Tag: MainSlideNews

{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’’.
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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.

{{The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has urged all eligible voters to verify their personal details on the national voter’s register before Monday, July deadline.
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Charles Munyaneza the NEC Executive Secretary on Saturday said that the electoral body will publish the final list of voters on July 19.

“We want the voters to check if their personal if they will be voting, over 6.8 million voters have been registered we expect the number to increase with some voters are also registering.” Munyaneza said.

“Our staffers are busy taking calls, and assisting people to in this exercise” Munyaneza added “We expect the number to increase before the dead line date.”

{Business in Gisagara came to a standstill on Saturday as residents lined up, eagerly waiting for President Paul Kagame the candidate of FPR-Inkontanyi.
Residents who turned up huge numbers came from as far as Ruhango, Nyanza, Nyaruguru, and Gisagara to welcome their candidate who was campaigning on Day two of the Presidential campaign.}

The eight parties which are backing FPF-Inkontanyi also were present during his campaign these included: PSD, PL, PDC, PDI, UDPR, PSL, PPC, PSP,
In his interview with IGIHE, Jean Ngabitsinze Chrysostome the Secretary General of PSD said that they are happy to partner with the other parties in supporting President Kagame during the election campaigning period.

“The campaign is going on very well as planned, the residents are turning up in huge numbers the partnership with other political parties is a strong indication, we request that it will continue in the future,” Ngabitsinze said

“We thank FPR-Inkontanyi for accepting to partner with the other parties, you can observe that we from the other parties are being welcomed and given the platform to show our support during the campaigns. It is very good because they believe that partnership is good, we thank them for that”

PSD further said that they ready to continue supporting FPR-Inkontanyi Presidential candidate all the way through the campaign period and in places that he will be going.
In Rwanda there eleven political parties only two; Democratize Green Party and PS imberakuri are the others which are not supporting FPR-Inkontanyi during the Kagame’s Presidential campaigns.

Some of the PSD party members who were present during the campaigning of President Kagame in Gigasara is PSD President Vincent Biruta.

{Ten of thousands of enthusiastic supporters for the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), turned-up in Ruhango and Nyanza districts, to mark the start of the party’s election campaign for the August 4, Presidential elections. }

Dressed in the party’s branded T-Shirts, caps and scurf’s, the ecstatic supporters danced and sang as they waved the party’s flags and posters with “Tora Kagame-Vote Kagame”, all the way from Kigali towards Ruhango district.

Before RFF-Inkontanyi candidate arrived at the campaign venue in Ruhango town, the supporters had already gathered at the campaign venue at Kibingo Stadium in the morning to welcome their candidate before proceeding to Nyanza district.

President Kagame was campaigning against Frank Habineza flag bearer for Democratic Green Party of Rwanda who was in Rusizi Western Province and Phillippe Mpayimana who also in Nyamata town, Bugesera District in Eastern Province.

While in Ruhango his place of birth, President Kagame thanked the supporters, as well as the other eight political parties that supported in developing the nation and also thanked his party for the trust given to him to be the party candidate.

“FPR united the country; Rwanda will continue to exercise their rights to choose their leaders, the choice to choose the leader was made by the people during the referendum. Those who want to criticize what is none of their business are free to waste their time. We use our time to build our country”

“We have won many battles but we do not boast. We win with humility, respect & tolerance for others who may think differently.” RFP-Inkontanyi political party candidate noted before proceeding to Nyanza District where he was expected to hold his second election campaign.

During the referendum held on the 18th December 2015 at the majority votes of 98.3%, Rwandans made a choice to change the constitution that would allow President Paul Kagame to run for these 2017 Presidential elections.

Paul Kagame emerged as an internationally renowned figure during his leadership of the military resistance that cut short the Rwandan genocide in July 1994.
Kagame’s next stop was Nyanza District where he addressed supporters during his second rally later on the same day.

Meanwhile, in Rusizi, opposition candidate Dr. Habinenza was welcomed by projected number of two hundred residents in the Western Province whereas Mpayimana addressed small groups of people in Nyamata, Gashora, Ruhuha, and Busoro in Bugesera district.

{President Kagame has said that Rwanda has enough capability to ensure its security from any menace, regardless of the magnitude.}

The head of state emphasized that the country is building its capacity, thus there is no anyone who can penetrate it, and who ever can try will encounter untold wrath.

The President said this on 13 July2017, while closing Itorero Indangamirwa on its 10th intake.

It started on 12 June 2017, with 523 youths; among these boys were 375, whereas girls were 148.

Participants learnt different lessons including military drills, whereby some of them concluded vowing to join the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF).
The Chairman of the Itorero, Boniface Rucagu said that 107 came from 17 countries include 229 in Rwanda who have successfully passed national examination, and 187 had earlier on passed through other intakes.

The Head of State told the youth that Rwanda has enough capability, which enables it to be impenetrable.

He said, “apparently the state of our country we have a lot to apply, in order to achieve our objective. We have resources, we have the will, and we have the history which taught us a lesson. Isn’t it? There isn’t any way the history we encountered, which were not good can be a waste to us.”

“We build on that history, and use it thereby rendering us capability. The capability we have now you are in the process of knowing it, as well as increasing it, but we have it”

“The capability is available there isn’t any enemy who can penetrate us it is impossible if anyone happens to drag us into problems he can experience our wrath.”

He said that the hullaballoo you hear of verbal wars, we don’t know how to fight it.
The other guys are verbal, if it is helpful to them we will be seeing, however, we are interested in rebuilding ourselves, constructing our country without provoking anyone, we never import any intrigues to anyone, we don’t inconvenience any one.”