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Rwanda that joined the EAC bloc in 2007 is up to revive its National Monotoring Committee (NMC) to become an effective body to address various Non Trade Barriers (NTBs).

This was discussed on September 20, by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Private Sector Federation under the patronage of the Trade Mark East Africa, a multi-donor funded agency set up to promote regional trade and economic integration in East Africa.

The Agency hosted a high level validation workshop of the ‘National Strategy for Eliminating Non-Tariff Barriers’ at Serena Hotel.

The event attracted over 70 participants coming from both the public and private sector, such as Sorwathe, Bralirwa, and Association of Transporters, Ministry of East African Community, Rwandan Revenue Authority, Rwandan Bureau of Standards, Immigration General Secretariat and National Police.

The goal was to reverse the situation by strengthening the Rwanda NMC’s operations,enabling it to become the driving force of the NTB elimination process at national and regional level.

Permanent Secretary in MINICOM, Emmanuel Hategeka in his remarks said: “I am confident that the strategy will provide the inspiration and drive towards the elimination of all NTBs that we are facing as a country.

“The strategy will also enable us engage with neighbouring countries in a meaningful way as we seek to lower the cost of trading across borders”, added Hategeka.

The Strategy is to build around three strategic outcomes, each addressing important capacity issues and processes in the monitoring and elimination of NTBs using different advocacy channels both regionally and nationally.

The press statement from MINICOM shows that due to evidence from various studies conducted in the last two years, it is clear that the cost of Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) for EAC countries runs into tens of millions of dollars.

It shows that within the bloc landlocked countries such as Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi carry the greatest cost of NTBs due to distance from the main ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

The other obstacles include bad road infrastructure, delays at border crossings and lack of harmonized import and export standards and procedures are still an obstacle to trade within the region.

As a result of imports of one container in Rwanda, for example, is more than 3.5 times higher than in Tanzania and 2.5 times higher than in Kenya.

To address the problem of NTBs the EAC Protocol envisaged the establishment of theNational Monitoring Committees on NTBs (NMCs) as a national mechanism for monitoring and coordination of NTB elimination.

However, the functioning of these committees has not been very effective in either the national or regional context and the list of the main NTBs registered in the Time Bound Programme for Elimination of NTBs has not recorded much progress since Rwanda joined the EAC in 2007.

The core part of this strategy therefore, aims to revive the NMC to become an effective body to address various NTBs.

According to the statement, the main reasons for the lack of progress in the National Monitoring Committees on NTBs (NMCs’) work have been lack of authority, coordination structure and resources, lack of analytical capacity to address priority NTBs in a meaningful way.

Also identified are insufficient representation and contribution of the private sector to its operations, insufficient regional cooperation between the NMCs and lack of a strategic planning approach to monitoring and elimination of NTBs.

The Kigali City (MVK) is in plans of constructing pedestrian flyovers in the coming future. These flyovers will be located at the main round about in the city center, Kimihurura, Gisimenti and at Giporoso.
The flyovers will come as a solution for pedestrians that find difficulties in crossing these places during busy hours of the day.

This has been confirmed by Mr. Bruno Rangira in charge of information in MVK in an interview with Igihe.com.

Asked on the condition and appearance of the flyovers, Bruno Rangira could not confirm the exact picture of the infrastructure after all the study is still ongoing.

“We shall give you a full picture of the infrastructures after the study being conducted by NIGUS is complete and handed over to the city authority”.

A large number of city dwellers interviewed on the new infrastructure confirmed that once these flyovers are put in place, road accidents will drastically reduce.

An interviewee who prefered annonymity said that this will put to use ample usage of space given the increasing number of vehicles in the city center, “Someone may spend about 30minutes waiting for traffic to slow down. This delays the person from work especially during the morning hours when we are all going to work places”.

Not only will pedestrians benefit but also vehicle owners and drivers especially in time management. Ndahiro Julius another interviewee told Igihe.com, “It prevents chaos on the road because pedestrians have their own road and the follow if cars keep on moving without stopping at zebra crossings”

Rwanda like the rest of the world yesterday September 21 marked and celebrated the annual International Day of Peace at Petit Stade Remera that attracted a peace walk from KBC Kimihurura round point to the stadium.

Rwandan artists’ peacemakers hosted attendants to a concert where different governmental and nongovernmental organizations participated.

