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  • ‘Rwanda Reads’ Initiative Launched

    The Ministry of Education through Rwanda Education Board (REB) has organised an initiative referred to as “Rwanda Reads” to develop a culture of reading in Rwanda.

    The event will be launched at the Kigali Institute Education conference Hall on Thursday, 19/07/2012; starting at 8:00 am.

    The objective of Rwanda Reads initiative is to dismantle literacy barriers and develop a thriving and sustainable culture of reading.

    The initiative will utilize a variety of strategies, including public awareness campaigns, improved literacy instruction, and increased availability of reading materials, all ages of the Rwandan population.

    Rwanda Reads is an initiative that will enable Rwandans to achieve our collective vision for the future of our country. We must all be empowered to contribute to the development of our country as described in Vision2020.

    But achieving this goal cannot happen by reading a book here and a website there. We need, all of us, to develop the habit of reading every day for life-long learning and pleasure

  • Bill CLinton Inaugurates Butaro Cancer Center

    The Former United States President Bill Clinton and Rwanda’s Minister of Health Dr. Agnes Binagwaho inaugurated Butaro Cancer cente on 18th July Burera district Northern Province.

    Dr. Binagwaho said that they will open 2 branches at CHK and King Faysal hospital in Kigali that will work together with Butaro Hospal for cancer prevention program.

    Clinton said that if people work together all things are possible.He said that Clinton foundation helps in the health activities. He thanked President Paul Kagame for the good collaboration.

    Dr.Tharcisse Mpunga, the Director of Butaro Hospital said that construction cost US$ 5.8 Million and US$ 1.5 Milion cost of materials.

    The First National Cancer Referral Center in Rural East Africa will bring comprehensive cancer care to rural East Africa.

    Butaro cancer center will help in limitations against the global cancer burden.

    World Health Organization expects 16 million new Cencer cases worldwide by 2020,with 70% in developing countries like Rwanda.

    Butaro Cancer center will provide a full spectrum of cancer care including screening, diagnosis, chemotherapy, Surgery, patients follow-up,and palliative care.
    It will also serve as the first facility to implement standardized cancer training and protocols that align with Rwanda’s new national guidelines.

    Since 2005,partners in health/Inshuti mu Buzima (PIH/IMB) has worked together with Ministry of Health to strengthen the national health system.

    In collaboration with Clinton Global Initiative, with the support of the Jeff Gordon Children’s foundation and the Dana Farber/Brigham and woman’s cancer centre inaugurated the Butaro Center of Excellence.

    Since 2007,more than 100 patients with a range of cancers have been treated and it will continue to advise and support the advancement of cancer prevention and care in Rwanda.

  • Regional Central Banks Governors to Discuss Monetary Framework

    The Rwanda central bank (BNR) in the partnership with IMF and IGC is preparing a Regional Central Bank Governors conference to discuss monetary frame work.

    The conference is scheduled for July 19, 2012 at Kigali Serena Hotel. On the top of discussion will be price stability within the region.

    In the previous consecutive press conference, The Governor of Rwanda Central Bank Ambassador Claver Gatete announced that Rwanda’s Economy is still much stable in the region.

    Rwanda was presented as the country of lowest inflation on average of 8.3% rate while other countries in the region have a superior average.
    The press asked whether these countries economy will not end up affecting Rwanda’s economy.

    For this question Amb. Claver Gatete said that, they accepted to collaborate because of the effort these countries put in decreasing their inflation rate.

    He gave examples from Uganda which brought its inflation rate from 30% to 17%, Burundi which dropped it to 22% from 26% and Kenya which dropped it to 10% from 18% and so on.

    About worries from Euro zone troubles, the Rwanda Central Bank Governor said that the Euro Zone is not the only one market.

    He added that Rwanda is expanding its market in the African Region and even in the Asia and ensured that the monetary policy committee in its survey showed evidence of enough capital in Rwandan Banks.

    But he accepted that as Rwanda has an open economy, what affect other countries may end up affecting Rwanda’s economy. For that the conference will take measures to overcome challenges and threats from outside countries.

    During the meeting, Regional Central Bank Governors will have an opportunity to share experiences from Latin America to make regional monetary policy stable.

