Category: Information Center

The Ambassadors of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to the United Republic of Tanzania have presented letters of credence appointing them as their countries’ representatives to the East African Community.

The Zimbabwe Ambassador to Tanzania H.E Chimonyo was the first to present his letter of accreditation to the EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera appointing him as his country’s envoy to the bloc.

Amb. Sezibera warmly welcomed the Zimbabwe envoy and said he considers Zimbabwe as part of EAC region because of the rich history between Zimbabwe and some of the EAC partner States.

The Secretary General welcomed the move to enhance cooperation between the EAC and Zimbabwe.

The EAC Chief appraised the Zimbabwe Ambassador on the progress being registered by the Community so far, including the coming into force of Protocols on the Customs Union and Common Market, and the ongoing negotiations on the protocol to establish a Monetary Union.

He also informed the Ambassador about the Tripartite initiative especially the negotiation to establish a grand Free trade area between three regional blocs; EAC, COMESA and SADC.

The Zimbabwean Envoy lauded the progress registered by the Community and said it was important for his country to build a stronger relationship with the regional bloc.

He said Zimbabwe was already enjoying strong relationships with individual EAC Partner States.

The Sweden Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Republic of Tanzania H.E Lennarth Hjelmaker was the second to present his accreditation to the EAC Secretary General.

In the accreditation letter, the Sweden Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Carl Bildt informed the Secretary General of EAC that H.E Lennarth Helmaker had been appointed as Permanent Representative to the East African Community.

Ambassador Helmaker noted the progress in integration process of EAC and re-affirmed to the Secretary General his country’s continued support to the EAC Project and programs.

‘’We are very happy today to formalize our relationship with EAC and am looking forward to a strong partnership in the development of the regional bloc’’, asserted the Swedish Envoy.

Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera welcomed the move to enhance cooperation between the EAC and Sweden and appreciated the support accorded to the Community by Sweden especially through the EAC Partnership Fund.

Amb. Sezibera briefed the Swedish Envoy on the developments in the integration process.

He informed the Ambassador that the move towards a single customs territory was high in the region’s agenda; as well as implementation of the Common Market Protocol.

The region was also focussing on infrastructure development, energy, rail, and conclusion of the negotiations of the Protocol on the East African Monetary Union by the end of this year.

143 Rwanda National Police (RNP) officers who have been serving under the United Nations for Stablisation in Haiti (MINUSTAH) returned home on September 29 after successfully completing their nine months mandate.

The officers have been serving under Formed Police Unit 2 (FPU2). they arrived in Kigali aboard Air Europa.

FPU2 led by Chief Superintendent, Toussaint Muzezayo, was received by Senior Rwanda National Police officers who included the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Stanley Nsabimana and graced by the police band.

The FPU2 later proceeded to the Police General Headquarters in Kacyiru where they were briefed by the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana.

IGP Gasana commended the officers for exhibiting professionalism and discipline during their spell, which he said has earned Rwanda a name and confidence in the UN.

“Due to the exceptional work exhibited by Rwanda National Police officers on missions, the UN has requested Rwanda to also send FPU in Liberia and also consider sending contingents of FPU composed of only female officers,” said the IGP.

The headmaster of Mazane Primary school in Bugesera District has
said that immediate steps are required to avoid more children
dropping out of school following a recent decision of not feeding them
at school.

The school feeding program was initiated in 2002 by Government of Rwanda in partnership with WFP.

WFP announced the decision to stop feeding schools noting the fact that some contributors to the program have stopped their support.

Mazane Primary School is located to the Island of Mazane in Lake
Rweru in Bugesera District.

The school comprises of 260 children and 7 teachers. All children
were enrolled in school feeding program.

The Headmaster of Mazane said the school is expected more children
leaving school due to poverty.

“Children will leave because some of them come because they
were to be fed at school. If the program stopped we expect some
to drop out school” Said Sebanani.

Earlier parents paid Frw500 per month as a part of their contribution to the feeding program at school.

Sebanani added that if the program is to continue, parents will have to pay Frw4,700 in a period of 3 months.

However, parents revealed they are poor to get such money to keep
the school feeding program.

Earlier this month, floods destroyed crops of Mazane residents, hey said “Since then they are unable to feed their children”

Local Authorities have said more donor supports is needed to avoid children to drop out schools.

Misigaro Thomas 72, says, “At this time, we used to have potatoes from wetlands. However, when water from lake Rweru spread into our fields we were unable to harvest.”

Désire Kabila is a P6 pupil at Mazane Primary School. He said the program used to help them hence there is a need to seek an immediate help for them to continue their classes.

The Bugesera vice-Mayor in charge of social Affairs has said the District will continue to encourage support from residents.

WFP recorded 635,000 School children had been enrolled in the program country wide.

However, due to financial problems, the program is expected to end this Sepember, 2012.

A contingent of 160 police officers under the Formed Protection Unit 3 (FPU3), on Thursday night departed for Haiti to serve under the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The officers left Kigali International Airport at about 10:00 pm aboard Air Europa.

The contingent is led by Chief Supt Desire Twizere will replace the same number under Formed Police Unit 2 (FPU2) which successfully completed its nine months mandate and scheduled to return on September 28.

The FPU2 to be replaced was headed by Chief Supt Toussaint Muzezayo.

The departure of the officers at Kigali International Airport to the Caribbean nation where they will serve nine months was presided over by the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K Gasana who was accompanied by other senior officers in Rwanda National Police (RNP).