The theme for International Day of Peace this year says ‘make your voice heard’ under the overall idea of peace and democracy.

Jean Batiste Habyarimana, the Executive Secretary of Rwanda National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) on behalf of organizer of the event this year said that the day commemorates and strengthens the ideals of peace both within and among all nations.

Habyarimana in a press interview challenged Rwandans to celebrate and rejoice the day because of the past history.

“As Rwandans since the 1994 genocide there has been an interesting step to development, peace and stability and today we play a good example to the international scene. Let us keep on ensuring peace and stability through promoting security, fight poverty, and guarantee health standards and social comfort,” He emphasized.

The Kigali City Mayor Fidele Ndayisaba said that development and social stability is all about peace.

“In Kigali we are secure and we give better services to the public which means that we have peace. Today we just joined other organs to celebrate the day and to make a continuous mobilization at the event,” said Ndayisaba.

Aurelian Agbinonu, the UN Resident Coordinator recommended the Rwanda Defense Forces who are in peacekeeping mission in Darfur that contributed greatly to reducing of human suffering there while ensuring peace in the area.

He also challenged the youth to be peace volunteers and ensure stability.

The Minister in the Presidents’ office Venancia Tugireyezu as the chief guest at the event in her remarks urged parents and guardians to play crucial role in mobilizing the young upon the peace building.

The day was recommended in 1982 by the United Nation (resolutions 36/37 and 55/282), and the UN’s theme for International Day of Peace this year says ‘make your voice heard’ under the overall idea of peace and democracy.

In Rwanda, over the past two years, the International Day of Peace has been organized and celebrated under the lead of the United Nations Office in Rwanda.

This year, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission as her mandate of coordinating all activities related to peace and unity requires, has decided to take the lead of organizing and coordinating this year’s celebrations.

The current report that has been released shows that unless boys join the cause, girls are fighting a losing battle for gender equality.

The findings compiled in the 2011 edition of ‘because I am a Girl: The State of the World’s Girls’ in printed by the International children’s rights organization; Plan International.

The edition this year asks the question, “So, what about the boys?”
The survey attributes that the solution of the inequality problem is the working together by men, women, boys, girls and teenagers of all sexes.

“The boys have the power that has been given to them from childhood,” Hamimu Masudi, Plan’s campaign co-coordinator for East and Southern Africa, told agencies.

“If you’re going to get the girls to have power, then you’ve got to engage the boys.”

The report argues that boys must be influenced of the unfairness of gender inequality to be committed to changing it.

The survey was carried out to more than 4,000 people ranging from 12- to 18-year-olds from countries including Rwanda, India and the United Kingdom, revealing gender stereotypes that are still deeply entrenched in both boys and girls.

Sixty five per cent of participants from Indian and Rwanda somewhat agreed that a woman should tolerate violence to keep her family together.

A further 43 per cent agreed there are times when a woman deserves to be beaten.

Sixty seven per cent of boys and 71 per cent of girls surveyed in Rwanda believe changing diapers, bathing and feeding the kids are a mother’s responsibility as did 83 per cent of boys and 87 per cent of girls in India.

Over 60 per cent of participants in India believe when money is tight it is better to educate a boy instead of a girl.

The report also found that toys are often differentiated by sex, with advertisers pitching them to girls and boys differently. Nor is this confined to the northern hemisphere, as North American toys are often imported to Latin American countries as Well.

Challenging gender stereotypes that are sometimes reinforced by community, culture and religion is challenging in both boys and girls.

In many countries, there is a higher worth placed on boys from birth, and it comes with high expectations.

“They’ve been told never to cry,” said Masudi. “They have been told when they are sick they should not go in bed.”

According to the report, boys living in that macho pressure cooker can suffer lower academic scores and be more likely to take part in destructive and violent behaviors.

Boys also benefit, however, when there is more equality in the relationship with their female contemporaries, Masudi said.

The empowerment and education of girls has long been identified as a key factor in reducing poverty, particularly in developing nations.

Plan International chief executive Nigel Chapman said, “Of course, many boys are affected by poverty lack of opportunity and also violence, but girls face double discrimination by being young and by being female.

“Everyone, including boys, benefits from a more just, equal world but it cannot be attained by girls alone we must all play a more active part.”

Sensational artist Kitoko Bibarwa has released a new song titled Akabuto literally meaning a fruit. The distribution of the akabuto song started today.

