Mushikiwabo who was speaking Sunday to different French journalists in Kigali said France has for so long been characterized with insolent behaviors on matters concerning Rwanda.
“We have observed some behaviors, sorry to call them insolent, but we Rwandans today require that they admit their role in genocide,” she said.
“I can tell you that France will not succeed in this struggle they are fighting, it is indeed baseless. You can shield some evidence, but there are others you can’t. So, we recalled our ambassador because we are concerned with these endless accusations,” Mushikiwabo explained.
In July, France launched fresh investigations in the shooting down of Habyarimana’s plane.
French courts called Defence Minister Gen. Kabarebe in France by December to testify about the shooting down of a plane that was carrying President Juvenal Habyarimana in April 1994 which prompted Rwanda to recall Jacques Kabale, her ambassador to France.
Gahanga Cricket Stadium in the capital Kigali is built on a 4.5 hectare (11 acre) ground and cost $1.3 million (1.1 million euros), the majority of the funds raised by international cricket players eager to see the game take off in Rwanda.
The Rwandan Cricket Stadium Foundation was set up by Alby Shale, the son of a late British politician and cricket lover who visited Rwanda to do aid work.
“We are very happy to have this cricket pavilion and ground built, and by that, we remember Christopher Shale, in whose memory this has been built,” Kagame said at the opening.
“It is a great pleasure for us to have this facility which will see more young men and women playing and improving their skills. It is also good for us to have partners in the United Kingdom,” he said.
Eric Dusingizimana, the national team captain, helped raise funds for the stadium by setting a Guinness World Record by batting for 51 hours straight last year.
“This is an exciting development for us and the younger generation is going to benefit heavily from this,” said the 31-year-old captain.
Rwanda also holds the world record for women after Cathia Uwamahoro, a national team cricket player, became the first woman to bat for 26 hours.
Rwanda’s national cricket association estimates that only around 4,000 people currently play cricket.
The new stadium has been built to international standards, making it a rarity in East Africa.
Murekezi was speaking Sunday in Huye District under the fight against corruption campaign dubbed ‘Youth, it’s our responsibilities to fight against corruption’
“Youth have power and determination to fight against corruption in a way that can challenge old people. You should spearhead this battle and terminate any form of corruption in the generation to come,” he said.
He urged youth to use partnership along the process, saying that fighting against corruption is not an individual task.
“You should work in groups as none could work alone along the way. We assure you possible support from the government and the Office of the Ombudsman inparticular,” he said.
The youth committed to play their role in the fighting against corruption, calling upon government’s support in implementing their initiatives.
“We have a club that has different activities aimed at fighting corruption. We call for your support so that we can broadcast our initiatives on Radios as they have good messages” said Immaculée Ishimwe, a student in University of Rwanda, College of Arts and Social Sciences.
Mrs Kagame was speaking Thursday in the 10th Forum of Unity Club in Kigali.
She said that women had been there for household chores, but the uniqueness of Rwanda’s history has enabled them to go beyond.
“We need not to limit our abilities to home chores, we should go beyond that, by taking responsibilities that will help us protect our country’s from falling back into the dark times” she said.
Under the 10th forum of Unity Club, members are discussing about Rwanda’s uniqueness and meeting the development targets.
She said that Rwanda’s journey and its history have enabled togetherness which resulted into uniqueness.
First Lady said that they developed activities and political ideas that enable harmonization among Rwandans.
“We also clarify the root cause of evil that undermined the country and put in place never again measures” she said.
“Being the essence of unity and reconciliation gives us strengths to continue building Rwandanhood. When there is someone contrary to that ideology we should give them much attention, as light holders we should follow and change them so that they join our journey” she urged participants.
She reminded them to focus on their responsibilities under National Strategy for Transformation vision.
“How do we attain uniqueness light and making particularity in our responsibilities? As light holders, what should characterize us as people who changed lifestyle and economy of a Rwandan?” she challenged Unity Club Members.
{{18 new members welcomed in the club}}
In her remarks, First Lady welcomed 18 new members saying that they brought new efforts that will help constructing the country.
“We are pleased to partner with you in holding this light lighting for Rwandans” she said.
“Don’t be afraid, this light is not heavy, it is a light that every person carries on their heart to the extent that any person who sees them wishes to participate into this journey” she urged new members.
Construction works for the Rwf950 million worth-stadium started last year and two phases, Luxurious bar and changing room have been already completed while offices will be constructed later.
The ceremony is set after the community work (umuganda) and will be attended by International cricket legends like a British national, Brian Charles Lara and former captain of English cricket team Michael Paul Vaughan.
Also the inauguration ceremony will be attended by the CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Sarah Ferguson among others.
The Rwanda’s Cricket Association President, Eddie Balaba Mugarura said that the stadium will help them organize big competitions and host international teams.
Government officials and development partners reiterated their commitment during a round table meeting dubbed “Compact 2025,” which was held in Kigali on 23 October 2025. The gathering aimed to discuss tactics to accelerate the elimination of hunger, undernutrition, and malnutrition.
