Tag: MainSlideNews

{The National Police has issued a tough warning of severe consequences to whoever will be caught in such acts that involve vandalizing electric pylons and those selling them as scarp metals.
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The warning follows a case in Gatsibo District where three suspects are being held at Kabarore Police station in connection with vandalizing public infrastructure.

The three suspects are identified as, Jean Pierre Nsengiyumva, Evariste Hakiza and Laetitia arrested for vandalizing five electric pylons weighing over 500kgs that had been rolled out by NPD Ltd.

Of the three, Nsengiyumva and Hakiza were said to be the main culprits who could dismantle the pylons and sell into pieces to Urimubandi who deals in scrap metal business.

According to a report from police, the trio was arrested following complaints filed by NPD in regards to the disappearing pylons.

“Preliminary investigations led us to the two men who had vendalised five pylons. We arrested them along with the buyer Urimubandi,” said the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson Inspect of Police Jean Bosco Dusabe.

NPD has since valued the five pylons at Rwf 52 million but Nsengiyumva and Hakiza were selling a kilo at Rwf300 meaning they had sold the five pylons weight 500kg at just Rwf150,000.

Upon arrest, the two men admitted to have vendalised the pylons and said they had been sent by Urimubandi.

“Also, during the operation, we impounded FUSO RAA 962Y that we found carrying pieces of the dismantled pylons,” said the spokesperson who added that investigations are still going on to identify if no other public infrastructures have been damaged and also process the their files for prosecution.

IP Dusabe also issued a tough warning against vandalising public infrastructure and also hailed employees of NPD who hurriedly reported the case.
Such acts, he said, are punishable under article 406 of the penal code on “demolishing or damaging another person’s buildings.”

“These infrastructures are meant to improve the welfare and development of the people as well as facilitate doing business, so it should be guarded jealously by everyone. When one starts digging up electric pylons, then that person is endangering lives of thousands,” he said.

Police also warned of severe consequences to whoever will be caught in such acts, which, IP Dusabe said, affect the country’s development programmes and at times lead to loss of lives as some people are electrocuted while stealing the pylons.

Emmanuel Ruzindana , the head of security at NPD in the Eastern region said they pylons were being stolen at night and it was hard to identify how they were disappearing and that’s when they involved the police.

Officials from Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL), Gatsibo branch, said such illegal activities cost the government a lot of monies while serving the public becomes harder when infrastructures are vandalized.

The last case of ravaging public infrastructure was heard in April last year in Huye District where police arrested three men in connection with stealing underground electric cables connecting Huye mineral water plant in Ngoma Sector.

{Rwanda and Congo Brazzaville have agreed to exchange criminal suspects and convicts.}

The agreement between the two countries was signed in November 9th 2013, but the laws governing the process stipulate that the exchange must first be approved by the parliaments from both counties. Rwandan parliament approved the agreement.
Rwandan Chief Prosecutor, Jean Bosco Mutangana, said that approving the agreement is fundamental, which is a precursor to legal collaboration, most especially in countering criminals.

“Within the last ten years, we sent requests to Congo to extradite 15 suspects. We are optimistic that this agreement will speed up the process.” He added that the requested extraditions are suspects of having had a role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs in the Ministry of Justice Evode Uwizeyimana, said the treaty will expedite extraditing Genocide suspects who are in Congo Brazzaville.

According to Ministry of Disaster Management and Refuge Affairs, there are over 10,000 Rwandans in Congo.

Congo arrested two genocide suspects who are; Jean-Baptiste Gatete the former Bourgmestre of former Byumba and Ildephonse Hategekimana, the former soldier in the Ex-FAR. They were subsequently given a life sentence.

{Djibouti Government has allocated more hectares of land to Rwanda, expanding from the 20ha allocated in 2013 to the current 60ha near the Autonomous Port of Djibouti and the Dubai World International Port.
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According to the Minister of Trade, Industry and East African Affairs, Francois Kanimba Rwanda was invited to establish facilities in Djibouti’s 4,800 hectares of the new free economic zone.

Mr. Kanimba said Rwanda was still exploring investment plans to put the land to use.
The development follows President Kagame’s visit to Djibouti following a two-day state visit of his counterpart, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh to Rwanda in March 2016.

Rwanda offered ten hectares in Kigali Special Economic Zone to Djibouti.

On his recent visit to Djibouti, President Kagame and his counterpart signed a number of bilateral agreements mainly in the area of trade and investment between the two countries including; air services, visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders, reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, the establishment of a joint commission and a protocol agreement on cooperation in ICT.

{Although the date for President Kagame’ s Oath is not yet officially established, the Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou has confirmed his attendance for the swearing in Ceremony of Presidential Elect- Paul Kagame. }

National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced the final results at 98% of the electoral vote. Since the announcement, different leaders have written to President Kagame, congratulating him on his re-election.

Through his twitter handle, towards the end of this week, Niger’s President Issoufou congratulated him for the victory, confirming his presence during the presidential Oath.

He said, “As well I am happy about Brother Paul Kagame’s good victory, thereby confirming my presence during his next Oath.”

President Kagame thanked Issouffou, and welcomed him, saying “Thank you Brother Issoufou Mahamadou. You are welcome to Kigali.”

A 66-year-old Issoufou last visited Rwanda in May for the Transform Africa Summit.
Rwanda’s constitution stipulates that the President elect must be sworn not later than 30 days after his election, and the oath must be administered by the President of the Supreme Court.