It’s a boom boom dancehall song sang in three languages; Kinyarwanda, English and Swahili.

In an interview with Igihe.com Kitoko said the new song fits well in all dancing clubs across the East African Community as it has been his target while he compsed the song.

Kitoko said, “This song was produced by Washington from Uganda. Personally I really love it and hope it will be liked by all people who like music across EAC bloc since its in three languages.

The Singer says he wants to promote himself and the Rwandan music as well.

The song includes the words like boom boom, kiss kiss kiss and mmwwwee mmwwweee.

Rwandan artists mainly those involved in peacemaking have brought their arts together to celebrate and promote peace, unity and reconciliation on the International Day of Peace that is being celebrated all over the world.

Our reporter at the event received messages they are delivering to the Rwandans and all people in the world.

Dieudonné Munyanshoza :”I wish people living in Rwanda and all over the world to cerebrate this day of peace because there is nothing that can be reached upon without peace.

“Let’s fight for peace, unity and lets reconcile to each other in order to reach a sustainable development.
“I pledge to all Rwandans and others living in the world to overwhelmingly observe and celebrate this day” the renowned singers concluded.

Intore Jean De Dieu Tuyisenge a.k.a Tora Kagame: “Iam happy for this day and I wish all people to fight for peace to prevail in this world”.

Award winning filmmaker Edouard Bamporiki: “People to have peace in their hearts and to inevitably set off peace revolution and friendly people should tell each other about peace. Peacemaker bears peace child”

Staff Sgt. Robert: “People should play big part either in protecting peace, security or even protecting the surroundings.

“Peace and security should be protected by all people- civilians, police or soldiers because we are all important to each other”

Kizito mihigo: “Some artists played a role in promoting hatred that made the 1994 genocide inevitable and therefore today artist should play part in liberating the nation, spread love where hatred was spread, promote unity where divisionism was spread”.

Sophie Nzayisenga a.k.a Amahoro: “we have to be happy today because we have peace and stability in Rwanda and we have to fight for it as we respect each other and as we also help each other”.

Marc Mico Nsengiyaremye: “To love the nation is the first priority to promote and this will result into ensuring our country with peace and unity, and all people should love the nation.

“As public figures, we have to be example in delivering message of peace to the public because no peace no love”.

Mani Martin: “I celebrate this day because this goes with my normal sayings and I wish our nation to play an example in promoting peace across the world”.

Kitoko Bibarwa: “Nothing can be done without peace either personally or even publically and this is not the government program but should be done at family level”.

In musanze, MINICOM and Rwanda Cooperative Agency met and discussed with business representatives from all sectors of Musanze and Nyabihu about new commercial laws regulating business.

Some of new commercial laws include insolvency law to facilitate traders rescue trade in case of bankruptcy and also law relating to intellectual properties for artists and know how to protect their properties.

These new commercial regulations were enacted as a result of emerging business dynamics and registering business within 24 hours through new laws and help Rwandans to access loans, said Asiimwe Susan, the legal advisor at the ministry.

This new system will also facilitate investors to access East African Community market where 30 percent of imported products, will be taxed zero on registered products, and company laws will bring new picture of the registered companies, said Assimwe

Nsengiyunva, a resident of Musanze says, since Rwanda joined EAC, things are still expensive and every day the Government assures them zero tax, yet MINICOM hasn’t implemented what their promises.

Mwambutsa Emable, a representative of business men in his sector, says FRW 10,000 fee on income of any business to register as a cooperative was a good idea, but finds a hindrance to result into unnecessary business everywhere.

Registration fee for business via Internet will be free but if registered with RDB, the registration price is Frw 10,000, but MINICOM and RDB also facilitate low income earners below Frw 10,000 to pay Frw3,000 to RDB, said Assimwe Susan in MINICOM.

They urged the participants to be participative in all angles and manage to save some money for trainings and develop their business.

Assimwe added: “After training we leave with the participants soft copy and put them in sectors, especially with our experts with right contacts.

Gahutu Ezekiel, a businessman, says tax on imported products should be having a fixed tax if a commercial license is provided and recognized by Rwanda Revenue Authority or RDB.

Kamali Edward, a consultant in BDC from Nyabihu district says what MINICOM has done will prove his daily work consultancy and manage to help people from his district.

As the training was based on new laws governing cooperatives and small scale business to facilitate citizens get involved in business easily, MINICOM will further go to other districts.

