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  • Current Policy Governing Mining License Challenged

    Rutongo Casiterites miners have challenged the current policy governing Mining License noting that the given period on license is too short; hence there is a need to comply it with deposit capacity.

    While commenting on the License of Rutongo Mines, Kevin Buyskes, General Manager – Rutongo Mines pointed out that current 4 years License which nearing the end must be extended to about or even 30 years.

    He noted that the policy behind mining license should be revised to avoid losses which can be caused by the license limit.

    “It is only through license that you can only invest” Said Buyskes while addressing East African Legislative Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural resources.

    The EALA committee was touring at Rutongo Mining concession to eyewitness and critically assesses the level of Mining sector in Rwanda.
    Caroline Kayonga, The PS at the Ministry of Natural resources said the Rwanda Mining Law is clear.

    She noted that the only problem is that investors have not yet shown the available quantity of Minerals at the site.

    “….,they have to come up with correct data which show the capacity of the deposit and ask a License depending on it;…if it is clear that exploitation take more than 4 years, why can’t we provide a license of more than 4 years?” Caroline said.

    “Our duty is to make sure that these resources are well managed and contributing to Rwanda’s economic growth and benefiting both Rwandans and investors on their side”

    However, during the field work, Bazivamo Christophe of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) appreciated activities of the Mining Company which include the construction of new tunnel situating at Nyamyumba Mining site of Rutongo Mining concession.

    Leonidas Simpenzwe, the Senior Group Geologist revealed that around 1930s, a yearly production of casiterites was about 2000 tones.

    With significant progress in Mining, only Nyamyumba site produce 50,000 tones yearly-Said Simpenzwe during an Interview and one tone cost around 20 000$.

    Currently, Rutongo Mining concession employs more than 35 000 people.

    Newly developed underneath tunnel is being constructed at the site.

  • Letter to Igihe.com Readers

    Dear readers of igihe.com,

    I am happy to share with you some ideas about execution of foreign judgments in the Republic of Rwanda.

    Due to Rwanda’s open policy and commitments to contribute positively to international justice, peace and security, Rwanda has made major political and policy decisions, which we wish all Rwandans to understand.

    In terms of international peace keeping missions, Rwanda contributes troops in international trouble spots, where Rwandans, sons and daughters, risk their lives in the quest of international stability, peace, law and order.

    Rwanda does this consciously and has accepted to pay the cost that it entails.

    Similarly, in terms of justice, Rwanda has signed treaties and memorandum of understanding with different international actors, including the ICTR, the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone, bilateral engagements, etc., to have foreigners serve their sentences in Rwanda, as part of executing foreign courts judgments on the Rwandan national territory.

    It follows therefore that if MrRajat Gupta is sentenced and ordered by the Court to serve his sentence in Rwanda, Rwanda would have no objection to such order by the Court.

    It is in the same spirit that there are Sierra Leoneans serving their sentences in Rwanda.

    It is equally in the same way that some Rwandans sentenced by the ICTR in Arusha are serving their sentences in countries like Mali and other countries. There is nothing new or strange in this.

    Rwanda will remain open to facilitate the cause of International Justice in accordance with the laws of this country, for as long as Rwanda sees value in its international obligation and national policy frameworks.

    If the United States of America court decides that Mr Gupta or any other American should serve their sentence in Rwanda, Rwanda would have no objection to executing that Court Order for as long as there is clear understanding between Rwanda and parties concerned on the modalities for executing such sentences in Rwanda.

    Thank you all for your understanding.

    Tharcisse KARUGARAMA

    Minister of Justice&Attorney General

    Republic of Rwanda

  • Prime Minister Sets Deadline for Mukungwa 2 Power Plant

    The Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has asked the contracted Chinese company to hasten activities of constructing Mukungwa 2 Hydropower plant after activities were said to have slowed down.

    The Premier gave December 15th deadline of completion while calling upon contractors to increase manpower and machinery so that the deadline is met.

    Habumuremyi noted that energy is one of the country’s major concerns underscoring that the country generates only 115 megawatts of electricity while the intended target is 1000 megawatts by 2017.

    The Chinese company is working alongside a Canadian one known as AECOM for construction activities.

    The plant is located in Musanze district of Northern Province and it will generate 2.5 megawatts of power once completed.

  • Tanzanian Soldier Dies on Training in Rwanda

    Private Kaila Ally Shabani from Tanzanian Army died in the East African Military Field Training under “Ushirikiano Imara, 2012”.

    The training is being conducted in Gako Camp Bugesera District in the Eastern Province of Rwanda.

    The in charge of Medical Treatment in“Ushirikiano Imara 2012”, Dr. Lt Col. Muvunyi Zuberi revealed that death was caused by a heart attack during exercise.

    “We didn’t expect such death to happen. Even those who came with him didn’t know he has heart problems” Commented Dr. Muvunyi.

    Brig. Gen. Mathew Sukambi of Tanzanian delegation lamented the death noting that it’s a big loss to Tanzanian forces.

    He said they have already sent condolence message to the family of the deceased soldier.

