Friday 26 October 2012

RwandAir gets first of gleaming new jets


rwandair 737 800 RwandAir gets first of gleaming new jets
National carrier Rwandair is set to make a huge new addition to its fleet of planes.
Bombardier Aerospace, manufacturers of the CRJ900 NextGen regional jets ordered by RwandAir, have confirmed that delivery of the luxurious, state-of-the-art airliner will be realized in a matter of days.
This was confirmed yesterday by RwandAir CEO John Mirenge, who was in Canada to officially receive the jet from its makers.
During a ceremony to officially hand over the plane at Bombardier’s Mirabel, Québec facility where the CRJ Series aircraft are manufactured, the RwandAir CEO enthused about the impact the jet is expected to have.
“We are very proud to introduce the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to East Africa. Our 50-seat CRJ200 aircraft has helped expand our markets to the point where larger capacity aircraft are required to meet passenger demand.”
“The CRJ900 NextGen jetliner is a natural progression from the CRJ200 aircraft that has served us so well. In addition, the larger aircraft have a two-class, 75-seat interior that will allow us to offer a premium service” Mirenge was quoted as saying.
The ceremony was attended by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Canada Edda Mukabagwiza, John Mirenge, Chief Executive Officer, RwandAir, along with other representatives from the airline; officials from the government of Rwanda; Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and several Bombardier executives and staff.
This continues an impressive growth cycle for RwandAir, which is regarded as the fastest growing airline in Africa.
RwandAir’s order for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, along with options for two additional CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, was announced on March 19, 2012.
Bombardier’s CRJ Series jetliners are the world’s most successful family of regional aircraft, with some 1,735 in service or ordered as of September 30, 2012. Worldwide, CRJ Series aircraft are in service with more than 60 airlines.
Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains.

Rwanda : JADF Musanze Should Promote Development In The District- Governor


JADF Musanze should promote Development in the District- Governor
Members of the Joint Action Development Forums (JADF) in Musanze district were reminded by the governor of Northern Province of Rwanda are to play a big role in the implementation of the district’s performing contracts as most of the partners in development objectives are the goals of the district therefore the performing contracts.
Governor Aime Bosenibamwe said this on the 18th.0ct.2012 during the function where the 36 members of JADF in the district signed their objectives to be achieved with the district’s administration for the economic year 2012/2013.
“Your good performance will be rated by the achievements of the district your goal is to promote” Governor Bosenibamwe said to JADF members.
Musanze district performed poorly in the presentation of the achievements of the economic year 2011/2012 performing contracts where it got the 23rd position. Though this district is far in eradicating poverty in its people, its performance in general has been disappointing for the last 3 economic years.
Winifred Mpembyemungu the mayor of Musanze district reminded the partners in development that their achievements do not only promote Musanze district but the Northern Province in general.
The mayor said that the act of vowing the goals to be achieved is of great value as achieving what they vowed is now a responsibility.
The 36 partners in development of Musanze district made performing contracts worth Rwf2.8 billion.

Rwanda : 20 – Year Old Drowns In Nyarutarama Artificial Lake


20 – Year old drowns
The Nyarutarama artificial lake has claimed many lives
 A 20-year old Alexandre Niyonzima drowned in Nyarutarama Artificial Lake on Saturday and died instantly according to police reports.
Niyonzima had gone to swim with friends on this fateful Saturday but when he dived in, he was never seen again.  Efforts are ongoing to recover his body.
The Nyarutarama artificial has become a scare to people’s lives especially teens and youth who like swimming in it.
Police statistics show 15 people have so far died while swimming in this lake this year alone.
It has been discovered that children who drown into this lake slide into it when their responsible guardians are absent or pre-occupied with other activities.
The Police urge the public to be cautious as drowning cases may increase. Parents and guardians living near the lake are urged to watch their children and ensure that they are accompanied outdoors.
Households with water ponds or garbage pits are also encouraged to ensure their safety because they are exposed to children as well.
The general public is also being called on not to swim without safety jackets. Local authorities
are being called upon to sensitize their citizens on the risks of swimming without safety jackets or unattended.

Swimming pools owners are urged to put in place more safety measures, because several cases of people who die in swimming pools have also been reported.

