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  • Debutant Kigali filmmaker set to receive award in the Netherlands

    A sage known as Voltaire once said ; ‘Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats’. This is not further than the truth when one considers the life journey of Kigali born radio producer/presenter and fashion designer Dudy alias Mwicira Mitari Dudy De Maximo.

    Having witnessed the horrific carnage of his family in the hands of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, De Maximo has certainly come a long way since then. On Wednesday, May 25 2011, De Maximo is set to receive the Young African Achievers award in the Netherlands for a movie project that has been a real revelation.

    De Maximo, 29, a trained electrical engineer, will receive the Young African Achievers Awards after his thrilling yet educative movie ‘Short Cut’. The movie that highlights the hideous scenes of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, will for the second time, be screened in Netherlands following numerous rave reviews.

    The film, which is directed and filmed by De Maximo, features genocide victims who drowned as they tried to flee from the gory hands of the genocidaires, as others were killed and their bodies hurled into rivers.

    The Young African Achievers Awards aims at providing role models and mentors to other young people. It also aims at acknowledging, motivating and highlighting the achievements of young people, developing leadership skills and cultivating a sense of pride and confidence in being an African.

    The annual awards event is an initiative of the Young African Achievers organisation that brings together all African embassies based in the Netherlands. The head of the organisation, Professor Ruthiec Roma will hand over the award to De Maximo in the presence of Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Immaculate Uwanyirigira. 

    De Maximo is later expected to hold a 45 minute press conference with the media. His movie will also be screened to coincide with the closing ceremony of the 100 days commemoration of the 1994 Tutsi genocide to be held in the Netherlands.

    De Maximo holds an advanced diploma in Electrical Engineering from the Kigali Institute of Science And Technology (KIST). He has previously worked in the German-based radio station- Deutsche Welle, as a transmitter operator in Kigali before serving as a logistics officer/technician, store officer and first-aid worker with other employers. He has also worked at Rwanda’s Press House and Contact FM radio station as an adviser and promoter/presenter, respectively.

    At the age of 12, the 1994 genocide against Tutsi led him to the woodlands after losing his entire family. After 32 days, the Rwanda Patriotic Army now RDF(Rwanda Defense Force) which he later joined, came to his rescue. He retired as a soldier barely two years later to pursue other interests.

    However, the artistic and go-getting de Maximo decided to venture into the world of fashion design and filmmaking, trades that have already began earning him continental accolades. 

  • Meet Rwandan songstress who combines charisma and benevolence

    Born in a musical background, stunning Rwandan beauty and vocalist Nicole Musoni may not look familiar to you. However, she is slowly turning heads in Canada with her staggering potential. Musoni does not merely sing songs, but drones them from her soul. But behind the facade, there is still much more to this songstress.

    In an exclusive interview with IGIHE.com, this hitherto unknown musical talent takes us behind the scenes and tells us her history, inspiration and ambitions whilst illuminating her ingenuously remarkable persona.

    Raised in a family of musicians, her father was a well-known local artist, a role that perhaps led to her musical inclination. “My parents were a big influence on me as I grew up. Both played a major part in my passion for art such as music and dancing. My father was a well known artist in Rwanda and would teach me songs he wrote and also have me sing them along as a child. When I was two years old, I hit the stage for the first time with my father at Odeon Palace in Bujumbura. As for my mother, she would teach others traditional Rwandese dances and I would join along at times.”

    She drew her musical inspiration from such musical divas as Celine Dion. From an early age, she possessed a deep passion for music and never had stage fright. She has been performing since she was eight with her first appearance at an elementary school concert.

    The musical path she embarked on led her to participate in various talent shows. One outstanding experience involved taking part in the “Star Academie” a widely known reality TV series in Canada. “The experience was amazing. It helped me build confidence, gave me an idea of how the music industry works.” During this nationwide event, she was among 50 finalists out of more than 7,000 participants, a remarkable feat that can perhaps be attributed to her unique talent. Since then, life’s been but a dream with amazing music. A renaissance darling who can’t be stopped, her melodic blend of R&B and soul will leave you breathless.

