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The national police spokesman Superintendent Theo’s Badege has said that Eric Nshimiyimana(photo below) health condition is stable. He was shot Thursday evening by a plain cloth policeman after resisting to be searched.

However, Sup. Badege’s remarks contradict that of eye witness Desire who didn’t want to disclose his second name pending sensitivity of the matter.

“No…no I won’t tell you my name but what I can assure you is that a motorcycle taxi carrying a man stopped close to Nshimiyimana and shot him in the chest. Later the armed passenger pressed a pistol onto him and immediately shot his own hand perhaps to fake that it was a gun battle, yet Nshimiyimana never resisted. I can’t add more about this,” said the eye witness.

However, Sup. Badege refutes the eye witness account saying, “What I was informed is that a resident of Gikondo’s Sodoma area alerted police that Nshimiyimana was carrying illegal stuff in his bag.”

“When Policeman alighted from motorcycle and stopped him, Nshimiyimana resisted and turned violent when the policeman pointed a pistol at him. It is through the tussle that the policeman fired a bullet which injured his hand and went straight to Nshimiyimana chest,” he disclosed.

Sup. Badege further stressed that indeed Nshimiyimana a member of Parti Social Imberakuri a political party which associates itself with the opposition, was found in possession with a pistol and twelve bullets.

“The eyewitness must be lying because at first a resident alerted the police and when we did our investigation we found that this guy was certainly carrying a firearm,” said Badege.

Currently, Injured Nshimiyimana is recovering at Kacyiru police hospital and only a few family members are allowed to see him, while members of the press and his party colleagues are restricted from seeing him.

“I’ll inform you the right time for journalists to meet him, currently we’re investigating his case,” Badege remarked.

While there’s still dilemma in the shooting of Nshimiyimana, political parties in the country who consider themselves as the opposition have been silently protesting the matter. And among them is FDU Ikingi party that issued a press release yesterday condemning the shooting.

“We call upon the government to make sure that security personnel do not use their positions to intimidate people; to prosecute the life attempt against opposition members and to ensure that rules of engagement are clear and respected,” stated FDU-Inkingi Interim Vice President Boniface Twagirimana.

Parti Social Imberakuri secretary general Immaculate Uwizeye highlighted that they are seeking international support to sue the government concerning the shooting of its party member.

“you see in Rwanda we’re like a cat and we can’t fight with government which is a Leopard that’s why we’re seeking some support from outside, but at this point I won’t disclose people who have shown interest in helping us, what I can assure you is that justice will prevail,” revealed Uwizeye.

In response to the opposition Sup. Badege bluffed their concerns adding that it would be better if they sued the government instead of destroying the police image by sending deceitful information to some the international media who also have a record of reporting negatively about Rwanda’s progress.

“I wonder why these political parties are exaggerating this matter yet they know very well they are associated to terror activities and one of them is Victoire Ingabire the head of FDU Ikingi who is in court for similar cases,” noted Sup. Badege.

56 people were killed in Burundi when armed men in military uniform attacked a bar on Sunday.

Witnesses said the gunmen; some disguised as policemen, burst into the bar late on Sunday, forced its patrons to the ground and raked the interior with bullets.
“I heard someone some distance away shout; “Kill them all” and they opened fire,”
a survivor told the local press.

Nyaruhirira Desire the Charge d’Affaire at Rwandas embassy in Burundi told Igihe.com in a telephone interview, “No Rwandan has been injured in the attack. However, four Congolese nationals are the only foreigners that were killed in the attack.”

Burundi has enjoyed relative peace since the former hardliner rebel Forces for National Liberation (FNL) laid down their weapons and joined the government in 2009 after two decades of insurgency.

However, attacks against civilians and soldiers have intensified since elections last year were widely boycotted by the opposition. Tit-for-tat fighting between the security forces and former militia fighters risks blowing up into a full-scale rebellion, Burundi Political analysts said.

“The attackers were carrying guns and knives, some of them were dressed in police uniform,” said one survivor who was too scared to give his name.

“They really took their time. Two bullets went through my body and another two are still inside. My legs sustained grenade injuries. All I can ask for is peace. I don’t know why I should be a victim,” another survivor narrated.

“They ordered everyone to lay down on the soil and started shooting the victims one by one,” the witness said.

No group has claimed responsibility of the attack, which took place in the town of Gatumba, 16 km west of the capital, Bujumbura, and close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo however, locals are voicing FNL for the attack.

A doctor who only gave his name as Leonard said he was totally overwhelmed. “We are lacking blood, equipment and medicine to treat all the injured,” he said.

Dead bodies had been left in a parking lot at one hospital.

Similar deadly raids have become more common in the past year, since the opposition boycotted elections, accusing President Pierre Nkurunziza’s party of fraud.

The small central African country is still struggling to emerge from 13 years of civil war that erupted in 1993 and left some 300,000 people dead.

The escalating violence has raised fears of a resumption of all-out conflict.

Its morning hours at his home together with the wife and a classmate, busy reading for the evening exam, the 27-year old poet and an award winning filmmaker Edouard Uwayo Bamporiki speaks to igihe.com reporter and shares his painful memories experienced during 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Bamporiki’s first poem iyobadatsembwa tuba dutwenga literally meaning ‘If they were not exterminated, we would be joyful together that is compiled in his book icyaha kuri bo, ikimwaro kuri jye shares well his true story.

He says that due to the strain of the massacres he was experiencing while in the hospital forced him to tell his mother to quit the hospital.

Bamporiki realized he was a Hutu when he was 8 years old. He was by then in primary three when his teacher gave class homework to ask their parents about their ethnic groups.

He also says: “When I joined secondary school, I met with genocide survivors and from their anguishes I could think of composing for them poems to fortify them but I could feel ashamed of what I am.

“When I came to Kigali in 2002, I joined Urunana (a creative communication for community development) but during presentations I could feel bothered,” he explains.

He says he gained public audibility when he went into competition where the judges were Tutsis, presented his testimony and won the competition.

From his stories of hope, unity and reconciliation, Bamporiki was among the 2009 recipients of Young Rwandan Achievers Awarded by Imbuto Foundation for his own authored, directed, acted and produced film. Later the Long Coat award received from New York that again was ranked the best movie in Rwanda in 2010.

“The award I got strengthened me and now I have to fight for peace to prevail not only in Rwanda but the whole world.

“What will make me happy is to see the world that has peace and stability with no conflicts and I know I will contribute greatly for this success. I found out that if I am doing something developmental to my national, then I shouldn’t feel ashamed,” Bamporiki added.

Bamporiki who witnessed the first hand of the horrors says he will center his work on ensuring that peace prevails in Rwanda using his natural gift as an artist.

He also focuses on being an international peacemaker. “I want the future generation to know me as an international peace advocate and that is why I author books, make films focusing on peace building that will last long.”

He calls on the public saying: “Do not hesitate to speak the truth about the pain we went through and fight for peace for the future generation to experience the tragic history we suffered.”

He is born from Cyangugu in a family of six children with only him as a boy. Apart from him, no one else from his family managed to study up to at least secondary level.

It’s from this background that the Award winning Filmmaker is sponsoring the annual best candidate at his former primary to promote and empower education at his home area.

Bamporiki likes the government campaign of empowering women because he is born in a family of girls and for that matter, he awards the best peace activist student at a Kigali based girl’s school Lycée Notre-Dame de Cîteaux where he also gives lecture about peace building each year.

Six children died and sixteen families left homeless after succumbing to a destructive heavy down pour on Sunday that caused landslides in Kinyababa, Butaro, Burera district and areas of Rusarabuge both in the northern province.

The mayor of Burera Samuel Sembagare told Igihe.com reporter that two girls in Rusumo cell in Butaro sector on Sunday night passed away as heavy rolling stones from the mountains hit their bedroom.

Another child from the same family survived the accident and is now in hospital under treatment. However, the parents of the victims luckily escaped the hit as they were in a distant room.

The deceased were aged 14 and 7 while the injured who is 15 explained the incident from Kinyababa sector. Three girls also died due to landslides the same night while their parents narrowly escaped death.

In Rusarabuge sector, a female aged 18 recently passed away when she drowned in a river as she was going for a weeding. The body of victim was found a few days later after the incident.

“It’s a disaster and disasters have no appointments with anyone. Normally we don’t experience such heavy rains but we are in a mountainous area and rock in this area is soft. Hadn’t the people cut down the trees and bamboo we planted in the past the danger wouldn’t have been immense,” The district mayor explained.”

This was confirmed by Mr. Christophe Nzabikorera in charge of finance and administration in the ministry of disaster and refugee repatriation (MIDMAR) who acknowledged that too much bamboo had been cleared and the landscape is now almost bare.

Nzabikorera said that at the moment the ministry is working hand in hand with the district administration to help survivors and those left homeless.

Journalists counted 16 houses demolished by the landslide and the homeless have so far been given shelter at Butaro Center while others are sheltering with neighbors.

The mayor assured reporters that measures are under way to completely end these disastrous incidents in the areas by emphasising on Midugudu settlements.

“Every body’s participation is needed. We shall get support from the government, local administration not forgetting the community service by the locals to help our brothers and sisters who have become victims of the landslides.

He proposed to MINAGRI to quickly deliver maize seeds to the region. “Let them help us so that we don’t fall victims of famine because we have lost more than 100 hectares of potatoes we were expecting to harvest.”

“We request the ministry of infrastructure to help us construct our bridges because they were damaged and rehabilitation requires a lot of skills we can’t afford.”