Rwanda : Gov’t Issues Marburg Virus Alert


Gov’t issues Marburg Virus alert
A microscopic picture of Marburg hemorrhagic fever
Following reported outbreak of the deadly Marburg hemorrhagic fever in neighboring Uganda, the Ministry of Health has issued an alert to the public to remain vigilant as government steps up measures of preventing in-flow of the deadly virus into the country.
Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a highly contagious disease transmitted from person to person and characterized by fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pains and bleeding from all orifices.
Over the weekend, Uganda’s Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Kitumba Sub-county, Kabale district in South-Western Uganda. Media reports indicate that so far five people have succumbed to the deadly virus.
Kabale district borders Rwanda and specifically the districts of Gicumbi, Musanze, Nyagatare, and Burera that share a boarder with Uganda border are at a high risk.
Though no case has been reported in Rwanda, the government has put in place measures aimed at protecting Rwandans from this deadly disease but is also cautioning Rwandans to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases immediately.
The Ministry in collaboration with its partners and through the emergency preparedness team is taking actions for preparedness and response to prevent potential health risks that might be caused by the deadly disease.
It has issued alert warnings to all health centres on how to detect and handle cases once they arise. The Ministry has already conducted training on prevention and management of viral hemorrhagic fevers to all health care providers in District Hospitals and Health Centers.
All the necessary kit and medical supplies needed have been dispatched to all health facilities.
The public is urged to immediately seek medical attention at the nearest health facility in case of suspicion of Marburg hemorrhagic fever.
Any person who visited Uganda and had contact with someone presenting signs and symptoms of Marburg hemorrhagic fever should immediately inform the nearest health facil

Rwanda : GISAGARA Prepares For Parliamentary Elections


While preparing for the elections of the Members of Parliament that will be in September 2013, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) prepared and carried out a 2 days training for the committee for civic education in Gisagara, Huye, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru districts held in Huye district.
GISAGARA Prepares
The training which was on the 17th & 18th.Oct.2012 was to prepare members of civic education committees to train people in sectors in preparing for the upcoming elections. The training was meant to make the committee members understand the importance of different levels to be elected who will in turn prepare local people for the smooth running of the elections.
Marie Claire Nyirabatsinda the director of Civil Education on the National level asked the trainees to be productive and ensure good and fair upcoming elections.
“You have to do all that is possible and explain to people everything concerning these elections. There should never be any complication especially due to people not understanding fully about the elections”.
This training based on reviewing the implementation of last training, what was achieved in the last training, the fundamental basics of training to adults, how elections are carried out in Rwanda, the role of elections in democracy and reasons why every Rwandan should participate in elections.
People who were trained say that they learnt a lot of things in this training as most of them didn’t do education courses but knew well about all methods of instruction. They finished the training with the hope that what they will teach others will be of much importance; and the upcoming elections will be successful.

Monday 1 October 2012

Rwanda, Kenya to use Identity cards as passports between the two countries


The Rwandan Directorate of Immigration has revealed that travelling between Rwanda and Kenya will not require the use of passports in the near future, but only either countries’ national identity cards.
The announcement was made by the communications officer at the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration, Ange Sebutege, who said the two institutions (Immigration) have already agreed to set up a bilateral technical team to study all the intricacies involved.
According to Sebutege, the technical team that would involve the immigration officials from both countries is expected to commence the study by the end of this year, where they will discuss all the terms of reference.
He explained that the whole idea is about easing free movement of people and goods between the two countries. Recently, the two immigration chiefs met in Kigali and recommended to set up the team to study how the IDs will be used.
Adding that, the critical issue that might arise after the adoption of using identity cards is that travelers will pass through other countries like Uganda which is not party to the arrangement.
“Let’s say…. for instance,  someone travelling to Kenya by road has to go through Kampala and it’s not clear if these cards might be allowed at immigration offices on the Ugandan side,” he said, in a briefing on among the issues to be addressed by the technical team.
The decision was reached at a recent meeting in Kigali between the two countries’ immigration bosses.
The electronic readable card is one of the documents EAC partner states should alternate to in order to facilitate the agreed freedoms around the region including services, capital, goods and the free movement of people, all under the Common Market Protocol.
After the report is completed, it will be presented to the two immigration chiefs for approval.
EAC Heads of State signed the Common Market Protocol on November 2009 to facilitate the free movement of goods, labour and capital with the aim of creating a favourable atmosphere for regional trade.
At a recent EAC media summit in Kigali, Musa Sirma, the Kenyan Minister for East African Cooperation, announced to journalists that the discussions between Rwanda and Kenya on the matter were already at an advanced stage.
Sirma said Kenya already has some arrangements in the pipeline for mutual agreement with Rwanda, to allow the citizens of the two countries to enter either country using just their respective national IDs.
Rwanda and Kenya are the only countries in the region with electronic identity cards, meaning that the movement of people would become easier in the two countries than the rest of other partner states.

