Blog

A negotiating team, known as the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Monetary Union, will meet in Uganda at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel from 31 October to 9 November to negotiate various articles of the Protocol.

This will be the fifth round of negotiations by the East African Community on a march towards a single currency.

Dr. Enos Bukuku, EAC’s Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Infrastructure), confirmed that among the draft provisions to be negotiated over a ten-day period are articles on the harmonization and coordination of fiscal policies; taxation and customs; national Budget formulation processes; domestic and external debt management frameworks; joint financing of projects; and macroeconomic convergence.

Experts from the Partner States will also negotiate provisions on coordination of monetary policy and fiscal policies; restrictions on Central Bank lending to public entities; restrictions on privileged access to financial institutions; conditions for bail-outs; conduct of foreign exchange transactions by Partner States; management of foreign exchange reserves as well as liberalization of current account and capital accounts of the Partner States.

Crucially too, the HLTF will discuss a framework for building resilience and managing economic shocks as well as safeguard measures; the conditions for the application of these safeguard measures plus surveillance and compliance mechanisms to be embedded in the Protocol.

The Task Force will also negotiate provisions on the name and status of the single currency envisaged for the EAC, as well as provisions on the determination of conversion rates, conversion and redenomination of existing legal instruments and bank notes and coins to be issued by the proposed East African Central Bank (EACB).

After the Customs Union and the Common Market, the Monetary Union is the third stage in the integration process of the EAC bloc, which ultimately aspires to a Political Federation.

The EAC Summit of Heads of State has set a 2012 deadline for the achievement of the Monetary Union, and EAC Secretary General Amb. Richard Sezibera has on different occasions reiterated EAC’s commitment to have the Monetary Union Protocol concluded within the set timeline.

Dr. Bukuku on his part notes that the Monetary Union will help mitigate price instability and exchange rate volatility in the region, which would be a boon for businesses and ultimately promote investment and spur development.

To enrich the negotiations, the EAC has commissioned various studies, which include among others a study on the review of the EAC macroeconomic convergence criteria; and one on a harmonized monetary policy framework for the region both of which are being done jointly by the EAC and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Another study on a common exchange rate mechanism is being undertaken jointly with the International Growth Centre (IGC).

Previous rounds of negotiations deliberated on provisions touching on, among others, the scope of the Monetary Union; macroeconomic policy framework; monetary policy framework, exchange rate policy and exchange rate mechanism; and instruments of monetary control.

The negotiations commenced in January this year and are targeted to be concluded by early 2012.

Friday, October 28, 2011: the three days Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was officially opened in Perth. The opening ceremony was marked by beautiful dances and music that portray the culture of the hosting country Australia.

The opening ceremony was attended by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who is also head of the Commonwealth, Heads of states and Governments, President Paul Kagame inclusive and also official diplomats from commonwealth member countries.

In the speech he delivered during the first Executive session, President Kagame thanked governments and officials who facilitated the admission of Rwanda to the Commonwealth.

His special thanks were addressed to Trinidad and Tobago as well as the commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma.

He added that Rwanda is contented to be part of the commonwealth and thus embraces the Commonwealth aspirations of mutual respect and understanding that supports cooperation and partnership framed by fair rules equally applicable to all.

“When we work together, we win together” says President Kagame.

President Kagame, affirmed this fact by elucidating how the economic and political crisis the world has been facing, cast light on the interdependence of the global community.

Kagame, stated that peace, security and equal opportunities, including gender equality are the keystones of good governance and socio-economic development.

Her Majest Queen Elizabeth II, celebrating her 60th anniversary as the Head of the

Commonwealth, said : “Almost a decade later, we find ourselves confronting new and fresh challenges: insecurity and uncertainty in finance, food supply, climate change, and trade and development.”

“This Commonwealth meeting is, for its part, the perfect opportunity to address these issues and find responses to today’s crises and challenges” .

She said that the theme of the year being “Women as Agents of Change”, calls everyone to determine ways of allowing girls and women to play their full part, and also sustain the theme beyond the year 2011 in their respective country as well as across the commonwealth.

Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard pointed out that unlike other global bodies united by practical aspects such as commerce or trade, the commonwealth is joined by a different motivation which is “values”.
Shared Values of peace, democracy, racial equality, the rule of law and a commitment to social and economic progress.

“So as the Commonwealth journeys towards its centenary, it is time for renewal.

To answer the question posed of our organisation – how do we best pursue our timeless values in a world of change?

Let us make CHOGM 2011 memorable for answering this question.
Memorable for being the Meeting that gave the Commonwealth the direction it needed at a time of global uncertainty and risk” says Gillard

Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth said, “CHOGMs are an occasion to take the pulse of the Commonwealth, to check that we continue in good health, to review how far we have come in the last two years, and to set signposts for the future”.

“CHOGMs have also become the occasion to bring together in celebration the full breadth of our Commonwealth community. All can serve our three aspirations of Democracy, Development and Diversity.”

“In offering global wisdom and value, we must continue to strive for equity, especially for the rights and causes of the small and the vulnerable, and in the service of our people”. Says Kamalesh Sharma.

Australia has a remarkable record of serving the Commonwealth. No other country has hosted three CHOGMs. Previous CHOGMS were held in Melbourne 1981 and Coolum in 2002.

President Paul Kagame today said that Rwanda is pleased to be part of the Commonwealth and to contribute to the organisation as it adapts to new global challenges.

Speaking at opening ceremony of the 21stCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, where Rwanda was officially welcomed as the newest member, President Kagame thanked Commonwealth members for the support extended to Rwanda during its admission in 2009.

President Kagame noted that Rwandans shared the values and principles that have shaped the Commonwealth and pledged Rwanda’s support to collective efforts to make the organisation stronger and more dynamic;

“Our citizens know from experience that peace, security, and equal opportunities for all –including gender equality – are important pillars of good governance and a strong basis for socio-economic development.”

“We also believe that when we work together, we win together. The economic and political challenges that the global community has witnessed recently provide more than enough evidence regarding the degree of our interdependence.”

President Kagame also pointed out that Rwanda was happy to associate with the Commonwealth aspirations of mutual respect and understanding which supports cooperation and partnership framed by fair rules that are equally applicable to all.

Queen Elizabeth, celebrating her 60th anniversary as the Head of the Commonwealth, said that almost a decade after the last CHOGM was held in Australia, new challenges exist and member states must remain steadfast and rise to the occasion in order to provide long lasting solutions to these common challenges.

“The theme this year is, ‘Women as Agents of Change’. It reminds us of the potential in our societies that is yet to be fully unlocked, and it encourages us to find ways to allow all girls and women to play their full part.”

“We must continue to strive in our own countries and across the Commonwealth together to promote that theme in a lasting way beyond this year”.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia said that the meeting was a fitting moment for reflection and renewal as it marks the 80th anniversary of the Commonwealth and urged fellow CHOGM members to consider it a call to action;

“How do we best pursue our timeless values in a world of change? Let us make CHOGM 2011 memorable for answering this question. Memorable for being the Meeting that gave the Commonwealth the direction it needed at a time of global uncertainty and risk. In so doing, we will be faithful to our values, and faithful to the people who have sent us here. “

Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, described the importance of CHOGM to its citizens;

“CHOGMs have also become the occasion to bring together in celebration the full breadth of our Commonwealth community. All can serve our three aspirations of Democracy, Development and Diversity.”

“And in offering global wisdom and value, we must continue to strive for equity, especially for the rights and causes of the small and the vulnerable, and in the service of our people”.

Over the next two days President Kagame will take part in closed working sessions with other Heads of Government during which they will deliberate over the CHOGM agenda.

The reading of the final communiqué this Sunday will mark the end of the 2011 CHOGM meeting.

An online website that publishes Rwandan based information has won United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards.

The judges said the website placed the Rwandan genocide into both historical and contemporary contexts, and was an excellent example of an interactive, educational site.

