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Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has made a surprise visit to the first telecommunication giant MTN Rwanda.

The premier prior to the visiting of its operations said he has the program of visiting different companies and organizations without prior notifying the staff or any prior preparations made for the visit.

After visiting different departments at the MTN Center Nyarutarama, the Premier challenged the MTN board member and the Staff on service delivery saying the company needs immediate improvement.

“Everyone starting from myself, other government officials including H.E the President of the Republic is complaining about your services and greater improvement is needed,” Prime Minister said.

The Premier on this point revived on MTN internet services and call drops as well. He gave the example of international people attending conferences like in Kigali Serena who normally complain about the said hindrances.

“There is a need to streamline the quality of services and affordable to the people,” Premier added.

The Prime Minister also requested the company to help the government and find possible measures of helping the citizens own mobile phones for percent to reach at least 60%.

The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) has earlier announced the whole populations of mobile subscribers total only 40% of the country’s population.

MTN CEO Khaled Mikkawi in response said that the whole company ranging from each staff has it in mind of providing better services to the people they serve.

He added that the company tirelessly work hard to see all challenges being rectified giving an example of Blackberry users that has been facing strides on the phones in the past days saying that “with effect from today the problem has been solved.”

The Premier was accompanied by different officials in his office including other government officials; Rwanda’s Minister for ICT Hon. Dr. Ignace Gatare, Régis Gatarayiha, the acting Director General of RURA, and Patrick Nyirishema Head of ICT Department Rwanda Development Board RDB among others.

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Seven Ambassadors representing various countries in Rwanda have requested the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) based in Arusha to set free five detainees proved innocent.

Their request follows a trip they took at ICTR premises, where they visited the courts various departments including, registrar, prison cells and also met judges and prosecutors.

Uganda’s ambassador Richard Kabonero noted that the five detainees were proved guilty and there was no reason for them continue to be detained.

He further challenged the court’s excuse claiming that they are working on logistics to integrate them back to the Rwandan society, citing the process was delaying.

Meanwhile, the ambassadors hailed the courts performance especially in fighting impunity and its campaign against genocide.

Among the ambassadors who visited ICTR on 3rd February this year, represent Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, China, European Union, South Africa and Russia.

Family members and friends of suspected genocide fugitive and businessman Charles Bandora yet to be deported from Norway to Rwanda protested over the weekend in the streets of Belgium against the deportation plans.

According to a communiqué from a supreme court in Belgium, Bandora’s case would be appropriately dealt with Rwanda’s jurisdiction.

Bandora is accused of conducting killings and looting activities in Ruhana sector, Bugesera district during the Rwanda’s 1994 Tutsi Genocide.

During the war, Bandora was known to be among the richest men in the sector and a party official of MRND the then ruling political party which most of its members oversaw ethnic killings in their respective strongholds.

The genocide suspect was arrested in Norway 8th January 2010, on accounts of entering the country illegally, and then Rwanda immediately sent indictments to prosecute Bandora in his motherland.

November last year the Norway’s Oslo Supreme Court denied Bandora’s appeal not to be deported, however the court hasn’t given a specific date the suspect’s transfer to Rwandan authorities.

A new radio station broadcasting on frequency 98.7FM has been launched today to join the airwaves in Rwanda.
The radio is owned by Nation Media Group (NMG), the Kenyan based leading media house in East and Central Africa.

The new radio brings the total number of radio stations in Rwanda to 30 and according to the reports, the radio has been positioned as a ‘fresh hits, real talk’ station and is targeting the youth in Kigali and middle to low income, with a slight female skew.

Speaking ahead of KFM Launch, the Rwandan Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs Mr. Protais Musoni welcomed the development as it is in line with his government’s vision of building a vibrant, professional and independent media for the country.

“In our reforms, we want a vibrant media that serves the needs of the Rwandan people. Having a new media outlet of international standard, does create the right environment for competitiveness.

We see this as part of creating the vision we have for Rwanda of being the information and ICT hub for the region.” Minister Musoni said.

The Rwandan government is currently implementing a series of reforms including enacting access to information bill, allowing self regulation of the media aimed at revamping the media industry to transform it into a responsible, profitable, vibrant and independent sector of the economy.

According to Linus Gitahi, Chief Executive Officer of Nation Media Group, the launch of K-FM on the Rwandan media market paves the way for more investments from the Group in line with its vision to be Media of Africa for Africa.

He also said NMG is already pursuing other investments in the country including television and print media.

Rwanda’s Media High Council (MHC) board chairman Arthur Asiimwe, said NMG’s entry will improve the level of professionalism in media as currently only 30 per cent of practicing journalists are trained in journalism.

“NMG’s entry is a significant step towards building a vibrant media industry in the country. It will no doubt add to developing strong and professional media for our country.” he said.

“Other than being a renowned entertainment and news station, we are committed to giving our contribution to media development in Rwanda through setting the standard for rigorous, responsible and professional journalism. We will give a platform for the Rwandan community to give ideas that can contribute to building their nation,” said Philip Velese, General Manger Nation Holdings Rwanda Limited, the local subsidiary of Nation Media Group.