Compact2025, a new initiative spearheaded by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) for ending hunger and undernutrition by 2025, brings stakeholders together to set priorities, innovate, learn, fine-tune actions, build on successes, and synthesise sharable lessons in order to accelerate progress.
“Ending hunger is a moral obligation for everyone,” the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, said.
“In the six-year strategic plan for agriculture transformation being developed, nutrition is a big component. That’s something we should build on to make sure that interventions are fair and enough to reach where we want in the shortest time possible,” She added
Positivo BGH started to operate in Rwanda in 2015 by assembling laptops to use in the education sector.
In line with their expansion programme, the company targets to start assembling Television sets, power solar system lamps, electricity meters and Electronic Billing Machines among others.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Positivo BGH Country Director, Zoran Gordic said that they target to expand their activities by making less costly tools that will compete on the market.
“Our target is to produce these devices at affordable prices in Rwanda and the region,” Zoran said.
During the ceremony of awarding certificates of grading and licensing, 67 tourism entities including 50 hotels, 8 tour operators and 9 tour guides were awarded with a tourism operating license, a tool that will now be used by consumers and policy makers to define quality standards of facilities and services.
The tourism operating license regulatory system is anticipated to improve quality of service, build the capacity of the private sector and improve the marketing efforts of stakeholders in the industry in favourably positioning the destination.
Hon. Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer at Rwanda Development Board during the occasion said that, “We are convinced that this new development will warrant a more vibrant industry, enhance stakeholder competitiveness and widespread success. The tourism operating licenses will also enhance transparency, accountability and proper standardization of the industry, maintaining the country’s front row position as a desirable tourism destination.”
Rwanda’s current ranking as the leading tourist destination in Africa as awarded by the World Travel Awards calls for actions such as this in order to maintain this providential position.
All tourism entities in the country, including accommodation establishments, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, tour operators, travel agencies, tour guides, tourism information offices, cultural tourism entities (cultural villages, private museums), and any other entity as determined by Order of the Minister are required to obtain an operating license.
This will also enhance Rwanda’s product positioning in line with the East African Tourism Marketing Platform as both the law and the ministerial orders were developed in accordance with East African Community (EAC) standards and were subject to technical review.
The application process leverages on technology to enhance efficiency and tourism entities are now expected to submit an online license application, upload a series of supporting documents on the tourism regulation website www.tourismregulation.rw and pay an application fee of 80,000 RWF. After the above steps have been achieved the entities are entitled to physical inspection where they must demonstrate that they have fulfilled all license requirements before being awarded a certificate.
Rwanda’s tourism industry has grown rapidly in the past few years, as the number of hotel rooms and tour operators have grown from 680 hotel rooms and 5 tour companies in 2003 to about 10,000 rooms and 44 tour companies currently. Last year the tourism sector fetched a total of $395 million with the MICE initiative solely bringing in about $47 million.
As Rwanda’s tourism industry continues to expand, the number of tourists flocking in also continues to increase. In 2016 Rwanda hosted 32 major conferences hosting about 32,500 delegates. Reports show that since Rwanda began offering visas upon arrival to all African nationals in 2013, the number of tourist arrivals has gone up by 14%, for instance African nationals arrivals in the country increased from 970,152 in 2015 to 1,157,171 in 2016.
Mrs. Belise Kariza, the Chief Tourism Officer at Rwanda Development Board while talking about the significance of this process said that, “Through this law, industry leaders anticipate to support stakeholders by ensuring that they maintain high quality standards, consistently improve quality of service and enhance efforts in training private sector stakeholders.”
It is through the cooperation that started in 2015 between RSB’s National Metrology Division and Germany Metrology Institute (PTB) which aims at strengthening metrological services in Rwanda.
The certificate was awarded to three laboratories testing Mass, Balance and Temperature Calibration.
Speaking at the event this Wednesday, the RSB Director General, Raymond Murenzi said that the certificate adds value to Rwanda’s laboratories and locally made products.
“When a product is tested from these laboratories, results will be the same with those tested from other international laborites,” he said.
He said that it is a big achievement since they started to train staff and buying decent materials towards meeting international standards.
“It will facilitate the country to export reliable Made in Rwanda products. Some people used to question them, but today we hope to export well standardized products” Murenzi added.
The PTB project coordinator, Florian Paffenholz commended RSB’s commitment to meeting standards requirements and urged to continue the trend in daily activities.
At the opening ceremony for the forum, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Vincent Biruta, said all countries need to work together to ensure the sustainability of the Nile Basin.
“Water security is one of the key challenges of our time and we need to work together to manage this precious and shared resource. Indeed, shared challenges need shared solutions. To member states countries represented here today, I commend the efforts you are making to advance cooperation on water management through the Nile Basin Initiative,” Minister Biruta said.
Nile Basin countries have been working together to protect and sustain the basin since 1967. This cooperation was formalised with the creation of the Nile Basin Initiative in 1999.
The initiative aims to ensure efficient water management and the optimal use of the resource in the Nile Basin. The Initiative is an intergovernmental partnership of ten Nile Basin countries including Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, The Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer.
Rwanda ratified the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement in 2012.
