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  • Zambia Honors Players who Died in a Plane Crash

    Zambia prepared for the African Cup of Nations final by laying flowers in honor of players who died in a plane crash.
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    After arriving in Gabon for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, they visited a beach where in 1993, a Zambian military plane was en route to a World Cup qualifier in Senegal carrying the players when it crashed offshore which killed all 30 people on board, killing 11 players including David Efford Chalba populary known as Efford.

    Accompanied by coach Herve Renard,and former international Kalusha Bwalya who had avoided the tragedy, as he was in the Netherlands at the time and had travelled directly to Dakar from Europe, the players laid flowers and paid homage ahead of Zambia’s attempt to win their first Nations Cup trophy against Ivory Coast in Libreville.

    Former African Footballer of the Year and president of the Football Association of Zambia, Bwalya was Chipolopolo supporters who can afford the air fare have chartered two planes for their team’s third appearance in a continental final. Bwalya was quoted saying “I’m sure the boys up there will be watching on Sunday”.

    Some fans, however, who have found the cost of travel beyond their reach, will settle for watching the final from home while Zambian fans, meanwhile, and are preparing for an emotional occasion on Sunday.

    Bwalya, the Zambian players, and Renard, walked along the beach near Libreville’s airport on Thursday, singing a Zambian funeral hymn, before coming to a stop at the nearest point on land to the crash and laying a flower for each person killed, at the water’s edge.

    “On behalf of all of us involved in Zambian football, I say here that their dreams are our dreams, they are smiling down on heaven as we take part in this tournament in Gabon,” Bwalya added. “I pray that their souls may forever rest in peace and that God will give us the strength and the courage to fulfill our dreams and theirs.

    The president spoke to Zambian captain Christopher Katongo on Wednesday, after his team had beaten fancied Ghana 1-0 in Bata to qualify for their first Nations Cup final appearance since since 1994. Zambia’s President Michael Sata has also urged his countrymen to win the title, as they prepare to take on pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast.

  • Pope Benedict’s Message For World sick Day

    On Sunday 12th February will be the world day of the sick.It’s a day churches open their parish doors to the sick for prayer and healing.

    This year’s “world sick day’ message that was chosen by Pope Benedict himself will be given in three parts, the first will be “Penance”, the second will be “the anointing of the sick”, and the third and last will be “the holy Eucharist”

    The three blessings are to cleanse the sick through prayer and faith. The lessons in churches around the world will be that those who seek healing will find it in through their faith in the lord and through the blessings; they will regain their health through faith.

    Churches across Rwanda will not only open their doors to receive the sick but also be part of the healing process that will take place in all parts of country’s hospitals, homes, schools, or the streets, priests and their parishioners will be healing Rwanda’s through help, blessing, and prayer.

    Pope Benedict addressed all reverends, priests, and all practitioners of the church to encourage and teach the people the true meaning of what this day means.
    For decades people would believe that when priests were called to the homes of the sick, it was believed that the person was going to die, hence many people when sick avoid churches.

    A member of the Christian Life Assembly church shared with IGIHE.com about what this day meant for his church and Rwandan’s in general.

    “The day will bring a new light to those that haven’t fully understood the meaning of the Holy Eucharist. A day for the people to help those in need. Our church has cells in different districts, they conduct meetings to find ways of helping the sick. Some offer food to patients in hospitals, others contribute money to get someone checked in hospital and others help children whose parents are ill.”

    “It is a day for everyone to come together and share in the power of healing both emotionally, physically and spiritually.”

    “The world day of the sick should not be simply about helping the sick, but also helping anyone in need” he added.

  • Restaurants Closed Over Poor Hygiene

    Three restaurants have been closed down due to poor hygiene in their kitchens.

    A delegation comprising of officials from Ministry of Health, National Police and City council surveyed restaurants and hotels around the city assessing whether they were operating under standard health requirements.

    During the survey three restaurants including; Virunga restaurant at the MTN complex, Dolphin, and Car wash were shut down.

    It was established during the survey that restaurants which seemed clean and chic on the outside were actually unclean inside.

    Alphonsine Mukamunana of the ministry of health led the delegation conduting the survey to inspect various restaurants and their employees.

    Dolphin restaurant was closed down, Fabrice Niyongere promised to try and keep his kitchen clean and up to standards.

