Captain Nyirimpeta Aphrodice (Prince) after arriving in Rwanda
The Chief escort of the Supreme commander of FDLR rebel group operating in DR Congo has this Friday defected to Rwanda ending over two decades of rebel life.
Captain NyirimpetaAphrodicea.k.a Prince was the chief escort of Maj. Gen Iyamuremye Gaston a.k.a Rumuri Byiringiro Victor, the supreme leader of FDLR.
He arrived in Rwanda accompanied by four other combatants and their families.
“For 31 years, I have been a combatant. There is no future in FDLR,” he toldKT Press. He said his children are still young and “I want to give them a better future.”
Nyirimpeta who says “FDLR is facing tough times”, the rebels recently came under fire forcing the supreme commander to escape to Makomare village atGroupementBukombo in Masisi.
For Nyirimpeta, this was the best time to ask his superiors to grant him a leave to check on his family at a location he declined to reveal due to security reasons.
He was issued the permission and trekked to meet with his family. This is when he escaped to a UN base for stabilization of Congo (Monusco).
Monusco today brought Nyirimpeta together with the four other combatants and handed them to Rwandan authorities.
Excited Nyirimpeta was overwhelmed by the visible development on the Rwandan side saying, “Rwanda looks really good. There has been great change.” Nyirimpeta was born in Gatonde village in Gakenke district, Northern Rwanda.
FDLR combatants all at rank of corporal arrived in Rwanda in company with chief Escort Nyirimpeta
Family members of other combatants on arrival in Rwanda
Bank of Kigali , in background is Kenya Commercial Bank in the heart of Kigali city
Rwanda Police has this Friday afternoon intercepted a double bank robbery saving Kenya commercial bank and Bank of Kigali from losing a whooping Rwf30.5 million.
The robbers had successfully duped KCB and transferred Rwf30.5 million to another fake account in Bank of Kigali.
Police arrested the robbers as they planned how to withdraw the money from Bank of Kigali.
A source revealed to KT Press that the suspect, Gilbert Mazimpaka and three other suspects were immediately apprehended at bank of Kigali.
“On Wednesday, this man (Mazimpaka) came to KCB main offices with a forged cheque. He requested for a transfer of Rwf30.5 million from our client’s account registered in his names,”said the source who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the case.
“After the transaction, the real account owner received an SMS alert and called us immediately,” the source told KT Press.
When KT Press contacted Bank of Kigali officials, they confirmed the suspect was arrested by Police.
“When KCB discovered its client had lost the money, they contacted us and we immediately blocked the recipient account. We informed KCB which alerted Police that came and arrested him (suspect) this afternoon as he tried to withdraw the money,” a top BK official told KT Press, without providing more details.
“The suspect was arrested at 1pm at Bank of Kigali main offices,” added the source.
Speaking to KT Press, a KCB official said the bank has registered over five similar cases in the past 7 months.
Police has been hunting several cyber-security criminalsfor robbing millions through fake bank accounts.
For instance, in 2014, Seheed Olalejan Adebayo-a Nigerian citizen, entered Rwanda and connected with John Ruzige Gasana, a Rwandan and registered a company; Miriensol Holdings Limited claiming that they would be offering travel and tour services.
According to Police, unlike the fact that the business may have looked authentic at a face value, it was actually a scam.
Following the registration of the company, Gasana went to one of the local banks and acquired a countertop card named ‘Point-of-Sell’ (POS) device – a machine used to process financial transaction from one bank account to another using a credit or debit card.
Police said that in less than a week, the tour and travel company had received US$175,800 (Rwf130million) from several POS payments all coming from several individuals across Europe.
Police officers at a pass-out event in Rwanda which has been having some 160 officers in Haiti including 22 women
Two police officers part of the Rwandan peacekeeping contingent in Haiti have been shot dead, the National Police announced Thursday in a statement.
The officers are both female – were serving under the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINISTAH) as Individual Police Officers (IPOs).
The deceased are Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Lillian Mukansonera and Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Aimee Nyiramudakemwa.
