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CYCLING: Rwandans In The Lead

Local cyclers have attained the third place in the ongoing Tour of Rwanda cycling competition that started from Kigali to Rubavu district yesterday.

Gasore Hategeka and Abraham Ruhumuriza were awarded among the top three.

It has been noticed that Rwandan cyclers are performing better in this year’s competition, among the hardworking riders include Emmanuel Rudahunga who in the recent Kigali-Rubavu competition was on the lead from Gakenke to Rubavu.

In this race, cycling became stiffer 30 Km towards the finishing line.

However,Rwandan Ruhumuriza and Gasore managed to stay in the lead.

Meanwhile most cyclists became more hardworking when they reached Mahoko town area know to be crucial circuit in the race closer to the finishing line.

American Joseph Rosskopf in this particular race won the first place within a time of 4:17:51 hs, he was followed by Rwandan Gasore and Ruhumuriza respectively.

Reijnen from team type 1, though he has performed better in previous races, came in fourth position in this particular competition. Niyoshuti finished in the sixth place.

Meanwhile, preliminary scores rank American Rosskopf on the first position with a cycling period of 7:39:33hrs. He is followed by Gasore 7:40:38hrs, thirdly is Ruhumuriza a minute late from Gasore, the fourth position is held by Kiel Reijnen (7:42:08hrs) finally Adrien Niyonshuti of MTN QHUBEKA (7:42:26hrs) holds the fifth position.

Today Wednesday Nov.23, competitors set off from Rubavu at around 9hr00 to for a total distance of 140.8 KM to Muhanga district.

November 23, 2011
UNICEF Director Commends Nutrition Progress

The UNICEF Directory of Programmes from the New York Headquarters, Dr. Nicholas Alipui has commended the Rwanda’s efforts in fighting malnutrition citing Rwanda’s political will.

Alipui said that political will has played a key role in improving children’s health in the country.

The envoy made the remarks at the two-day 2nd National Nutrition Summit which has attracted participants from different African countries, UN agencies and other international organizations.

Alipui noted that Rwanda shows progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, increasing access to education , safe water and sanitation as well as ensuring rates of HIV and malaria reduction.

“Evidence here in Rwanda is that you are on track to strengthen development of institutions and recent results from your demographic and household survey show strong progress in nutrition ”.

“We observe with pride that most of this has also been enabled by the national vision of inclusiveness of all citizens in the drive towards vision 2020 and the Presidential Initiative to eliminate mulnutrition, ” he added.

The official explained that community approaches must be emphasised to increase access to health care and nutrition initiatives.

Addressing the summit, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana also said that the country is making major multi-sector efforts to translate the potential of national food security into household food security and practices that bring adequate nutrition for every family.

Under the theme, “Scaling Up of Multisectoral Nutrition Interventions: Sustaining Gains In National Efforts to Eliminate Malnutrition, ” the general outcome of this forum will translate the existing policies and strategic plans into district and national plans of action for nutrition.

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November 23, 2011
‘I am impressed’-US envoy

United States of America permanent representative to the UN Suzan Rice has said that she was very much impressed by steps taken in Rwanda’s health sector.

The USA envoy who is in the country has just toured different departments of the Masaka Health center to witness and get first hand information about Rwanda’s progress in the sector.

As she said while addressing health center employees and different guests at the center, Rice will get back home after visiting different sectors including Education, Agriculture and health sectors to know their performance.

“I am very much impressed by steps taken and the progress made in health sector in Rwanda, I have also gone to other countries in the region, what you are doing hear is very special,” Rice said while addressing Masaka Health Center staff after touring the center.

“Thanks for the very important work you do. It is most impressive good work. Thank you for the work,” Rice wrote in the visitors’ book.

Theodosiya Mukarwego a community health worker who explained to rice how they have intervened in health development said that they have been guiding manual to refer to whenever they are trying to help children and their mothers in fighting HIV/AIDS and Malaria.

“We have received several trainings that equip us to help patients that come to us, we have hotline cell phones where they can get whether finding us home or here at the health center,” Mukarwego said while explaining how she does her work to the US envoy.

Marie-Goreth Nyirabahutu the head of Masaka Health center said that Rice’s visit was instrumental since the health center is funded by her government through Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF).

Nyirabahutu said that the health center deals with all health cases with much emphasis on HIV/AIDS testing, giving of anti-retroviral drugs, prevention of Mother-to-child HIV transmission and malaria.

The foundation (EGPAF) has supported this year’s health center budget mounting Rwf 35 million, according to Nyirabahutu.

She said that she has observed tremendous decline in malaria in the area surrounding the health center due to different strategies and policies in place to cub the disease.

“Previously we used to receive between 500-1000 but starting last year number of malaria cases begun to decrease whereby we only received 5 cases last month,” Nyirabahutu said in a separate interview with igihe.com.

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November 23, 2011
Rwandan Macadamia Has Market Potential

Jean-Marie Munyaneza the Horticulture International Marketing Officer at the National Agricultural Export development Board (NAEB) has encouraged farmers to plant macadamia since it has shown potential on international market.

