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Born in 1995, Imaniriho will be the youngest legislator in the fourth parliament.
Still single, Imaniriho was born in Bwishyura Sector of Karongi District where her family lives. She is the last born of four children who have been raised by a single widowed mother.

Imaniriho has got a Bachelors degree from University of Rwanda from where she graduated in 2017.

Speaking to IGIHE, Imaniriho could not hide her happiness of having won a parliament seat to represent the youth with 52% of the votes. She says she is ready to work with others in making and passing laws that serve interests of Rwandans and following up on implementation of Government programmes.

“Another thing is to listen to the voice of the youth, understand their problems and partner with institutions that we can work with in identifying and addressing youth challenges at the right time,” she said. Imaniriho did not go into details of the youth problems saying that she will work with others for advocacy to get solutions for those she will be told by the youths themselves or those she will identify.

Legislation will be Imaniriho’s first engagement in the working world since she graduated in 2017. Unemployment is one of the most biting problems faced by the Rwandan youth Imaniriho will be representing in parliament. Unemployed youth (between age of 16 to 30) register a whopping 21% according to numbers by Rwanda National Statistics Institute.

Imaniriho was confident to submit her bid to get a seat in parliament with no other prior experience in high leadership duties.

Monthly Umuganda activities and the citizens’ meetings are, she says, the big leadership classes she attended. These nurtured her spirit of serving the country. She submitted her parliament candidacy and she won.

“I am very happy to have won. I think I will represent them effectively,’’ she promises.
In few words, she advises her fellow youth to have good behaviors that will help them have a bright future and participate in the development of their own country. “They should participate in the government’s programmes as required, ask for advice and accept to be corrected,” she advises.

Imaniriho further tells the youths that they should not fear doing anything including politics. “Young people should set their fears aside and understand that they are able. There is a quote that goes; ‘We are not too young to have responsibilities.’ This, she says, should catapult them into serving their country . She also says; ‘the youth are the country’s force that builds fast’.

Imaniriho believes that nothing is impossible for a committed and a willing heart.

Besides the 23-year old Imaniriho, the Rwandan youth will as well be represented in parliament in the next five years term by Ernest Kalisa, 28.

Not that other members of the august house are that too old, but Imanriho takes the trophy of being the youngest servant. Of all the recently elected 80 MPs making the Rwandan Lower Chamber of Deputies, Fidele Rwigamba, 68, is the oldest. He is serving a second term in parliament representing Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo is campaigning for the leadership of the international organization that brings together French speaking countries, La Francophonie (OIF), whose elections will take place in Yerevan, Armenia in October 11th and 12th 2018.

She is up against Incumbent Canadian Michaëlle Jean who is campaigning for a second mandate.

Four months ago, when President Paul Kagame and his France Counterpart Emmanuel Macron met at Palais de l’Elysée, the latter revealed that he fully supported the Candidacy of Louise Mushikiwabo to OIF Secretary General position.

In an article posted on LeMonde, former French Ministers in charge of La Francophonie; Charles Josselin, Pierre-André Wiltzer, Hélène Conway-Mouret and André Vallini, said that supporting Mushikiwabo’s candidacy would affect their country’s Image.

They showed that before making his move, Macron did not consult OIF’s most influential countries.

“The decision was taken without consulting important stakeholders in the organization. OIF is not France’s property so it is not logical that one would decide for others.” reads the article.

They added that France should have let Africa decide which candidate they wanted to represent them.

“If France thinks it should be led by Africa, then it should be Africans to decide on a candidate.”

“We did not take the trouble to talk to our closest French-speaking partners, starting with the Canadians, one of OIF’s major donors, France is today forced to wage a useless fight with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while she needed Ottawa more than ever,” reads the article.