Police headquarters in Kigali revealed that they were shot and killed at their residence in Cap Haitien by unidentified assailants, on 29th December 2015.
“The family and next of kin have been informed accordingly. The RNP condoles with the families of the deceased,” said police spokesman Celestin Twahirwa.
Rwanda has some 160 peacekeepers in Haiti – deployed there following the 2010 devastating earthquake which killed tens of thousands of people. Among the Rwandan troops are 22 female officers.
“RNP, MINISTAH and Haiti National Police have commenced joint investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and offenders involved,” said the police statement.
Scenes like these are taking place across Rwanda for an entire week as the YES campaign visits all villages of the country
All the 106 members of parliament will spend an entire week trip-trotting around the country. Their mission is precise. Deleivering a message they hope will woo over five million voters to back the new amended constitution.
The lawmakers have divided up the country – with various teams heading to each of the 30 districts.
Officially, the lawmakers from the Senate and Lower House are going back to their consitituencies to report about a task they were given back in July during the ‘consultative meetings’ – following 3.8 million petitions asking the MPs to amend article 101 of the 2003 constitution.
The article set two 7 year terms for a head of state, but the petitioners, some of whom often arrived at parliament in elaborate fanfare, wanted the lawmakers to abolish the measure. Their only reason was; Paul Kagame had to remain leader of Rwanda past the 2017 end of his last term.
But during the ‘consultations’, views separate from term limits emerged – prompting lawmakers to go for a complete overhaul of the constitution. More than 150 articles were amended – including a controversial scrapping of reference to God in the preamble.
MPs returned to the House, and within a period of a month, the entire amendment process was completed.
Last week, cabinet set December 17-18 for the referendum for the voters to accept or reject the constitutional changes.
More than 33,000 Rwandans in the diapora will also be voting.
The new document has quite historic changes. The whole constitution will alternate translations into Kinyarwanda, English and French – all now considered “official languages”. The whole rule-book will have 177 articles – down from 203 in the previous constitution.
Article 101 maintained the principle of limited presidential terms but amended from 7 to 5 years. Article 172 stipulates that the provisions of article 101 will begin to be implemented after a 7 year term starting from the year 2017.
“This was done in respect to people’s request to safeguard progress made and building a strong foundation change in stability,” says lower chamber speaker Donatile Mukabalisa, in reference to voter preference for incumbent Paul Kagame.
Powerful YES vote
During the national consultations, the dominant view was that article 101 be amended for ONLY president Kagame, and once he was no longer leader, it be reinstated. But in the House debates, MPs said they wanted Rwanda to come into harmony with its regional neighbours which have 5 year term limits.
In the revised Constitution, the term of service for Senators will be moved from an 8-year non-renewable term to a 5-year term renewable once. However, the Senators in office at the time of commencement of this revised constitution shall continue the term of office for which they have been elected or appointed – which is up to 2018.
The terms of office for the President and Vice President of the Supreme Court has also been changed from an 8 year non-renewable mandate to 5 year term renewable once. The President and the Vice President of the Supreme Court in office at the time of commencement of this revised Constitution shall continue the term of office for which they have been appointed.
Beginning this Friday up to Wednesday next week, all the lawmakers are in different districts. In the 80-member lower chamber, there are more than five parties – with all but two parties in coalition with the dominant Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) of President Kagame.
Already, the coalition members have come out publicly for the YES vote. The two biggest opposition parties – the Liberal Party (PL) headed by House speaker Mukabalisa and the social democratic party (PSD) of Natural Resources Dr Vincent Biruta, are also backing the YES campaign.
“We told our members to approve the amendments by voting YES,” said Veneranda Nyirahirwa, the vice president of PSD.
“We are an opposition party, but our country chose consensual democracy instead of having political parties which shed blood while fighting for power.”
“Why the hurry?”
Slim Chances For NO As Rwanda Referendum Campaign Heats Up
PL also issued a communiqué for the YES vote. It read: “Liberal Party commends the work of the parliament which amended the constitution considering the citizen plea. We take this opportunity to request all the party members and the general population to vote YES in the referendum.”