Munyaneza noted that so far a kilo of macadamia costs US$1.3 (est. Rwf 750) which was a fair price at the moment.

“Globally Australia sells more macadamia more than our price here but in order for Rwanda to arrive to its price there are a lot of factors we need to adhere,” Munyaneza said.

Munyaneza informed macadamia farmers to work hard so as to improve their produce from the current 4 tones to at least 30 tons a month.

“Very soon we will do a census to find the exact produce of macadamia in the country, since the statistics will assist us to identify areas which need support,”
Norce Elysee Gatarayiha the Director of Norlega Macadamia Rwanda limited, has been buying macadamia from local farmers and so far he has bought 700 Kilo Grams from Rwamagana farmers.

“Finally we’re selling, in the past we were approached by foreign buyers who proposed lower prices, but Gatarahiya has given us a good offer of Rwf 750 per kilo, others would give us ridiculous prices of Rwf 300 to Rwf 500 per kilo which is unfair compared to the hard work we have used,” Xavier Baributsa remarked.

On his part, Gatarayiha urged farmers to plant more macadamias since the more the produce the better the prices.

He also encouraged them not to sell their nuts to strangers since some had selfish interests, and buying their macadamia on cheaper rates is among their gimmicks.

“There’s a high demand for Rwandan macadamia, and I’m willing to buy from any farmer who has harvested and I’m optimistic we will do even well on the international markets if we harvest and plant more macadamia nuts,” he remarked.

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November 22, 2011
Gorilla Treated Ear Infection

Volocanoes National Park Veterinary Warden Elisabeth Nyirakaragire assessed Kigoma, a gorilla in the third silverback in Kwitonda group, who had been reported to be suffering from an ear infection.

Nyirakaragire claims that currently the gorilla is recovering from the wound.

“We tracked the group for 1.5 hours, finally finding the group pretty high on the slope of Mt. Gahinga. Where we found Kigoma behaving normally and eating well, but with a terrible ear infection – there was white discharge running from his left ear,” Nyirakaragire said.

“We decided that while the infection may not look life threatening at the moment, the severity and proximity of the infection to his brain meant we needed to intervene, with antibiotics as a first attempt, and full intervention if antibiotics failed to help,” said Nyirakaragire.

She also noted that she doesn’t know how the infection started but added that perhaps the injury might have been a scratch from a stick.

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November 22, 2011
Karisimbi Cyclists Still Leading

Rwandan cyclists under Karisimbi club emerged the winner of today’s Tour of Rwanda 2011 cycling competition which started from Amahoro National Stadium to Rubavu District in Northern Province.

The annual cycling competition in its third day, American cyclist Joseph Rosskopf took the first position as he pass the finishing line.

Despite Rosskopf’s overall winner, Karisimbi cyclists took a lion’s share recognized as the winning club due to its cyclists taking the lead in several races ever since the competition begun.

However judges have not yet announced Rosskopf as the overall winner as they still have another race tomorrow.

Official results have indicated that 3 Rwandan cyclists Gasore Hategeka, Abraham Ruhumuriza and Adrien Niyonshuti took the third position.

According to Nicodem Habiyambere a cyclists who participated in the Kigali-Rwamagana race short and flat distances are harder since they cycle more compared to hilly areas like Rubavu because there are easy due to sloping parts on the way.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the race starts from Rubavu to Muhanga District.

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November 22, 2011
Congo-Brazaville President Calls For Atrocity Prevention

After guided and explained visual findings of 1994 Genocide at Kigali Genocide Memorial Site,the President of the Republic of Congo-Brazaville Denis Sassou Nguesso called upon African leaders to join efforts in saving their population from human atrocities.

“What I saw from the memorial leaves me almost speechless. I am emotionally disturbed by the horror that befell this country,” Sassou Nguesso said at the memorial Site.

“As an African political leader, it’s a pity that we face such problems; Africa lacks preventive measures, it is upon us to ensure that we protect out land from such tragedies,” he added.

Sassou Nguesso said that the kind of atrocity that befell Rwanda can take place in another country if not prevented therefore called for the never again doctrine.

“I visited the section of child-victims in the memorial, it’s unbelievable how ruthless people became and it also unbelievable how Rwanda has moved on tremendously.”

After visiting the Memorial Site, Sassou Nguesso also visited the top beverage company Inyange industries where he vowed to begin looking at how its products can be exported to his country.

He however advised that infrastructural development was highly needed to boost such investments in the country.

President Sassou Nguesso is in the country on a three-day state reciprocal visit after his counterpart Paul Kagame visited his country last November.

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November 22, 2011
150 Refugees Return From DR-Congo

At Rwanda’s Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border, families and friends are awaiting for 150 refugees who have freely decided to come back home.

Those who don’t have families will be taken to Rubavu District based Mukamira refugee camp for shelter.

Jean Claude Rwahama the Director of refugees’ repatriation at the Ministry of National Disaster and Preparedness, said that the returnees in the camp will be facilitated to integrate themselves in the society.

The integration process involves training them on vocational skills, connecting them back to their families and some are supported to set income generating activities.

