Igihe

Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • Diaspora Inspired by Rwanda

    Several members of Rwandan Diaspora who have returned home are inspired by the country’s progress and say Rwanda is at its best. They want to stay and help rebuild their country with skills acquired abroad.

    Others disagree and have remained static on their decision to reside in foreign countries instead.

    Adopted at the age of six by a Belgian who was residing in Rwanda before the genocide, 26 year old Rwandan born Anita Durand told IGIHE.com she prefers to live abroad than in Rwanda.

    Durand is a Public Relations professional, this year she visited to experience Rwanda.

    Durand has spent three months in Rwanda working in collaboration with a fashion designer in Belgium who is hoping to promote her work in different parts of Africa, “the Fashion business could be a great boost in Rwanda’s economy but it hasn’t yet been exploited. This makes it harder for me to do my job to my full potential.”

    Her challenges while in Rwanda include the high cost of transport and other living expenses, “I find it hard for me to live in Rwanda on the budget I am given”. She explains that living in Belgium pays more in her profession. Transportation costs take up a bare minimum compared to Rwanda’s 60% of her salary goes to transportation.

    Durand has been living with a friend in Rwanda after realising that if she had stayed alone it would be very expensive- three times higher.

    ”I hope you understand why it’s hard for me choosing to stay in Rwanda”. Durand leaves Rwanda next week “I believe that I will be back, this is my home, just only when I have a full package that could support me.”

    Joanna Bridges, 31 is married and a mother of one. She came to Rwanda from the United States after her daughter turned one, “I wouldn’t understand anyone who would want to leave Rwanda after they came, I haven’t been here longer but I am certain I want to stay.”

    Bridges and her husband have invested in real estate business have decided that they will buy land in the district of Muhazi near the presidential residence, near the lake, where they will spend their vacations when visiting Rwanda until the time they retire.

    “Right now we are transitioning from our present professions, but when that is done life here will be so much simpler”.

    Bridges say’s the reason they are so eager to return is because during their short visit, they have witnessed the incredible opportunities Rwanda is offering, “The time is now, I believe that my family could make ourselves wealthy and live a life that would have taken us years to achieve in the US.”

    Apart from the job opportunities, the financial benefits or downfalls, and the country’s economic growth that is inspiring millions to invest in Rwanda, there are also issues about the social and cultural changes that have occurred in Rwanda and the Diaspora have had their say about this too.

    Brian Gatete, is a youth of the Diaspora recently visiting from England to see his family as well as conduct a survey for his future projects.

    After five years of life in Europe, he feels that Rwanda still lacks in the development of the social life line. “We are focused on the economic growth and yet many of the enterprises that would increase income are being taken as small business projects”.

    Gatete wants to return to Rwanda to open up the first major fast food chain similar to McDonalds, he say that those which have already opened are really small, far for some and never really open 24 hours like they claim. Food is on high demand in Rwandan.

    I have meet so many people who tell me the one reason they can’t live in Rwanda long is the lack of variety of food choices and some really have adapted to being able to find food at any time of the hour no matter where you are.

    Gatete showed us a graph and economic analysis on People of all ages around the world who are eating different foods as well as at alarming hours, “there is a greater demand for vegetarian meals across the globe, the demands of certain food stuffs have actually increased economic welfare in some of the developing countries that grow these ingredients”.

    Gatete believes that by opening various branches of a food store that will not only be famous with Rwanda tastes, but also Foreigners’ who are definitely the biggest consumers.

    Linda Kayitesi 23a Rwandan is a student in the US, her parents live in Rwanda. She relocated to US at the age of ten. Kayitesi is like all the other youths that reside in Rwanda, with the need to express themselves through fashion and music.

    Kayitesi while in Rwanda had decided to take a tour around town when she was briefly assaulted by the public; Kayitesi described to us what she was wearing that day.

    She had her Afro hair spread out, Sunglasses on, earphones plugged into her ears and visible tattoo’s on her arms. She wore a Vest and shorts. Suddenly she was surrounded by groups of young men murmuring words she didn’t understand but knew it was about her.

    She quickly rushed into a restaurant where she called her mom to come pick her up but only a second too late, street kids touched her legs sending the nearby crowd into laughter.