Amid the massive YES platform, two virulent opposition parties were last week laughing at their colleagues for what one of them described as rushing through a referendum without giving time to the citizens to understand what they will be voting for.
“A constitution cannot be reviewed in a month or two; the general public should have many sessions to understand the new constitution even after referendum,” said Christine Mukabunani, leader of Socialist Party Imberakuri (PS Imberakuri). But she was quick to add that her party will vote YES.
The only party which is promoting a NO vote to the referendum is Democratic Green Party of Rwanda. “We are asking all Rwandans to vote No to the amendment,” said Jean Claude Ntezima, the Secretary General. Problem though, even as the YES team gets to all villages, the NO campaign has not been to any.
Green party leader Frank Habineza is for now keeping his NO campaign in the media hoping the voters will listen.
The Commander-In-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Forces, President Paul Kagame, has promoted 5726 RDF officers in different ranks. The promotions range from the rank of a Corporal to a Brigadier General.
The promotions come a month after the C-I-C made several changes in the senior leadership of the force.
A popular name among the promotions is the former Intelligence Chief, Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro, who has been, with nine others, promoted from the rank of a colonel to the rank of a Brigadier General.
Defence and Military Spokesperson, Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita said in a statement that, “RDF leadership would like to congratulate all those who have been promoted.”
Here is the list as posted on the RDF website today in the afternoon
a. Colonels to the rank of Brigadier General – 10
(1) COL JOHN GASHAIJA BAGIRIGOMWA
(2) COL EMMANUEL NDAHIRO
(3) COL DENIS RUTAHA
(4) COL EPHREM RURANGWA
(5) COL EUGENE NKUBITO
(6) COL JEAN DAMASCENE SEKAMANA
(7) COL CHRIS MURARI
(8) COL DIDAS NDAHIRO
(9) COL FIRMIN BAYINGANA
(10) COL EVARISTE MURENZI
b. Lieutenant Colonels to the rank of Colonel – 46
c. Majors to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel – 182
d. Captains to the rank of Major – 685
e. Lieutenants to the rank of Captain – 1018
f. Second Lieutenants to the rank of Captain – 04
g. Other Ranks (Medical Doctors) to the rank of Captain – 03
h. Second Lieutenants to the rank of Lieutenant – 02
j. Sergeant Majors to the rank of Warrant Officer Two – 07
k. Staff Sergeants to the rank of Sergeant Major – 39
l. Sergeant to the rank of Sergeant Major – 01
m. Sergeants to the rank of Staff Sergeant – 20
n. Corporals to the rank of Sergeant – 272
o. Privates to the rank of Corporal – 3437
Meanwhile, the C-I-C also promoted 552 Police Officers in the Rwanda National Police.
The promotions are listed as follows:
a. Chief Superintendent promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) -21
(1) CSP Celestin Twahirwa
(2) CSP Joseph Rudasingwa
(3) CSP Vincent Sano
(4) CSP Felly B Rutagerura
(5) CSP Reverien Rugwizangoga
(6) CSP Yahaya Kamunuga
(7) CSP Emmanuel Karasi
(8) CSP Pascal Nkurikiyinfura
(9) CSP Eric Mustinzi
(10) CSP Robert Niyonshuti
(11) CSP Bertin Mutezintare
(12) CSP Egide Ruzigamanzi
(13) CSP Morris Murigo
(14) CSP JN Mbonyumuvunyi
(15) CSP Dismas Rutaganira
(16) CSP Kayijuka Sindayiheba
(17) CSP Rafiki Mujiji
(18) CSP Barthelmie Rugwizangoga
(19) CSP Fidel Mugengana
(20) CSP David Butare
(21) CSP Peter Karake
b. Senior Superintendent promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) – 23
c. Superintendent promoted to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) – 26
d. Chief Inspector Promoted to Superintendent of Police (SP) – 53
e. Inspector promoted to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) – 54
f. Assistant Inspector Promoted to Inspector of Police (IP) – 367
g. Chief Sergeant promoted to AIP-03
h. Sergeant promoted to AIP: 13
j. Police Constable promoted to Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP): 02
Students at Tumba Technical College demonstrate their computer skills
Pressure is mounting in the education sector, KT Press has established from a trusted source.