    Despite considerable highs in her musical career, she has faced quite some holdups . “I have at times being turned down because I was not skinny enough. Also when I was younger, I remember being taken advantage of by producers that just want to scam, sell you dreams with promises they don’t keep.”

    A singer and songwriter, Musoni plans to release an album in the near future as well as grow her fan base here in Rwanda. “I definitely plan on coming back to Rwanda to perform. It has always been a dream for me. I love my country a lot and I am proud of where I came from.” “I wish to positively express love and strength through my music”.

    Off the stage, Nicole works as Customer Relations Coordinator at Td Canada Trust Bank, a position that has provided her with many opportunities to rally round people. She is presently involved with many charitable organisations to raise money for breast cancer, HIV/AIDS among other illnesses. The selflessness and willingness to help out those in need are one of the attributes that truly define her.

    Outside her musical career, her life-size dream and ambition is to contribute and serve her home country. Despite being a Rwandan in the Diaspora, Nicole has a profound love and connection to Rwanda. She mentions that one of her biggest inspirations has been the Imbuto Foundation and expresses her deep desire to one day be part of it.

    “The Imbuto Foundation has done many projects helping the Rwandese community in many ways such as contributing to the education of the youth, the economy, and health particularly HIV/AIDS which is a major problem in a lot of African countries. Being a part of a foundation of such influence and experience would be an honour for me to learn and help in any way possible.”

     Nicole not only portrays the features of a true musical diva with her charm and talent but carries with her a powerful vision. The drive and motivation to reach out to people and empower them is singularly stirring . 

  • TOP FDRL commander returns home

    Having spent over 17 years serving the D.R. Congo based Rwandan Hutu rebel group- Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, Jean Batiste Barangariye a.k.a Major Mongo Smith has voluntarily surrendered and returned home.

    Major Mongo Smith, a top commander of FDLR on Thursday 19, said that he has been working as the operations commander and urged other rebels languishing in Congolese jungles to follow suit and surrender.

     “I appeal to the rest of my colleagues to also come back home because the rebel group is no longer all that powerful and it will never win the battle,” he said, adding that FDRL was no longer powerful.

     He said that though it was not as simple, he made a decision to return to his homeland since time had reached for him to come and take part in the development his nation other than destroy the nation’s stability.

    He disclosed that his operations were based in Walikare zone of Intoto in the D.R.C.

     Barandangariye joined the rebel group in 1998 from Congo Brazzaville where he was previously stationed since 1994. He is presently residing in Gisenyi in the Western Province.

  • Gacaca courts draw to a close

    The Gacaca grassroots courts will wrap up operations in December, justice minister Tharcisse Karugarama said Friday.

    “A final report will be completed by December and this chapter of Gacaca will be officially declared closed,” Karugarama said in a statement.

    The Gacaca court is part of a system of community justice inspired by tradition and established in 2001|2001 in Rwanda|Rwanda, in the wake of the 1994|1994 Genocide|Rwandan Genocide, against the Tutsi claimed over 1 million lives. The Gacaca courts are a method of transitional justice|Transitional justice, designed to promote healing and moving on from the crisis.

    “Through Gacaca we have been able to judge and resolve up to 1.4 million dossiers,” the minister said — “a great achievement that would have been impossible otherwise.”

    “There have been prison sentences ranging from five to ten years, life sentences that make up five to eight percent of the verdicts and acquittals that make up 20 to 30 percent,” said Karugarama.

    The Gacaca, which started functioning in 2005, were initially due to wind down by the end of 2007, but the date has been postponed several times due to the complexity of some of the cases before them.

    According to the National Service of Gacaca Jurisdiction, a body that coordinates the grassroots courts’ activities, the 97 remaining cases will be closed by July.

    The courts have the jurisdiction to try those who took part in the killings, but not those suspected of planning the genocide on a national or regional level.

    “All in all we are happy that we have a unique system that caters to our people needs, it may not be perfect for other nations but it serves us very well,” said Karugarama.