    The ministry of health is expected to meet all restaurants and hotel owners to discuss issues concerning the precautions and rules to be followed by all restaurants subject to the existing laws.

  • American Doctors visit King Faisal Hospital

    A visiting group of American doctors are in the country to treat some patients at King Faisal Hospital. The doctors will visit several patients in different wards where they will be updated on the patients diagnosis.

    Those found with serious cases may be sponsored to receive treatment abroad if such cases cannot be handled in Rwanda due to the difficulty of the procedures.

    The doctors found constantly roaming the halls of the hospitals with warm smiles on their faces are seen talking to patients as the doctors go through their daily routines and checkups.

    The doctors are in the country for a few days where each day is spent visiting and determining the seriousness of medical conditions of patients.

    After the medical board examines all recent cases of all patients diagnosed visited, the decision will be left to the chairman of the medical referral board that will then start patient transfer proceedings from King Faisal hospital to requested hospitals.

    However, patients being sponsored by Rwandan government will not be eligible for treatment abroad– Patients such as those being sponsored by FARG.

    The American Doctors are accompanied by a group of photographers.

  • I want to Be a Journalist

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    Despite his physical disability condition, Jean De la Croix Nikwigize 14 says nothing will stop him from achieving his dream of graduating as a Journalist.

    Teachers at Gatagara school for disabled are impressed with the academic performance of Nikwigize. He uses his toes to write and doing most of his daily chores.

    Nikwigize is in his 6th grade of primary education. He wants to study and acquire a degree in journalism.

    “Nothing will stop me, writing is my passion and that’s why I want to be a reporter,” he said.

    His teachers are optimistic that he will pursue his dream since he has been performing well both in science and grammar subjects, yet in physical exercises lessons Nikwigize still amazes his tutors.

    Nikwigize plays soccer during his leisure time. He prefers the field position of midfield. Many of his fans admit that Nikwigize is good at football.

    “He knows how to juggle the ball, and often takes advantage of the second half to pull his stunts since most players are tired,” said his friend Shaban.

    Nikwigize claims that his talent of using his legs is a blessing to his life since no one taught him. “my mother told me that while I was growing up I developed an interest of using my toes and one day I shocked my mum when I fed myself by lifting a spoonful of food using my toes.”

    However, he discourages people that undermine other people living with disability since the stigma instills an attitude of inferiority complex to some disabled people hence discouraging them from exploiting their talents.

    “I urge those with physical challenges like me, to stand up tall and make use of their abilities.”

    The article was first published in KIGALITODAY

  • Rwanda Can Be Proud of Its Economic Progress

    A cover story in the Economist in May 2000 struck a dispiriting note. “Africa,” the magazine declared with great authority (and more than a ring of truth), “the hopeless continent.”

    As Rwandans, however, we know a thing or two about the resiliency of hope. We have learned it can endure and thrive in the most difficult conditions imaginable.

    While the world’s attention has been gripped by the global financial crisis, another, more uplifting narrative has been taking hold in Africa. With fitting irony, it was the Economist who once again summed up this new zeitgeist when it revisited the continent for its December 2011 edition. This time the cover read, “Africa Rising.”

    There are few places that bear this out more vividly than Rwanda. Earlier this week, the remarkable story of my country’s social and economic progress has come into renewed focus. On Tuesday, we released findings from the Household Living Conditions Survey conducted last year that revealed a reduction in the poverty rate to 45% from 57% since 2006.

    In other words, over just a five year period, 200,000 Rwandan families—or approximately one million of our 11 million citizens—have emerged from poverty.

    During the same period, the proportion of Rwandans classified as living in conditions of “extreme poverty” dropped to 24% from 37%, one of the steepest declines witnessed by any nation since such records have been kept. It should also be noted that the poorest of our population benefited most from the poverty reduction. As measured by the Gini coefficient, inequality decreased to 0.49 from 0.52 in the same period.

    he same report, endorsed by the United Nations and Oxfam, shows extraordinary progress against other benchmarks as well. Child and maternal mortality rates dropped by 41% and 35% respectively since 2006.

    The fertility rate has dropped to 4.6 from 6.1 largely as a result of the rapid and widespread adoption of modern contraceptive methods. Primary school enrolments stand at more than 90%, while the numbers attending secondary school have doubled.