The Ministry of education is working around the clock to ensure that the revised academic curriculum begins with the next academic year 2016. “Heads are rolling,” the source said. “It is a must do.”
Apparently, the Rwanda education program is shifting from knowledge-based curriculum to the competency-based curriculum.
Competency-based curriculum allows instruction, assessment, grading, and academic reporting that equips students with the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their education.
On the other hand, the knowledge-based was helping students amass a heavy load of information, but with no clue how they will use it to address problems.
The revision of this policy, supported by UNICEF and the UNPF, was expected to be ready by December 2014, but was not achieved.
The country is investing heavily in skills development to address its development agenda, achieving a middle class economy by 2020, which is largely dependent on skills.
This means schools are supposed to be equipped with the right tools, and teachers are supposed to be re-trained ahead of time.
And the ministry of education is being pushed on the wall to have the curriculum up and running as matter of urgency.
Meanwhile, the revised curriculum embeds use of information communication technology (ICT) as the key driver of the agenda.
Nkubito Bakuramutsa, IT advisor to the Minister of Education, told KT Press early last month that, “The focus is to bring access, quality and relevance to the education sector through the use of technology.”
Nkubito was referring to the recent purchase of 150,000 Positivo-BGH laptops from Africa Smart Investment Distributor (worth ~$45 million), which will facilitate the teaching and learning process.
More computers will be purchased by teachers and parents for their students at subsidised rates and installment arrangements.
Nkubito told KT Press that the arrangement is part of the government plan to partner with many players including Positivo-BGH, INTEL and Microsoft.
As indicated by the 2014 Education Statistical Year Book released in March 2015, the new curriculum faces serious challenges, especially access to computers and internet connectivity, as major tools for implementation.
According to the research, there are 210180 computers in the education sector (14657 in tertiary schools, 172,001 in primary schools, 21,859 in secondary schools and 1,663 in technical schools.)
The figures are gloomy, as illustrated in the tables from the research. As illustrated in the table below, 78% of secondary schools have access to computers while 17% of all secondary schools have access to internet connection. It also indicates that 32 students use one computer, while the ratio stands at 16 for teaching staff and at 2 for administrative staff.
The 2014 education data also reveals that 68 % of VTCs have computers, while 25 % of all VTCs have access to internet connection. Table below shows that 18 trainees use one computer, while the ratio stands at 7 for trainers and at 2 for administrative staff.
(L) Evode Imena, State Minister for Mining in Ministry of Natural Resources and Rwanda Development Board CEO Francis Gatare signing new mining deal.
Rwanda on Wednesday auctioned its largest mining site sitting on 22,000 hectares at Gatumba sector in Ngororero district of Western Province.
Four companies have taken over a large portion of the mining site after winning a tender and have committed $ 37,843,791 worth of investment.
Their investment will go into exploration work, mining and mineral processing, job creation, contribution to the welfare of the neighboring community, and increasing the country’s exports.
This deal, meant to increase productivity, is valid for 15 years. However, the new contractors have made commitments for only five years and will be renewed twice.
The mining site is subdivided into 17 small and big concession blocs. In this auction, six big mining concessions were auctioned with estimated sizes between 800 and 1600 hectares each.
The new owners of the auctioned concessions include; Ngororero Mining Company, Daba Supplies Ltd, SEAVCOM and KNM Combines Ltd also the only international firm from India.
“The deal is timely…we lost the whole of last year without production,” said Evode Imena, State Minister for Mining in Ministry of Natural Resources.
He said the previous contractor was suspended for continuously delivering far below expectations.
Imena told KT Press that contractors are expected to add 28% to mining production in the next two years. Last year Rwanda produced 9800 tons of minerals. The new companies are expected to produce an additional 2400 tons in the next two years.
The new contractors expressed a general concern of price fluctuation that is currently between 20% and 50%.
However, Imena argued that price fluctuation is cyclic and advised the contractors to focus on maximum production.
