Igihe

Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • City Council Cuts Construction Permit Fees

    Kigali City Council has cut down fees required to acquire construction authorisation commonly known as (Autorisation de Batir).

    The city council has also reduced the fees for acquiring plot deed Plan document (Fiche Cadstrale) and reduced fines previously imposed on parking fees defaulters.

    The City authority has also banned the employment of children below 18years of legal age. The City Authority has reduced by 30% on fees previously imposed on construction permits as agreed upon during the city council meeting held 29 April 2012.

    The City Council meeting also reduced fees imposed on Deed Plan (Fiche Cadastrale) from Frw 60,000 to Frw40,000. In addition, construction permit fees were dropped from Frw200 to Frw 140 per square meter.

    The City Council meeting also agreed that a Fine accruing from late payment of parking fees has been reduced from Frw50000 to 10000 per person after every 24hours of failure to pay the fine.

    The City Council has issued directives against the employment of minors (below 18years of legal age) in jobs including housemaids.

  • Ghanian Novelist to Lead Creative Writing Worshop in Kigali

    An acclaimed Ghanian novelist and poet Nii Ayikwei Parkes will be in Rwanda this weekend and lead a creative writing workshop. The session will be interactive and provide a chance for developing and sharing your own writing.

    This is a unique opportunity for writers and aspiring writers in Kigali to get inspiration and advice from one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary African literature. Parkes’ novel Tail of the Blue Bird (Random House) was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize.

    A 2007 recipient of Ghana’s national ACRAG award for poetry and literary advocacy, he has held visiting positions at the University of Southampton and California State University and delivered lectures and talks on poetry and creative writing at universities internationally.

    As a poet he has published several pamphlets and his latest books of poetry are the Michael Marks Award-shortlisted Ballast: a remix (2009), described in the Guardian as, “An astonishing, powerful remix of history and language” and The Makings of You (Peepal Tree Press).

  • Two Seriously Injured in KIMIHURURA Accident

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    The driver of a Motorcycle above and a passenger have been seriously injured today in an accident that occurred near La Colombière Bus stop at KIMICANGA at Kimihurura in Gasabo district. The accident involved a pickup truck and a motorcycle.

    The Motorcycle registration (RB 618 L) was heading towards Kimironko from the city center. The motorcyclist was knocked down by Hilux truck (Registration No. IT 632 RC) while attempting to make a turn back to the city.

    The truck was speeding towards the city center from Kimihurura.

    Eye witnesses say the pickup truck tried to break nearly 12meters away but failed and incidentally knocked down the motorcycle which had made a sudden turn into a lane back to Kigali without caution.

    The motorcycle was knocked and sent into the air leaving the passenger in the middle of the road and the motorcyclist fell over the road on the pedestrian path.

    The Driver of the pickup truck was not hurt. The injured were rushed to CHK Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

    IGIHE captured the accident scene and also went to the Hospital to check on the injured.
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  • North Kivu Governor Dismisses Control by Insurgents

    The governor of North Kivu, Julien Paluku has dismissed reports that the insurgents have taken control of several towns in the province.
    Governor Paluku told local radio Okapi that the military does not deal with unruly villages.

    “They were deployed as FARDC units. And when, at some point, they consider themselves as belonging to any one group, we cannot say that they took these places. That’s the truth that I need to restore, “said Paluku.

    Witnesses claimed to have seen Monday a large influx of people from Mushaki Karuba, Ruvunda, Matanda, Kingi, Kibati and Rubaya. The displaced people continue to arrive in Sake, Mugunga and Goma.

    Some reportedly crossed the border into Rwanda seeking refuge. The provincial government met on Monday, in an extraordinary council to address the current situation in the territories of Masisi and Walikale.

    The Local Population has been urged to remain calm “because the situation remains under control of the government troops,” said his spokeswoman, Adele Bazizane.

    A crisis committee has been established to urgently develop a contingency plan, she said. This same situation is experienced in Walikale where men of Cheka took control of the localities of Luvungi, and Mpofi Kibua.

    The humanitarian community, meanwhile, said they have begun discussions with provincial authorities to establish measures for meeting the needs of displaced populations.

    The humanitarian concern follows the fighting between the regular army deserters loyal to General Bosco Ntaganda and FARDC. Hundreds of families in the chiefdom in the Masisi Bahunde have left their villages.

  • Rwandan Students Graduate at Oklahoma University

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    The Education minister Dr. Vincent Biruta on 27 April 2012, attended a Graduation Ceremony held at Oklahoma Christian University.
    In attendance were Rwanda’s Ambassador to US James Kimonyo and hundreds of Rwandans living in USA.

    The Commencement ceremony that took place Friday morning had 11 Rwandan Students graduating in areas of Science and Engineering with one graduating with Masters in Engineering.