The FPUs provide humanitarian assistance, conduct patrols and guard VIPs and key installations, train the local police on best democratic policing methods among others.

Malawi President Joyce Banda and Vice-President Khumbo Kachale have taken a salary cut to support the government’s current austerity measures.

Mr Kachale announced the salary cut when he launched the Malawi Growth Development Strategy II and Economic Recovery Plan in Lilongwe.

He said: “The salary reduction by 30% is a demonstration by the leadership that it is supporting the austerity budget.”

Mr Kachale said Malawi was on the economic recovery and would combine the two programmes to speed up the process.

President Banda is currently attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where she took a delegation of 33 people, at the cost of about US$1 million.

Mr Kachale did not announce any reduction in other benefits or internal and external travel, which the new leadership is renowned for.

Malawi is currently experiencing a renewed fuel shortage due to inadequate forex.

A man identified as Eric Maniraguha was arrested in Gatsibo District after he was found with about six tonnes of umushikiri, which he was allegedly trafficking to Uganda.

The suspect, however, said he was hired by two men whom he identified one of them as Karasharamye, who are still on the run.

Umushikiri is a sort of tree used as major raw material in the production of perfumes and lotions.

Rwanda National Police reported that Maniraguha, 30, a resident of Muhanga, who is currently held at Kicukiro Police Station, was arrested on September 23 in Gakara in Gatsibo.

The plant which is mostly found in the Eastern Province is said to be trafficked to Uganda where it is then imported to Asians countries, especially Malaysia.

Being guilt of crimes suspects will be charged under article 412 of the organic law on the demolition and environmental degradation whose sentence ranges from six months to three years and a fine of Rwf200, 000 to Rwf3 million.

Recently, two vehicles registration number RAB 290F and RAB 123G, both FUSO type, were also intercepted in the Eastern Province transporting the tree stamps to Uganda.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame while in New York met Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and the two discussed strengthening bilateral relations.

Rwanda Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said, the two presidents meet in order to look back on bilateral relations and strengthen collaboration to search for solutions towards African development.

Rwanda has strong collaboration with Ethiopia in different sectors include aviation, military trainings and capacity building between two countries.

Ethiopian Prime Minister pledged to continuously collaborate with Rwanda.

Residents of island part of Mazane located in Lake Rweru of Rweru sector in Bugesera District received a vessel costing frw5,250 000.

The donation from Belgium development cooperation will solve transport problems among residents in need of medical care at Nzangwa Health Centre situated 12Km inland.

Dr Vincent Tihon, The CEO of institutional Support working with Ministry of Health, said the vessel will help patients from Mazane to Nzangwa Health Centre for Medical treatments.

He added that the vessel will help in reducing deaths that occurred because of lack of facilities to transport patients to hospital.

The island of Mazane has a population of 1009 residents. 311 are children under five years.

Traveling from Mazane to Nyamata hospital is 59 km.

Residents have been using canoes when transporting pregnant women to hospital. Some used to die before reaching hospital.

Citizens now say they are happy to receive a vessel which is faster than canoes.

Mutezinka Sarah100, says they used to suffer and some died without even reaching hospital.

However, the District has managed to build a Health center at Mazane.
Critical health problems will be treated at Nzangwa Health Centre.

Citizens will have to pay 10% of transport if they are enrolled in Health insurance. Those who are not are due to pay 100% of transport.

However, The Head of Mazane Health Post revealed almost Mazane residents are enrolled in Medical insurance.

58km from Mazane to Nyamata Hospital is far. Currently, said Munyambonera Pierre Augustin, the Principle of Nzangwa health centre,
they are negotiating an ambulance for emergency cases.

Rusanganwa Vincent representing the Ministry of Health says all issues will be taken into considerations for further solutions.

With support from BTC, The District of Bugesera has built one health Post at Mazane village. 8 to 10 people go there for medical treatments.

13 cases of sickness caused by impure water were recorded in a period of 2 months.

Vice-Mayor in charge of social affairs in Bugesera District urged Mazane residents to boil water before drinking and use pure water available at hospital.

In collaboration with BTC and other stakeholders, Districts of Bugesera pledged to continuously support residents to ensure their social economic development.

Rwanda’s beverage company Bralirwa Ltd has introduced a new big size bottle for the Heineken beer brand.

Heineken has been populary packaged in 33cl bottles. The new bottle measures 65cl.

Jan Van Velzen Director of Sales and Marketing said, “The Heineken brand is very much appreciated by the Rwandan beer drinkers and the new 65cl bottle addresses the consumer need for larger bottle sizes.”

Heineken sales have doubled in the last three years with consumers opting for the premium beer due to its premium quality and affordability.

World leaders have welcomed the security and oil deals between Sudan and South Sudan that eased tensions between the countries that came close to war in April.

Expressing a combination of relief and praise, Britain, the United States and the European Union all lined up to laud the deal.

“This agreement breaks new ground in support of the international vision of two viable states at peace with each other,” US President Barack Obama said, calling for continued dialogue as the deal is implemented.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was a “significant stride” to help establish peace between the neighbours.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton congratulated both sides in a statement Thursday.

“This represents a historic step for both countries,” she said.
Earlier, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir said the agreement “brings to an end the long conflict between our two countries”.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said he would “seize the historic opportunity and journey towards building peace.”

The leaders signed a cooperation agreement after marathon talks in the Ethiopian capital that began on Sunday, a day after the rivals had missed a UN Security Council deadline to reach an accord.