    Economic crisis started in 2008 in Western Countries. With Arab Revolution, economic situation becomes worse with the increase of Fuel prices. Nowadays Euro zone which is the donor for the most of African countries is in economic crisis, for that, Regional countries have to get united to overcome threats from Western countries.

  • BCR Embarks on Regional Presence

    BCR today becomes a part of a regional financial conglomerate thereby gaining access to the markets within the East African community and beyond.

    This has been made possible through an 80% equity buy out from Actis, of the Bank’s shareholding, by a consortium comprising I&M Bank – a Kenyan based Bank, and 2 European Developmental Financial Institutions – DEG and Proparco.

    Actis has held 80% of BCR’s shareholding since 2004, when it acquired the shareholding from the Government of Rwanda. Since then, the Bank has experienced tremendous growth. BCR currently has a network of 15 branches and a staff compliment of over 250.

    Over the years, BCR has built a strong reputation of reliability, solidity and innovation that has enabled it to develop quality and profitable operations. The Bank’s total assets aggregate RWF 92.9 billion (approx. KES 12.4 billion; USD 61.9 million), as at December 31st 2011.

    The consortium of Purchasers is led by I & M which possesses a rich heritage and history in the banking sector.The Bank was established in 1974 as a community financial institution that has since grown into a full-fledged commercial bank with presence in 3 countries.

    The I&M Bank Group comprises I&M Bank Limited in Kenya, I&M Bank (T) Limited in Tanzania, Bank One Limited in Mauritius, and now through this acquisition of BCR Limited in Rwanda.

    With a work force of over 860, balance sheet size of KES 108 billion (approx. USD 1.27 billion) and profit before tax of KES 4.95 billion (approx. USD 58.3 million) it is one of the strongest and best managed banks in Kenya.

    In Kenya the Bank has a network of 19 branches covering the four major financial centres and access to approx. 4,000 ATMs across the country through the Kenswitch network. With a fast growing customer base, I&M has grown to be a market leader in its domestic market, and was recently ranked by the 2011 Banking Survey as the 6th best overall bank of the 43 banks in the country.

    DEG, member of KfW Bankengruppe, is one of the largest European development finance institutions for long-term project financing. For 50 years, DEG has been financing and structuring the investments of private companies in developing and transition countries.

    DEG invests in profitable projects that contribute to sustainable development in all sectors of the economy, from agriculture to infrastructure and manufacturing to services with special emphasis on exported oriented and employment generating projects which are environment friendly.

    DEG also focuses on investments in the financial sector in order to facilitate reliable access to capital. To date, DEG has worked together with more than 1,700 companies with financing commitments of more than EUR 13 Billion and boasts of 457 staff spread over 13 regional offices and supported by 60 KfW agencies worldwide.

    PROPARCO (or Proparco) (Société de Promotion pour la Cooperation économique) is the Investment and Promotions company for Economic Cooperation. Created in 1977, Proparco is a Development Financial Institution, partly held by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and private shareholders from the North and South.

    Proparco’s mission is to foster private investment in emerging and developing countries which targets growth, sustainable development and reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Proparco has a team of 150 people, 10 regional offices and is supported by 50 AFD Group agencies worldwide.

    Hon.John Rwangombwa, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said “This acquisition contributes to Rwanda’s continued path towards creating a strong, efficient and inclusive financial sector. The Government’s aim is to encourage all industry players to offer diversified services and products which tailor to all segments of Rwandan society.

    In addition, we believe that the partnership with two reputable Development Financial Institutions – DEG and PROPARCO – will highly contribute to mobilizing long term financing for the economy.”

    The new Board takes over under the continued leadership of Mr William Irwin, who has been the chairman of BCR since 2009. “We look forward to working with our new shareholders to grow BCR to its full potential.

    BCR is well known in Rwanda and now being part of a Regional Banking Group will make it an even bigger player in the region enabling it to offer exclusive products to facilitate regional trade.”

    Sanjeev Anand BCR’s Managing Director who has been at the helm of the Bank since 2009, further expressed “We are excited about this milestone in the history of BCR. Being a part of a larger, regional banking entity opens up so many more opportunities both for BCR and Rwanda as a whole.

    In addition, having two reputable development finance institutions as major shareholders, will certainly improve the Bank’s visibility in the international markets. We are looking forward to working closely with I&M Bank and to being able to serve our customers much better and more conveniently on a local and regional front.”