The former ministers showed that siding with Canada was more beneficial for France than supporting an African

Via his twitter handle, Amb Nduhungirehe replied to the French, saying “I would like to remind these Ministers of the old Francafrique, including nonagenarians, that the neo-colonial Francophonie is over! The 29 African states have chosen their candidate, a French-speaking woman of experience, and you have nothing to say against it!” Amb. Nduhugirehe said.

Mushikiwabo is currently on a campaign trail across various OIF member countries, most of which support her candidacy.

Among her ideals, she seeks to prioritize peace, security and promotion of the youth among others.

The organization, to which Rwanda subscribes, brings together French-speaking countries across the world.

In its Index of Best Countries for Business Report released last Friday, Forbes ranked the United Kingdom as the best among 153 countries studied. It is followed by New Zealand, Netherlands, Sweden and Canada as the top five respectively.

Taking into consideration all 15 factors, Rwanda was ranked 79th globally.

Mauritius is the best in Africa and 41st globally, followed by South Africa as 48th, Morocco 55th, and Botswana 76th while Rwanda comes fifth overall on the continent.
Nigeria, the largest continent’s economy, was ranked 115th.

The United States, world’s largest economy, is ranked 12th, Germany is 13th, Japan 21st, France 22nd while China stands at 66th.

The rankings considered15 different factors including property rights, innovation, taxes, technology, corruption, freedom (personal, trade and monetary), red tape and investor protection.

The report shows that Rwanda’s GDP was $8 billion as of December 2017 with the annual growth of 5.9%. GDP per Capita was $700, unemployment at 2.7%, public debt per GDP was at 43% while inflation stood at 5.7%.

The population was 11.9 million.

Forbes reports that Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilising and rehabilitating its economy.

“GDP has rebounded with an average annual growth of 6%-8% since 2003 and inflation has been reduced to single digits. The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce poverty by improving education, infrastructure, and foreign and domestic investment.”

In recognition of Rwanda’s successful management of its macro economy, the IMF graduated Rwanda to a Policy Support Instrument in 2010.

Rwanda seeks to become a regional leader in information and communication technologies. It completed in 2012 the first modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kigali. The free industrial area seeks to attract investment specifically in agribusiness, information and communications, trade and logistics, mining, and construction.

In 2016, the government launched an online system to give investors information about public land and its suitability for agricultural development.

He said greater public-private partnership can help tap into the opportunities to speed up economic growth as a whole particularly the service sector.

The Head of State was speaking at the two-day Development Finance Forum (DFF) launched in Kigali, Tuesday.

Organised by the World Bank Group, the forum seeks to help global public and private sector leaders to explore and demonstrate strategies to boost private sector investment in East Africa’s priority sectors, notably, housing, agriculture and tourism.

Kagame said that public development funding is increasingly scarce whereas “prosperity is generated when government and business are working well together.”

“Public-private collaboration is also the driver of recent achievements at the level of the African Union particularly the Continental Free Trade Area. The inclusion of business leaders at African Union Summits is now routine and that is making a difference to the quality of dialogue,” he said.

Citing Africa’s partnership with the World Bank Group’s institutions, President Kagame said Africa still has a long way to go but the necessary partnerships are in place.

“But despite the strong prospects we are far from tapping the full potential or even meeting existing demand for affordable high-quality products,” he said.

“In the global context, there is an excess of capital looking for profitable ventures such as these as we all know. Yet in Africa, there is a chronic deficit of large-scale investment funding. That is what we are here to address in practical terms.”

This year’s forum marks the fourth edition of the event, and was attended by more than 300 participants, including representatives of governments, and leading companies.

World Bank reports that it has $844 million worth of projects in Rwanda and contributed on behalf of Rwanda more $204 million in regional projects.

In the hearing on Monday,a panel of judges announced the appeal case was withdrawn pursuant to the defendants’ request dated August 26.

The singer was asked if he still wished to withdraw his appeal as he requested in his letter not read immediately. He confirmed his willingness to withdraw his appeal and the Court took note of it.