K-FM will also be a reliable source of timely, credible and balanced news bulletins and will carry in-depth analysis on current affairs and topical issues in the Rwandan society.

“We expect it to further catalyze quality reporting and professionalism in the media sector in Rwanda. The two are key not only to media as such but also to good governance consolidation in Rwanda.” said Prof Anastase Shyaka, the Chief Executive Officer, of Rwandan Governance Board.

Security operatives in Gicumbi district have arrested 29 men in an operation aimed at curbing suspected idlers. The arrested were transferred to Gicumbi transit center where they await screening.

According to the Regional Police Commander Northern Province Chief Superintendent Gilbert Gumira, such operations are aimed at preventing criminal activities that may be committed by potential criminals such as loiterers, prostitutes as well as street children.

At the transit centers screening process is conducted to identify criminals while street children are handed over to their parents with a warning to keep them off streets.

“In some cases some of those rounded up happen to be criminals on the run so we try to establish where they come from to ascertain whether they have cases to answer,” CSP Gumira explained.

He also noted that a partnership with Iwawa Rehabilitation and Integration Center has been established where Male loiterers aged between 18 and 35 years are transferred for rehabilitation. Facilities to accommodate women are yet to be established.

Currently only three districts in Northern Province have transit centers. They include Gicumbi, Murera and Musanze. Efforts are already underway to establish at least a transit center in all the districts within the province.

The transit centers have already contributed to reduction in criminal activities. “If you compare crimes committed in December last year and those of last month you realize a significant reduction,” Gumira noted.

Two commercial houses in Nyamasheke District were razed by fire started by a short circuit on Saturday, the police confirmed.

Merchandize worth Rwf 1,076,000 was destroyed in the fire. The police have called upon general public to avoid incidents that can cause fire outbreak.

Police post in Nyamasheke District reported that the cause of fire was a wooden battery- charger that burst leading to a short circuit.

“A resident notified police who immediately arrived at the scene and together with locals managed extinguished the fire,” National Police official website has indicated.

Fire and Rescue Brigade commanding Officer Chief Superintendent Reverien Rugwizangoga urged citizens to always avoid any incident that may lead to fire accidents.

He asked citizens to be more cautious especially in the dry season.

“We have had cases of fire accidents in rural areas where forests get burnt up due to deliberate motives of some farmers. This has to stop and Rwandans should recognise the overall importance of forests”, Rugwizangoga said.

He reiterated the need for citizens to participate towards fighting fire outbreaks noting that quick sharing of information would not only save lives but also property.

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According to the Minister of local Government (MINALOC) James Musoni, living in planned villages has progressed significantly but still more is needed to be done.

Minister Musoni has said there has been a 67% response across the country to live in planned villages.

The minister was speaking at the closing of a two day meeting on rural settlement and integrated development programs. The meeting had brought together vice mayors in charge of economic affairs.

The local leaders focused on issues assessment findings on households living in planned village sites as well as access to low cost housing materials.

But the most dominating issue was finding ways of effectively mobilizing citizens to settle in planned villages for they can easily access infrastructural development collectively.

Local government minister Musoni said more needs to be done to improve both rural and urban settlement despite the development registered at different levels.

The minister observed that in the rural areas construction is done with consideration to available infrastructure and agricultural activities.

In the urban areas on the other hand, there are still some areas that are not well planned.

He therefore called on the local leaders to sensitize citizens to always bear in mind the city’s master plan before construction of residential settlements.

To facilitate in this program, the ministry of local government donated to each district GPS apparatus, a lap top computer and camera.

Kamonyi district vice mayor who was elected to represent her colleagues said these equipment will enable them to carry out their work effectively.

The vice mayors agreed to finalize the identification of sites for settlement and validate them through districts advisory councils by the end of February 2012.

They also agreed to stop construction of houses in marshlands and emphasize on conduction of environmental impact assessment to all projects before they start being implemented.

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Police in Ngoma District has detained four of Mutenderi Secondary school staff in Ngoma District for wrongfully admit 300 students.

The four staffs of the school that included its head teacher Bonneur Gapira Maombi are accused of violating powers and abusing responsibilities of Rwanda Education Board charged with students’ transfers and admissions to different schools.

It is said that one teacher collected money from the students before they could be registered.

The Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Mathias Harebamungu, has called for immediate thorough investigations into the matter.

Harebamungu say that the 2007 law on enrolment and transfer of students bars head teachers from carrying out admissions themselves.

He stated that similar cases had previously surfaced in the neighbouring district of Kayonza.

“Mutenderi’s head teacher went against the law, the motive is yet to be found but all sorts of suspicions can be thought of. It is known to all that only REB enrolls students and their transfers are handled by districts,” he said.

“Involving head teachers in student enrolment could encourage such malpractices corruption, favouritism and nepotism”.

“He picked students from nine-year basic education programme, something that has a very negative implication. He had no right at all. I think the district will know how to handle this case”.

An order from schools inspectors have been issued to the school administration to send back the students where they had come from.

According to an eye witness at the scene, the school seemed to have no capacity to handle the 300 students to be accommodated by the school.

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