He was speaking during discussions with UR’s leadership and stakeholders held on March 28, 2024, where he highlighted the mutual advantages of such collaborations.
Florence Namarinzi, a UR alumna, shared her internship experience, noting the lack of substantial support from hosting industries. Instead of engaging in practical tasks relevant to her studies, she found herself performing menial duties.
Dr. Ndikumana Raymond, Deputy Vice Chancellor of UR, addressed the willingness of some institutions to provide practical training, contingent on insurance coverage for their equipment. He announced agreements aimed at facilitating vocational training for around 4,200 UR students, highlighting the negotiation challenges regarding equipment insurance.
Minister Twagirayezu advocated for a shift in perspective towards student interns, urging employers to recognize the value and capabilities of these learners.
He stated, “Help us understand how we can improve the way internship is conducted. Sometimes we tend to see it as if we are doing these kids a favor, thinking they come with no knowledge and might damage the equipment, which is probably why there’s talk of, ‘if I take your students, you’ll have to cover the insurance for my equipment.’”
“I tell you these students have knowledge, and you, the host, want them to gain beneficial skills, you want them to contribute to the development of your institution. They should be given responsibilities that match their abilities and we should help them grow within our institutions, instead of seeing them as a problem to solve, but rather as individuals who will deliver results,” Twagirayezu added.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of UR, Prof. Didas Kayihura Muganga, highlighted UR’s unique position as a comprehensive university offering a wide range of disciplines. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with both public and private sector employers in designing academic programs.
Mireille Karera, reflecting on UR’s achievements and challenges over the past decade, suggested more innovative approaches to aligning academic offerings with industry needs.
Currently, UR has six colleges since establishment in 2013 catering to over 31,213 students. These include the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), College of Business and Economics (CBE), College of Education (CE), College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), and College of Science and Technology (CST).
The UR management reports that 25% of students who complete their studies there find employment within six months of leaving.
Students who excelled in the 2022/2023 academic year were immediately offered permanent positions in various institutions, while others received paid internships.
In 2023, 8321 students graduated from the University of Rwanda. Among them, 221 received bachelor’s degrees, 7435 master’s degrees, 627 postgraduate diplomas, and 38 were awarded PhDs.
The decorated officers include 139 of are Rwanda Formed Police Unit One rotation Nine (RWAFPU1-9), 140 personnel of Rwanda Protection Support Unit rotation Eight (PSU1-8) and 41 Rwandan officers serving as Individual Police Officers (IPO).
Formed Police conducts escort duties, public order management; protection of civilians, UN personnel and facilities, among others.
The Protection Support Unit is charged with ensuring the protection of high profile government and UN officials, including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, SRSG and the two deputies, and Head of MINUSCA Police Component, among others.
The IPOs, on the other hand, act as Police advisors and mentors.
The MINUSCA Head of Police Component (HOPC), Commissioner of Police (CP) Christophe Bizimungu, who presided over the medal ceremony, thanked the Police officers for their commitment and dedication to the mission mandate, particularly escort and protection of CAR officials, UN personnel and magistrates of the Special Criminal Court of Bangui.
He also thanked them for supporting the local communities through various human security initiatives such as blood donation, free medical consultation and treatment, donation of medicines; communal work (Umuganda) and supply of clean water to vulnerable families.
“Maintain the humanitarian spirit and commitment for the remaining days of your tour-of-duty,” CP Bizimungu said.
In February 2024, President Macron announced that if NATO considers providing support to Ukraine to help it defend against Russia, it should also think about sending soldiers.
These words were openly rejected by some NATO member countries, indicating that this decision would lead the organization into an outright war with Russia.
An American official told Bloomberg that Macron should not have said these words, as it could lead Russia to suspect that NATO is considering sending troops to Ukraine.
This unnamed official said that it would have negative consequences for NATO, as it could be a trigger between this organization and Russia.
President Macron made these statements at a time when Russia claims that some NATO member countries have sent their troops to Ukraine to help with the use of sophisticated weapons provided, including France and the UK.
The decision to prosecute the girl was made following the beheading of two teachers in France in 2020, acts that were reportedly carried out by individuals with extreme Islamic beliefs.
According to the BBC, the school principal resigned last Friday, but both the school he taught at and his name have been kept confidential. In an email to the teachers he led, he said he resigned due to the terrorism threats that indicated he could also lose his life, highlighting the difficult decision after 45 years in education.