“We’re very honoured by the award I wasn’t expecting to win. The other finalists were large media organisations, but all the work for rwandanstories.org incorporating the writing, film editing, web design and so on, was basically just me working in a spare room, or in the local cafe. So it’s very exciting,” said Dave Fullerton, the film-maker and web developer.

RwandanStories.org is a close-up look at genocide and recovery in Rwanda. In 1996 John Steward, an Australian from Melbourne, took a job with World Vision Rwanda.

In 2007, on one of his last visits, he introduced Fullerton to some of his Rwandan friends. Fullerton fell in love with the place and www.rwandanstories.org is the result.

The website was written primarily for Australian students. It includes about twenty short films and look at ‘big-picture’ questions like, What happens in a society to make something like a Genocide possible?, What happens when the media attention has long gone – how can you possibly recover from something like that?

“I thought, if I can talk with young Rwandans about what happened, and about what life has been like for them since 1994, some big conversations could come out of that. Perhaps this ‘out-there’ African story could get kids in Australian schools talking about our own society, about our inclination towards prejudice, and along the way maybe we could learn something about tolerance, resilience and the nuts and bolts of building a peaceful society.” Said Fullerton.

“In testing, it’s clear that Australian students have a high level of engagement with the films. The fact that these are ‘real people’ and not actors is very important. It’s exciting to see students engaging with the shared human issues that apply in their own classrooms and communities, as much as they apply in Rwanda,” Said Sally Morgan, the curriculum developer.

Fullerton said that he sometimes wonders what Rwandans think about the way he has portrayed their country. He is very aware that this was just a tiny part of Rwanda’s story.

There are many important events, experiences and viewpoints not included, but he hopes the website will continue to grow since Rwandans are doing interesting work in so many areas; healthcare, education, conservation, sustainable energy.

“ I’d love to come back and film more stories about those things,” he added.

“It’s easy for Australians to like Rwanda. The big skies, the light, the eucalypts – it can feel so much like home that sometimes you almost forget you’re in Africa. And the friendly people – their warmth, intelligence and grace regularly made me feel very uncivilised so now, when I talk to people I say, go to Rwanda – you’ll love it!” Says Fullerton

The United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards were established in 1979, and recognises media efforts oriented in the realms of Humanitarian, social justice, and promoting Peace.

Approximately nine months remaining for the government year plan, Districts have not yet achieved a quarter of their performance contracts (Imihigo) they signed last July.

The Districts have the battle now to attain over 75% of what the Mayors vowed to do for the public when they signed their 2011-2012 performance contracts.

In a quarterly progressive review of performance contracts yesterday, among 1377 activities planned, in 30 Districts have so far completed 234 activities, a press release have indicated.

A release indicated however that 414 are on track, 390 needs to perform better and 341 activities will be implemented by next quarter.

“After evaluating this quarter’s Imihigo, we are confident that we will achieve our targets for 2011/2012,” Local government Minister James Musoni said while addressing Mayors who had turned up for the Imihigo quarterly progressive review.

The Minister nevertheless urged local government leaders to always communicate the challenges they face in implementation so as to get the due support to achieve 2011-2012 targets of the Imihigo.

Last July, Mayors convened at the lower chambers of parliament and vowed to the president as they signed performance contracts to improve people’s lives in different aspects including economy, social welfare, good governance and justice.

The public waits to see their leaders improve their lives by improving agriculture, financial services, land registration, rural transformation, environmental protection and management, infrastructure development and promotion of ICT services, according to the release.

Other areas include construction of classrooms for the 12 Year Basic Education program, adherence and subscription to health insurance scheme, and poverty reduction initiatives like the gir’inka -one cow per family programme.

In the last 2010/2011 performance Rulindo District emerged Imihigo best performer and went home with a trophy for topping all Districts.

It was followed by Nyamasheke, Kicukiro, Burera, Kirehe, Bugesera, Nyamagabe, Muhanga, Karongi, and Rutsiro districts, in their descending order.

