Igihe

Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • Two Bodies Found Floating on River Rusizi

    Two Dead bodies have been found floating on river Rusizi on September 5.

    They were discovered by farmers tilling near the banks of the river.

    The identity of the bodies hasnt been established. The countries of origin of the bodies hasn’t been known.

    Habyarimana Déogratias a local official in Gashora Sector suspected the bodies had been in the river for about a week saying they are unrecognizable.

    He said, it was impossible to determine whether the bodies originated from DRCongo or of Rwandan origin.

    Area authorities said its not the first time such an incidence has happened, in June 2012, a body of a Congolese woman was found floating on the same river.

    Residents have been urged to stay away from the river saying they could be washed away.

  • Rwanda Focuses on Efficient Rain Water Harvest

    In a validation meeting, water resources managers and experts have highlighted a need for Rwanda to establish an efficient and equitable water allocation and utilization framework where Rain Water Harvesting system is taken into consideration.

    Water managers revealed that public buildings and private houses equipped with Rain Water Harvesting facilities are still few while the demand and use of water resources are increasing.

    In his presentation, Lakew Desta, an Ethiopian Consultant in water sector noted that Rwanda remains a water-scarce country where the per capita fresh water availability is less than 1000 m3 which is about a quarter of Africa’s average of 4,000 m3.

    Experts said that insufficient knowledge and skills in rain water harvesting and Integrated Water Resources Management among partner institutions and stakeholders are among the causes for Rwanda to remain a water scarcity country.

    He however, added that implementing the present strategy will help in reducing the gap.

    Vincent de Paul Kabalisa, the Deputy Director General in charge of Water Resources in Rwanda Natural Resources Authority said that adoption of rain water harvesting facilities and techniques would help to minimize the scarcity of water in Rwanda.

    He added that people might be aware of the significant role of rain water in their daily life.

    Kabalisa pointed out that harvesting rain water will not only helping to access water but also it will play significant role in other sectors including fight against floods and soil erosion.

    Gaston Ndayisaba is the current coordinator in charge of Rain water harvesting pilot project known us French acronym “ CUEP” ( Collecte et Utilisation des Eaux de Pluie) .

    He noted that implementing the strategy of rain water harvesting will be a good way to eradicate issues relevant to water scarcity and reducing calamities that might be caused by rain water including regularly occurring floods..

    According to building and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations by MININFRA (2009); there is a need to include Rain Water Harvesting among the strategies for sustainable management of water resources.

    Since 2007, MINIRENA with support of African Water Facility (AWF/ADB) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) development partners launched a rain water harvesting system.

    At the beginning, the project was introduced as a pilot project in Eastern and Southern Provinces of Rwanda in districts of Bugesera, Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Kamonyi and Nyaruguru

    Since then, Ndayisaba said “the situation of access to water for agriculture and domestic uses was improved by providing rainwater harvesting facilities for selected schools, communities and individual and vulnerable households”.

    Gaston Ndayisaba, the project coordinator, acknowledged that the pilot project impacted positively on governmental programs such as one cow per family known as “ Girinka munyarwanda”, household kitchen gardens “ Akarima k’igikoni, zero grazing, greening schools, and hygiene and sanitation in schools as well.

    Pressures of rapidly changing demographic patterns; demands of intensified socio-economic development; environmental degradation; and uncertainties created by climate change, all of these challenges are among the causes to establish National strategy for Rain Water Harvesting and Management.

    It is projected that by 2017, 10% of public and private building should be equipped with Rain water harvesting facilities for domestic purposes.

  • Tsivangirai Dragged to Court By ex-Lover

    locadia-tsvangirai-550.jpg
    This time its not about political disagreement between Prime minister Morgan Tsivangirai and President Robert Mugabe…

    Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo(in photo above) an ex-lover to MDC strongman, filed the claim at the civil court in Harare September 5.

    Its about a private matter of Tsivangirai involving his lover who is demanding US$15,000 as monthly upkeep because the MDC strongman abandoned her and is planned to wed a new woman.

    Tsvangirai is said to have traditionally married Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo in November 2011. However, this lady fell sick and was admitted to a hospital in Neighbouring South Africa.

    In a court case file Karimatsenga says; “The respondent (PM) is my husband. He married me on the 21st of November 2011 and has been supporting me until I was discharged from hospital in South Africa.

    “The respondent proposed to marry me in September 2011. I accepted the proposal and he then made arrangements to meet my parents and to pay lobola(dowery) in terms of the African customary tradition,” she said.

    Karimatsenga said after the PM paid lobola, he requested permission for her to stay with him, which was granted.

    “He also requested for permission to have a white wedding, which was also granted . . . and satisfied the requirements laid down by my parents.”

    Karimatsenga wants Tsivangirai to contribute towards her upkeep and accessories, as she has been accustomed to.

