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The National Bank of Rwanda and other Central Banks in the Common Market for the Eastern and Southern Africa region (COMESA), are ready to set a cross border payment system to improve trade amongst the member countries.

The named Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS) will directly be linked to Rwanda Integrated Payment Processing System (RIPPS), which was adopted by BNR at the beginning of the year 2011.

As explained by the Governor of National Bank of Rwanda in press conference yesterday the October 3 2012, the new system will provide importers and exporters with a faster, safe and secure way to pay each other goods and services at a lower cost.

He further told the press that commercial banks in member state of COMESA will be linked to their central banks payment system but payment and other transactions will be done through central banks in the Region.

Ambassador Gatete Claver responded to journalists that the common currency to be used in COMESA is still a project under a big process.

He said for the first days of this system, the payment and other transactions will be done through US dollars and EUR.

Journalists questioned a new system as security as Cyber Crimes are nowadays at the highest level, the Governor stated that the System is to be Settled by CMS which uses swift as trustful system in the world.

The system will charge traders a lower cost in transactions compared to the usual banking system.

The BNR governor demonstrated that the new system is expected to charge 2% for the total costs instead of 5% in the usual banking payment system.

The system will be operating in 19 countries COMESA members and Tanzania to come later. Ten countries have registered in REPSS and others are in the process.

But Rwanda, Mauritus, Swaziland and Sudan are the only countries that have gone live for the system.

Despite Rwanda will benefit from facilities of this new system of payment, its traders have not yet found an interest in COMESA market.

The figure shows that Rwanda imported from COMESA in more than USD415 million while Rwanda exported around USD83 million there. Amb. Gatete said Rwandan traders’ needs to be encouraged.

President Paul Kagame has said that Rwandans we must rely on our homegrown solutions to address their challenges.

Kagame was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Judicial year 2012/2013 at the Parliamentary building in Kigali.

He added that Rwandans should work hard in order to prevent themselves from the aid trap.

“We are not short of places or agreements on rules for aid but if you think they respect you or rules, you are deceived” He said.

“Rwandans, you should not accept to be victims…you must work to improve your life no one else will do it for you” Kagame notted adding that Rwandans should do their best and get the best out of very little they have in their hands. “Let’s continue to be decent people” He urged.

Past judicial year saw an increase in cases handled by court, creation of e-filing system and first internationally transferred case to Rwanda.

Over 80,000 cases were handled in the past judicial year 2011/2012.

President Paul Kagame commended previous achievements while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of a MP, the Ombudsman and the Army Chief of Staff.

Clothilde Mukakarangwa took oath of office as Member of Parliament before the head of state and other government officials.

Aloysie Cyanzaire has taken Oath of Office as the new Ombudsman.
Maj. Gen. Frank MUSHYO KAMANZI, has taken Oath of Office as Army Chief of Staff.

They pledged to fulfill their responsibility and work for the consolidation of national unity adding they will never use power entrusted to them for personal gains.

Martin Ngoga, the Prosecutor General, said that during previosu Judicial Year, Rwanda issued 146 international arrest warrants for fugitives who are in more than 20 countries.”

Ngoga added that they have addressed challenge of case backloads and resolved all 35,000 cases last year.

He added that Frw201 Million embezzled by Government officials was returned to Government coffers.

President of the Bar Association Athanase Mutabingwa said that Rwanda has established a permanent legal assistance program for vulnerable groups.

The country has built a Genocide Fugitive Database with more than 600 entries currently.

Ngoga noted that the use of technology include video conference testimonies and online access to one’s personal judicial records helped in speeding up activities.

More than 80,000 cases in last judicial year were completed.

“Current statistics and international rankings show that Rwandans have trust in their judicial system,” The Chief Justice Prof. Samuel Rugege said.

Prof. Rugege added that Transparency international survey shows 80% of Rwandans believe justice is administered fairly.

He reminded that World Economic Forum Competitiveness report ranks Rwanda 25th in independence of judiciary.

“We need to reinforce grassroots mediation structures to support our ordinary courts,” Prof.Rugege said.

In a trial Involving a Rwandan genocide suspect in Norway, Witnesses told Oslo Court that Sadi Bugingo led a militia that made victims dig their graves then killed them with hand grenades and machetes during 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

Bugingo has pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated murder adding that “he funded the militia, led its attack and worked with the local leadrs to organize the murder spree” several witnesses testified.

Bugingo moved to Norway in 2002. He was arrested and put on trial there after Rwanda told Norwegian authorities in 2008 he was suspected of taking part in the genocide against Tutsi.

Witnesses said Bugingo did not kill anyone himself but led, encouraged and organised the killings – acts that amount to murder in Norwegian law.

He played a similar role in the killing of another 1,000 people at the town’s St. Joseph Catholic Centre in former Kibungo the following day, witnesses added.

Bugingo faces a maximum 21-year prison sentence if convicted.

Norwegian prosecutors have said there are more than 20 witnesses on the case and expect another 80 to testify via a video link in a trial that will run until December.