The meeting between both officials was held yesterday in Paris, France.
Through her twitter account, Mushikiwabo said that she met Diouf who is also former Senegalese President as part of her candidacy for La Francophonie.
“Very interesting meeting with President Abdou Diouf tonight in Paris. As part of my candidacy for La Francophonie, I am honored to be able to benefit from his valuable advice and 12 years of experience heading the OIF,” reads her tweet.
Diouf had been the President of Senegal from 1981 to 2000. He was also the second Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie from January 2003 to December 2014.
After leaving office as President of Senegal, he was unanimously elected as Secretary-General of La Francophonie at the organization’s Ninth Summit on October 20, 2002 in Beirut, Lebanon following the withdrawal of the only other candidate, Henri Lopes of the Republic of the Congo.
Diouf took office as Secretary-General on January 1, 2003. He was re-elected as Secretary-General for another four years at the organization’s summit in Bucharest, Romania in September 2006.
Recently, Mushikiwabo revealed that she has started to campaign for the leadership of the international organization representing French speaking countries. She said that her priority will be to move the organization towards being multilingual.
Premier was speaking Wednesday in Kigali while officiating the launch of Africa Innovation Summit (AIS) held under the theme; “Addressing Africa’s Challenges”.
The AIS is an Africa-wide and home grown initiative aimed at harnessing the innovation potential on the continent. It also aims at mobilizing people and especially those with capacity to promote and build an enabling environment for innovation in Africa.
Ngirente said that Rwanda is taking strides in building a robust ecosystem for innovation in order to help the country meet its aspirations of a knowledge-based economy.
“We have also created a conducive legal and regulatory framework for doing business, invested in infrastructure and improved health system. All these have started to boost innovative activities in the Country,” he said.
He said that next week the governmentwill launch a Research and Innovation Fund.
“I am pleased to share that we will officially launch our National Research and Innovation Fund next week that we believe shall serve as a major research funding vehicle through which research and research-based innovation activities shall be supported,” he revealed.
Ngirente said that Africa has consistently invested in infrastructure development, agriculture, conducive policy and regulatory environment to attract private investment.
He oberved that the continent’s many development challenges can be addressed through innovation.
“Africa has not been able to leverage private sector as an engine for transformation. The fact is, the only way to resolving these and other challenges facing African countries is innovation. We must innovate. We must build robust ecosystems for innovation,” he noted.
The three-day Summit brought together investors, policy makers, researchers, academics, business community, youth, innovators and thinkers from around the World.
RMB Chief Executive Officer, Francis Gatare revealed this yesterday in a consultative meeting that brought together sector players including government institutions, business community and donors.
Gatare said that the good sector performance is attributed to the recovery of minerals price on international market and improved production from mining companies.
“Last year, mining sector contributed enough to the development of the country where it earned Rwanda a total of $370 million from exports. We target to increase mining earnings to $600 million this year,” he said.
“This is possible basing on measures that have been taken like raising mining production capacity and embracing modern mining practices,” he added.
Rwanda has been exporting wolfram, coltan and cassiterite and gemstones.
Gatare said that this year, they will invest in buying modern mining technolgies which will help double the production.
“The challenges this sector faces include poor technologies which only extract less than 40% of the real potential,” he explained.
The coordinator of Mining Companies in Northern Province, Placide Gaju told IGIHE that it is possible to raise the production capacity once they revised mining process.
“We lose big quantities of minerals along mining and separation processes. With the use of modern practices backed by polished skills, production will certainly soar,” he explained.
Last year, Rwanda exported a total of 7000 tonnes and this year target 10,000 tonnes. Rwanda targets $800 million from mining in 2020 and $1.5 billion in 2024.
Often the best marketing campaigns are controversial and shocking and that is exactly what Rwanda Tourism has achieved. Even before a ball is kicked with their logo emblazoned on the Arsenal FC shirt, they have already generated press coverage around the world.
The controversy surrounds a three-year £30 million sponsorship of one of the most high profile and wealthiest teams in the world – a global football brand with a new manager for the upcoming season.