    After the Genocide, the new Rwandan Patriotic Front|Rwandan Patriotic Front’s government struggled with developing just means for the humane detention|Detention (Imprisonment) and prosecution|Prosecution of the more than 100,000 people accused of genocide|Genocide, war crimes|War crimes, and related crimes against humanity|Crimes against humanity. By 2000|2000, approximately 120,000 alleged genocidaires were crammed into Rwanda’s prisons and communal jails. From December 1996|1996 to December 2006|2006, the courts managed to try about 10,000 suspects at that rate it would take another 110 years to prosecute all the prisoners.

    To speed things up, some prisoners were released : In two rounds, in 2004|2004 and 2005|2005, about 50 prisoners were released. In January, 2007, another 8,000 prisoners were scheduled for release.

    However, the courts needed a more expeditious means of delivering justice. In response, Rwanda implemented the Gacaca court|Court system, which has evolved from traditional cultural communal law enforcement procedures. Rwanda has especially focused on criminal prosecutions in the Gacaca courts, putting justice partially into the hands of the victims.

    The Gacaca courts are meant to provide smaller courts to relieve the burden of the larger courts. Criminals are charged with acts against humanity, such as murder and serious assault. These courts are not allowed to try accused rapists, however.[8] The idea is to let the village courts resolve these issues and hopefully provide some reconciliation. The trials are meant to promote reconciliation and justice. The defendant is accused and brought to trial. The trial is held in public, where survivors and the victims’ families can confront the accused. The accused confess to their crimes or maintain their innocence. The villagers can either speak for or against the defendant.

  • US welcomes sentencing of ex-Rwandan army chiefs

    The United States said Thursday the genocide conviction and sentence of ex-Rwandan army chief Augustin Bizimungu shows that even top military officers are not immune from prosecution.

    The four sentenced are Bizimungu, Augustin Ndindiliyimana, a former Rwandan General Francois Xavier Nzuwonemeye, and Innocent Sagahutu.

    Bizimungu was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment. A general of the Rwandan Armed forces, he held the post of Lieutenant colonel before being promoted to Major General subsequently after the death of the late President Juvenal Habyarimana. 

    “The United States welcomes the ruling as an important step in providing justice and accountability for the Rwandan people and the international community,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a press release.

    “The conviction of Mr. Bizimungu, in particular, shows that even those at the highest levels of military leadership are not immune from prosecution in the face of such grave atrocities,” it said.

    “There are still 10 ICTR fugitives at-large and the United States urges all countries to continue their cooperation with the ICTR so that these fugitives can be expeditiously arrested and brought to justice,” the statement said.

    The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda based in Arusha was established in late 1994 to try the Hutu perpetrators of Rwanda’s genocide which claimed some 800,000 lives, mainly minority Tutsis, in a span of 100 days.

    During the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, Augustin Ndindiliyimana held the position of Chief of Staff of the Gendarmerie Nationale. Ndindiliyimana is alleged to have conspired with his co-accused (Francois Xavier Nzuwonemeye Innocent Sagahutu, Augustin Bizimungu) in the plan to exterminate Tutsis in Rwanda.

    He is also accused for his responsibility for the atrocities committed by forces under his control, including the deaths of ten Belgian peacekeepers in April 1994 which sparked the withdrawal of all Belgian troops from the UN mission in Rwanda. However, ICTR on Tuesday ordered his immediate release, after finding his justifying factors reasonable. Ndindiliyimana,later on expressed his happiness for being released after remaining in detention for 11 years. 

    Nzuwonemeye, a member the Rwandan Armed Forces in 1994, held the rank of major. In 1993, he was commander of a battalion in the FAR ; he was subsequently promoted to commander of the Reconnaissance Battalion.

    The ICTR indictment alleges that between 1990 and 1994, Nzuwonemeye and other officers conspired to exterminate the Tutsi civilians and political opponents, and helped to train interahamwe and militia groups who committed the genocide

    After Habyarimana’s death and the start of the genocide, members of the Reconnaissance Battalion commanded by Nzuwonemeye’s subordinate, Innocent Sagahutu “tracked down, arrested, sexually assaulted, and killed” Rwandan Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana. They also took into custody ten Belgian peacekeepers from UNAMIR who had been guarding her house, who were later killed.

