Tag: MainSlideNews

The RPF-Inkontanyi candidate President Paul Kagame continued his Presidential campaign trail to Gahanga-Kicukiro from Bugesera districts this yesterday, where called on his supporters to turn up in huge numbers on the election day.

Kagame who was addressing supporters at Gahanga, Kicukiro where the Stade Olympic is to be constructed advised every one to exercise their constitutional right by turning up to vote as Rwanda belongs to all Rwandans. . “We don’t ask a Rwandan his religious denomination in order to involve him or her in national development programs. Rwanda is for all Rwandans,” he said. foster development to him, the difference personifies Rwanda comprises of many things, including where we started from, which became notorious for reasons which are not good.

Before Gahanga, Kicukiro, the President made a stopover at Nyabugogo in the morning before heading to Bugesera Eastern Province where thousands were waiting for him.

While in Bugesera, Kagame said that today, every Rwandan has the right to exist in a humane way.

“What has been so far achieved, is an example of what is achievable. I wholeheartedly thank you very much. We need to work together even more to develop our country”

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) are launching smallholder farmer financing programs with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to improve food security among vulnerable people in Rwanda and Tanzania.

The initiatives with KCB Bank Rwanda Limited and CRDB Bank PLC in Tanzania are part of the Farm to Market Alliance, a multi-stakeholder platform established in 2016, of which IFC and WFP are global members, to create agriculture value chains that secure sizeable local and international demand for produce from smallholder farmers. The Alliance is designed to create systemic change in markets through a holistic approach to smallholder development. This approach, which is sustainable and commercially viable, benefits individual farmers and broadens the global supply base of agricultural produce to meet increasing demand.

“Smallholder farmers produce most of the world’s food, but they form the majority of people living in poverty and often have food security challenges themselves,” said David Beasley, WFP Executive Director. “We want to help them get better access to markets so they build more demand for their products, thus making a long-term impact on the economic future for them and their families. But WFP can’t do it alone, and that’s why we are grateful for our collaboration with others through the Farm to Market Alliance.”

“Agribusiness drives many African economies and creates the most jobs on the continent,” said IFC CEO Philippe Le Houérou. “Through the Farm to Market Alliance, IFC is creating new markets—by connecting smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa directly with buyers. The result: improved productivity and higher living standards for people in rural areas.”

IFC, joined by GAFSP, will provide advisory services in the form of capacity building activities to improve the professionalism of smallholder farmer cooperatives in the area of financial management and governance as well as agronomy and input use training.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice has today assured the inmates without complete dossiers that the problem is going to be addressed in a special way.

The minister made the promise in Huye yesterday during the commemoration of international day for rights of the inmates under the Mandela Day.

Celebrated in Rwanda for the first time, it was marked under the theme; “Respecting the rights of an inmate,”. Mandela Day, celebrated on July 18, is an annual international day adopted by the United Nations.

Commenting on the issue, one of the inmates who represented others within Huye prison told Minister Busingye that there are many inmates with incomplete files. He said that those who have ever been detained at the former communes requested that there should be urgent investigations , so as to indicate the dates as to when they were detained, so that those who have served their time can be set free.

Busingye promised to address the issue squarely. “Everybody will be having a complete file; if there happens to be those kept here, others at CNLG, Gasabo or at the commune; we are going to collect all of them together.” Busingye promised.

The Ministry of Youth and ICT has announced that about 3000 participants are attending the YouthConnect Africa 2017 Summit that has kicked off today 19th, ending 21st under the auspices of the Government of Rwanda in conjunction with UNDP and UNCTAD.

In an interview with IGIHE, Emmanuel Habumuremyi the advisor to the Minister of Youth and ICT said that this is an important opportunity for small entrepreneurs to exchange ideas.

“Normally Youth Connect is organized in anticipation of hosting 2000, but now the number has increased, we have reached to 3000” Habumuremyi pointed out.

A number of key issues will be discussed with investors and guests like Jack Ma, the CEO Alibaba Group, CEO Pang Xinxing, Akon, Tony OnyemaechiElumeru, the proprietor of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa and Transcop; Kamran Elahiam the CEO of Global Catalyst and others.

After elaborating on the diverse politics that Rwanda is using to extend good governance to its people, UNDP Country Representatives, have said that the country has achieved commendably for other countries to emulate.