What is so controversial is that it could be argued as indulgent and a private passion from President Kagame, who is publicly an avid fan of Arsenal, while the country received millions in aid from other countries (£60 million-plus from the UK alone) and over 60% of the Rwandan population live in poverty.
Far removed from the genocide 25 years ago, Rwanda is a country rich in assets, welcoming more than 1.2 million tourists in 2017. Best known for its gorillas in the volcanic mountain region, it also boasts beautiful lakeside resorts and a national park, which is home to the “big five” game animals.
Unlike many areas of the world, Rwanda is said to be “generally safe” by the UK Foreign Office (FCO) with low crime rates. The economy is on the up and recent times have seen an influx of foreign investment into five-star hotels in the capital city and wider region.
There are three direct flights a week from Gatwick to Rwanda, which has driven an increase in visitors to the region with UK visitors growing by 20% in 2017. Indeed, tourism now accounts for over 12% of GDP, with over 100,000 people employed in Tourism-related jobs.
The aim of the sponsorship is to heighten awareness of Rwanda and grow visitor numbers to 1.7 million in the next ten years while growing tourism revenues to £800 million over the next six years.
While the sponsorship investment has sparked controversy, and many countries including Holland and Germany have called for an inquiry, the chief executive of the Rwanda Development Board has been very public and vocal to highlight that the investment has come from existing tourism revenues and not from government aid.
The UK government has also clarified that foreign aid is earmarked for specific development activity rather than using taxpayers’ money for sponsorship of a very wealthy football team.
While the sponsorship has created a significant division of opinion, my view is that this is an incredibly smart piece of marketing by Rwanda Tourism. Advertising is awash with destination management companies and tourism boards trying to entice potential tourists to visit.
What Rwanda has achieved is a significant cut-through and builds awareness globally through a single piece of sponsorship. In any business you have to invest money to generate revenue. Responsible tourism, eco tourism and the economic prosperity of locals have become significant concerns for travellers.
This campaign has already achieved a lot through PR alone. On the basis that the population of Rwanda receives the benefits of the tourists who come to enjoy their country and, over time, reduces the dependency on foreign aid, it could prove to be one of the most successful campaigns by any tourist board.
The auction of the factory’s machinery slated next Monday to recover the balance on tax arrears amounting to Rwf6 billion allegedly evaded in the period spanning from 2012 to 2017 follows another one of March 28 in which the factory’s tobacco stocks amounting to 7,195 cartons were auctioned at Rwf512 million to Murado Business Ltd.
“As recommended by RRA and after reviewing the tax-establishing decisions given to Premier Tobacco Company Ltd; with an intention to recover tax arrears, the professional bailiff announces to the general public that there will be an auction of the machines used in processing tobacco belonging to Premier Tobacco Company Ltd on Monday 11/06/2018 at 10:00 am,” reads part of the statement released last week and signed by bailiff Védaste Habimana.
The auction of unspecified number of tobacco processing machines will take place at the factory located in Gikondo industrial area in Kigali and visiting the machines has started this afternoon.
Speaking to IGIHE immediately after the previous auction, RRA Commissioner General, Richard Tusabe had said that they would auction more Rwigaras’ properties to recover the balance of about Rwf5.5 billion tax arrears.
“If the money is not enough, we should seek where to get it. We shall get it from other properties,” he said.
At the tobacco auction, however, the Rwigara family was not contented with the Rwf512 million, saying it had a value of around Rwf1 billion. They said the auction was conducted illegally and had earlier tried to challenge the seizing of the tobacco stocks and other properties in Nyarugenge Commercial Court which ruled in favour of RRA.
Kagame was speaking Tuesday in Belgium at the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the European Development Days.
This year’s European Development Days was organized under the theme, ‘Women and Girls at the Forefront of Sustainable Development: protect, empower, invest’.
“Women and girls constitute half of humanity. They are equal in ability in every way. Guaranteeing their equal rights is therefore common sense. Consensus on this point was reached more than a generation ago,” Kagame said.
Kagame said that countries are a long way from treating women with equality and respect things which continue to lag women and girls behind.
“Incidents from across the world continue to show that this problem cuts across regions and affects us all,” he noted.