    Together with Tanzanian Embassy in Rwanda, the body was sent to Tanzania for funeral.

  • Rwandan Named Young Business Leader of The Year

    CNBC Africa named Jack Kayonga, MD, Rwanda Development Bank a Young Business Leader of The year.

    CNBC Africa is an African television network for Sub-Saharan Africa. It was launched by CNBC and Africa Business News (Pty) LTD on June 1, 2007.

    CNBC Africa is headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg.

    The award Ceremony is taking place at the Vodadome in Midrand, South Africa on Thursday, October 25, 2012, and will honour winners from West, East and Southern Africa.

    Rakesh Wahi, the founder of the ABN Group, said: ’All Africa Business Leader Awards is a recognition and tribute to African Business Leaders who have made a qualitative and quantitative difference to the companies, industries and communities that they serve.

    Supported by the CNBC brand and through an exhaustive process of diligence by KPMG, these awards will be the most coveted in the African Continent.’

    Others nominated in various categories include:Business Leader of The Year sponsored by Telkom: Phakamani Hadebe, CEO, Landbank, James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Bank and Mitchelle Elegbe, CEO/ MD,Interswitch.

    Entrepreneur of The Year sponsored by the IDC: Jannie Mouton, CEO, PSG Group, Vimal Shah, CEO, Bidco Group and Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, CEO & President, Nestoil.

    Business Woman of the Year category: Jennifer Barassa, CEO, Top Image Ltd and Funke Opeke among others

  • Kayonza: Visually Impaired Lacking White Cane

    The Blind or visually impaired people in Kayonza District have complained against the lack of white canes which help them as a mobility tool used to detect objects in the path of a user.

    During the celebration of International Day of White Cane, the Blind said the cost of the cane is high with reference to their financial capacity.

    In 2010, MINISANTE conducted a study on visually impaired people and found that in 64,000 blinds country wide include 144, 000 with one eye while only 10% of three thousand members of Rwanda Union of the Blind possess white canes.

    The Chief Executive of Rwanda Union of Blinds, Kanimba Donatile said the Union will continue to advocate for them.

    Initially, one white cane costs around Rwf 25000 to Rwf 30 000.

  • RTUC Student Commits Suicide

    Harezimana Innocent, 26 who was a student at Rwanda Tourism University College has killed himself after silently suffering with uncontrollable conditions for years.

    The witnesses said the incidents happened a while after rain when Harezimana Innocent hang himself in a small house situated in Remera near the Airtel office.

  • 50 Witnesses Testify Against Bugingo

    A Norwegian court trying former Rwandan businessman Sadi Bugingo this week started hearing more than 50 witnesses by video conference from Kigali.

    Bugingo, 47, is accused of playing a key role in the 1994 genocide against Tutsis in the former Kibungo, eastern Province, in 1994. He has been living in Norway since 2001.

    The hearings are set to continue until November 29. The witnesses are testifying from a room in the Supreme Court in Kigali which has video conference equipment.

    The trial proceedings are being conducted in Norway with translation into Kinyarwanda, the language of the witnesses.

    Bugingo was arrested in Norway in 2010. This is the first genocide trial before a Norwegian court. It is expected to last several months and to close in early 2013.

  • Amani to Discuss Regional Instability

    Rwanda Parliamentary Forum “Amani” intends to determine the root causes hindering peace and sustainable development in the Great Lakes region.

    “There are too many armed groups in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the eastern DRC. We want to know how these groups receive foreign support, how they dig and sell minerals for funding, “said Sen. John Damascene Bizimana, current president of the Amani Forum.

    He made the remarks at a press conference that announced the workshop that focuses on the way to avoid violence and terrorism that spread armed groups in eastern DRC.

    The workshop will be held at Rubavu (West), from 26 to 28 October 2012.

    Parliamentarians from seven countries have confirmed their participation at the workshop. They include DRC, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya.

    Other delegates from the East African Parliament (EALA) and four other members of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) will be present at the meeting.

    “Amani invited them to discuss the proliferation of light weapons and small arms. This is a project that began long before the birth of M23 in the DRC, “said Senator Bizimana.

    He noted that the workshop will analyze the nature of armed groups in the region.

    He regretted that UN group of Experts reports and NGOs saying they are insufficient and are not at the root of conflict.

    It will also analyze the impact of armed groups in the population, with internally displaced persons and refugees abroad while also focusing on justice issues facing this challenge.

    Ministers of defense, foreign affairs, refugees, and the UN agency for Refugees (UNHCR) will contribute to clarify the issue of armed groups.

  • 20,000 Farmers Covered Against Extreme Weather

    20,000 Rwandan farmers in the provinces of West and South have obtained an insurance product at the low cost to deal with extreme weather events.

    This offer has been made possible through a partnership between the insurer SORAS, the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture and One Acre Fund.

    According to the Ecofin Agency specializing in African finance, micro-insurance program “Kilimo Salama – Agriculture secure” allows farmers to compensate financial losses they may incur in the event of extreme weather events (drought, rain abundant…).

    “Kilimo Salama” allow farmers to repay the money they have incurred for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs.