African experts in Kigali for climate change meet

Desanker (L) and Kamanzi (C) listen to Tanzania’s Richard Muyugi, the chairperson of UNFCCC, during coffee break at the conference yesterday.

Clear short- and long-term adaptation plans are needed to deal with the challenge of global warming and other climate change impacts, experts from Anglophone African least developed countries meeting in Kigali said yesterday.

More than 80 participants from 18 countries are attending the workshop organised by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in collaboration with Rwanda’s Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Minister for Natural Resources Stanislas Kamanzi said climate change adverse impacts are hampering development efforts in Africa’s least developed countries and there is a need to strengthen capacities to deal with climate change.

“Governments in the least developed countries develop different climate change adaptation plans, but the weaknesses are noted in the implementation process, even within government institutions,’’ Kamanzi said.

He added that budgetary constraints are a challenge, as governments have to spend on implementation of many development projects with limited funding.

Paul Desanker, UNFCC’s officer in charge of National Adaptation Plans and Policy Adaptation, said least developed countries have to face the unavoidable challenge of coping with and adapting to adverse impacts of climate change despite their limited capacity.

Strengthening adaptation

Benon Yassin, the chief environmental officer in Malawi’s ministry of environment and climate change management, called on countries to address capacity gaps in climate change adaptation.

Yassin, who is also a member of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, said there was need for skills development, technological transfer and sharing of experiences to help countries strengthen national adaptation programmes.

Citing his own country’s economy based on agriculture, Yassin said many countries experience natural hazards such as floods, strong winds and drought because of climate change effects.

Desanker hoped the workshop would help participants acquire new ideas and write more climate change adaptation proposals to access funds available for the least developed countries to adapt to climate change.

The workshop closes on Friday.

Source:http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15434&a=69089

African experts in Kigali for climate change meet

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Ministry halts distribution of antibiotic drug, Flagyl

Metronidazol is a common antibacterial drug.

The Ministry of Health has declared Metronidazole drug undesirable and stayed its distribution following reports of tablet discoloration.

Metronidazole (Flagyl) is an antibiotic used to fight bacteria in the body. It has over the years been used in treating diarrhoea and other stomach complications such as cramps.

“Metronidazole has been quarantined and shall not be distributed in health facilities or pharmacies due to reports of its discoloration,” the ministry said in a statement.

Discoloration is when a tablet takes a different colour or loses its initial appearance.

However, no adverse effects to health has been reported in Rwanda as of now, according to the ministry.

The statement said the Medical Procurement and Production Division (MPPD) of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre is currently engaging in a deeper review of its relationships with its suppliers to ensure that all the products it acquires always meet the highest standards, following these findings.

“The solution for proactive and timely control of counterfeit drugs demands strong local measures to protect the health of the population,” Dr Agnes Binagwaho, the minister for health, said.

Understanding discoloration

Lambert Ingabire, a pharmacist at King Faisal Hospital, said when a drug faces discoloration, it is not supposed to be used.

Drug discoloration is an indication that the particular medicine does not fulfil its chemical reliability, he said.

“This shows that there is some sort of reaction happening which might alter the initial compound or chemical composition. So you can’t be sure if the drug is still effective or if it won’t cause any negative reaction,” Ingabire said.

Drug discoloration might also cause some reaction, which might alter the initial compound or chemical composition, according to the pharmacist.

The Ministry of Health assured the public that there is no cause for alarm, and on-going quality inspections will continue in order to improve the quality of medicine prescribed in Rwanda.

The MPPD has an on-going quality inspection system in place to check medical products as they enter the national supply chain system.

Source:http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15434&a=69088

Ministry halts distribution of antibiotic drug, Flagyl

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Journalists, artistes urged to support youth unity project

A youth contributes during the Youth Connekt dialogue in Kigali last month.

The media fraternity and artistes should use their platform to promote the initiative by the country’s youth, which seeks to promote national reconciliation that is based on trust.

Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister for Youth and ICT, made the appeal while closing a two-day YouthConnekt dialogue organised for journalists and artistes that took place at the weekend in Bugesera District.

“Since we have together pledged to take part in nation building, these dialogues and debates should not take a controversial path,” Nsengimana said, alluding to the debate ignited by the youth that Hutus have a moral obligation to apologise because the Genocide was committed in their name.

The dialogue featured debate on Rwanda’s ethnicity, 19-years after of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Speaking on the topic, “The struggle that set us free”, the Minister for Defence, James Kabarebe, said asking for forgiveness is not an obligation.

“Anyone who feels they have the responsibility of asking for forgiveness, especially those in leadership positions, for their role in the 1994 Genocide should do so with honesty,” Kabarebe said.