Rwanda : Sorwathe moving in line with Rwanda’s 2020 vision


Sorwathe moving in line
Sorwathe is the largest tea factory in Rwanda, producing 80% of tea that is mostly exported. It produces black tea, green tea, white tea, authentic tea and organic tea. The Annual production is around 3 million kilos of Black Tea which is 15% of Rwanda’s production.
Sorwathe is located in Rwanda’s North Province, about 70 Kilometers north of the capital Kigali. The rural area surrounding Sorwathe is very hilly and densely populated. As a result almost all the tea is planted in the valley in a drained swamp.
As the largest tea production company, it exerts efforts to support adult literacy; worker association and collective bargaining rights; lead the industry in advancing the abolition of child labor; undertake sustainable forestry and water management; and produce socially and environmentally responsibly grown high quality tea.
Following these efforts, this September 21, 2012, the U.S. Department of state announced that Sorwathe is among the top eleven finalists who have been selected for the Secretary of State’s prestigious 2012 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE).
The award comes after finalist recognized the vital role that U.S. businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens that promote sustainable development and support local community needs in the countries where they operate.
The winners will be announced at the annual ceremony hosted by the Secretary of State on November 28, 2012.
Sorwathe is currently the only ISO 22000:2005 and FairTrade certified; Ethical Tea Partnership participant and RBS (Rwanda Bureau of Standards) product certified. It is also ISO 9001:2008 certified
The rural area around Sorwathe is very densely populated as most areas in Rwanda seem to be. Most villagers practice subsistence small scale farming on plots averaging half an hectare. Crops mostly grown are bananas, maize, beans and sweet potatoes.
Tea growing in Rwanda started in 1952. Since its introduction, tea production has increased steadily, from 60 tons of black tea in 1958, to 1,900 tons in 1990, to 14,500 tons in 2000, reaching a peak of 17,800 tons in 2001 and to 30,500 tons in 2005. Rwanda tea is planted on hillsides at high altitude (between 1,900 and 2,500 m), and on well drained marshes at an altitude of between 1,550 and 1,800 m.
In 2007 Sorwathe produced 3.66 million kilos of Black Tea. The tea plantation is located in Kinihira which is down a 19km reasonably well-maintained dirt road. Turn right a couple of kilometres after Nyirangarama and follow the signs.
Other company’s achievements include: being the first to build a New Orthodox Tea Factory in Rwanda which is automated and could manufacture and Orthodox and Green Tea as well as converting 116 hectares of tea into Organic Tea which is another first in the Tea Industry of Rwanda.
Tea Tourism is another of its projects and it has Guest House with a panoramic view. It has introduced field and factory tours to those who are interested in learning more about Tea.
At the beginning of 2010, Sorwathe was also adjudged as “Investor of the Year for 2009” at the prestigious Rwanda Development Board awards.
This award which many aspire to achieve was based on the profitability, forward and backward linkages with local Small Micro-Economic businesses (SME’s), job creation, demonstration of Innovation and Technology transfer, Corporate Social Responsible projects, being a role model and reinvestment into business to sustain growth.
“In addition to this main award we were placed as second runner-up in the “Exporter of the year-2009” category.”
During the 1990-1994 civil war, rebels had broken down the company’s tea processing factory and had stolen   vehicles, office furniture and computers. OPIC’s payment of four political violence claims for losses totaling nearly $250,000 encouraged Tea Importers like U.S.A to stay and rebuild. Shaken but determined, Sorwathe was the first tea factory to resume production after the war.
The green leaves of the tea bushes are harvested all through the year but production peaks during the rainy seasons and is less during the dry seasons. OCIR-Thé  is a State agency in charge of the tea sector. It was originally set up as an agency directly responsible for the production processing and marketing of Rwanda tea.
The Secretary of State has awarded the ACE since 1999 to recognize American companies that are leaders in socially responsible activities and contribute to the overall growth and development of the local economy in which they work.
The Department of State is committed to working with businesses to further these best practices worldwide and to recognize efforts to improve lives at home and abroad.
Sorwathe is Rwanda tea Production Company that is able to induce socio-economic development of Rwandan communities especially Tea growers and the company’s employees and it makes the country’s income growing considerably due to its high quantity exported with good quality.


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