    This comes barely a week before the premier’s wedding with Ms Elizabeth Macheka on September 15.

    In her claim, Karimatsenga says she is customarily married to PM Tsvangirai after the latter paid lobola to her parents.

    “The respondent (PM) is my husband. He married me on the 21st of November 2011 and has been supporting me until I was discharged from hospital in South Africa.

    In terms of the African custom, Karimatsenga claimed, she was sent to PM Tsvangirai’s village in Buhera where she stayed with his mother for about two months.
    locadia-tsvangirai-mum-550.jpg
    PM Tsvangirai, she claimed, later requested her to rejoin him in Harare after he had found accommodation.

    “I moved to the house and there was a double bed only. He gave me money to buy all the household goods, which ran into thousands of dollars.

    “By that time, I was already pregnant and we lived together for a couple of months until I was seven-and-a-half months pregnant.

    “I had problems with my hypertension, which was very high.
    “Respondent advised me to get the best medical attention and sent me to Johannesburg, South Africa, where I was attended to by specialists.

    nnnnmn.jpg(In this photo Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his new partner Elizabeth Macheka)

    MORGAN TSIVANGIRAI RESPONCE

    FOR the past two weeks, I have been a subject of frenzied media coverage regarding my relationship with Ms Lorcadia Karimatsenga.

    Indeed as is normal, there was both a positive and negative reaction to this development.

    Regrettably, both reactions were misplaced.

    However, I feel that the people of Zimbabwe deserve to know my position on this matter, which to a large extent has damaged not only the reputations of the two of us involved in this relationship, but equally so the public image of the Tsvangirai and Karimatsenga families.

    Indeed I had a relationship with Ms Locadia Karimatsenga. At a certain stage, she claimed that she was pregnant and that I had to be introduced to her family to own up and accept responsibility according to our culture and tradition.

    Following this development, and like every cultured Zimbabwean, on Friday, November 18, 2011, I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family homestead to perform traditional and cultural rites.

    But since the day I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family, everything has been played in the press and I have become an innocent bystander.

    I have become a spectator and things are happening too fast, on camera and without my knowledge. This has led me to conclude that there is a greater and thicker plot around this issue which has undermined my confidence in this relationship.

    I was reported to have been there in Christon Bank when in fact I was in my office. Other inferences were equally stated as fact when on the contrary these were false representations.

    There have been several developments since that day which have been deliberately planted in the media and which I have had to read in the press; developments that would have taken place without my involvement and knowledge as an interested party.

    The cultural rites that took place received wide, well arranged publicity clearly giving rise to a legitimate enquiry on the motive of this publicity, including the choreographed media capture of Ms Karimatsenga while she was supposedly in Buhera.

    While I accept that as Prime Minister I live a public life, I believe I reserve the right to define my relationship.
    I have opened up communication lines with the Karimatsenga family and they know my position regarding this matter.

    I do not wish to publicise the nature and extent of my communication to them.

    Ms Karimatsenga is also aware of my position on this matter.
    Added to this, there is now an underhand and active political hand that is now driving the processes and this has resulted in everything regarding this relationship now taking place in camera, with the public media journalists in tow.

    Everything is so well choreographed. The intention is clear: to inflict maximum damage on my person and character for political gain. This has caused me to have serious misgivings as to whether this will be a perfect union that will inspire young couples and reflect marriage as the noble and respectable institution that it is.

    I am committed to serve my country with honour and distinction not only as a national leader, but as a respected family man who owned up to his responsibility by following cultural and traditional procedures.

    There are many things I have learnt in the process and one is that with the benefit of hindsight, I could have done things differently.

    In this regard, I apologise to every single Zimbabwean for any discomfort caused by any of my actions.

    Having been happily married for 31 years, I also realised that sometimes when you are searching for a partner especially after losing your wife whom you so dearly loved, there are many stakeholders in the process some of whom have their own ulterior intentions and agendas.

    I want to admit that the last two weeks have been particularly bad for me, my children, my family and even ordinary Zimbabweans who have sought to find meaning to this sordid saga.

    Reputations have been bruised and mutual trust upon which such relations are built and maintained has been lost.

    Marriage is a serious proposition arising out of mutual trust, intimacy and respect. When these values are undermined, that relationship is irretrievably doomed from the start.

    My genuine intention has been betrayed and hearts have had to search long and hard to the true meaning of this well-choreographed drama that has now been hijacked to cause political damage on my person and character.

    As has been evidently demonstrated by these past well-ochestrated events, it would be inconceivable that a normal marriage relationship can be consummated.

    However, I want to assure the people of Zimbabwe that this dark patch in my private life will not dampen my commitment to serve my country and to deliver real change to the people.

    I remain unfazed by this sad chapter which will not in any way deter me from my national responsibility to serve Zimbabwe.