He said that in the workplace or as public leaders, men expect to be judged on the basis of their character and ability alone contrary to how women are treated.
“It’s not enough for a woman to be as good or better than male counterparts. She must look a certain way, even be careful about her tone of voice. Failure to conform comes with a cost in terms of salary and career advancement, a penalty men don’t have to worry about,” he said.
Kagame said that women perform countless extra hours of unpaid labour every day. Organising social gatherings. Taking care of sick relatives. Maintaining the household and raising children.
“It is often said that working women have two full-time jobs. This is not far from the truth. These duties affect women’s careers, and serve as an implicit justification for promoting men faster,” Kagame added.
The recent World Bank study says that countries are losing $160 trillion in wealth because of the lifetime earnings gap between women and men.
The Head of State said that for too long, society has created a psychology that women are inferior and can only rise at the mercy of men, the norm which he said can no longer be tolerated.
Kagame urged that people should use different promotional campaigns towards impactful changes.
“ ‘He for She’ and ‘She Is We’ should not be mere hashtags, but expressions of our determination to make change really happen. Rights and outcomes are only equal, when treatment is equal,” he noted.
“Compensating women for where they have been disadvantaged is not enough. We have to truly level the playing field and make public pledges that raise standards and expectations going forward,” he added.
He requested leaders at all level to ensure that there is accountability for changing harmful societal norms.
{{Rwanda’s experience}}
Kagame said that Rwanda has instituted an insurance scheme that allows women to continue receiving their full salary during twelve weeks of maternity leave.
“Our approach all along has been to focus on the benefits that gender equality brings to society. As a result, no one feels they have lost something and the gains are sustainable,” he said.
This was revealed yesterday when PAC was receiving explanations from MININFRA and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) on the queries that were reported in the 2016-2017 Auditor General’s report.
Gishoma Peat Power plant construction activities started in February 2013 and were expected to have completed by May 2014. But, the project was delayed and finalized in 2017.
Only four months of operation were enough for the plant to stop due to lack of peat and water to use in production.
MPs said that the plant’s technicians had expressed concerns that the plant will not be productive, but their advices were refuted.
MP Cécile Murumunawabo said that they recently visited the plant, and technicians told them how they had repeatedly warned against the establishment of the plant due to low deposits of peats that should have been used in the production.
The technicians informed MININFRA through the report, but their concerns were not considered.
Murumunawabo added that before construction materials are sent to the site, again technicians wrote to MININFRA urging to transfer them to Gisagara District where they identified enough peat for power production.
According to Murumunawabo, MININFRA should file a report detailing the history of problems in Gishoma Peat Power plant and submit it to PAC so that other institutions in charge would refer to it to conduct follow-up.
According to MP Jean Thierry Karemera, the advice of technicians was not considered and whoever wanted to expose that the project was illegitimately implemented was threatened to be fired from the job.
According to MP Théogène Munyangeyo, the problem should not be explained by REG as MININFRA turned a deaf ear on advice from technicians.
“Losing Rwf40 billion yet technicians repeatedly requested their reports to be considered and others turned a deaf ear, what was the interest behind turning a deaf ear? The problem is not with REG, the ministry should be responsible. You were advised and you turned a deaf ear,” Munyangeyo noted.
PAC Chairperson, Juvenal Nkusi also emphasized that Gishoma Peat Power plant problems should be clarified by MININFRA.
MININFRA Permanent Secretary, Christian Rwakunda said that they are going to prepare a report on plant’s shortcomings and the procedures through which all decisions were taken.
The Auditor General’s report revealed that the plant stopped working in September last year after four months in operation and was producing 5.28 MW , far below the expected 15MW capacity by the time it completely stopped.
Kagame and his delegation are in Belgium for the ‘European Development Days 2018’.
After meeting President Kagame yesterday, Mimica wrote on his twitter that a strong AUEU partnership needs strong partners.
“Delighted to welcome to Brussels President Paul Kagame. The EU fully supports the reform of the African Union that he is piloting. A strong AUEU partnership needs strong partners,” reads his tweet.
Kagame along with different cabinet ministers including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo; State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community Affairs, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe; Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana among others are in Belgium for the European Development Days starting today.