Yesterday, the UNDP representatives held discussions with leaders in Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and earmarked the importance of programs that are helpful in reaching locals including the VUP, Ubudehe, Girinka and others that have improved livelihoods.

Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, UNPD undersecretary for African affairs noted that Rwanda attributes its good governance to its respective structural formation.

He said that where Rwanda is now is quite commendable and should be emulated by other countries while the youths should write books about the achievements.

“I hope that youths will write books about President Kagame. Not only in Africa but also other countries should know that the Land of a Tousand Hills has an exceptional political approaches that can be learnt about.”

RGB Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Shyaka Anastase, said the UNDP leaders wanted to the structural formation of the politics that define good governance in the country.

“They wanted to know about our governance mostly how we coordinate our work. In the reports they have been receiving, they appreciated how we work with media, build capacities in NGOs and other activities we engage in to promote good governance and specifically our exceptional approaches.”

The UNDP leaders are in the country for a week and will visit different institutions including the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and attend meetings that occur in Rwanda, such as the ‘Youth Connect’.

Presidential campaigns took Centre stage on Tuesday with the governing Political Party RPF-Inkontanyi continuing to mobilize support ahead of the August 4th elections.

On Day 4 of the electoral campaigns, incumbent President Paul Kagame was in Muhanga and Ngororero where he rallied support for his re-election bid in August polls as Democratic Green Party candidate Dr. Frank Habinenza was in Kirehe and Ngoma.
Speaking during his rallies in Ngororero district in Western Province, Kagame who was accompanied by the First Lady Jeannette Kagame and other RPF-Inkontanyi party officials said that the most important resource Rwanda has is the people and therefore important to invest in their well being; their health, their education and transforming their lives.

“The progress we have made is proof of what we are capable of, but it is not enough; we want to deliver even more. Rwandans know their destiny, we shall achieve a lot, and we shall reach far.”

The President reminded the supporters who branded his name on the walls and banners to strive together to achieve and reach far through hard working.

The Head of State was escorted by the Minister of Sports and Culture Julienne Uwacu who is also in charge of his campaigns countrywide.

Uwacu said that in the last 23 years, Ngorororero district has transformed through infrastructure development, adding that seeing electricity in all its 13 sectors was a dream but today it’s a reality.

From Nogorororero, the President’s next afternoon stop was in Muhanga district where the streets yet again featured the RPF-Inkontanyi’s red, blue and white colors.

In Muhanga, it was an exciting moment, as thousands of young and old cheered, danced, sung and waved to praise the incumbent President for as far as the eye could see. He first toured Muhanga Regional Stadium.

Meanwhile, Dr. Habineza has been asked to stick to electoral guidelines and regulation to avoid any interruption to his campaign. He on Monday joined supporters in a morale gathering at Cyasemakamba in Ngoma district after a rally in Kirehe.

While in Nyakarambi – Kigina sector in Kirehe district at Gahara sector football pitch his first campaign site, Habineza promised that he will ensure that each household has plenty of food through agricultural innovations.

On July 19, Habineza is expected in Rulindo and Nyabihu districts of Northern and Western Province respectively.

Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) has awarded members of “Intwaramihigo” who help in the process of instilling as well as sensitizing the population about service delivery through their program dubbed ‘‘Nk’uwikorera’’.

The top prize winners that were rewarded comprise of Immigration, National Police, Rwanda Development Board, as a result of the services they render for attracting investors, Ministry of local government, ministry of labor, the Ministry of youth and sports.

The others are; Rwanda Air, Rwanda Cooperative Agency, the Private Sector Federation, Rwanda Association for Muslims and Rwanda Association for Protestants.
Media houses too were given prizes for the unmistakable role they play within Nk’uwikorera program; these include RBA: TV1, Kigali Today, Kiss FM, Rwanda on line and others, as well as the Misses Rwanda 2016 Mutesi Jolly and Iradukunda Elsa of 2017.

The Chief Executive Secretary of RGB, Prof. Shyaka Anastase explained that Intwaramihigo are people with an important role in speeding up the smooth offering of quick service delivery.

He pointed out that they are characterized by efficiency at work, exemplary, security, immigration, RDB and others such as religious denominations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Private Sector and others, can innovate the culture of speeding up smooth service delivery.

He added that the second group includes those facilitating others like the Ministry of Local government, which helps others to work effectively.

In the last five years, the index for service delivery rose from 66.21% in 2011 to 72.93% six years later, which indicates that it has improved by 6.72% during the last five years.