    The 11 Students make up the third group of Rwandan Presidential Scholars (RPS) graduating from Oklahoma Christian since the inception of the program in 2006.

    The Graduation ceremony was followed by a meeting of the OC Rwandan Students with the Ambassador and Minister of Education.

    During the meeting, Rwandan students presented some of the innovative projects they had initiated to help develop Rwanda and themselves.

    Yves Iradukunda (Junior at OC, and ELERwanda CEO) presented ELERwanda, a platform for Entrepreneurial Innovation by Rwandan students connecting them to investors.

    “We are organizing a business Competition and a summit this June that will connect Innovative Rwandan Students from all over the USA to investors and advocates”, Iradukunda said.

    Seven other students presented other innovative projects that they had initiated or were involved in. These included Rwandans4Water, NationalExaminations.com, Isaro Foundation to mention but a few.

    Dr. Biruta commended the Students for working on side projects to help develop Rwanda while studying, “the ministry of Education recently started a Rwanda Innovation Endowment Fund specifically for the purpose of funding innovative projects”.

    There was a blessing ceremony for the Graduating Students which was also attended by the Oklahoma Christian University Administration.

    Pie Masomo, one of the Graduating students speaking on behalf of the Graduands said he was at a loss for words to describe how thankful he was for the support and guidance the Community had provided to them.

    “To the host families, I thank you for having taken care of us as your own”, Pie added. John De Steiguer, President at OC made the concluding remarks during the ceremony and said a prayer for the Graduating Students.

    Currently close to 60 Students are pursuing degrees in various courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. (STEM)This graduation ceremony is the first of many, this year that are taking place as Rwandan Presidential Scholars graduate in many universities across the USA.

  • Rwanda GDP to Grow Above 8.6%–Central Bank

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    Ambassador Claver Gatete the Governor of Central Bank of Rwanda last Friday disclosed that Rwanda’s Gross Domestic product is expected to rise above 8.6% compared to 7.2% of the previous year.

    The central bank governor noted that the economy is expected to grow faster in 2012 compared to 2011 subject to reforms in key agricultural and industrial sectors. These adjustments propelled the Economy’s expansion in 2011.

    Amb. Gatete said, “We are more likely to exceed 8.6% growth of our GDP. We are seeing reforms on the industry side, in addition to the key reforms in the agricultural sector. The signs are good, by any means.”

    Rwanda was least shaken by inflation than Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania where double digit inflation and weak currencies prompted authorities to increase interest rates to around 20 % in some cases.

    Inflation in Rwanda was steady at close to 8%, the lowest in the region, helped in part by the reduction in fuel taxes and good harvest.

    “Last year, our initial target was 7%, but by the end of the year, it was 8.6%. So this year we also hope it is going to be much better. And, even what we see in the first quarter then we are almost more optimistic.”

    Amb. Gatete indicated that the economic growth figures for the first quarter would be released at the beginning of August.

    In March, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Rwanda’s economy could expand by 7.5 to 8% in the next two years. The IMF however, warned of the risks of a revenue shortfall.

  • 9 Arrested Over Subversion

    Rwanda National Police is holding 6 men and 3 women for convening an illegal meeting protesting against a court ruling last week which rejected the founder of PS-Imberakuri party appeal and maintained a four year jail sentence and a fine of Frw100, 000.

    The group was arrested at Bernard Ntaganda mother’s house located at Nyakabanda sector, Nyarugenge district.

    The group claimed to belong to PS-Imberakuri, Ntaganda’s faction which is illegal.

    The protestors are detained at the Nyamirambo Police station pending investigations to establish everyone’s role in the charges.

    According to Police sources, the group had been warned by Ntaganda’s mother not to return to her house after they had convened at her house a fortnight ago.

    However, they returned on Sunday under the pretence of comforting her over her son’s upheld sentence and staged demonstrations.

    Police Spokesman Supt. Theos Badege revealed that upon a tip off about the activity, Police officers were dispatched to the scene where they found that the group possessed among others inflammatory messages that incited divisionism and rebellion against government.

    “People should understand that illegal political activities, incitement, divisionism and rebelling against government are considered crimes and hence punishable by Rwanda’s penal code,” Badege said.

  • Rwandan Students in Polland Honour Genocide Victims

    Rwandan students in Poland in collaboration with the University of Lodz have showcased a commemorative film and held discussions aimed at highlighting the facts about the 1994 genocide against ethnic Tutsi in Rwanda in which a million lives were lost.

    The commemorative event was held on 26 April 2012 at Lodz (School of Polish Language, University of Lodz) for the 18th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

    During the discussions hinted on the history of Rwanda including the colonialism period and the how genocide was planned and executed in 1994, the after effects and the current level of reconstruction progress.