    I&M Bank Group prides itself and has been recognised for its passion to introduce innovative products and services that enhance customer convenience and their overall banking experience. I&M Bank was the first bank in East and Central Africa to be licenced by VISA for E-Commerce acquiring.

    Likewise, I&M was the first bank to introduce a prepaid card that can be loaded using mobile payment systems. The I&M Group also operates in the insurance industry through GA Insurance Company.

    “This is certainly a step in the right direction” says Mr Sarit S. Raja Shah, the Executive Director of I&M Bank “We are guided by our customers’ expansion in the region, and this acquisition is no different.

    It further strengthens the position of I&M as a truly regional player able to offer seamless one – stop solutions to our customers who transact within the region.

    We would like to take this opportunity to thank the National Bank of Rwanda for their support and guidance during this acquisition, and for welcoming us as investors into Rwanda. We look forward to find synergies within the Group that will contribute further to Rwanda’s economic growth”.

    This operation illustrates I&M’s strong partnership with Development Finance Institutions. Laureen-Astrid Kouassi, Investment Officer in PROPARCO’s Banking and Capital Markets Department confirmed her institution’s commitment to the I&M Group:

    “Proparco is proud to support its long dated partner in the expansion of its activities in Rwanda whose banking sector offers some significant opportunities for the I&M Group.

    BCR enjoys a strong positioning in its domestic market; its sound recent financial and operating performances have moreover paved the way for a sustainable growth. The successful completion of this acquisition hence further strengthens I&M’s position as a key player in the EAC banking sector”.

    “We are proud to support I&M Bank in this transaction, a partner distinguished by exceptional regional knowledge and a proven track record.

    As one of the bank’s focus activities is the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises, the expansion to Rwanda will enable the transfer of I&M Bank’s expertise and range of banking solutions in this field, thus supporting the expansion of private enterprises structures and creating the basis for sustainable growth in Rwanda” said Peter Bereschka, Investment Manager at DEG.

    The trade between Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda has steadily been on the rise, especially supported by the East African Community Agreement. As Mr Arun S Mathur, the Chief Executive Officer of I&M Bank expressed “The acquisition will give the customers of BCR and I&M regional banking solutions and facilitate their expansion within the EAC.

    The participation by PROPARCO & DEG in this acquisition also further highlights the confidence the DFIs have in I&M and in BCR.

    I&M currently enjoys several credit lines, and we look forward to strengthening BCR’s products and service offerings and support more businesses within Rwanda. Our relation with BCR will certainly support our vision to be ‘…the first choice where customers want to do business’.”

  • MTN Employees Fly Mandela Day Flag in Africa, Middle East

    MTN employees today joined multitudes of people and organisations around the world to observe Mandela Day in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday.

    “We are marking the day by doing good for humanity in tribute to an icon whose fight for freedom and contribution to the ushering in of democracy in South Africa inspired the birth of MTN, now a global African brand that is using the empowering force of mobile telephony to transform people’s lives,” Yvonne Mubiligi MTN Foundation Manager in Rwanda said.

    MTN employees around the world will use Mandela Day to celebrate the achievements they made during 21 Days of Y’ello Care, an annual MTN staff volunteer programme that takes places from the 1st to 21st of June.

    This year’s programme focused on education, and saw thousands of employees across MTN’s vast geographic footprint in Africa and the Middle East undertake activities to improve the quality of education and schooling infrastructure.

    They re-furbished classrooms and libraries, provided computer centres, technical training, bursaries, career guidance, books and school lessons on a variety of subjects.

    In Rwanda MTN employees raised money to cover the needs of over 300 underprivileged children studying between Primary One and Primary 9 levels of education.

    “We donated books in 4 provinces in Rwanda and in Kigali City, to be used in the school libraries to improve the reading culture of Rwandan children. We also carried out renovation in various schools and this is done with the aim of improving the standards of education.

    By end of July we shall be providing 300 free school bags to the children benefiting from 21 Days of Y’ello Care,” Mubiligi said.

    In a message to more than 24 252 employees, MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Dabengwa, paid tribute to MTN volunteers for acting out their selfless deeds in keeping with Mandela’s legacy of doing good for humanity.