    “I am a Rwandan and I know our culture, but there is a limit to how Rwandan’s are turning a blind eye to the truths of changes in the society without even dealing with them”. Kayitesi says she can’t stand being stared at thus she will stay abroad.

  • Motorcycle Passengers ‘Head Cover Gear’ Free

    Effective 1st March, motorcyclist will be required to give their passengers a headgear at no cost as opposed to earlier arrangements where a passenger was required to pay for the headcover at Frw 50.

    The decision was arrived at during a meeting involving representatives of cooperatives of motorcycle taxi operators and authorities of Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Agency (RURA) and Kigali City Council (KCC).

    A similar recommendation was made by Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habamuremyi during a recent meeting with motorcyclists at Nyamirambo stadium. The aim is to ensure hygiene for those using the helmets.

    However, city dwellers argue that headgears haven’t been available.

    According to a Press release from Kigali City authorities, motor riders will pay Frw 40 for each headgear and that they shouldn’t charge passengers extra on the fare, since transport charges are still high even after RURA instructed them to lower the prices following the reduction of fuel prices.

    Meanwhile, traders interested in selling headgears are required to obtain authorization from the Rwanda Bureau of Standards.

  • Gov’t Officials Meet Over Cholera Outbreak

    Senior government officials convened today in Rubavu district for an urgent meeting aimed at discussing measures that would prevent the spread of Cholera that has broken out in Neighbouring DR-Congo.

    According to a press statement by the Ministry of Health, Cholera outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to spread close to the Rwandan border. There are no cases of cholera reported on the Rwandan side and that the situation is still normal on the Rwanda side.

    “The imported cases from DR Congo were handled and contained mainly due to the usual rapid response measures implemented to fight the disease inside the country,” the statement reads in parts.

    DR-Congo Health officials have registered up to 1228 cases of Cholera in North Kivu Province leading to 11 deaths as of last week.

    It has also been reported that the first case of cholera was diagnosed in Rwanda on 13th February from an individual returning from North Kivu. Since then, 12 other cases were diagnosed and successfully treated and discharged one week ago.

    It is said all registered cases were contaminated from DR-Congo but returned for treatment and have since been discharged with no recorded death. No new cases have been reported since February 22nd.

    In a consultative meeting to address strategies of curbing the spread of Cholera into Rwanda,The Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho emphasized the need for vigilance and continuous sensitization of population on key hygienic preventive measures as well as quick and accurate rapid treatment for the sick.

    “The Government of Rwanda takes great value in the lives of each and every citizen of this country,” Minister of Health Dr. Agnes Binagwaho said.

    “For now we have managed to contain this outbreak but what I need to remind everyone is that this outbreak is a ticking bomb especially in neighbouring countries. Therefore, if we are not prepared, it could spread to our population,” the Minister cautioned.

    To fully contain the situation and ensure no new infections occuring in the country, government officials agreed to enhanced Community sensitization and mobilization on best hygiene practices through mass media campaigns.

    They also agreed to advise population on limited cross-border movements especially for social functions like burials or any other functions that can be postponed, abolish consumption of raw food stuffs sold alongside roads and ensure hygiene inspections by Local Government authorities for all households.

    Other measures included placing informative and educative posters at Border posts, cross-border meetings between leaders and technicians to share best practices of combating Cholera epidemic in DRC, ensure rapid reporting and treatment of any cases that could emerge and implement all the elements of the Hygiene Campaign launched last year by His Excellency the President of the Republic.

    Binagwaho said the Health Ministry would undertake sensitization meetings across all districts bordering DRC to re-enforce mechanisms of combating the outbreak of Cholera.

    She also hailed district officials for taking seriously measures to combat the scourge which were the reasons for containing it so far.

    The meeting which was presided over by Health minister attracted the State Minister for Local Government Dr. Alvera Mukabaramba, the Governors of North and Western province, District Mayors, and other district official, Senior Army and Police Commanders, Doctors, Nurses and Sector executives of both provinces.

  • Sex Workers Punish Man For Refusing to Pay

    A group of prostitutes have mobbed a man who allegedly refused to pay their colleague after obtaining a service from her.