President Paul Kagame has again noted that aid from foreign countries isn’t enough to satisfy the well being of citizens in developing countries saying Instead there should be promotion of investment and trade if sustainable development is to be achieved.

“No matter how big aid is, it can’t be enough to fulfill all plans the government has in regard to ensuring welfare of its citizens,” the president noted in a commonwealth business summit held in Perth city Australia.

Kagame was joined on the panel by two heads of states including Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza and Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba and Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper was also at panel.

He noted that promotion of trade should also go hand in hand with innovation since the same concept has worked well in developed countries. “If this is accomplished it would benefit 1.2 Billion people living in Africa.”

“I often encourage my fellow African politicians to promote investments in their respective countries as a way to grow their economies,” he remarked.

Dr. Mohan Kaul who has chaired the commonwealth’s business chamber for 14 years, and his term nearing completion, hailed the fact there’s US$100 billion to be invested in countries under the commonwealth.

In this respect, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) had a stand at the event’s premises which is meant to explain to its visitors some of the investment opportunities in the country.

According to Rwanda’s minister of foreign affairs Louise Mushikiwabo, among the reasons why Rwanda decided to join commonwealth is to enjoy trade relations among the member states as a way of promoting the country’s economy.

The Commonwealth Business Council prepares this forum after every two years before the heads of state meeting, the aim is to review and enhance tried ties among member countries.

The Minister of Justice also the government attorney Tharcisse Karugarama has condemned the decision by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda(ICTR) granting an early release of Michel Bagaragaza.

Bagaragaza who was sentenced to eight years in prison will be released on December 1, 2011 following a pardon by ICTR president Judge Khalida Rachid Khan as proposed by Swedish government following on jurisprudence of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

This depended on three-quarters of a sentence served, and on the fact that Bagaragaza confessed to crimes and expressed remorse and on his good behavior in jail as attested by the Swedish prison authorities.

“We think it was not considerate enough. In the light of this background, an early release was equally not necessary,” Karugarama the state attorney remarked.

Karugarama added however, that there has not been any breach of rules of procedures by the Court.

“We naturally have to put the matter to rest. In these international justice processes, there are so many things that defy logic and which we have to learn to cope with,” said Karugarama.

It’s for the first time ever, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has granted an early release to genocide convicts.

“Under Article 27 of the Statute of the Tribunal, there shall only be pardon or commutation of sentence if the President so decides in the interests of justice.”

“My predecessor president Byron decided on 20 October 2010 that the initial early release of Michel Bagaragaza proposed by the Government of Sweden from 1 December 2010, after having served only two-thirds of his sentence, was premature,” the judge said in a case sheet of which also igihe.com has reads in part.

Judge Byron further decided to review the appropriateness of early release for Bagaragaza after three-fourths of his sentence had been served.

“In accordance with Rule 125 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence (“Rules”), I have consulted with the Sentencing Chamber and the Bureau, and the Government of Rwanda has been notified of Michel Bagaragaza’s eligibility for early release under Swedish Law,” Judge Khan said.

On 17 November 2009, Michel Bagaragaza was convicted of complicity with genocide and was sentenced to eight years in prison with credit for time already served.

Bagaragaza was the former head of the Rwandan Tea Authority and is currently jailed in a Swedish prison.

He surrendered himself to the ICTR on August 15, 2005 and pleaded guilty to complicity to commit genocide.

Bagaragaza confessed to stocking arms used during the genocide at the Rubaya tea factory in Rubavu of formerly Gisenyi prefecture in northern Rwanda.

He also said he gave money, arms and the use of tea factory vehicles to Interahamwe militia who were massacring Tutsis, out of fears for the safety of himself and his family.

On November 17, 2009, the ICTR found Bagaragaza guilty and sentenced him to eight years in jail with credit for the time already served in the ICTR Detention Facility since 2005.

He was sent to Sweden in July 2010 to complete his sentence. In the past, the ICTR has always refused requests for early release of its convicts.