    “For us at MTN, everyday is a Mandela Day. As a corporate organisation and as a people, we live by Mandela’s example through what our employees do for their communities, as well as through the work of MTN Foundations, which help us to effectively balance our commercial imperatives and the social needs of the communities in which we do business,” said Dabengwa.

    “We observe Mandela Day by celebrating the achievements we made during the 2012 edition of 21 Days of Y’ello Care – now in its 6th year and still growing in terms of its beneficiary reach and staff participation.

    In true Mandela you sacrificed your time and invested your energies in commendable efforts of ‘service to one’s fellow human’ in an all-out endeavor to improve access to, and the quality of, education for our communities,” he added.

    To pay homage to Madiba, MTN will be presenting him with a book featuring pledges to serve humanity from our customers and MTN staff sent via www.mtn.com.

    The book will also showcase some of the highlights, in word and pictures, of the activities MTN employees undertook during the 21 Days of Y’ello Care programme in 2012.

  • Mandela’s 94 Years of Purpose

    Nelson Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela a.k.a Madiba the first president of a democratic south Africa turns 94 years to day, .Nelson Mandera’s life is an inspiration, and he has set a benchmark for compassionate leadership.

    Born on 18th July 1918 in little village of mvezo in quni in southern transkei south Africa into the royal family of the Tembu axhosa-speaking tribe He is one of the 13children and the youngest of four boys of his father’s four wives.

    His father died when he was nine years old and his uncle the ruler of his tribe became his guardian.

    He was the first of his family to go to school and begun his primary education when he was seven years at a Methodist missionary school where he was given the name Nelson.

    His education continued at the Clarkebury School and later at all-British Healdton high school, a strict Methodist college and it is at this high school that Mandera heard of the African national congress (ANC) for the first time.

    Nelson later joined African native college of fort Hare to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree only to be expelled for participating in a student strike.

    It was not until 1944 that Mandela joined ANC together with comrades Walter Sisulu and Tambo this group formed ANC youth league and by 1947 he was its secretary General who was later elected its national president in 1951, hence marking the beginning of his struggle and fight against Apartheid, independence and white domination in his country.

    He became instrumental in the fight against racial segregation, independence of his country, rule of law, human rights, freedom of speech and expression among others in his country this costed most of his early years in prison and in July 1962 he was arrested and imprisoned for five years on his way back from a freedom conference in Algeria whereby on 20th April 1964 at the opening of his defense case he remarked:

    “ The ANC has spent half a century fighting against racialism, when it triumphs it will not change that policy-This then is what the ANC is fighting-their struggle is truly a national one. it is a struggle of the African people inspired by their own suffering and their own experience. It is a struggle for the right to live”

    All this suffering and torture inflicted on him never changed his zeal and charisma to fight for the African cause and he was once quoted as saying;

    “During my life time, I have dedicated my self to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against black domination I have cherished the I deal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an Ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve.
    But if needs be, it is an ideal for which Iam prepared to die”.

    But this didn’t stop his enemies and enemies of black race to continue executing their duties and on 11th June 1964 he was convicted and sentenced to a life imprisonment and incarcerated at Robbin Island prison, a former leper colony 7km off the coast from capetown, but never gave up and accelerated his struggle to end apartheid.

    By 1982 tougher with Sisulu he was transfered to Robbin island Prison to the maximum-security polls moor prison on the main land, and on 2nd Feb 1990, F.W.de Klerk a moderate National party president who replaced P.W.Botha announced that Mandela will be released and finally good news broke the world on Sunday 11th feb when he was finally released at the age of 71 years after spending almost three decades in custody ( 27 years).

    While rembering 94 years of his existence, am privileged to say that;
    Mandela’s life is a story of hardship, resilience and ultimate triumph told with a rare clarity and matching eloquence, a true man by conviction, a military man by necessity and a leader by commitment with a posture of a family man.

    Nelson after all these struggles, he ended the Apartheid era on April 27th 1994 and was unanimously elected the president of South Africa by the national assembly on 9th may1994 and a day after inaugurated at a ceremony in Pretoria, and remarked;

    “We dedicate this day to all the heroes and heroines in this country and the rest of the world who sacrificed in many ways and surrendered their lives so that we should be free’’ he continued “Their dream have become reality”

    Nelson Mandela is one of the great moral and political leaders of our time: an international hero whose lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa won him the Nobel Peace Prize and the presidency of his country.