Lt. Col. Tharcisse Nditurende pinned his co-accused Victoire Ingabire saying she communicated to Europe using e-mail messages.

As he was ready to start, the prosecution raised their concern to the court that the defense might not be co-ordinated and want to delay the trial.

They also updated the High Court that evidence from Netherlands will be submitted to court by the end of this month. The court cleared to them that there was no problem to wait for them and the trial should continue.

As he had started pleading at day 10 of the trial, Nditurende who already plead guilty of the charges against him revealed that the e-mails were his and responses were from Ingabire.

He told court that all the mails he got from Ingabire were given to the prosecution during his interrogation when he was asked to give his e-mail address and its password.

He further explained how he and some of his colleagues had fallen out from FDLR to form what they were proposing as CDF to join FDU and help overthrow the government power in Rwanda militarily.

Nditurende told court that did not happen because the DRC intelligence (ARN) had arrested Maj. Vital Uwumuremyi who was the liaison between them and Ingabire at the beginning of 2009.

Nditurende explained to the court that as Uwumuremyi had given him Ingabire’s e-mail address, it was the only way left to communicate even though he got a mobile telephone later.

Nditurende admits that the e-mails were his and the one who replied was Ingabire who made different appointments like meeting face to face in Dar Es Salam in Tanzania but then they met in Brazzaville (Congo).

The e-mail also contains the plans of how Ingabire could send them some money for communication through a Congolese Colonel called Zelote.

The trial resumes on September 21 where Lt. Col. Noel Habiyaremye another co-accused will defend himself in court because Lt. Col. Tharcisse Nditurende had finished.

President Kagame received the ‘Global Health, Technology and Development Award’ this Monday in recognition for his support in ICT and improvement of health conditions in the country.

The event was held at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City in USA in the awarding ceremony “South-South Awards” attributed to state organs, civil society groups, and individuals who have strived to bring development in the developing countries in Africa Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Oceania, the Caribbean and in the Pacific region.

This year’s theme is “Digital Health for Digital Development”

The award given to the president is in recognition for his efforts in promoting fast and reliable ICT networks not only in Rwanda but all over the world through the Broadband connection which will drastically slash communication prices once completed, his continuous efforts towards attainment of the MDG’s especially in improving the living conditions of all Rwandans.

“We are so happy that this organization has recognized that both government’s efforts and abilities our president deserve an award. For us, this award signifies the path we are in should be encouraged in reference to ICT and improving the living conditions of our people” Minister Mushikiwabo told reporters shortly after receiving the award on behalf of president Kagame who wasn’t at the event.

ICT in Rwandan Health Care System known as “Telemedicine” is currently in use at King Fiscal Hospital where by a doctor can attend to patients not physically present. In addition, the impact if ICT is felt in the increasing capacity to handle complicated disease that Rwanda could not handle a few years ago and patient information storage.

Other dignitaries who received awards include Mwai Kibaki the president of Kenya, Abdoulaye Wade president of Senegal, Sheikh Hasina Prime-minister of Bangladesh, and Dr Vanda Pignato the first lady to El Salvador.

Having acquired a bank loan from Umwalimu SACCO, Runda teachers have bought a brand new truck through their cooperative KISKA (Koperative Isonga za Kamonyi) established in February 2011.

The truck cost 8million which was given as a loan by UMWALIMU SACCO to the teachers after they voluntary collected 800,000 on their cooperative account.

The headmaster of Runda Mr. Emmanuel Munyaneza that is also a member of KISKA congratulated his fellow teachers upon the achievement saying that sometimes teachers were afraid of acquiring big loans like these ones but now it’s a positive step taken.

Payment contract with Umwarimu Sacco state that they should repay the loan in a period of four years but given the rate at which the vehicle is operating, payment will be completed before the set time given that it has for the past 3months made a profit of 3million.

Mr. Nkuranga Theogene in charge of capacity building in Rwanda Cooperative Agency warned members of the KISAKA cooperative on the mismanagement of funds and not to embezzle profits because they are for the cooperative and every member has a benefit when the cooperative makes profits.

The Southern Province Governor Mr. Alphonse Munyantwari who was the guest of Honor noted that there is hope for teachers because such achievements registered clearly indicated that they value the work they do. “The government is focused on what can uplift teachers standards of living and such loans are a support to the government,