    I will not expose the people’s struggle for democratic change to machinations of infiltration.

    May God bless Zimbabwe.

    Morgan Tsvangirai

    Prime Minister of Zimbabwe

    Zim Herald & New Zimbabwe

  • EAC Court of Justice To Open Sub-Registry in Tanzania

    The East African Court of Justice will September 7, launch a sub-registry in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

    The opening of the Dar es Salaam EACJ Sub-registry follows a decision of the Council of Ministers that the Court opens sub-registries in all Partner States.

    The commissioning of the sub-registry, the second in the region, follows the Kigali one which was launched on 10 August. It will be followed by similar launches in Kampala, Nairobi and Bujumbura.

    With the opening of these sub-registries, litigants will no longer be required to travel to Arusha to file their claims.

    Instead, claims will be filed at an EACJ local sub-registry, which will handle the necessary transmission and communication details.

    “The opening of the Dar es Salaam Sub-registry makes the Court’s services more easily accessible and affordable to the vast majority of Tanzania residents,” says the EACJ Judge President Hon. Justice Harold Nsekela.

    He adds that the Sub-registry has been equipped to start operations, with a full-time Court clerk recruited to operate it, and further notes that the Court will work closely with Tanzania’s Ministry of East African Cooperation to raise public awareness.

    The EACJ sub-registry in Tanzania will be based at the Court of Appeal premises in Dar es Salaam.

    The President called upon all stakeholders including the Tanzanian legal fraternity including Bar associations, the business community, academic institutions and other interested persons to make use of the EACJ sub-registry in Dar es Salaam.

  • M23 Rebels Forcing Displaced Congolese Back to Homes

    The Congolese M23 rebels are being accused of forcing citizens back into their homes and vacate refugee they had taken in schools.

    The rebels are also acccused of forcefully recruiting villagers into M23 ranks.

    Local Congolese media reports that about 370 families displaced people in Rutshuru (North Kivu) claim that rebels of M23 Movement are chasing them out of schools where they had sought refuge and forcing them to return their villages.

    However, its alleged that those who have returned to their villages of origin including Runyonyi, Bunagana and Jomba complain of undergoing forced labour and other forms of violence subjected upon them by the rebels.

    There are claims that the displaced people who have returned to their villages because of pressure from rebels have found their homes either burnt or destroyed by bombs.

    Over 1000 families had taken refuge in Rutshuru.

  • South African Students Learn About 1994 Tutsi Genocide

    August 29, 2012, the Freedom Park, in partnership with the High Commission of Rwanda and Johannesburg Holocaust Center, organized an educational program on the Genocide of Tutsi.

    The educational program targeted Grade 9 students to ensure relevance to the Grade 9 Social Sciences national curriculum.

    “Genocide” is part of the South African national curriculum.

    Students were sourced from various schools through facilitation by the Gauteng Provincial Department of Education (District level).

    A criteria based on race, gender, class, resourced vs under resourced schools, etc. was used in selecting schools and students.

    Each of the identified schools brought 10 Grade 9 students and one teacher. That resulted to 32 school learners and three teachers.

    A four hour program was planned. The educational methodology was interactive; it utilized audio-visuals, promoted interactive educational approaches, and edutainment through storytelling.

    The program was made of poster exhibition on Genocide of Tutsi, Educational activities on Genocide of Tutsi, Audio-visuals presentation, Storytelling on Genocide of Tutsi and an engagement with a Genocide survivor.

  • Rwandair Showcases Rwanda as Business, Leisure Destination

    At a function organised by the Serena Hotel Group in Sandton, Johannesburg on the 31st August 2012, Rwandair showcased Rwanda as a tourism destination for East African travel.

    H.E Mr. Vincent Karega, the High Commissioner and Rwandair, worked together to make this themed event “Airline and Country” an outstanding success amongst all who attended.

    This close cooperation furthered both economic diplomacy and Rwandair as the preferred airline for tourism, promoting Rwanda’s tourism sector and its economy.

    More than 200 travel industry personnel who attended the event, were provided with Rwanda’s premier coffee brands such as Amaraba coffee and Kinunu coffee.

    Attendees included members of major hotel groups, travel agencies, airlines and car rental companies.

    Rwandair is receiving two new CRJ-900 aircraft, manufactured by bombardier – Canada’s leading aircraft manufacturer, known for its safety and performance characteristics.

    This addition to the Rwandair fleet will permit additional destinations and more frequent flights to the existing Rwandair network.

    “I commend Rwandair team led by Mrs Kanana Kau in South Africa for the demonstrated passion and the quality work they perform therefore giving Rwandair high visibility in South Africa” says the High Commissioner.