    Since his triumphant release in 1990 from more than a quarter-century of imprisonment, Mandela has been at the center of the most compelling and inspiring political drama in the world.

    As president of the African National Congress and head of South Africa’s antiapartheid movement, he was instrumental in moving the nation toward multiracial government and majority rule. He is revered everywhere as a vital force in the fight for human rights and racial equality.

    Am therefore appealing to all pan-Africanists, nationalists and other peace lovers that while celebrating this extra-ordinary day of Mandela, we should let reverence for our independence, freedom, laws, rights, togetherness, reconciliation, sovereignty and self reliance among others be breathed by every African mother, to the lisping babe, that prattles on her lap—let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in primers, spelling books, and in almanacs;–let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice.

    And, in short, let it become the political religion of our continent; and let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and toungues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars, then we shall have a better Africa to live in.

    In 1997, Mandera resigned as the president and bowed out of politics, stepping down as president of south Africa and returning to live at his birth place in transkei where he now enjoys his last days.

    To me, Nelson Mandela stands, as no other living figure does, for the triumph of dignity and hope over despair and hatred, of self-discipline and love over persecution and evil.

    We should therefore not forget that he lived a life full of sympathy, love and compassion for others.

    He has been a selfish less man that his achievements can only be achieved by those probably sent far away not in terms of planets but in terms of human thinking. My grandfather Madiba happy birth day and May Almighty God grant you more years!

  • In The Life of Toilet Cleaner

    Public toilets are emerging around Kigali city and other upcountry towns especially at bus terminals. Also there is growing use of public toilets although one has to pay between Frw50 and Frw100.

    In developed countries, public toilets are free for public use. They are commonly referred to as restrooms.

    Public toilets are commonly found at fuel stations, airports, stadiums, recreation centers, bus/train terminals among other strategic public gathering locations.

    In the past months the management of Uganda’s capital city Kampala ordered that all public toilets must be free for use to the public. However, in cities of Kigali, Nairobi, Dar-es-salaam and Bujumbura, to use public toilets one has to pay a certain fee.

    IGIHE reporter Nice Kanangire visited one of the public toilets in Kigali and had a conversation with one of the toilet cleaners.

    Nzeyimana Adeodatus is a toilet keeper in Kigali City Market, he studied up to primary level 3. He could not study further because of poverty. He had to quit school and worked as a night house guard and during daytime he worked as a mason.

    Nzeyimana later quit the night guard job and found a new job working as a toilet cleaner. Below we bring you the excerpts of this conversation. However, Nzeyimana refused to be photographed.

    Why did you abandon your job of a Night Guard?

    Nzeyimana : Being a Night guard is very tiresome, I had no sleep, no food, and I even had the risks of paying for goods in case I could get robbed. I used to have no time to rest because I worked both day and night. My new toilet cleaning Job enables me to have a life, and find time to rest.

    Any Challenges with toilet cleaning job?

    Nzeyimana: The only struggle I meet is with the people who do not want to pay after using the toilet- I end up arguing with them sometimes.
    I have to be at work at 7 am. My day ends at about 9pm.

    Are you satisfied with your Job?

    Nzeyimana: We are paid Frw 30 000 monthly. Though it is little, I am grateful to have that amount of money because I have it on time, always. As for me I am lucky because my wife also works, we put our money together and keep hoping for the best.

    However, my fellows encounter a lot of difficulties, the money gets finished in the house rent of approximately Frw10,000 if he has a house mate, and the rest is spent on food, medical care and other expenses, you realize it gets very hard to live with such an amount in a country where cost of living is very high.

    What do you do exactly?

    Nzeyimana :I do everything; cleaning toilets and regularly checking them.

    With all the people that use toilets, how much money do you make?

    Nzeyimana : It depends on days you know, but I can make upto Frw 6 000.

  • Mandela is now 94 years old

    South African children began their day at school with a special birthday song ringing with the line: “We love you father”.

    “This is a very important day for all of us,” said Paul Ramela, principal at a primary school in Soweto.

    “We are here to celebrate the birthday of a very important person, a person who has liberated us from apartheid,” he told his students. “Mandela spent 67 years of his life to improve the lives of other people. He has done so much for all of us.”