The continuing repatriation process is geared by a cession clause which rules that no Rwandan will be called a refugee by June 30th next year.

“The process is going on well since there’s no reason now for anyone to be out of his or her country,” said Rwahama.

According to UNHCR statistics there’re 70,000 Rwandan refugees of whom the majority have shown interest of freely be repatriated.

This can be seen in the number of returnees from January to June this year totaling to 4,644 , yet last week only, 40 Rwandans from DRC returned home.

Most of these refugees returning are believed to have fled Rwanda during the war that stopped the 1994 Genocide 17 years down the road.

Most of these who took part in the Genocide, have on several occasions don’t have worries of being prosecuted once they’re back, while others hesitate to return due to misleading information about the country’s security.

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November 22, 2011
Harsh Punishment of a Child not Good

Most parents think that beating up their children as a form of punishment will make their children understand their faults.

Most of the time they beat their children because they can’t bear the anger raising out of the fault the child has made.

A parent feels that they are right when beating or slapping their child as punishment, but the child doesn’t understand the reason behind it; he feels that it’s unfair in comparison to what they did, and in the end, the parent also regrets the harsh punishment.

Parents should not punish their children harshly all the time and should also understand that their children will not always follow the rules handed over to them.

Children will not be confident from any sort of activity be it good or bad, and they might be lonely people, once they are always punished in such a manner. This affects their growth.

Parents should also take care when setting an example to their children; if you beat your child every time they make you angry, then they will also become violent towards peers and siblings every time they are angry…Read more on agasaro.com

Parents’ responsibilities are to sit down and talk as well as guide their children towards good behavior, not punish them harshly. Thus, when they are also wronged by peers, they will instead turn to talking and handling the matter in a peaceful manner; he grows up a peaceful person.

This does not mean that you shouldn’t punish your children.

November 22, 2011
Congo-Brazaville, Rwanda Agree Cessation Clause For Refugees

In a joint Permanent Commission meeting between the Congo-Brazaville and Rwanda, both countries have agreed to work hand in hand to see how refugees in Congo-Brazaville can come home.

This is in a way of applying cessation clause for refugees.

According to Mary Baine the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the meeting, delegation from both countries agreed on how to repatriate refugees in Congo-Brazaville Rwandan refugees.

Early this year, Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) delegations visited refugee communities in Malawi and Congo-Brazzaville to assure them of the transparency of the justice system, the success of reconciliation efforts and their right to reclaim the property they left behind.

Following previous campaigns in 2010 alone 12,000 refugees voluntarily returned to Rwanda and it is said that currently there are 70,000 Rwandans living as refugees around the world and those who choose to remain in their host country can do so by following that country’s standard immigration procedures.

The clause, under the UNHCR system, does not allow claims for refugee status after verification by the agency that there are no conditions in the country of origin that qualify for UN protection.

A cessation of refugee status is a legal avenue open to states and the UNHCR as a way of recognising changed circumstances in refugee- producing countries.

Designed to be narrowly interpreted, cessation requires a fundamental and profound change in the country conditions that provoked the need for asylum.

Congo-Brazaville head of state President Denis Sassou-Nguesso arrived in Rwanda for his three-day state visit.

Arriving at 5:30pm, Sassou-Nguesso was received by his counterpart President Paul Kagame in a high decorated calourful event at Kigali International Airport that saw Rwanda’s cultural troop dancing traditional dance and army parade.

President Sassou-Nguesso is scheduled to be hosted for a state banquet on tomorrow.

His visit aims at strengthening both countries bilateral relationships which also follows the last year’s visit of Paul Kagame he had to Congo-Brazaville.

During his visit in Rwanda, President Sassou-Nguesso is also scheduled to tour socio-economic sites in Kigali and the surrounding areas.

The two heads of state are expected to hold a joint press conference on Wednesday at Urugwiro Village before he leaves.

Rwanda and Congo enjoy good and established relations, which were strengthened by the state visit by President Kagame to Brazzaville last November.

The growing relationship between Congo and Rwanda has been further facilitated by the recent launch of a twice-weekly flight from Kigali to Brazzaville by the national carrier, Rwandair.

Earlier on today, both countries represented by government officials from different ministries of either states led by Louise Mushikiwabo Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and his counterpart Basile Ikouebe from Congo-Brazaville, discussed areas of bilateral cooperation.
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The Joint Permanent Commission between the two countries has been formed to farther bilateral relationship with areas of cooperation agreed in trade, agriculture, natural resources and human settlement.

President Denis Sassou-Nguesso has been an active government servant in the Republic of Congo for more than three decades.

According to www.congo-brazzaville.org, Sassou-Nguesso was a distinguished General in the military and served on two different occasions as the President of the Republic of Congo, first from 1979 – 1992 and then from 1997 to date.

President Sassou-Nguesso ended the Republic of Congo’s decades-long socialist state and put the country on the path to democracy.

He has previously served as Chairman of the African Union and in that capacity helped direct the organization’s peace efforts in Darfur, Sudan.

Sassou-Nguesso remains committed to preserving the natural environment, especially fostering sustainability and protecting wildlife in the Congo Basin.

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November 21, 2011