    When commenting on the event, Rwandair CEO John Mirenge said “the addition of these new aircraft means additional destinations and convenience for the travellers who expect modern aircraft and the best service, making Rwandair the airline of choice for each and every travel occasion where Rwandair flies.”

  • Detailed Map of Genome Function

    Scientists have published the most detailed analysis to date of the human genome.

    They’ve discovered a far larger chunk of our genetic code is biologically active than previously thought.

    The researchers hope the findings will lead to a deeper understanding of numerous diseases, which could lead to better treatments.

    More than 400 scientists in 32 laboratories in the UK, US, Spain, Singapore and Japan were involved.

    Their findings are published in 30 connected open-access papers appearing in three journals, Nature, Genome Biology and Genome Research.

    The Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (Encode) was launched in 2003 with
    the goal of identifying all the functional elements within the human genome.

    A pilot project looking at 1% of the genome was published in 2007.
    Now the Encode project has analysed all three billion pairs of genetic code that make up our DNA.

    They have found 80% of our genome is performing a specific function.

    Up to now, most attention has been focused on protein-coding genes, which make up just 2% of the genome.

    Junk DNA

    Genes are small sections of DNA that contain instructions for which chemicals – proteins – they should produce.

    The Encode team analysed the vast area of the genome sometimes called “junk DNA” because it seemed to have little function and was poorly understood.

    Dr Ewan Birney, of the European Bioinformatics Institute in Cambridge, who led the analysis, told me: “The term junk DNA must now be junked.

    “It’s clear from this research that a far bigger part of the genome is biologically active than was previously thought.”

    Switches

    The scientists also identified four million gene “switches”. These are sections of DNA that control when genes are switched on or off in cells.
    They said the switches were often a long way along the genome from the gene they controlled.

    Dr Birney said: “This will help in our understanding of human biology. Many of the switches we have identified are linked to changes in risk for conditions from heart disease to diabetes or mental illness.

    This will give researchers a whole new world to explore and ultimately, it’s hoped, will lead to new treatments.”

    Scientists acknowledge that it is likely to be many years before patients see tangible benefits from the project.

    But another of the Encode team, Dr Ian Dunham said the data could ultimately be of help in every area of disease research.

    “Encode gives us a set of very valuable leads to follow to discover key mechanisms at play in health and disease. Those can be exploited to create entirely new medicines, or to repurpose existing treatments.”

    Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute director Prof Mike Stratton said the results were “remarkable” and would “stand as a foundation stone for human biology for many years”.

    He added: “The Encode project will change the way many researchers conduct their science and give those who seek to understand disease a much better grasp of where genetic variation can affect our genome for ill.”

    BBC

  • Mandela Bank Notes Released

    New bank notes featuring the face of Nelson Mandela will be in use by the end of 2012 in South Africa.

    The South African central bank Wednesday, unveiled a new series of bank notes featuring the face of anti-apartheid hero.

    The five notes will show a smiling Mandela on the front and South Africa’s big five animals – lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant – on the back set amid Bushmen paintings and locally used traditional patterns.

    “We are pleased to issue this new series of banknotes which reflects South Africa’s pride as a nation and pays tribute to a much-loved world icon,” said Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus.

    The notes are the latest monument to the 94-year-old Nobel Peace Prize-winner, known as one of the world’s greatest statesmen after becoming president after 27 years in an apartheid jail.

    Not seen in public since July 2010, he is living out his retirement in his childhood rural village of Qunu.

    “We are very thankful for the recognition of Tata [Mandela] in this manner,” said his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who attended the launch, the Sapa news agency reported.

    “We think it is the best birthday present he ever received on his 94th birthday.”

    The announcement of the new notes in February – on the 22nd anniversary of Mandela’s prison release – was billed as an “announcement of national importance” with the secrecy sending the rand and stock markets on a downward spike.

    AFP

  • ‘Green Party’ Pressure Group Leader on Flight to Rwanda

    Now, on KLM flight from Stockholm to Kigali. Will be back home this evening at 19:30…….

    This is the statement posted by Frank Habineza on his Facebook page status.

    Habineza is the leader of a foreign pressure group known as the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda formed in 2009.
    The Group has been politiking on social networking websites.

    However, the group leader has decided to return to Rwanda secure a legal status and conduct his political work within the territorial boundaries of Rwanda.

    In August, Habineza said that his political pressure group intends to acquire legal status as a full political party in Rwanda.

    “The opposition Democratic Green Party will strive to be the alternative voice for Rwandans. If we succeed in getting registered, we will provide alternative policies and compete for political power using peaceful means.”

    The pressure group leader further noted that, “Our party believes that in order to have sustainable development, democracy should go hand-in-hand with economic development.”

    August 14, while Habineza’s political pressure group was marking its third anniversary, he announced that , “we take on the opportunity to inform all party members, well-wishers and the general public that we have re-committed ourselves to resume political activities inside the country.”