He said there is no policy in place on how people should ask for forgiveness.

YouthConnekt was initiated by the youth and it is supported by the Ministry of Youth and ICT, Imbuto Foundation and Art for Peace, among other partners.

The dialogues and debates act as a platform for the youth to learn more about their history and how to rebuild society without divisive politics such as that which led to Genocide.

“The person asking for forgiveness will do it on their own terms if it means in a social gathering or family gathering, it’s their choice,” Kabarebe said.

Kabarebe said asking for forgiveness is voluntary and morally right because it helps both the Genocide survivors and perpetrators in the healing process.

These dialogues, according to Kabarebe, are demystifying how ethnicity affected Rwanda.

He said: “The debate about ethnicity regarding being Hutu, Tutsi or Twa is not a way of reviving these identifies. These classifications were used in our history and they negatively affected us. Openly talking about ethnicity in these debates or dialogues shows how it no longer affects us.”

The two-day retreat, like the sessions held in 15 districts before then, was held under the theme, “The Promise of a Post-Genocide Generation.”

Journalists and artistes suggested that the dialogues and debates should be called ‘I’m Rwandan’.

Jean Lambert Gatare, a journalist Genocide survivor, said he was open to forgive whoever apologises for their part in the Genocide.

Artiste Josiane Imani Uwineza, a.k.a, Miss Jojo, said the dialogues and debates should also be extended to Rwandans in the Diaspora.

“The lessons from this retreat about our history are an eye-opener and I believe they can benefit all Rwandans, including those in the Diaspora, to foster unity and reconciliation,” Miss Jojo said.

Source:http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15434&a=69087

 

Journalists, artistes urged to support youth unity project

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Tory Mitchell addresses senators on donor perception

Senate President Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo (L) and UK Conservative’s Andrew Mitchell at Parliament yesterday.

British Member of Parliament Andrew Mitchell has advised African countries to address conflicts and ensure proper accountability as benchmarks for donor aid.

Mitchell was addressing Rwandan senators and other officials at the opening of a three-day conference dubbed, “Development Partnership–A Donor View”, in Kigali yesterday.

The former UK’s Secretary of State for International Development said development cannot take place unless there is conflict resolution, adding that it was one of the main reasons he came to Rwanda to learn how the country managed to recover from the dark past and progress economically.

“We understand today that because of modern communications, our generations, working together, have a chance to make real progress on development and tackle the great variations of opportunities and wealth in our world as never before,” Mitchell said.

“If you look at Rwanda in the last five years, a million people have been lifted out of poverty which is a remarkable achievement. Now the international community working together has the power to do that in many parts of the world because we know and we agree on what works and what doesn’t work,” the UK Tory added.

Changing scope


Unlike today where aid is more focused on development, he added, previously, the donor community only released the funds on the basis of geo-politics where donors would dish out funds just to keep recipient countries in their ‘camp’.

Such camps, Mitchell said, included one of the Soviet Union, which would give funds to countries such as Angola and Tanzania, and on the other hand, there was Western-oriented camp.

“Those days have gone; it’s our generation now that has the centre ground. We can now do things that we could never do before,” he said.

Mitchell also told the senators that in the end, people are able to lift themselves out of poverty through economic development and workings of the private enterprises.

This, he said, is another perspective from the donors’ view.

“The other perspective is that the donor should be able to explain to the taxpayers what the money they are spending is achieving and that, of course, is an incredibly important aspect,” Mitchell said.

“In Britain, we have managed to hit our central target of 0.7 per cent aid target of gross national income. The taxpayer has to be persuaded that such money is justified,” he added.

According to Mitchell, aid matters to Britain and it is not just a handout to the beneficiaries.

“We in the UK benefit from it as well. That argument relates to tackling conflicts and creating wealth and economic development because economic development is for our benefit as well as your development. Countries that increase their degree of trading they trade with people and they trade with us. This is why we equally stand to benefit which makes us more prosperous and also tackling conflict makes us safer,” said Mitchell.

Senator Tito Rutaremara said the philosophy of aid is changing with time.

Before 1960s, Tito said, the philosophy of aid was to give the poor people Western civilisation and help people suffering and from dying of hunger.

“But now it’s good that the philosophy has changed to development. If we are pro-development, we will be a consuming market but our concern is, do all donors understand it this way, do they know that it’s not help for now but for the future so that the market is expanded? And why is aid used as a political pressure tool?” Rutaremara asked Mitchell.

In his response, Mitchell said he believes all donors are moving toward the same understanding about aid.

Source:http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15434&a=69085

 

Tory Mitchell addresses senators on donor perception

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Now that we have Chromecast, is it time for 'Xbox TV?'