    President Jacob Zuma wish Nelson Mandela a happy 94th birthday during a video tribute message remembering his life and legacy.

    Mandela himself was unlikely to make any public appearance, but rather to celebrate quietly with his family in his village home of Qunu.

    His granddaughter Ndileka Mandela told the Sowetan newspaper that his family would celebrate with a traditional meal of tripe and samp, a corn dish popular in his region of the Eastern Cape.

    “We will probably have food like samp and tripe, his favourite food,” she told the paper. “The big lunch will be at 16:00 where we will present him with a cake.”

    Former US president Bill Clinton met with Mandela at his village home on Tuesday. A photograph released after the meeting showed Mandela seated in an armchair, his lap covered by a blanket, as he held Clinton’s hand.

    Images of the Nobel Peace Prize winner have become rare in recent years as he has retired to Qunu. He was last seen in public at the closing ceremony of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.

  • New Changes in Army Take Immidiate Effect

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    HE The President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief has made the following appointments and promotions regarding Rwanda Defence Forces and
    National Intelligence and Security Services;

    Major General Frank Kamanzi Mushyo (above) has been appointed Army Chief of Staff replacing Lt Gen Caesar Kayizari.

    Lt. Col. Franco Rutagengwa has been appointed Chief of Military Intelligence (J2)

    Lt. Col. Didas Ndahiro has been promoted to the rank of Colonel. He has just graduated from a US army war college.

    Lt. Col. Jill Rutaremara has been appointed to rank of Colonel. He has just returned from the National Defence College, Kenya.

    National intelligence and Security Services;

    Col. Francis Mutiganda has been appointed Director General External Services

    A Communique from the Ministry of Defence signed by the Defence Spokesperson Brig.Gen Joseph Nzabamwita, says that these changes will take immidiate effect

  • Ethiopians Worried about Prime Minister

    Ethiopians are currently tense as there is no clear information about the whereabouts of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

    This follows days of rumors and unconfirmed reports that Zenawi was gravely ill, or even deceased.

    Rumors and unconfirmed reports began last week and gained momentum when Zenawi did not attend a meeting of the African Union in Addis Ababa as expected.

    However, on Monday, Ethiopia’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Hailemariam Desalegne, confirmed that Meles was indeed ill, but refused to elaborate or say what the illness might be. The speculation increased again.

    The Ethiopian government had promised to clarify the situation at a news conference on July 18.

    It was also reported that Meles Zenawi who was allegedly being treated at Saint-Luc University Hospital in Belgium having failed to appear at the AU summit his country was hosting over the weekend.

    Apart from speculations, no credible source has so far said what his actual ailments are. Some sources claim he is suffering from a blood cancer possibly Lymphoma or Leukemia and others say his actual illness is a malignant form of brain tumor.

    Zenawi’s hand-picked deputy, Desalagne said “There is no serious illness at all.” He said Meles would “return soon,” but did not talk about the nature of the illness or where the nation’s leader was receiving treatment.

    He (Zenawi) had been scheduled to open a New Partnership for Africa’s Development in Addis on Saturday, Senegal, Macky Sall, took his place and announced that Meles could not attend due “to health conditions.”

    Meles also failed to appear on Sunday at the opening of an African Union summit of more than three dozen African leaders at the Addis Ababa headquarters, where the prime minister usually plays host.

    Critics of Zenawi within Ethiopia claimed that government bureaucrats were scrambling to collect medical documents that include invoices of the Prime Minister’s foreign medical expenses from the various bureaus and ministries in an apparent effort to dampen the speculation.

    At the beginning of July, Zenawi rescheduled important parliamentary sitting to debate and vote on next years budge.

    He is constitutionally required to present a report on the state of the republic which should have happened before July 7.

    A prescheduled award ceremony at the Science and Technology Ministry where he was slated to be the guest of honor was postponed indefinitely.

    Zenawi was expected to attend the one year anniversary of the independence of the South Sudan Republic where his Kenyan and Ugandan counterparts attended.
    The Ethiopian delegation was led by the Deputy PM Hailemariam Desalegn.

    During his current term Zenawi has launched major development programs in Ethiopia such as foreign investment in large commercial farmlands and the construction near the Sudanese border of the massive Grand Millennium Dam on the Abay River, which is a major source of Nile waters.