    The Incident happened at Matimba Street in Indatwa village, Rwezamenyo cell, Rwezamenyo sector in Nyarugenge district in the night of 24th February 2012.

    Zarafan Muteteri, a daughter of the landlord told IGIHE.com that she overheard Quarrels and figths in a closed house during the night around 10:00 pm.

    She alleged that “Nyirandimubanzi a sex worker leased her house to a fellow prostitute to host her client for the night however, the man refused to pay after for a service rendered to him.”

    Muteteri narrated that sex worker sought for help from her colleagues including Nyirandimubanzi who later beatup the man in a closed house.

    “They opened the door when Security agents arrived. Four women and an unconscious man; the security agents demanded the sex worker to take the man to hospital,” Muteteri added.

    Sylvere Barayavuga, a neighbour, said that he found a half naked man in underwear bleeding profusely while seated on the veranda. He suspected the man was assaulted with a razor blade on back. The man is being treated in CHUK room no. 1.

  • Government to Create More 1187 Jobs

    The Rwanda Minister of trade and industry François Kanimba has urged citizens to embrace the job creation Program saying that only 1,125 jobs were created in 2011.

    Minister Kanimba revealed that the government intends to create more 1187 Jobs through the ‘Hanga Umulimo’ program .

    “Hanga Umulimo,” is a national program established to help reduce unemployment among the Youths and supporting small-medium entrepreneurial projects expand.

    Kanimba said in every district over 50 projects have been selected to receive government support. The minister emphasised that the “Hanga Umulimo,” program also considers agro Projects.

  • EAC Conference Seeks Financial Sector Fusion

    dr._sez.jpg
    A Conference aimed at integration of financial sectors of EAC member states is concluding today in Arusha Tanzania.The two day conference that opened yesterday was organized by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund.

    The conference deliberated under the theme “The East African Community after 10 Years: Deepening EAC Integration”.

    Over 100 regional and international experts and policy makers used the conference as a platform to discuss the EAC’s accomplishments to date, the benefits of regional integration, relevant international experience, and the macroeconomic policy challenges going forward.

    EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera said yesterday in his opening remarks that the East African Community has as its primary objective to develop a single market and investment area in East Africa that is anchored on the twin pillars of internal free trade and liberal trade with the rest of the world.

    He said that EAC has evolved strong institutions, legal frameworks and operational modalities in the promotion of a viable and vibrant integrated market, a business and investments friendly environment and development of competitive value added industries.

    “We have established a Customs Union and Common Market into which we are currently investing every effort and energy to ensure that these programmes work well for the people in delivering and demonstrating the benefits of regional integration,’ he explained.

    He said the EAC is putting in place comprehensive programme of regional infrastructure to support a viable, vibrant single market and investment area in East Africa.

    “On the whole, we have transformed the East African narrative from that of lethargy, stagnation, dependence and underdevelopment to that of forward looking dynamic progress,” he added.

  • Regional Police Arrive For Command and Staff Course

    exgf.jpg
    Senior Police officers from the region are in Rwanda for an intermediate Command and Staff Course- the first of its kind in the history of Rwanda National Police training.

    The course will last three months at National Police Academy (NPA) in Musanze district.

    According to Rwanda National Police sources, the Police command and staff course is designed to aid participants with skills and knowledge in police operations and staff duties and international policing.

    Rwanda’s Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana has commended Police leadership for the constructive innovation of developing the new course.

    “As law enforcement agents policemen are required to have necessary skills and trainings are one of the ways through which such skills can be acquired,” Minister Harelimana said.

    Participants include 5 police officers from Burundi, Somalia (5), South Sudan (10) and Rwanda (20).

  • US $ 80 m Approved For Rural Sector

    The World Bank Board of Executive Directors yesterday approved a US$80 million International Development Association Credit for the Rwanda Third Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP3).

    Representing the final phase of a 3 phased program that began in 2001, RSSP3 aims to continue to increase agricultural productivity of marshlands and hillsides in the sub-watersheds targeted for development in an environmentally sustainable manner and, to strengthen the participation of beneficiaries in market-based value chains.

    “The World Bank is pleased to work with the Government to extend the already successful growth-stimulating rural sector support activities of the first two phases, while emphasizing diversification of economic activities to increase and stabilize rural incomes” said Hardwick Tchale, World Bank Senior Agricultural Economist and the Project Task Team Leader.