“It happens every ten years and the current one is the worst. The breakthrough is to make sure you produce to the maximum and when fluctuation is over, you bridge the gap,” he said.
Rwanda earned $ 210 million from minerals in 2014, but Imena said, “We were targeting an estimate $ 280 million this year, yet figures indicate we may not make it.”
Rwanda is looking for more diversification of minerals, to deal with fluctuations.
Gatumba concession is the third oldest in Rwanda after Rutongo and Rwinkwavu in Northern and Eastern province respectively. Its exploitation started in 1920 by a Belgium company.
Of the new contractors; Ngororero Mining Company has injected $ 21.5 million to exploit Nyamisa and Nyabisindu blocs.
Daba Supplies Ltd will exploit Ndago and Nyabitare blocks, while SEAVCOM will exploit Gasovu block. KNM Combines Ltd has sunk $ 4.6 million to exploit Bijyojyo bloc.
“We shall ensure environment and human resource safety, unlike in the past when we were just after money,” Ruzindana Munana Jean Paul, the president of Ngororero Mining Company Ltd told KT Press.
The small scale commitment for the next five years is Rwf 6 billion, while for the six big scale commitment amounts to a total $ 37.8 million.
In 1985, when SOMIRWA was declared bankrupt, all mining sites including Gatumba remained unexploited until 1989 when a state owned firm REDEMI took over.
Meanwhile in 2006, when government privatised the mining sector, Gatumba mining site was acquired by a private company, GMC (Gatumba Mining Concessions) a joint venture between the government and a consortium of private companies until May 2014 before leaving the mines temporarily to artisan mining sub-contractors.
Rwanda Peacekeepers bound for Central African Republic
Rwanda has attracted various schools of thought at the ongoing Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle in Geneva, Switzerland, as the country presented its second national report on Human Rights.
Some countries are in support of Rwanda and expressed great admiration for its growth record, while others spent much of their time wagging a finger accusing the country of human rights violations.
After his presentation, Rwanda’s Attorney General and Justice Minister, Johnston Busingye, who was accompanied by Prof. Shyaka Anastase, CEO of Rwanda Governance Board and Rwanda’s envoy to Switzerland, Francois Xavier Ngarambe, fellow member states began giving their views.
Most countries expressed concerns on Rwanda’s record on human rights, media and political freedoms, human trafficking and low levels of civil society growth.
Yet, in the previous review in 2011, Rwanda promised it would implement 67 UPR recommendations. Busingye said, “Out of 67 UPR recommendations issued to Rwanda in 2011, 63 have been fully implemented”.
France jumped in immediately, saying Rwanda must “investigate” and “punish” security forces involved in human rights abuses. But China reacted in defense of Rwanda, saying, it is impressed by Rwanda and has many lessons to learn especially dealing with human rights.
The heated debate triggered discussions around the world. Before Justice Minister defended Rwanda, supporters of Rwanda questioned France’s moral authority to accuse a country it bares accomplice to the genocide against the Tutsi.
France was instead asked to investigate rape and children molestation cases committed by its soldiers in Central Africa Republic before pointing a finger at others.
This is the 23rd session of the UPR that started on November 2, 2015. The states reviewed include; Rwanda, Australia, Austria, Georgia, Lebanon, Mauritania, Micronesia (Federated States of), Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Oman, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Sao Tome and Principe.
Minister Busingye went on to present Rwanda’s case and pointed out how most of the concerns raised ignored Rwanda’s historical past which guides the country’s context.
“We have had a history with the media. We don’t sweep it under carpets and just continue…in 1994 two newspapers and two radio stations participated in genocide using their platforms as a form of media freedoms and expressions. We continue to be cautious because the line can be crossed easily,” Busingye said.
Belgium, one of Rwanda’s development partners, seemed interested in Rwanda’s local politics and suggested that Rwanda establishes a forum with development partners to deal with human rights issues.
As the contrasting reviews continued, Germany turned the tables, praising Rwanda for its development journey especially its fulfillment of nearly all the Millennium Development Goals.
In regard to this review of the human rights records of all UN Member States, Rwanda has since 2011 been implementing several reforms in various sectors including; health, justice, education, strengthening civil society, media and political freedoms.