    Sagahutu a member of the Rwandan Armed forces, in 1994 held the rank of captain. He was second-in-command of the Reconnaissance Battalion (RECCE), serving under battalion commander Major François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye.

    According to the indictment, between 1990 and 1994, Sagahutu and other officers conspired to exterminate Tutsi civilians. They distributed weapons and prepared lists of people to be eliminated. 

    The indictment accused Sagahutu and the four other defendants of conspiring to perpetrate genocide, mass rape, sexual assault, and murder of giving the orders that led to these crimes and of doing nothing to stop the crimes when they took place.

    Sagahutu , after fleeing the country after the RPF victory, was arrested on February 15, 2000. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

  • MTV youth show hosts President Kagame

    Youth drawn from a number of African countries including Rwanda yesterday interviewed President Paul Kagame courtesy of the MTV Base’s “MTV Base Meets…with MTN” programme at Village Urugwiro.

    The President responded to questions from a diverse panel of African youth from Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and South Africa.

    Khaled Mikkawi, the CEO MTN Rwanda described the initiative as a great way to reach out, inspire and connect with the youth across the continent.

    “We are extremely honoured to have President Paul Kagame involved in MTV Base Meets…with MTN,” Mikkawi pointed out.

    Interview recordings of the MTV base meets…With MTN with the President Kagame will be aired across Africa from 18 July this year as part of an eight-series show.

     Recordings will be aired on MTV base (DStv Channel 322), and on terrestrial, DTT and CATV channels including STV (Nigeria), HiTV (Nigeria), WBS (Uganda), NTV (Kenya), Canal2 (Cameroon), Muvi TV (Zambia), Zuku (Kenya), ZAP (Angola), Smart TV (Kenya) and Star Times (Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi).

    MTV Base Meets…With MTN is a joint initiative between MTV Networks Africa and MTN Group. It is designed to inspire African youth by connecting them with some of the world’s most influential personalities.

    It is intended to provide greater understanding between the African youth and the political, business and cultural leaders who shape today’s world.

    Other eminent personalities to feature in the series later include Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first and only elected female head of state and Julius Malema, the President of the ANC Youth League.

    The show has also featured other prominent personalities including Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair, Morgan Tsvangirai and Wyclef Jean.

    African youth are encouraged to nominate shakers and movers in society and submit their proposed questions for the programme via a dedicated MTV base Meets…with MTN website or via their mobile handset.

    To register go to www.mtvmeets.com or http://mtvmeets.mobi or follow the campaign on Twitter at #MTVMeets@MTVbaseAfrica.

  • Uncle Austin discloses reason for quitting radio

    Radio 10 presenter and musician Uncle Austin has announced his intentions to quit the broadcasting profession and concentrate on his music. His daily radio show “The Overdrive” will be pined for by his radio fans, who have revealed their concerns during his last shows.

    In the music scene, Uncle Austin is renowned for his hit songs Nzakwizirikaho and Gapapu.

    Austin’s departure from the media remains a dilemma to many since it is through radio that he gained his fame. To clear the air, the artist claimed that his music had reached a critical stage especially among his fans. He gives that as the reason he intends to resign and concentrate on better music delivery.

    “The music industry is doing well now and singing is my calling. I can feel it,” he remarks.

    He further points out that he felt the calling when his first songs received massive attention from his fans, most of them youth from both Rwanda and the region.

     Austin is quick to highlight plans for his music career. Topping the list are video shoots for his latest hits Nakuvala and Nzakwizirikaho due in two weeks.

     The artist whose music is a blend of R&B and Afro fusion is presently working on his debut album produced by Kigali based producer Lick-Lick.

     “Very soon, I’m releasing a new hit called Ndagukunda Nzapfa Ejo,” the artist says.

     Reacting on his poetic title, which translates to why fall in love with someone only to die tomorrow, Austin sighs and declines to comment until the song is out.

     He further discloses that his poetic titles are one of his tricks to capture audience attention. 