    Focus areas of the project include: expanding the irrigated area of cultivated marshlands; increasing the use of sustainable land management practices; financing economic infrastructures needs articulated by beneficiary communities; and building the capacity of the beneficiaries, through Water User Associations (WUAs) and cooperatives for sustainable utilization of the irrigation and economic infrastructure.

    Key outcomes expected by the end of the project include that at least 6,000 additional hectares of irrigated marshlands will have been rehabilitated or developed; at least 17,000 additional hectares of hillsides will have been sustainably developed; and both the share of commercialized agricultural products from targeted areas and the number of farmers in targeted areas who have adopted sustainable land management practices on hillsides or marshlands will have increased.

    Overall therefore, RSSP3 seeks to build upon the progress achieved by the Government of Rwanda since 2001 in seeking to attain its strategic goal of unlocking rural growth in order to increase incomes and reduce poverty, through promoting sustainable intensification of the marshlands and surrounding hillsides.

    ENDS

  • Rwanda Risks Internet Cuts As Ship Faults Fibre Optic Cables

    ship_drops_big_anchor_on_fibre_optic_cables.jpg
    Last evening two fiber optic cables were affected after being hit by a ship’s anchor that docked at Mombasa port in Kenya, technicians say that the impact will likely cause internet disruptions in six countries including, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi,Tanzania, Ethiopia and part of South Sudan.

    While waiting for access to a port in Mombasa, a ship dropped a larger anchor in a restricted area off the coast.

    The anchor barreled towards the sea floor, as anchors tried to hold it up and upon contact damaged two of three undersea fiber-optic cables responsible for delivering high-speed Internet access to a large portion of Africa.

    They link the eastern costal region of Africa to the United Arab Emirates and connect countries in the affected region to each other.

    The remaining cable maintains a link between the affected region to Europe, India, and South Africa.

    East African Marine Systems, the owners of one of the cables, have passed a communiqué saying that repairs may take up to 14 days after which the average Internet speed of users in the affected counties is expected to drop by 20%.

    However, Eassy the owners of the second affected cable have diverted some of their clients to their satellite bandwidth but the internet addition wouldn’t be advantageous to the majority yet.

  • Young Rwandan Director’s For Red Carpet Film Screening

    The red carpet film screening for the young Rwandan directors will be held at Ishyo Theatre (today) Tuesday 28th . The films will be screened in front of directors who will individually speak to the crowds about their movies.

    The four films for screening include; “Note bene” by Richard Mugwaneza, “Saa Ipo” by Jean Luc Fils Habyarimana, “Ruhago” by Aime Philbert Mbabazi, and “Mama” by Jean Bosco Nshimiyana.

    Richard Mugwaneza worked for two years with film Production Company Almond Tree Films productions as a permanent cinematographer and film editor, and after working on other filmmakers’ projects, started freelance film directing and screenwriting career.

    “The Idea of “Nota Bene” came to him while he was resting after a long journey of work; he said I switched on my radio and heard that a journalist visited people from the furthest parts of the village in Rwanda.”

    “So my message to them became message” No Better Place than Home” stated Mugwaneza. The real meaning of the film’s title “NOTA BENE” is derived from Latin which simply translated means Pay Attention”.

    “From the youngest to the oldest, the dream was to see what the capital city looks like.”

    Jean Luc Fils Habyarimana the director of “SAA IPO” is a 28 year old gospel singer who Habyarimana worked as first assistant camera operator on Lee Isaac Chung’s film Munyurangabo, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

    Habyarimana worked on the crew of Maibobo, a short film by Yves Montand Niyongabo, and as cinematographer on Kinyarwanda, a film by Alrick Brown.

    Jean Bosco Nshimiyana and Aime Philbert Mbabazi are both young upcoming directors who will also be at the screening, where they will be showing their movies for the first time both are very excited and are eager as well as apprehensive about the public’s feedback.

    The directors will be present to introduce their works before the screening, where after all four movies have been shown the directors will be available for questions and discussions. The films will be 6.30 pm, in the Iysho halls, entrance is free.