Prof. Shyaka told the session that Rwanda had implemented various reforms especially adopting self regulation for media sector.
Busingye said that Rwanda is among only 11 African countries which have access to information law.
The sector has improved; capacity and efficiency, as an industry and its interactive relationship between media and policy makers. “Self regulatory mechanism is vibrant with only 10% of complaints from media against public offices,” Prof Shyaka said.
In regard to the subject of Rwanda accenting to the Rome statute that ratifies the International criminal court, Busingye told the session that, “We are not blind to this question. We support international justice through (East African Court of Justice, International Court of Justice, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda)…so we know what international justice means.”
Busingye however said that Rwanda is not naïve. “It’s difficult for us to support a judicial organ whose practices are hard to explain, we encourage the International criminal court to be [blinder] to colour blind and region.”
Rwanda however, did not present its human rights action plan as was expected. Busingye said “it was supposed to be published before this UPR, but we will have it before the end of year”.
But before the session ended, Haiti, a country where Rwanda has deployed thousands of peacekeeping troops to help bring back stability, shocked participants, accusing Rwanda of discriminating a minority ethnic group of the Batwa
Busingye explained that, in Rwanda nationality is more important than the ethnic or racial value. “In 1994 these narrow ethnic thinking caused us a million lives.”
Meanwhile, several countries commended Rwanda for the reforms and others urged the country to fix some of its challenges.
For example Sweden asked Rwanda to put in place programs for women to access ‘safe abortion’, which is currently a crime in Rwanda.
Uganda, which is Rwanda’s neighbour and an ally, requested the country to put in place support programs for ‘victims of trafficking’ and have a clear definition of child labour.
Rwanda which has emerged from a dark past has been hailed for its peace and stability and is a key player in promoting regional peace.
South Sudan noted that despite Rwanda’s small size, the country is hosting many refugees from different countries including S-Sudan.
The UK said it welcomes Rwanda’s role in fostering regional peace and stability.
Italy wants Rwanda to establish “compulsory human rights training in all Police academies”.
The Vatican took participants by surprise. Ironically, despite its notorious role in the genocide, which it has never tendered any apology, the Catholic Church wants Rwanda to “intensify efforts for national reconciliation”.
Rwanda delegation at the 23rd session of Universal Periodic Review convened in Geneva Switzerland
President Paul Kagame is seeking more collaboration from Interpol to track down genocide fugitives roaming around the world.
Kagame, whose government stopped the genocide against Tutsi in 1994, expressed satisfaction for Interpol’s work in arresting genocide fugitives, but said; “there are out there who need to be brought to book’.
The President was officially opening the 84th Interpol Annual General Assembly taking place in Rwanda’s capital Kigali.
More than 400 Genocide fugitives roam around 30 African countries alone, with less efforts by the host countries to arrest and extradite them to Rwanda.
Elsewhere in the world, Rwanda in collaboration with its partners including United States are hunting nine notorious Genocide fugitives that have escaped justice for the past 20 years, despite a heavy bounty on their heads.
President Paul Kagame in a group photo at the 84th General Assembly of Interpol- Kigali, 2 November 2015
The US, set a US$5m reward for any information leading to or arrest of the suspected murderers.
These include Felicien Kabuga, accused of being the chief financier of the genocide, Protais Mpiranya, who commanded the notorious Presidential Guards, and Augustin Bizimana who was Defence Minister during the genocidal regime.
President Kagame said that global cooperation is the sole solution in dealing with trans-national crimes.
He believed that with Interpol, the world can learn a lot in bringing to book all fugitives around the globe.
“Interpol is a good model for effective international cooperation. The world can learn a lot from how it does business,” he said.
Chief Terrence M Cunningham, president of the international Association of Chiefs of Police committed the association’s will to ‘building community trust by police.”
Johnson Busingye, Rwanda’s Justice Minister had earlier issued a concern by governments that pay lesser attention to facilitate genocide fugitives trackers, yet sheltering a number of them.