When President Kagame was taking an oath of office in 2010, over 10 Heads of State attended including; Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Joseph Kabila of DR Congo, the former President of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore, Ali Ben Gabon Francois Bozize, the former president of Central Africa, Thomas YayiBoni Benin, Good Luck Jonathan, the former president of Nigeria, the former president of Kenya Mwai Kibaki, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, the late Bingu wa Mutharika Malawi, Late Rupiah Banda Zambia, IdrissDeby of Chad and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia the late MelesZenawi and Ellen –Sirleaf of Sierra Leone.

{The President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi is expected in Kigali as part on a two day working visit to Rwanda according to the country’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Namira Negm.}

While in Rwanda, Al Sissi will meet with Rwandan President Paul Kagame for bilateral talks, before continuing his journey to other African countries, including Tanzania, Gabon, and Chad. As per the announcement aired on Nile Television, Sissi’s visit is intended to enhance Egypt’s stature in black inhabited Africa, politically, economically and other interests which are beneficial to those countries.

President Sissi first visited Rwanda during the 27th African Union General Assembly which convened in Kigali in July 2016.

During his visit, Sissi explained to President Kagame about the urgency of his country’s wish to cement sustainable cooperation with African countries, which is hinged onto respect and free from interfering within other countries internal affairs.

President Sissi will be the first President to be hosted by President Kagame after re-election during the recently concluded Presidential elections.

Between 13-14 March 2015, President Sissi invited President Paul Kagame for Egypt’s Economic Development Forum that was attended by over 3000 international investors.
In March 2015, the government signed an agreement Metito company to develop bulk water supply plant to serve the country’s potable water requirements with over 40,000cubic meters of water daily which will solve water scarcity problems in Kigali City and Bugesera.

{Ugandan Head of State Yoweri Museveni has congratulated President Paul Kagame after his re-election in a special message dated on August 8th.}

Museveni expressed his delight and that of his country, that Kagame who he enjoys a cordial relationship with had been re-elected to a third term in office.

“It gives me a great pleasure on this occasion of your victory to extend to you, on my own behalf our very warm congratulations on your re-election as President of the Republic of Rwanda. I had already congratulated you by phone on the 6th August 2017.”

Museveni wrote in an official letter that; “Excellence, your re-election for a third term and landslide victory reflects the voice and will of the people of Rwanda. It is a clear testimony of the trust, confidence and hope they have in you and your leadership.

“By you winning 99% of the votes counted, the people of Rwanda have spoken! I also congratulate them on their active participation in the electoral process and the peaceful conclusion of the elections.”

Museveni further thanked his counterpart for the hard work done in the last two decades to rebuild Rwanda into a stable nation and how it has continued to register strong economic growth and development.

{President Paul Kagame yesterday laid a foundation stone at Rilima in Bugesera District to officially flag off construction works for Bugesera International Airport.
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In a groundbreaking ceremony that gathered officials from the government and stakeholders in the aviation sector, President Kagame reiterated the Rwandan Government’s commitment to see the Bugesera Airport completed and operational.

“We may not be big but we will always strive to be our best. Bugesera Airport is an important part of Rwanda’s strategy for socio-economic transformation. We see this facility as an essential component in boosting intra-African travel, investment and business,” President Kagame said.

In September 2016, the Government of Rwanda concluded negotiations for a Public Private Partnership transaction with Mota-Engil Africa and Aviation Travel & Logistics Holding Ltd to develop the Bugesera International Airport. The private partners will construct, own, and operate the airport under a 25-year concession agreement.

The Bugesera Airport project will be developed in five phases, the first of which kicked off yesterday. The latter is slated to take 27 months and cost an estimated US $ 400 Million.

“Rwandans to whom we are accountable are used to having high expectations and trust us to deliver. This will be no different. We look forward to celebrating the inauguration of the new airport in the not too distant future,” President Kagame vowed.

{Latest statistics released by Rwanda Revenue (RRA) indicates that the revenue collection for financial year 2016/17 has surpassed the target by Rwf 5.4 billion.
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In a statement released by the tax body on Wednesday August 9th, tax revenue collection for the financial year 2016/17 reported to be Rwf 1,086.8 billion was above the Rwf 1081.4 billion target; an impressive performance of 100.5%. The tax body revealed that tax revenue posted a growth of 10.2 per cent during this year, in comparison to 2015/16 performance of Rwf 986.7 billion hence making a nominal increase of Rwf 100.2 billion.

The Commissioner General at Rwanda Revenue Authority RRA Richard Tusabe has said that this implies the level of tax payer appreciation of the importance of paying taxes and compliance have been achieved through education and sensitization because of the reforms particularly the automation of processes to bring efficiency in tax administration in FY 2016/17.

“We introduced; Unified Declarations for PAYE and Social Security, Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System and VAT Verification Control System, which have decreased leakages in VAT collections and eased refund process,” RRA Commissioner revealed
RRA revenue collection to budget increased from 55.36% in FY 2015/16 to 56.44% in FY 2016/17.

However, the tax authority cited a low target performance in local Government taxes.
Economic indicators in this financial year 2016/17 show the economy recorded a slow performance in first three-quarter, where real GDP grew by 5.4%, 2.4% and 1.7% for Q1, Q2, and Q3 respectively. Inflation rose to 6.8%.

With three months into the fiscal year, the slow economic performance is attributed to poor agricultural production due to bad weather. Food scarcities accounted for inflationary pressures with price indices for food and non-alcoholic beverages reaching a record 18.6%.

RRA Commissioner General expressed gratitude to the tax paying community in Rwanda for honoring their tax obligations.