A funny thing happened to me when I made a comparison chart this week listing what you can watch on Google’s new Chromecast versus Apple TV and Roku. A few people asked why I didn’t list the Xbox. The answer is that the Xbox is a different class of device, to me. And if I’m not thinking of it alongside streaming media devices, consumers might not, as well. That’s an opportunity for Microsoft.

I love my Xbox for gaming. But I’ve also streamed Internet-based video content through my Xbox, just as I have through my Apple TV and my Roku. Usually, it’s HBO Go content, because of whatever is the ridiculous licensing issue that prevents DirecTV subscribers from enabling HBO Go on the Roku.

There’s no question that the Xbox is a great streaming media device. Indeed, here’s how it compares to the other three devices, in terms of support for what I consider to be the essential app-based “channels” that an Internet-to-TV device should include:

My article for Marketing Land, What You Can Watch On Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku & Xbox, explains more about the chart, why I consider these channels (Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go) important and more on how they work, so I won’t repeat that here.

Natively, without having to open up a laptop or play around with settings, Xbox supports even more major options than the others. So what’s the problem? Why wouldn’t everyone buy an Xbox to stream video material?

The problem is that the Xbox is also a streaming media device, a capability added on to what I’d argue remains its main function, being a gaming console. That leads to two issues for consumers who may consider it versus one of the other devices:

• It’s overlooked or not thought of alongside the others


• It’s at least twice the price or more than the others

I think if you’re a consumer not already considering Roku or Apple TV, and the now sold-out Chromecast has got you reassessing the space, you might take a closer look at the other two. But would you contemplate an Xbox? It’s probably not showing up in comparison reviews for the same reason it wasn’t in my article, because it’s really a different class of device. It does more; the primary purpose still seems game-oriented, and it sure costs more.

That’s where Microsoft’s opportunity lies. Why not make an “Xbox TV” streaming media device, of a similar nature to the Roku, Apple TV or Chromecast? Lose the gaming functionality, focus on the video (and perhaps music), and Microsoft might have a way into people’s living rooms who might otherwise dismiss the Xbox.

Why can’t I have that in a much smaller box, at a much smaller price — and which doesn’t take longer to load than my Apple TV or Roku, or make as much noise operating? That might be a hit for Microsoft in the way the Chromecast may be turning into for Google.

When I was discussing on Twitter about my initial omission of the Xbox in my comparison, that’s where I thought of the “Xbox Live” idea, that it seemed such an obvious move that Microsoft should make. Then Tom Warren pointed out to me his article in The Verge, on rumors that an Xbox TV-type of device is coming.

Warren says Microsoft’s plans have put this type of device back until next year. Xbox TV may be coming, and if so, perhaps Microsoft should accelerate its development.

Source:http://www.techrwanda.com/development/3195/now-that-we-have-chromecast-is-it-time-for-xbox-tv/

Now that we have Chromecast, is it time for 'Xbox TV?'

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Huye closes down old city structures, eyes overhaul

Huye district plans to overhaul the city with old structures to pave way for redevelopment.

AUTHORITIES in Huye District have ordered traders to vacate all old buildings in the city centre and instructed landlords to redevelop the area according to the district master plan.

The directive, conveyed in a letter to owners of commercial buildings in the town, sets Wednesday as the deadline.

In a July 9 letter, Mayor Eugene Kayiranga Muzuka instructed all traders to vacate the buildings so as to pave way for the redevelopment of the city’s central business district.

The mayor also ordered landlords to start erecting modern buildings, according to the town’s master plan.

Local authorities and the Private Sector Federation (PSF) could not, by press time, provide the exact number of those to be affected by the decision. However, Muzuka told The New Times last week that all traders operating in old structures should vacate by the set date.

Most businesses operate largely in old structures, some dating back over sixty or seventy years.

In a meeting last Thursday, Muzuka told traders and owners of commercial buildings that it is imperative that the city centre be redeveloped to give it a facelift and attract more businesses to the district, long considered as the second city after the City of Kigali.

“Shall we continue to have such an old city?” Muzuka asked. “I believe none of us is pleased to operate in a city that doesn’t grow. For many years, we have been asking landlords to think of how to redevelop their structures according to the master plan. But it seems that they have just ignored our pleas.”

In January, authorities met the business community to discuss the issue and greed on the July 31 deadline, the mayor said.

“The time has come to act,” Muzuka said.

According to the leader, traders who had been operating in the zone that is set to be closed should relocate to a newly-constructed multi-million commercial market, which was constructed by Abishyizehamwe cooperative just metres down the current Huye city market complex.