    All of this has taken place, it seems worth repeating, while the rest of the world has endured the deepest and most sustained economic downturn since the Great Depression.

    Figures like these may explain why the word “miracle” is often applied to Rwanda’s social and economic resurgence. It is not, however, a term you will hear from Rwandans.

    We know full well that there is nothing supernatural about what we have achieved to date, and that it represents a mere fraction of the ambitions we hold for our country. We understand that our accomplishments are the result of unrelenting focus by our country’s leaders and citizens on getting the fundamentals right: government accountability and transparency, policies that attract trade and investment, a healthy and educated population.

    While Rwanda has implemented vital reforms across each of these areas, they alone would have amounted to little without the visionary cooperation of our development partners: the U.K., the World Bank, the European Union and the African Development Bank, among others. The channeling of most of their development assistance through budget support ensured attainment of superior results.

    As we briefly take stock of progress to date before setting out toward the next horizon, it is only fair to note that the success so far of our economic development and poverty reduction strategy is owed to good policy both in Kigali and among our partners.

    We have been heartened, to say the least, by the courage displayed by our partners in their unwavering commitment to our country and continent during a period of great fiscal constraint.

    For these reasons, whatever good news that can be gleaned from findings such as those released this week should be rightly considered yours as well as ours. After all, what is the price tag for a stable and prosperous Rwanda? What value can we place on a million lives that, in five short years, have shifted from deprivation to opportunity—or the millions more for whom that moment, yet to come, now seems within reach?

    The Author Mr. John Rwangombwa is Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.

    This Opinion Was first Published in The Wall Street Journal-Europe

  • 50 Frw Coin UnChanged

    The 5Ofrw coin that was approved by the cabinet on the 8th of February 2012 to be changed is to remain the same, but only the lettering of the coin shall be altered.

    The statement was made early this morning on radio, where BNR’S Clavier Gatete told reporters that the only changes to be made on the coin is the lettering of the coin.

    “The lettering of the coin must change so that it will be in accordance with the law,” He stated.

    The 50frw coins will not be collected and will stay in circulation, as for the 10frw, 20frw and the 100frw, they will remain as they are.

    The public should not be confused with this alteration and should not throw away the coins, for they are still valid and in circulation.

  • Action Aid Boss Impressed by Isange One-Stop Centre

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    The Chief Executive of Action Aid Joanna Kerr is impressed with the level of care offered to victims at Isange one stop centre run by the National Police.

    Ms Kerr was yesterday touring the centre to have a firsthand look at services offered to Gender Based Violence (GBV) victims.

    Attendants at the centre explained to Ms Kerr the process that patients go through from when the victims are received to when they are discharged.

    “Action Aid is committed to partner Police and be part of solutions,” Kerr said stressing the importance of communities in bringing the issue of GBV to the lime light as it remains an obstacle to socio economic development.

    Action Aid donated equipment worth Frw 8.5 million to help combat Gender Based violence in Nyaruguru and Musanze districts.

    Kerr also met the Inspector General of Police Emmanuel Gasana and the two discussed crime prevention.

    IGP explained the role of Police as not only focused on criminal prevention but also promoting human security by participating in the national development agenda.

    “By focusing on human security we reassure the public that we care about their social- economic development,” Gasana said.

  • Photo of The Day

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    A photo will always answer more than a million questions. The Photo tells a true story without uttering any words but it drives the message home quite precisely and clear.

    It all began as a simple post on my Facebook wall. I thought it was a simple and humble Photo of the normal African traditional home especially during the harvest season during when there is plenty of food and merry making on an environmental friendly snooker.

    My Facebook Account is recieving more that 40 tag requests per minute and so far the same photo has been shared more than 2000 times in the last 10hours since original upload on my Wall.

    what does this photo mean to you?

  • 50 Cent Feeds Somali Children

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    America’s street king Rapper and actor 50 cent is traveling with officials from World Food Program where they visited Somalia camps holding internally displaced people (IDPs) who escaped clashes and droughts in their region.

    50 cent interacted with children, youth, men and women living in the camps and posed for some pictures.

    The rapper joined the drought relief efforts in East Africa using Twitter, tweeting ” I’m gonna feed a billion people in Africa over the next 5 yrs,” adding, “It’s a big difference between being hungry and starvation I didn’t understand at first either you will catch on read about what’s going on.