; a leader must fight all temptations that come with trappings of power or else the accountability mechanisms in place will get them,” the Minister added.
Busingye further disclosed that the government is putting more priority on fighting financial crimes because of the impact they have on the economy and the wellbeing of the Rwandan people; he cited corruption, embezzlement of public funds, tax evasion, money laundering, among other financial malpractices, as crimes that slow the country’s development if unchecked.
Last week, Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi, the Chairperson of the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders, and Decorations of Honour (CHENO) a former Prime Minister, was arrested for financial crimes that include issuing bounced cheques and breach of trust on his part while transacting on behalf of the Christian University of Rwanda which he owns.
The university, which has two campuses, has since been closed by the Ministry of Education.
Several other senior officials are being investigated for different crimes.