The innovative Star Construction Company Ltd has been the first company in Rwanda to make concrete windows and door frames. The company also makes ‘concrete curved blocks for building underground and above ground water tanks’.

Eng. Dedeki Papias Kazawadi(photo below) is the local proprietor and the company’s Managing Director of the two projects told igihe.com that: “I just got the idea about the projects, sat down at my workplace, initiated them and it has really worked out as I expected.”

Kazawadi said that, while initiating Concrete Blocks Water Tanks, he learnt the idea from the internet research, got in touch with a U.K based company called Parry Associate via emails to learn more about the project and he was then able to take over six months while bringing the idea into practice.

Since 2003, the concrete blocks for water tanks made of locally available resources, have been successfully installed and supplied to different parts of the country including; Kigali, Kayonza, Nyagatare, and Bugesera with the storage capacity ranging in 3 m3 and 200m3 depending on the size needed by the client.

Kazawadi also narrates that he bought the idea of concrete door frames and window frames from an Indian Lecturer at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) who told him how it works successfully in India.

“The lecturer just told me how the project is useful in India and as a pacesetter I asked myself why not Rwanda. I therefore sat down and brought the Lecturer’s idea into action,” he pointed out.

He said that such frames that were initiated in 2009 are cheap, modernized when it comes to the fast developing Rwanda, and long lasting.

Kazawadi said that among other objectives, the company intends to offer well researched, highly pertinent technologies that are result-oriented to the clients’ long-term development project proposals.

Star Construction so far deals with two subsidiary units- Concrete products that compile culverts, curbstones, hollow and solid blocks, paving blocks, and ventilation blocks.

And Contracts that compiles building construction works, irrigation works water tanks and maintenance services.

The firm has over 50 employees with about 23 permanent workers that are well trained in their fields.

Kazawadi also said that all employees recently went through one month training by Senior Expert Services from Germany under GTZ and WDA to improve on skills.

According to Kazawadi, the general hindrance to the construction sector in Rwanda is that there is no legal framework from the government to appraise and streamline stakeholders in the sector and he advises government to look into the matter.

The company that started slowly in 1996 and improved operations in 2001 expects annual revenues of approximately Frw 400 million this year.

With much enthusiasm and untiring fortitude, Kazawadi hopes to increase the company’s annual revenues to at least Frw 1Bn.

Who is Kazawadi

He is a Construction and Management engineer with a diploma in Architecture having more than 15 years practical experience in private entrepreneurship, leadership, construction company management, concrete products production for selling, marshlands irrigation and buildings construction works.

The management experience gained ranges from project management, costing and estimating, manpower and materials planning, contract negotiations, team building and leadership with ability to motivate; guide and coach towards managing projects to achieve full lifecycle project targets within budget limitations and strict deadlines.

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) recently opened a liaison office in Istanbul, Turkey.

The office shall facilitate RDB to efficiently attract Turkish business community that would develop interest of investing in Rwanda.

In a colorful ceremony, the opening of new office in Turkey attracted Rwandan dignitaries led by John Gara the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Development Board.

“Turkey’s strategic location, between Europe and Asia, ensures possibility of attracting investment from the region. There has already been expression of interest in the mining, real estate and infrastructure development sectors,” Gara stated at the opening ceremony.

Gara added that other than attracting investors, the office will also help in responding to investors inquiries and identifying local companies that Turkish companies would partner with in Rwanda.

The office would also serve to facilitate Rwandan investors wishing to carry out their business operations within Turkey and in the region.

Present was also Louise Mushikiwabo Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Inanc Cifti Rwanda’s honorary Consul in Turkey.

Others were Francois Kanimba the Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry, Albert Nsengiyumva the Minister of Infrastructure and Faustin Kananura Mbundu the Chairman of Private Sector federation.

At the opening of this new RDB office, a number of renowned companies expressed interest in investing in Rwanda including Tahincioglu and Nova, Hakan Mining and charcoal, Baycan, Petroland, among others. These companies will be visiting Rwanda before the end of the month.

In related development Rwanda’s consulate office has also been opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Independent Institute of lay Adventists of Kigali (INILAK) is organizing a splendid event for the first time in history of the institution to crown the pioneer beauty queen on 25th September2011

The voting system via internet is in progress effective of Monday morning.

Out of 15 ladies that participated in the pre-selection, only six contestants have so far confirmed to battle for the crown and break the record of the Institute since it was established.

INILAK has got different branches in the country; the event comes after INATEK and KIST

Local artist Prince Kid is one of the event organisers, speaking to igihe.com said, INILAK has branches in Rwamagana and Nyanza, Miss INILAK will represent the combined campuses in general.

Apart from Miss INILAK, First and Second Run-ups the 2011Miss INILAK will vote for Miss Photogenic and Miss Popular.