Kagame is also expected to speak at the European Development Days which will run under the theme ‘Women and Girls at the Forefront of Sustainable Development: protect, empower, invest’.
Among other speakers include, Burkina Faso President, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré; Liberian President, George Manneh Weah and the Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva among others.
The Points of Light awards recognise outstanding volunteers every day of the week – people whose service is making a difference in their communities and whose story can inspire others to creative innovative solutions to social challenges in their own communities and beyond.
Kamaliza founded ‘Solid’ Africa’ to support patients in Rwandan public hospitals.
She has grown the organisation from a small group of young professionals helping five patients, to a household name working with thousands of patients every day.
Under Isabelle’s leadership, ‘Solid’ Africa’ has become self-sustaining and runs four successful programmes providing financial assistance with medical and transport bills; water purification systems for clean drinking water in hospitals; public health initiatives; and daily meals for patients in need or with special dietary requirements.
She is currently overseeing the creation of an industrial kitchen to feed 1000 patients three times a day in four public hospitals across Kigali. Isabelle passionately believes in the importance of ‘giving back’ to the community and has inspired a team of 50 young people to volunteer alongside her team.
As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, Her Majesty The Queen – as Head of the Commonwealth – is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 53 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond, by recognising one volunteer from each Commonwealth country each week in the two years following the summit.
By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.
Each Commonwealth Point of Light will receive a personalised certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. The award for Isabelle will be presented on 8th June at the UK High Commission Kigali by Jo Lomas, UK High Commissioner in Rwanda, as part of a Queen’s Birthday celebration.
“I am always filled with great emotions when our efforts are recognized, because even if often times I am the face of this movement, behind me is an unstoppable machine made of dozens of volunteers who were here from the beginning of this adventure and others who have joined even from other countries,” said Kamaliza reacting on the award.
“This award is another sign that we must be doing something right. With your continued support, we vow to continue our efforts and, in the coming years, to expand them to the whole nation and even beyond Rwanda, God willing. I thank you again from the bottom of my heart and please send my regards to Her Majesty The Queen,” she added.
The UK High Commissioner to Rwanda, Jo Lomas congratulated Kamaliza for the award.
“Congratulations to Isabelle Kamariza and Solid Africa for winning the Commonwealth Points of Light Award. Her Majesty The Queen has recognised Isabelle’s superb work in supporting hospitals and vulnerable patients across Rwanda. Hers is an excellent example of the difference leadership and community spirit can make. The British High Commission in Rwanda is proud to present this award for her tireless and noble work,” she said.
In a story published on our Kinyarwanda version, parents, teachers and the general public claimed that the dressing code and makeups for nowadays girls are inappropriate for primary and high school students.
Through his twitter handle, Nduhungirehe said that such claims are outdated.
“It is miserable that girls are always targeted due to their dressing code. This is not the problem with this era,” he said responding to the article.
He said that the problem is not with school girls, but men who always look at them and recommend how they should dress.
“The issue here is not the girls’ skirt, but the man who always looks at her, controls and suggests how she should dress. We need to stop this nonsense,” he noted.
The Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye resounded Nduhungirehe’s notion saying that “thank you minister, this self-instituted moral policing is uncalled for.”
Different people who reacted on twitter said that the issue should be looked at from culture and family values.
Hassan Kubwimana said that such dressing code is inappropriate and should change as well.
“On the road, people might not care of those dresses, but the problem is with teachers (male) and school boys, those dresses should be revised, they are inappropriate,” he said on twitter.
{{What MINEDUC instructions say?}}
Article 24 of the Ministerial Instructions no 001 of 10 May 2017 establishing guidelines for setting up general or TVET, nursery, primary or secondary school’s internal rules and regulations says that at the school, all students shall wear the style of clothing determined by the school.
“The female students must wear uniform of the school of size that reaches the level of below the knee but not being too long,” reads the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) instructions.
MINEDUC instructions say that the internal rules and regulations of the school shall determine how uniform should be won either for girls or boys.
Article 25 of the instruction says that the school should specify that to put sliding products into the hair, to make up nails, mouth, eyebrows, eyes and wear jewels among others is forbidden.