The dispute between the teacher and three female students happened on February 28 this year, at the school he had been at for seven years. The girls entered the school wearing headscarves, which the principal asked them to remove to comply with France’s current law banning religious head and face coverings in public.
Two complied, but the third refused, leading to a confrontation. After this, the principal began receiving death threats on social media, and the Ministry of Security, noticing this, increased the school’s security. The French prosecution also announced the arrest of two individuals suspected of spreading these threats.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal revealed that an investigation showed the school leader never hit the girl, and she will now face justice to explain why she lied. France declared it will never again tolerate lies under the guise of beliefs, especially when they could endanger lives.
The investments created 5,235 job opportunities, with 94% of the workforce coming from the local market. The annual revenue from the investment stands at 1.8 billion euros (Rwf2.5 trillion).
Further, in its latest report, EBCR forecasts that the investment will rise to 383 million euros in the next five years, which translates to about Rwf520 billion.
Speaking during EBCR Investment Conference 2024 on Thursday, Bélén Calvo Uyarra, EU Ambassador, affirmed EU’s commitment to invest and scale up the presence in Rwanda.
“The private sector is a key engine for growth. It’s a driver for transformation and we are committed to this. We are very keenly working with the government in reflecting the role of private sector in the next national strategy for transformation,” the ambassador stated.
The conference brought together more than 120 participants including investors, companies seeking investment or selling opportunities, government institutions and development partners.
Various stakeholders and experts also billed Rwanda as one of the best destinations for medium-sized companies seeking investment opportunities in the African market.
The experts drawn from various sectors praised the country for its sustained economic growth, access to credit and markets, and robust governance, which make it attractive to investors.
Zano Mataruka, the regional representative for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said the private sector in Rwanda is among the beneficiaries of funding from the organization.
Mataruka said IFC, which is a member of the World Bank Group, is open to entering into partnerships with companies dealing in agribusiness, manufacturing, services and infrastructure.
He, however, pointed out that the funding is only accessible to established firms, although the small businesses can benefit through loans offered to banks such as I&M Bank Rwanda.
“We are open to business and we would like to do more. Unfortunately, we can’t do smaller businesses but we can help them through our partnerships with banks,” Mataruka stated.
Mataruka further highlighted that Rwanda’s peaceful environment, regulatory clarity, and investments in the education sector make it an ideal destination for investors, in addition to its access to neighboring countries.
“Peaceful environment is what investors want. Regulatory clarity and strong governance are also key in attracting investors,” he added.
Laurent Van Houcke, the co-founder and chief operations officer of Bboxx, also praised Rwanda’s business environment, saying his company had achieved tremendous growth since entering the local market in 2008.
“In 2019 Kenya was our best market by way far and Rwanda was the worst because we were waiting as the government was still putting things in place but today Rwanda is our best market,” he said.
The Belgian-born Electrical Engineer from Imperial College London said Bboxx pilots all its sustainable electrification solutions in Rwanda before taking them to its 14 markets.
On his part, Philippe Watrin, Chief Investment Officer at the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), indicated that the organization is continuously enhancing its investment activities in Rwanda to boost productivity and demonstrate investment potential.
The ministry revealed on Thursday, March 28, 2024, that its plans to spend USD 7,937 (Rwf 10.2 million) per student in the ambitious four-strategy program with 32,973 students expected to graduate by 2028.
The new strategy is aimed at ensuring availability of a minimum of four healthcare workers for every 1,000 people by the next four years. Currently, one healthcare worker serves about 1,000 people.
The ministry plans to spend USD 141,288,063 (Rwf 182.6 billion) to increase the quantity and quality of trained health professional students in priority programs and USD 172,847,301 (Rwf222.2 billion) to recapture local faculty and hire visiting faculty to fill immediate teaching needs.
An additional USD 80,992,886 (Rwf 104.1 billion) will be used to improve training capacity and teaching facility sites and another USD 168,776 (Rwf217 million) in the coordination of the 4×4 reform implementation.
“Hiring new faculty in rare fields is the biggest cost driver, accounting for 44% of the total budget. Support to students for increased enrollment also accounts for 36% of the budget and about 20% of the total cost is related to laboratory, infrastructure and equipment needs,” the ministry said in its update on the implementation of the reforms during an event held at the Kigali Convention Center (KCC).
The new healthcare workers set to join the profession by 2028 will be drawn from at least seven professional cadres including resident and fellows (897), general practitioners (1,686), dental surgeons (185), pharmacists (832), nurses (15,770), midwives (5,209), and allied health sciences (8,394).