RGB points out that after realizing the nature of the problem, it discovered that it was imperative to put in place special measures, so as to reach the desired index, as within EDPRS2 Rwanda set a target for the sector of service delivery to reach 85%.

In search of a solution to this problem, it required RGB to invite the Prime Minister on 30th March 2017, to Karongi District to launch a program whose purpose was to sensitize the population to offer services, as if they were working for themselves.

The program involves many people, whether groups, individuals, media, footballers, Misses of Rwanda too were inclusive in 2016 and 2017 and different leaders who were all dubbed Intwaramihigo.

Until to date the context of how the citizens view the governance and service delivery within their localities Citizen Report Card has continued to indicate that service delivery is still low among different department which is under 70%.

These include agriculture 48.4%, livestock 54.2%, infrastructure 58.6%, the role of citizens in the acts meant for them 58.9%, implementation of programs intended to boost their welfare 61.2%, justice 62.7%, and land 67.3%.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has said that the security situation in the ongoing presidential campaigns are in “generally calm” with no major incidents.
RNP was reacting to the security situation over the past one week of the campaigns. RNP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Theos Badege, said that although the force has put in place “extra caution” to ensure safety of people.

“Rwandans have continued to exhibit the highest spirit of vigilance and respect for the law while exercising their electoral rights either on campaign sites or communities.”

“So far, there was only one incident where a truck was involved in an accident in Gasaka Sector in Nyamagabe District, injuring two people,” ACP Badege said.
The victims were immediately rushed to Kigeme hospital for medical attention.

“We call upon motorists to abide by traffic rules and regulations especially during the ongoing presidential campaigns, where movements are very high, to prevent fatal accidents. Elections do not replace other laws,” ACP Badege said.

“We have witnessed numerous reckless and risky behaviors of some motorists in the past one week of campaigns. Some motorcyclists ride without helmets, and with passengers seated in unlawful and risky styles which can easily result into fatal accident,” he noted.

He also warned against over-speeding, over-loading and bad maneuvers, the other reckless behaviours he said are common.

“While exercising your electoral rights, you should do it in a way that doesn’t violate other laws or rights of others.”

Particularly, on vehicles transporting people, he emphasized that they should carry the required number as per the insurance, and ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy.

The spokesperson called for continued vigilance and exchange of information on anything that can affect the social wellbeing of the people in their communities, campaign sites and on roads.

For the fifth time since 2013, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) retires its military personnel in accordance with the RDF Special Statute.

During the 2017 retirement phase, a total of 817 service personnel including 369 career Officers and Other Ranks are set for retirement and 378 military personnel are concluding their service contracts with the RDF, while 70 others are being discharged on medical grounds.

A send-off ceremony to honour their service to the nation will take place at Senior Officers’ Mess at Kimihurura, on 17 July 2017.

The ceremony will be presided over by Hon. Gen James Kabarebe, the Minister of Defence.

Source : MINADEF

Democratic Green Party Candidate Dr. Frank Habinenza, has explained that he has mortgaged is house as collateral so as to access a loan to fund his presidential campaigns.

Dr. Habineza kicked-off his presidential campaign in Rusizi and Nyamasheke on the first and second days of the campaigns.

In an interview with Voice of America (VOA) early in the morning this Monday, Dr. Habineza cited the challenges faced by his political party stating that he is struggling with financial constraints during the campaign period.

“With the limited resources at our disposal, it is not easy; we will have to find the means from within ourselves through sacrifice, as a way of finding a solution. The little means that we have will be used to accomplish all our agenda and we’re optimistic that we shall complete the campaign successfully. “

He said that he has offered his house as collateral so that he can secure funds for the campaigns.

“I have surrendered my house, this implies that if I fail to pay back, then It will be taken, that is no any other option if you don’t risk. In this case, the risk we have taken is simpler than the ones we had taken before.” the Green Party flag bearer said.

However Dr. Habineza is confident he will win, he thanked the security agencies for the assistance they have offered him while campaigning.

He further called on party members to donate whatever they can so that they can contribute to the campaigns.

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) recently clarified that political parties can get money from their members for any purpose including preparing for elections.
Hitherto, the Dr. Habineza had said that the party will seek a bank loan so that it could meet the financial obligations.

Dr. Habinenza, however, did not reveal the cost of his house.