During the meeting of chiefs of police on Sunday, they agreed to extend stronger collaboration in capacity building, sharing timely information as a path to eliminating multinational crimes that continue to destabilize global security and welfare of citizens.
President Kagame told delegates and police chiefs from Sub-Saharan Africa, “By cultivating shared values and norms of law enforcement, Interpol makes the world a safer place.”
Police chiefs from various countries attending the meeting of international Association of Chiefs of Police held in Kigali
District officials assembled before a local court of law to answer corruption charges and swindling public funds.
In May 2000, Rwanda decided to decentralize power in order to speed up national development and good governance. In March 2001, the first elections at decentralized levels were conducted. Then in March 2006, each of the thirty districts elected a mayor.
During the induction ceremony, several buoyant mayors stood upright and claimed how they were going to outperform others to coordinate implementation of programs that would uplift millions of Rwandans out of poverty. It went on and on.
Then President Kagame softly interceded and warned how in the Rwandan culture, making such bold commitments (Guhiga) was not a small matter.
Traditionally, once one did so and failed to accomplish, they would be shamed and endured painful embarrassment. Some faced unpleasant outcomes.
Meanwhile, the President engaged the mayors through performance contracts. All the requested facilities and logistics, plus a budget – were provided.
District mayors are elected for a term of five years through an electoral system going from village to district level.
By the time an electoral college is constituted, several hundred delegates turn up at one location to vote from campaigning candidates.
Ten years down the line, only Kangwagye Justus of Rulindo district in the Northern Province and Leandre Karekezi of the remote Gisagara district have survived.
“The beginning was hard and none could expect to be this far. I only managed because I stayed keen to team spirit,” Karekezi told KT Press adding, “Those who failed to work as a team were likely to go.”
Karekezi says only Gisagara district has managed to keep, not only the mayor, but also the district executive secretary and the two vice mayors, including Kayiranga Eugene Muzuka who was transferred to lead neighbouring Huye district.
Too many unnecessary meetings
For Ladislas Ngendahimana, Director of Communication in the Ministry of Local Government, there was also poor coordination in the first five year term.
For example, one ministry would plan a meeting – then invite mayors to attend the following day. “We reached a point where meetings with superiors outnumbered meetings with citizens,” says Karekezi.
Performance on service delivery suffered. But that’s not all. Some mayors were incompetent. They failed to coordinate their teams. Others mismanaged public resources and were forced to resign.
Bonane Nyangezi, former mayor of Gicumbi district resigned in 2012. “Under him, the district was running bankrupt, which is quite strange,” says Ngendahimana.
The district had huge debts to clear, yet there were no supporting documents on how they were accumulated.
In Nyabihu district, the entire district council was disbanded by a Presidential in 2008, and the Nyanza district entire executive committee was forced to resign. Some were either fired or arrested.
By 2008, Ngendahimana from local government says, about 48% of the senior district leaders had left their positions.
During the second term of 2011-2015, several mayors were awash with cases of malpractices, but the local government ministry believes the mayors performed better compared to previous years.
In Rubavu district, the entire executive committee was fired, for having sold a district owned multi-million modern market infrastructure and initiated the transfer of the land prior to payment is made by the buyer.
Francois Niyotwagira, Ngoma district mayor was forced to resign after purchasing the land designated to resettle and which was given to Rwandans evicted from Tanzania in social protection scheme.
Meanwhile, Kirehe district mayor, Protais Murayire, was fired after he blocked local leaders from asking questions to a senior government official visiting their area.
Rwamagana, Gasabo and Gatsibo mayors failure to deliver to the expectations, while in Rusizi, Karongi and Nyamasheke, mayors resigned and arrested after failing to account for funds meant for community health insurance; mutuelle de santé.
However, conditions have changed. Under this second term, the local government ministry says “cases involved individuals, not entire committee as it was the case in the previous term.” Also, today, no minister instructs a mayor before consulting the minister of local government.
The number of meetings to attend also reduced because they have to be validated by the ministry. Other meetings are conducted via teleconferencing.