While lauding the program, the Minister for Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, expressed confidence that the new workforce would also benefit the international market.
“The 4X4 reform will help us improve the way we deliver our courses and provide people with quality knowledge. We consider where they will work because they may be needed in the labor market both domestically and internationally. Although the epidemics are increasing every day, we can also explore opportunities in the labor market outside the country,” he said.
The ministry emphasized that 4×4 reform has been prepared and reviewed extensively through a series of consultations with the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Ministry of Finance (MINECOFIN), partners in the health sector and teaching institutions.
The 4X4 strategy was endorsed by the Cabinet on July 13, 2023 for immediate implementation.
On November 2, 2023, 31 institutions including 13 Higher Learning Institutions, 14 Teaching Hospitals and 4 professional councils signed a Synergy Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 4×4 reform emphasizing the commitment to work together and share knowledge and resources where needed to increase Rwanda’s health workforce.
Currently, four development partners are also involved in funding and providing technical support for the 4×4 reform. The partners are Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation (STBF), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Management Science for Health (MSH), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
China, fundamentally, is a nation that has consistently shattered the norms of conventional success, establishing new standards in technology, infrastructure, and international cooperation.
The core of this advancement lies in a people-centered approach, focusing on quality, efficiency, and trust-based alliances. This strategy propels not only domestic progress but also cultivates an environment conducive to global collaborations, ensuring mutual development and shared success.
Within the expansive panorama of China’s infrastructure accomplishments, the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge shines brightly, not merely as an engineering wonder but as a demonstration of the power of dreaming ambitiously and the relentless pursuit of those dreams.
Located in East China’s Jiangsu Province, the bridge forms a crucial nexus between the cities of Changzhou and Taizhou, spanning the Yangtze River – the longest river in Eurasia and a cradle of Chinese civilization for thousands of years.
The Yangtze River, being the longest river flowing entirely within a single nation, originates from Jari Hill in the Tanggula Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau, winding 6,300 kilometers eastward to the East China Sea. It stands as the world’s fifth-largest river by discharge volume.
Historically, the Yangtze has played a critical role in China’s development, serving various functions such as water supply, irrigation, sanitation, transportation, industry, and demarcation.
The river is embracing a new era with the erection of the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge. This structure is not just a crossing over water; it represents a multi-dimensional avenue for high-speed travel, economic amalgamation, and technological advancement.
From its initial concept in October 2019 to the nearing completion of its upper structure, the journey of the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge has been a saga of surmounting obstacles and realizing ‘four world firsts’ in construction milestones. It symbolizes China’s engineering prowess and its vision for a future where distances are diminished, not just physically but also in the hearts and minds of its people.
Beyond its tangible features, the bridge acts as a strategic fulcrum in the urbanization and regional integration of the Yangtze River metropolises, unlocking new avenues for transportation, commerce, and cultural interchange.
Boasting an impressive length of 10.03 kilometers, it features a dual-layered design accommodating both rail and road traffic, thereby pioneering a new genre of river crossing infrastructure.
The upper deck featuring a two-way six-lane expressway is designed to enable swift travel at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour, while the lower deck with a four-lane highway accommodates conventional vehicular traffic, ensuring an uninterrupted flow of goods and individuals.
Constructed by the China Communications Construction Co (CCCC), the bridge’s completion is expected to drastically shorten travel times between Taizhou and Changzhou, thereby stimulating economic growth in southern Jiangsu and the broader Yangtze River Delta region.
As CCCC management articulated, traversing between the two cities previously took an hour and a half, but the bridge is anticipated to cut this duration to 30 minutes.
Today, significant milestones have been achieved, including the completion of the open caisson foundation in March 2021, the topping out of the cable tower at Pier 5 in October 2023, and substantial progress in 2023 with the northern connection and the assembly of the main channel bridge’s steel truss beam. Presently, the bridge is in the final stages of construction. The construction of this monumental project is expected to last five and a half.
The CCCC overseeing the project, is a leading global provider of large-scale infrastructure services, specializing in the investment, construction, and operation of transportation infrastructure, equipment manufacturing, real estate, and urban comprehensive development.
Boasting listings in Hong Kong and Shanghai, the company’s profitability and capacity for value creation are recognized as leading globally. In 2021, CCCC achieved the 61st rank in the Fortune Global 500.