“Though it is INILAK’s first time to organize such event, it will be very interesting, where we have support from the University and local investors like the Big Deal Africa and Manor Hotel which promised to cater of the Miss to keep her figure” Prince Kid explained.

“Now the doors are open for people that wish to see contestants modeling as now they are amazing and on my point of view, they are all beautiful though all can’t win for one position” Prince Kid Said.

“We did not face challenges so far as our first time to organize such an event, because contestants were proud of the event and the judges are among the best we have got in the country furthermore we still keep them a secret to avoid cheating” he said

Miss INILAK will be announced this Sunday the 25th/09/2011 and entrance fee will be Frw 5000 in VIP and Frw 1000 the rest, during the event, different artists; Jay Polly, Dream Boys, Allioni, The Brothers, Prince Kid and Kitoko will entertain the audience.

The Independent Institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali – INILAK was founded in 1997 by FAPADER, an Association of Adventist Parents for the development of Education in Rwanda.

INILAK has three campuses, notably the one housing its Head Office located at the heart of Kigali City, Gasabo District, and its branches in, Nyanza District, Southern Province, and Rwamagana in Eastern province.

For the moment, INILAK delivers Bachelor’s Degrees.

Rwanda’s powerful Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) has grown bigger following the addition into the council of Andrew Mwenda a veteran journalist,Clever Gatete the Governor of the Rwanda National Bank, and Rode Renolds the CEO of Scotia bank in Europe.

This was in New York in the US where the PAC members convened. The PAC convenes twice every year. PAC members meet to exchange on the problems facing the country and adopt strategies to push Rwanda towards further development.

Discussions at the meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame centered mainly on the European and US debt crisis, its impact on the Rwandan economy as well as harnessing social media development in the country.

Two presentations made included, the impact of the global financial crisis and the European and US debt crisis on Rwanda presented by the governor of the Rwanda National Bank and the minister of finance and economic planning while Louis Mushikiwabo Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister talked about harnessing social media development in Rwanda.

Speaking to reporters the minister said the discussions were timely especially considering the status-quo of Rwanda’s economy.

One of the attendees Dell Dolson the director of bridge Rwanda and the chairman of the newly established E-SOKO institute said the institute has been established in line with the most of the issues raised during the meeting.

“The discussions point to the impact of the global situation especially onto Rwanda’s economy and Africa in general. If you create jobs, you create a buffer against the uncertainty of the global economy.”

The PAC also received new members during the New York meeting. They are Andrew Mwenda a veteran journalist,Clever Gatete the Governor of the Rwanda National Bank, and Rode Reynolds the CEO of Scotia bank in Europe.

The president of Rwanda Senate Dr Vincent Biruta has called upon Rwandans to follow activities of the parliament because it is their right to be informed. He urged them to regularly visit the senate.

Dr. Biruta suggested that citizens have the responsibility to propose bills to the house for review.

The remarks were made at TELECOM house while the senate president was explaining to the public achievements made by the Senate as it is almost winding up its semester that begun in 2003.

However, in 2004, the senate acquired new members whose term of office shall expire next year.

On the control and evaluation of activities Biruta noted that the different monitoring and evaluation commissions were set up including; the special commission in charge of FARG, and the special commission in charge calamities.

The senate in its mandate also conducted several researches and analysed several reports from different commissions.

However, challenging queries were raised on the imbalance, quality and corruption while applying for jobs in public institutions. Dr. Biruta explained to the audience that the senate has worked hard on the issue in relation to the law so that injustice and corruption could be eliminated.

Former Gishwati residents welfare was another issue that was posed to the speakers and honorable Speciose Ayinkamiye explained that the senate is aware and monitoring its developments closely.

Dr. Biruta however, reminded Rwandans to locally resolve their problems before approaching the senate for reactions.

Dr. Mike Amour(photo below), an American expert on leadership skills will this Thursday start offering trainings to University students, government officials and company Chief Executive Officers.

His lectures in Rwanda will be the first of the kind in Africa and will focus on management skills, trust among employees and employers, and how leaders inspire and motivate those they lead.

According to Amour also a retired US navy, good leadership applies to all aspects of life even in the army where soldiers win a battle through proper management as well as motivation from their commanders.

Amour is also founder and president of Strategic Leadership Development International (SLDI), an organization that provides leadership and development services.

He says that he was inspired by Rwanda’s governance credentials, especially on the country’s progress towards achieving developmental activities in its vision 2020 goals.

Due to this inspiration, Amour has decided to build his offices in Rwanda that will offer leadership courses to other African countries.

“At first I was convinced to open the African headquarters in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. However,after thoroughly checking Rwanda’s progress, I knew with no doubt that this was best country which should serve as example of good governance to the rest in the continent,” he remarked.