The new market, which is set for launch on Thursday, can accommodate more than 300 traders, according to officials.

Anxiety 

The redevelopment plan, however, has raised concerns and fear among the business community, with many claiming that it is beyond their means or might cause significant losses to their businesses.

Wellars Munyangeri, 73, an owner of a commercial building in the area, said closing down his building would cause significant losses to his business.

Munyangeri said building a desired modern house in the area could cost at least Rwf140 million.

“If they close down my house, I will lose an important source of revenue that I use to sustain my family,” Munyangeri said.

“I am not against development but I don’t have the means to develop the place as they want,” he added.

Mayor Muzuka said those who will fail to comply with the city’s master plan will see their land given to others who can develop it.

Francoise Semwiza, who owns two retail shops in the area, also said the plan could affect her businesses.

“We might lose some of our clients,” she said. “Some could also be compelled to temporary close their businesses as they look up for suitable places where to operate.”

Although she commended the redevelopment plan, saying it can help improve businesses in the future, Semwiza prayed authorities are cautious while implementing the plan so as not to hurt businesses in the district.

The new directive comes barely three years after authorities had ordered the closure and redevelopment of Huye’s central business district, commonly known as ‘Icyarabu’.

Currently, many of the commercial buildings in the city remain closed and it seems there are no plans to redevelop them.

Only two buildings, of between two and four storeys, have been completed in the Icyarabu area, while three others are under construction.

However, according to the mayor, efforts are being made to ensure that the whole area is redeveloped.

Muzuka also said the construction of tarmac roads in the area and its surroundings will start soon.

However, he did not give the exact time for the activities to start. In a past interview, the mayor told this paper that the nine-kilometre road network will be complete in six months.

The roads, which are full of potholes, had for long been considered a serious challenge to the redevelopment of the town.

Source:http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15433&a=69044

Huye closes down old city structures, eyes overhaul

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Arrested Intwarane group faces incitement charges

Archbishop Ntihinyurwa warned the sect members.

The Police have preferred multiple charges against 11 members claiming ties with the Catholic Church who were arrested over holding illegal assembly in the City of Kigali.

The group, including 10 women, under Intwarane za Yezu na Mariya, will be charged with illegal demonstration and public gathering, inciting insurrection and trouble among the population, according to Police.

Theos Badege, the Police spokesperson, on Friday said Police have handed over the file to prosecution.

Members of the group, who claim to belong to the Roman Catholic Church, were arrested while drumming and sounding other instruments in Kiyovu, allegedly, en route to the State House.

They are being held separately at Nyamirambo, Muhima and Kicukiro Police stations.

The group are said to have started by interrupting a mass at St Michel Cathedral. The priest complained and sought the intervention of local defence personnel.

Police said the group then headed to Gakinjiro, shouting “You should repent otherwise more blood will be shed than what was shed during the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994.”

Overwhelmed local defence personnel were forced to call in Police.

This paper could not ascertain the group’s target audience or their motive, but Badege said the chants was probably meant for the public.

Legal procedures 

According to Article 68, any person who holds a public meeting or demonstration on public ways without notifying the competent authority shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of eight days but less than six months and a fine of Rwf100,000 to Rwf1 million.

“They have to answer to these charges because prior to making any demonstration, the organisers ask permission from local authorities and Police are notified, so that we can help them reach their objectives without any hindrances,” Badege said.

However, depending on how the prosecution could interpret the charges against the sect, Article 463 of the Penal Code might also be preferred.

The article says knowingly spreading rumours or exciting the population with intention to cause trouble, is an offence that can attract 15 years in jail.

Archbishop of Kigali comments  

Commenting on the behaviour of Intwarane group, the Archbishop of Kigali Thadée Ntihinyurwa, said he had previously warned the group about their behaviour.

Ntihinyurwa, however, expressed surprise at the number of the sect that he said he had estimated to be a handful of about 20 people. The group is said to have about 1,000 members, according to some media reports.

The group is said to have had a ritual in Muhima Cell, Nyarugenge District, where they practice “healing services” in a residential house. They allegedly have two priests and a nun.

“I warned them that they should leave this behaviour, but they won’t listen to me. I am thinking of the way forward,” Ntihinyurwa said.

“Some parishes report that they have individuals belonging to the group; they criticise their way of praying, because while the others make a Sign of the Cross, for them they tremble.”

Smaragde Mbonyintege, the bishop of Kabgayi and head of the Roman Catholic Episcopal Council in Rwanda, said: “I lead decent people, not indecent people; those don’t belong to us.”

Source:http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15433&a=69043

 

Arrested Intwarane group faces incitement charges

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