With over 60 wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries and a history spanning a century, CCCC has been at the forefront of industry innovation in China. The company’s products and services are available in more than 150 countries.
Among CCCC’s notable engineering platforms are the China Roads and Bridge Corporation and the China Harbour Engineering Company.
The project’s total investment amounts to 28.6 billion RMB (approximately US$4 billion), with the cross-river bridge component costing approximately 16 billion RMB ( over US$ 2 billion.
The management emphasizes their commitment to innovation and adaptation of the latest technologies in the realization of their projects, underscoring the robustness of their engineering solutions.
The Changtai Yangtze River Bridge’s significance transcends its immediate geographical and economic impacts. It serves as a vibrant testament to quality infrastructure undertaken through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to which CCCC has contributed in no small part .
The BRI, initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, has become a fundamental platform for infrastructure development cooperation, significantly benefiting Africa’s economic and social advancement.
As of January 2023, 151 countries had joined the BRI, representing nearly 75% of the global population and over half of the world’s GDP. This initiative is projected to elevate the global GDP by $7.1 trillion annually by 2040, demonstrating its substantial potential for addressing infrastructure gaps and propelling global economic growth.
Over fifty African nations have engaged with the BRI, experiencing benefits such as improved infrastructure, reduced unemployment, and expanded trade opportunities.
Chinese enterprises have been instrumental in implementing significant infrastructure projects across Africa, including railways, roads, bridges, and ports, generating over 4.5 million jobs and revitalizing communities.
CCCC has played a crucial role in these developments, with management expressing confidence in the continued flourishing of cooperation.
According to Zha Chan Gmiao, Executive General Manager of the Brand & Corporate Culture Department at CCCC, their business encompasses roads, airports, railways, and ports, essentially connecting infrastructure.
Notable projects across the continent enhancing connectivity and economic growth include Algeria’s El Hamdania Central Port, the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway and Water Pipeline, various projects in Egypt, Kenya’s Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, and several transformative endeavors in Rwanda.
Leveraging its existing expertise, the company aims to make further contributions to Africa’s development. CCCC management highlights the importance of skills transfer, as seen in the railway project in Mombasa, where Chinese engineers collaborated closely with local workers.
As the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge approaches completion, its story transcends the realms of concrete and steel, embodying the essence of dreams turned into tangible reality.
{{Photos of the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge under construction}}
This initiative was officially launched in a campaign held in Nyabugogo and at the Gisozi marketplace on March 27, 2024.
Included in Ministerial Order No. 002/24/03/TC of March 8, 2024, it stipulates rewards based on the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the end consumer who requests an EBM receipt, where they will receive 10% of the VAT amount on the invoice.
Furthermore, it is decided that anyone reporting a merchant who fails to provide an EBM invoice or issues one with incorrect amounts will receive 50% of the fines imposed on the merchant.
Deputy Commissioner in charge of Taxpayer Services and Communication at RRA, Jean Paulin Uwitonze, explained how consumers could register for this new system to receive VAT-related rewards.
Uwitonze noted that Tengamara and VAT aim to thank end consumers for consistently requesting EBM invoices, highlighting that out of the 18% VAT on these invoices, consumers would be rewarded with 10% of it.
This means, for example, if an end consumer purchases goods or services worth 1000 Rwandan Francs, out of which 180 Francs go to the merchant as VAT, the consumers who request EBM invoices will receive 10% of this amount, with the remainder going to the state treasury. Rewards will also be given to consumers who report merchants not issuing these invoices.
The law mandates that a VAT-registered merchant who fails to issue an EBM receipt will be fined ten times the evaded VAT amount, doubling to twenty times for repeated offenses. Here, the end consumer who reports will receive 50% of these fines, and if the merchant is ordered to issue a receipt they hadn’t, the consumer gets 10% of it.
To participate in Tengamara and VAT, consumers need to register with their national ID number and a preferred telephone number for receiving rewards or a bank account.
Registration is through the myrra.rra.go.rw website or by dialing *800# on a phone and following instructions.
After registering, consumers can begin requesting EBM invoices, asking merchants to include their registered phone number on these receipts. However, if the EBM machine is offline, the reward will be applied once the machine is connected to the internet.
Participants in Tengamara can check their rewards and any fines reported on merchants after payment through the same registration channel.
To report non-compliant merchants or discrepancies in invoices, consumers can use the RRA’s WhatsApp number, providing the merchant’s telephone number, Tax Identification Number (TIN) if known, business location, and evidence such as photos proving payment.