Kizito Mihigo’s lawyer, Antoinette Mukamusoni told IGIHE that she was surprised of Kizito’s letter requesting that his appeal be withdrawn without pointing out the reasons behind the move.
“After seeing his letter, I wondered why he had let us request for an appeal in the first place just to withdraw it in the end. Later, I went to him, asked him what pushed him to make the request,” Mukamusoni explained.

According to Mukamusoni, Kizito was polite and nice, while answering her questions. He said “I pled guilty and the court sentenced me according to law. Clearly, I would not be bringing anything new at the court. What would I be pleading? What would I be challenging against the High court?”

Kizito added that he took the decision to withdraw his appeal since he was not having any new facts.

Parole behind the appeal’s withdrawal

Jean Felix Rudakemwa- a lawyer, who represented popular convict Dr. Leon Mugesera, was convinced that there was a motive behind Kizito Mihigo’s decision to withdraw his appeal.

Parole, more commonly known as conditional release might be a motive.

Conditional release is possible if you served at least one quarter of your sentence before it is considered. If you are serving more than 5 years, parole will be considered once two thirds of the sentence has been served.

Kizito has so far served 4 years and five months. This means that in the next two years, he will have served the required two thirds, and be eligible for a conditional release.

Asked on this, Kizito Mihigo’s lawyer said that she did not know whether it was part of his plans.

“I have no idea whatsoever of his plans, unless he decides to let me know. I only know that his reasons to withdraw the appeal were that he had no tangible facts,” Mukamusoni said.

He says, even without an official position, he will keep contributing ideas alongside the elected officials to prove his commitment to serve the country.

Mpayimana and three other independent candidates failed to win 5% votes in the legislative elections held on September 3.

They all scored below 1% while the Constitution requires 5% votes for a party or independent candidate to secure a seat in the parliament.

Mpayimana has told IGIHE that he is not discouraged by the two failures.

He urges the National Electoral Commission to revise the votes required for an independent candidate to win a seat, saying that it is discriminatory for an independent candidate to be required the same 5% votes as a political party which receives two seats upon winning 5%.

The requirement is embedded in the constitution adopted in 2003 and amended in the November 2015 Referendum.

“Laws are made by people and can always change them,” says Mpayimana.

He says he will share with the legislators pledges he made during the campaign, adding that he has no plan to join any political party.

Mpayimana came to Rwanda in 2017 from France where he was serving in a spices factory.

He says he currently has no job and has no plans to go back to France soon.

He plans to do marketing work for some companies and preparing projects for people as a means of earning a living in Rwanda while contributing to politics as well.

In the recent elections, the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) and allied six parties won 74% equivalent to 40 seats out of 53 contested for in the general elections.

Liberal Party (PL) and Social Democratic Party (PSD) respectively won 9% and 7% equivalent to five and four seats.

Two opposition parties, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) and PS-Imberakuri, secured each two seats in the Lower House after winning 5% ballots.

Other 27 seats in the 80-member Lower House are shared by representatives of women, youth and people with disabilities.

The five are Maximilien Turinabo, Anselme Nzabonimpa, Jean de Dieu Ndagijimana, Marie Rose Fatuma and Dick Prudence Munyeshuli.

They were arrested last week following the arrest warrants issued by the Judge of the International Residual Mechanism of the Criminal Tribunal (IRMCT) on September 3.

They were transferred yesterday to the UN detention facilities in Arusha, Tanzania.
“Today, on 10th September 2018, the National Public Prosecuiton Authority of Rwanda has handed over the above five Rwandan citizens to the judicial authorities of IRMCT,” reads part of the prosecution’s statement.

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The IRMCT statement released last Wednesday allege that the aim of the suspects’ efforts was to secure the reversal of Augustin Ngirabatware’s conviction by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

Ngirabatware was convicted by the ICTR’s Appeals Chamber for direct and public incitement to commit genocide, instigating genocide and aiding and abetting genocide and gave him a sentence of 30 years of imprisonment.