  • Rwanda makes more reforms to ease doing business

    Rwanda has introduced new business reforms to make company start-ups and cross border trade easier as it strives to be among the world’s top 30 places to do business by 2017, Clare Akamanzi, chief operating officer of Rwanda’s Development Board announced this week.

    Akamanzi said the new reforms were meant to make it easier for businesses to start, deal with construction permits, register property and trade across borders.

    “We have introduced free online registration and reduced registration fees from 25,000 to 15,000 francs. We have also eliminated certain requirements like the notarising of sale agreement,” Akamanzi told Reuters.

    The World Bank’s 2011 Doing Business report ranked Rwanda the second most pro-business reformer globally, and 58th in terms of ease of doing business, up from 70th a year earlier.

  • Rwandan genocide: Finnish appeal to be heard in Rwanda, Zambia

    The Helsinki Court of Appeal is to travel to Rwanda and Zambia
    to hear witnesses in the appeal of a man convicted of involvement in the Rwanda
    genocide. Francois Bazaramba, a Rwandan-born Finnish citizen, was sentenced last
    summer to life in prison for mass murder.

    The court plans to be in session in Rwanda for 18 days in September and October
    to hear testimony from 39 prosecution witnesses. The court also hopes to visit
    places where killings took place.

    The court will also go to Zambia in October to hear testimony from 15 defence
    witnesses. Most of the witnesses live in Zambia and other countries in the
    region.

    The arrangement still requires the approval of the Rwandan and Zambian
    governments.

    The defendant will follow the events via video link from Finland, as was done
    in the first trial.

    The case is being handled in Finland because the Ministry of Justice refused to
    extradite Bazaramba to Rwanda for fear that he might not get a fair trial
    there.

    The
    lower court found that Bazaramba, a resident of Porvoo, had led attacks against
    Tutsis in the south of Rwanda in 1994 and gave orders that led to their deaths.

    Bazaramba
    sought asylum in Finland, in 2003.

    He was
    convicted on two charges ; intent to destroy the Tutsi population in Maraba, and
    spreading malicious propaganda calling for their extermination, crimes for
    which he was handed a life sentence.

    He is
    said to have masterminded the killing of over 5,000 people in Nyakizu, Southern
    Province.

    Bazaramba
    allegedly organised and maintained night patrols and road blocks, forcing the
    Tutsi to leave their homes. He organised the setting on fire and destruction of
    their homes and property.

  • Tigo Rwanda launches mobile money payment service

    Tigo Rwanda, a telecom brand owned by Millicom Cellular International (MIC), recently inaugurated its mobile money services in Rwanda, targeted at subscribers with limited or no access to banking services.

    Tigo Rwanda is the second mobile company to launch such a service after its major competitor MTN Rwanda launched its mobile money product last year.

    Tigo has similar services in Ghana and Tanzania.

    Rwanda’s rural areas have limited access to financial services, with the central bank saying only 1.7 million deposit accounts had been registered by December 2010 out of a population of 9 million.

    With about 3.3 million mobile subscribers shared between MTN and Tigo as of January this year, Rwandan mobile users can utilise the technology to deposit and withdraw money and can pay electricity bills and school fees via text messages.

    “Tigo Cash is basically a wallet on your mobile phone. You don’t have to have a bank account,” said Tom Gutjahr, Tigo Rwanda’s chief executive. To sign up for the service is free but one has to be above 18 years and a Tigo subscriber with a valid identity card.

    Non Tigo subscribers will not be able to register for the service but can receive cash on their network from a Tigo Cash registered peson in any part of the country any time any day.

    “If you are not a “Tigo Cash” user, you will still be able to receive money from other Tigo Cash users,” the CEO said.

    Licensed to operate in Rwanda two years ago, MCL said Tigo Cash can send between $1 and $550.

    John Sebabi, head of payment systems at Rwanda’s central bank, said the new service would deepen financial services.

    “If the number of mobile phone exceeds that of bank accounts, then access to financial services is growing which is line with our objectives of increasing access to such services,” he said.

    The Product Manager, Tongai Maramba announced that Banque Commerciale du Rwanda (BCR) would be the host of the Tigo Cash trust account.