This VAT reward system will distribute rewards quarterly, with considerations to make it monthly since some merchants pay VAT monthly. Rewards will be transferred via the phone number or bank account used for registration, allowing participants to monitor their account status.
Commissioner Uwitonze reminded merchants that there is no excuse for not issuing EBM invoices, as the machines can operate offline and in multiple languages, including Kinyarwanda, encouraging Rwandans to always request EBM invoices as part of their contribution to national development.
Some consumers attending the launch expressed their commitment to requesting EBM invoices for every purchase, recognizing their right to receive them.
EBM electronic invoicing began in Rwanda in October 2013 to reduce tax evasion. The RRA plans to continue promoting the request for EBM invoices nationwide to improve awareness and understanding of this technology in commerce, both for consumers and merchants, emphasizing the importance of taxes in national development.
Initially, at a meeting in Luanda, Angola, on March 21, 2024, the DRC, represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula, pledged to the United Nations Security Council in New York to present a detailed plan for the dissolution of the FDLR by April 2024.
This commitment was seen as a significant step towards addressing the longstanding security concerns in the region, particularly those voiced by Rwanda regarding the FDLR’s destabilizing activities.
The anticipation for a tangible plan was bolstered by a communique from the tripartite meeting, highlighting the DRC’s readiness to unveil a strategy complete with execution methods for dismantling the FDLR.
The French Ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière, lauded this move, recognizing it as a direct response to the security threat identified by Rwanda and a potential milestone in restoring trust between the two neighboring countries.
However, the narrative took an unexpected turn when the DRC ambassador to the UN, Zénon Mukongo Ngay, delivered remarks that starkly contrasted with the commitments made in Luanda.
Ambassador Ngay asserted that the FDLR was effectively non-existent, having been dismantled in joint operations between the DRC and Rwandan armed forces in previous years.
He described the current references to the FDLR as remnants that persist only within the realm of social media, a stark departure from the group once accused of fostering instability and spreading genocidal ideology across the region.
Adding to the complexity, Minister Lutundula’s subsequent statements in Kinshasa underscored a position of denial regarding the FDLR’s existence, further distancing the DRC’s official stance from its initial promises.
By calling for evidence of the FDLR’s activities from the UN and the African Union, the DRC government seemed to pivot from a posture of action to one of inquiry, inviting speculation about its commitment to regional security and cooperation.
This volte-face did not go unnoticed by Rwanda, whose ambassador to the UN, Rwamucyo Ernest, vehemently disputed the DRC’s assertions. Ambassador Rwamucyo underscored the ongoing threat posed by the FDLR, accusing it of not only persisting but also being bolstered by the Congolese army (FARDC).
He emphasized the dire need for a cessation of hostilities and the integration of FDLR fighters back into Rwandan society, a process previously undertaken with former combatants.
The evolving dialogue around the FDLR issue reveals a labyrinth of diplomatic maneuvers, contrasting narratives, and the complex interplay of regional politics.
The DRC’s shifting positions highlight the challenges inherent in addressing non-state armed groups, the reliability of international commitments, and the overarching quest for stability in the Great Lakes region.
As the situation unfolds, the international community remains watchful, hopeful for progress yet cautious of the hurdles that lie ahead in the path to peace and reconciliation.
In a message he posted on his own social media platform, Truth Social, on March 27, 2024, Trump explained that this business venture is part of an initiative he named ‘God Bless America’.
He said, “Happy Holy Week! As we approach Good Friday and Easter, I urge you to purchase the God Bless The USA Bible. Every American needs a Bible in their home. It is my favorite book. We must make America pray again.”
Trump elaborated that the church and Christianity are fading in America, stating, “I am confident we need to bring it back and we must hasten the process.”
This online Bible is expensive compared to others because Trump is charging $59.99 for it. It features the chorus of the song ‘God Bless The USA’ by artist Lee Greenwood, a copy of the Constitution, and the word of American independence.
The Associated Press news agency explained that Trump may have entered into this business to help him recover from the losses caused by numerous lawsuits he has recently faced.
The New York Court of Appeals recently ordered Trump to pay a fine of $175 million within 10 days for providing false information about his assets, failing which he would have to pay $454 million.
In another lawsuit where writer Elizabeth Jean Caroll accused him of defamation, Trump agreed to post a bail of $92 million to avoid jail.