The indictment in the Turinabo et al. case alleges that the five accused are responsible for contempt of court, incitement to commit contempt and knowing violation of court orders, and interfering with the administration of justice at the Mechanism and ICTR.

The Office of the Prosecutor alleges that Maximilien Turinabo, Anselme Nzabonimpa, Jean de Dieu Ndagijimana and Marie Rose Fatuma, directly and through others, offered bribes and exerted pressure to influence the evidence of protected witnesses in the Ngirabatware case.

It also alleges that Dick Prudence Munyeshuli and Maximilien Turinabo disclosed protected information regarding protected witnesses in knowing violation of protective measures ordered by the ICTR and Mechanism.

The Mechanism Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement that his office is determined to fight all efforts to interfere with witnesses and the proper administration of justice, in accordance with the office’s mandate from the United Nations Security Council.

IRMCT instruments state that anyone who is convicted with interfering with its justice shall face seven years of imprisonment maximum or a fine of €50,000.

ICTR sentenced Ngirabatware to 35 years in jail in 2012 but the sentence was reduced to 30 years in 2014 in the appeal trial by IRMCT.

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In June 2017, IRMCT accepted Ngirabatware’s request for the appeal review which was set for February 2018.

However, his counsel Peter Robinson withdrew earlier, putting off the review hearing until September 24.

Ngirabatware has got Diana Ellis and Sam Blom-Cooper as counsel and co-counsel to represent him in the review proceedings before the Mechanism.

The 61-year old was arrested in Germany in September 2007 and transferred to ICTR in October 2008.

He was appointed the Minister of Planning in the genocidal regime in July 1990, a position he retained as part of the Interim Rwandan Government in April 1994.

Ngirabatware was also a member of the Préfecture Committee of then ruling National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND) political party in Gisenyi Préfecture, the National Committee of the MRND, and the technical committee of Nyamyumba Commune.

The campaign dubbed Free To Shine was recently initiated by the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS aiming at ending mother to child transmission of HIV by 2030.

Launching the drive in Kigali Monday, First Lady Jeannette Kagame urged parents and health workers to embrace the fight to ensure that no single child acquires HIV at birth.

She especially encouraged all pregnant women to routinely go for antenatal care in health facilities and make sure they give birth from there.

Acknowledging the contribution of partners over the years, Mrs Kagame said, Rwanda is on track to zero new infections by 2020 and to the eradication of HIV by 2030.

“Indeed, the interventions and resources poured into initiatives geared towards reducing new infections have helped reduce the national prevalence rate from a double digit number, to a 3% national average. It is imperative that we keep the momentum,” she said.

The gathering of about 2500 at Petit Stade in Remera also received messages on HIV transmission, ending pediatric HIV/AIDS, family planning methods, condoms distribution and HIV testing services.

Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba efforts invested have led to a drop in mother-to-child infections from 4.3% in 2011 to 1.5% currently.

Free To Shine campaign is supported by the African Union in its goals for equitable development.

In the hearing on Monday, the judges’ jury announced the appeal case was withdrawn pursuant to the defendants’ request dated August 26, without clarifying on the request letter’s content.

The defendants didn’t explain anything about their request either.
Kizito was arrested in April 2014 with three accomplices. He was charged with complicity in acts against the state security.

In February 2015, the High Court in Kigali sentenced Kizito to 10 years in jail after convicting him with conspiracy to murder and formation of a criminal gang.

The co-accused, former Amazing Grace Radio reporter Cassien Ntamuhanga was sentenced to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of formation of a criminal gang, conspiracy against the established government and complicity in a terrorist act.

Ntamuhanga broke the prison last year and was later heard on Voice of America radio speaking reportedly from abroad without revealing his hideout.

Former combatant Jean Paul Dukuzumuremyi was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but, the court acquitted Agnès Niyibizi after they found her not guilty of any charge.