    Details were explained through films, commemorative songs and photography with the help of lecturers and other students hailing from East Africa and friends of Rwanda.

    An opportunity for questions from people in attendance was provided and all questions were answered by Rwandan students moderating the discussions.

    At the end of the commemoration event, People were more informed than before about Rwanda’s history and current reconstruction progress in Rwanda.

  • President Kikwete to Reshuffle Cabinet

    Tanzania Leader Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is expected to announce changes in his cabinet. The move has been endorsed by the Central Committee of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

    However, Local political analysts in Tanzania allege that the reshuffle is a result of pressure mounted by the opposition parties in the country.

    Members of the public have praised the upcoming reshuffle, saying it was long overdue, but cautioned that Tanzanians are tired of seeing a reshuffle where deputy ministers who had been part of the rotten system being promoted to ministerial positions.

    The CCM Ideology and Publicity Secretary, Nape Nnauye told local media that the committee chaired by President Kikwete himself endorsed the decision during an emergency meeting in Dar es Salaam.

    “The Central Committee deliberated on among other things, the reshuffle of the cabinet,” he said, clarifying that Members of Parliament from the opposition parties should not think that they were the force behind the move. “The process was already underway since the Controller and Auditor General tabled the reports in Dodoma,” said Nnauye.

    He said the CC respected the right and responsibility of Members of Parliament to discuss the execution of duties and responsibilities of their government.

    “The committee applauded government efforts to ensure that the reports of the CAG were discussed openly by the parliamentarians,” said Nnauye.

    He said the officers involved in the misdeeds revealed in the reports by the CAG will be held accountable.

    Nnauye said President Kikwete received resolutions from the CCM MPs’ caucus and the House Leadership committee on what transpired in Dodoma’s seventh parliamentary meeting.

    “The Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda handed over the report to the president immediately after the commemoration of 48 years of the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar,” said Nnauye.

    He said the CC discussed the reports that were tabled and also received the President’s briefing on the planned cabinet reshuffle and action against other government and public who were implicated in the CAG reports.

    The reshuffle announcement comes as activists called on the president to take action against cabinet ministers and government officials named in the reports of the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).

    Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Executive Director, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba said Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda should also resign since legislators have already notified the Speaker of intentions to move a motion of no confidence in him.

    “Section 8 of the country’s constitution permits citizens to obligate the government. We appeal to wananchi in their capacities to push the government to act on the MPs’ recommendations because they are the ones responsible to ensure that national resources are equally enjoyed,” she noted.

    During the seventh session of the Parliament, Members of Parliament led by Kigoma North legislator Zitto Kabwe spearheaded a move to seek resignation of the Minister for Finance, Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Minister for Trade and Industries and his deputy.

    Others in the list were Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government); Minister for Health and Social Welfare; Minister for Transport and Minister for Energy and Minerals.

  • Arrest Genocide Suspects Hiding in the Region–EAC Sec. Gen

    The East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Dr. Richard Sezibera has called upon EAC member countries to arrest 1994 Rwandan genocide suspects still roaming in their territories and bring them to justice.

    “I call upon member states to stop this traverse and bring the suspects to justice,’’ he said, stressing that genocide was a crime against humanity, which needed to be fought by all humankind.

    Felicien Kabuga a Rwandan tycoon is on a most wanted list of Genocide suspects. He is believed to be hiding in Kenya in one of the posh suburbs in Nairobi city. Several other genocide fugitives are loitering around member states.

    Dr. Sezibera said this in Arusha recently, when addressing about 1,000 people attending the 18th Rwandan genocide anniversary against the Tutsi at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).

    He noted that Rwanda had almost ceased to exist as a nation in 1994 and paid special tribute to its neighbouring countries that showed solidarity during that difficult time.

    The EAC chief requested Africa and the world at large to now focus on the survivors, who apart from being traumatised by the aftermath of genocide, needed help to cope with their bad memories.

    Dr Sezibera also pleaded with the UN to accept Rwanda to host the archive of case proceedings and documentation emanating from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) now winding up its business.

    The UN has already set an International Residual Mechanism (IRM), which is charged with hosting the remaining work of the two tribunals, ICTR and that of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

    Speaking on the same occasion, ICTR Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow appealed to countries in the Great Lake Region to arrest genocide fugitives, who still found safe heavens in their countries.

    “I urge all states in the Great Lake Region to live up to their legal obligations by arresting and handing over genocide fugitives to Rwanda for prosecution,’’ he said.

    The Arusha City Acting Mayor Matthysen Paul said: “I call upon the EAC and the African Union to strongly say, never again to genocide.’’

    The occasion, which was organised by the Rwandan Diaspora in Arusha, was preceded by a prayer service conducted by various religious leaders including Christians and Muslims.