Mayors’ credits
Benefits have also been raised. Mayors are fairly paid with a net salary of Rwf 1.6 million including a lengthy list of benefits similar a permanent secretary in a ministry.“We are not complaining,” says mayor Karekezi.
Meanwhile, many say mayors deserve credit for the success the country has recorded. “The performance, imihigo’ is the biggest achievements that can be attributed to mayors,” says Placide Uwimana, from Huye district.
The mayors can now manage their structures, with effective communication. “It is clear mayors are the icon of Rwanda’s decentralization success,” says Ignace Musangamfura, a banker from Kigali. Musangamfura says that involving locals in decisions yields better results.
Residents of Niboye for example raised funds and built a road in their neighbourhood, supporting the mayor’s promises in the performance contract.
“Mayors have all the credits that go to President Kagame because they are his right hand. They help him promote good governance,” says Edouard Munyamariza, the chairman of civil society platform.
As he completes his second mandate in December, Karekezi says, “I am still young. I will keep serving my country in different capacities.”
Parliament Decides Fate Of 2003 Constitution This Wednesday
The Chamber of Deputies will on the morning of this Wednesday vote on the draft of the revised Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda as amended to date.
Among the changes that will come into force is amendment of Article 101 on presidential term limits. The draft to be voted removes the seven-year term limit.
It is seen as a defining moment in the history of Rwanda as the plenary sitting indefinitely decides the fate of the constitution after 96% of MPs on October 12 voted in favour of a bill seeking to amend the current constitution.
While the public remains anxious, the outcome of the voting is regarded as an answer to a popular public demand to abolish presidential term limits and scrapping off or amends of some provisions.
After the vote in the 80-member chamber, the new changes will be sent on to the upper house, the 26-member Senate.
If approved, a referendum will be held as early as before end of the year as per estimates of time-lines set for popular votes.
Other proposals in the draft constitution before the House is a requirement to outline all benefits people living with disabilities must be granted by the state.
It means that even needs such as braille for the blind will be a constitutional obligation.
Should President PaulKagame also decide in favour of the more than 3.8m petitioners who want him to continue being leader of Rwanda, under new changes, he can be president for many more years past 2017 when his second and last term expires.
President Paul Kagame at the Second edition of Transform Africa Summit
Rwanda is already reaping big from the One Area Network initiative that was launched in 2013.
Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and ICT told Transform Africa summit on Wednesday calls between Rwanda and Uganda increased by 800%.
The Minister said that One Area Network “is one of the key outcomes of the previous summit commitments.”
Nsengimana said that the One Area Network covering Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan is yielding results.
Rebecca Okwachi, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Service in South Sudan also told participants at the summit the one area network is a good example from the northern corridor, which the other African countries should emulate.
“Today we (South Sudan) are able to communicate with Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. I came here with my SM card from South Sudan. I am using it without roaming charges,” Okwachi said.
The one area network was operational in October 8, 2014 in Rwanda and Kenya with the cost of calling varying between $ 7 cents and $10 cents per minute. Uganda and South Sudan joined on January 2nd 2015 with the cost estimated to $ 9.2 cents and $12 cents per minute.
The 2015 Transform Africa is expected to deliver much more outcome, given the profiles of attendants. They include 642 CEO and MDs, while entire delegates were 2500 from over 80 global institutions.
Of them, men represent 78.8%, while women are 22.2%, which, Nsengimana said, is an indication that more efforts are needed to bring more women on board, as transform Africa discusses women inclusion in ICT.
The Transform Africa attracted 25 exhibitors who are showcasing achievements of ICT in Africa, to inspire upcoming ICT entrepreneurs.
African countries are showing political will to improve ICT in a way that can change communities’ livelihood.
The Smart Africa scholarship fund has covered seven undergraduates who enrolled at the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University.
Rwanda contributed $ 1 million to the fund.
Several commitments were already made at the Transform Africa which will close this afternoon by President Paul Kagame.
Babylon health, a Europe based firm yesterday announced intentions to expand its services to Rwanda saying it’s “a priority country in Africa”.
Their services provide mobile phone applications whereby a patient can get expert medical advice, consultant referrals or prescriptions without leaving their homes or offices.
