Rwanda will need no aid in 10 years – says Kagame

President Kagame tours a large banana plantation in Gatsibo district, Eastern Province, in April 2012, accompanied by the owner (right) and government officials (Photo: PPU) President Paul Kagame has said depending on aid forever is not a life Rwandans or “anybody deserves to live, a life that is controlled by somebody else or somewhere else” – vowing to wean the country from it whatever it will take. “…looking at where we have come from, in another 10 years we should be close to that,” said Kagame in a wide ranging interview with TIME magazine. “I can’t put a clear date on it…. We won’t have achieved it but I think we will be very close. As I said, we are stronger every day.” Mr Kagame said a Rwanda without aid “not only makes people...

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Kagame: Is It Strange For Rwanda To Have “Economic Interests” In DR Congo?

President Kagame holds bilateral meeting with President Kabila on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, 15 July 2012 (Photo : PPU) When the Chinese or Americans have companies in DR Congo making deals; that is fine for the world to live with. Similarly, can’t Rwandan individuals and companies have the right to take part without Rwanda being accused? President Paul Kagame asks in a new interview: “How can we be guilty of that?” Mr Kagame tells Time magazine if there are any Rwandans or their companies doing business in eastern DRC, there is nothing wrong with that. “What right do other companies from China, America and wherever have to be in Congo that companies from Rwanda do not have? There are companies...

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Rwanda : BFA To Donate Books To NUR Law Faculty

Books for Africa (BFA) organization has pledged a donation of books to the National University of Rwanda Law Faculty worth $140, 000. BFA came up with the donation in collaboration with Law and Democracy initiative and the Eric James Memorial Libraries. The donation is made of books in the field of Law according to Dr Kimberly Harms, an official with Books for Africa. Dr. Harms states that books may be one way of getting information on how to solve problems which resulted from 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. “We believe books can help scholars to read and find information which may contribute to the development of Africa”, said Dr Harms. According to the Dean of Faculty of Law, Dr Emmanuel the shortage of books is among the major challenges...

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Rwanda : Nyaruguru District Plans Ahead Of Agricultural Season

The Governor of Rwanda’s Southern Province, Alphonse Munyantwali, has urged Nyaruguru district residents in Southern Rwanda, to work in cooperatives and use selected seeds and fertilizers more and more as a way of boosting productivity in the 2012-2013 agriculture season. The Governor made the remarks on Thursday while addressing over 500 residents in Kibeho sector of Nyaruguru district, some minutes after a communal work along with the local population and some more from neighbouring Rusenge sector − a communal work which saw 20 hectares terrassed out of a total of 30 hectares upon which maize will be grown some days ahead. “The secret to achieve development lies in teamwork”, Governor Munyantwali said in his interactive speech, sometimes...

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Rwanda | Ruhango: Government Sets Another Programme For Eradicating Drug Abuse

The program for eradicating drug abuse in Rwanda ‘Neighbors’ Eye’ locally known as (Ijisho ry’umuturanyi) with the help of local people watching each other’s back is set and has been appreciated by all people especially religious leaders who promise to support the move Drugs are becoming a national problem and they are abused by many people especially youth but educators and religious leaders believe this program is going to fight this problem. Michel Kaboyi the spokesperson of Ebenezer church in Rwanda said that this program of the neighbors’ eye is the country’s strength in eradicating drug usage. “We have been calling upon people to stop doing bad and evil things but now that we have government support, drugs will be completely eradicated...

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Kagame: “Permanent Aid Can Make A Person Become Useless”

President Kagame at Umuganda with residents of Nduba in Gasabo District, Kigali, 26 November 2011. The President says in the latest interview that the development of Rwanda is ultimate responsibility of Rwandans (Photo : PPU) President Paul Kagame has given a rare interview to the prestigious Harvard International Reviewmagazine in which he reaffirms that China offers “a new choice for African nations” – and accuses the west of being “more concerned with themselves”. Appearing in the latest issue of the magazine, the President’s comments come on the heels of a new investment deal with China and the establishment of sovereign fund that has raised some Rwf 15billion in two weeks. A visit to China this week by the President has yielded...

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Be Part Of Rwanda’s Journey, Kagame Tells Hong Kong Business Community

President Kagame in Hong Kong President Paul Kagame yesterday called upon the Hong Kong business community to come and be part of Rwanda and Africa’s revival journey. The Head of State made the remarks at a luncheon hosted by members of the business community in Hong Kong to discuss the multiple business opportunities Rwanda has to offer. “I invite you to be part of the revival of not only Rwanda but Africa. We want to look at change in the general context of the East African Community to which we belong and of Africa,” President Kagame said. Members of the business community who were from a variety of fields including the banking, energy and media sector were keen to learn more about Rwanda’s business environment, its educational...

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Rwanda | RUSIZI: Rwandans Refugees In Congo Continue To Abandon Forests, Returning Home

Many Rwandans who have been living as refugees in Congo forests are returning home in great numbers as 26 people with women majority returned on the 7th.sept.2012. The later returned through Nyagatare refugee camp in Rusizi district where they pass temporarily before being relocated making the number to 326 returnees since the beginning of the month of august 2012. The 26 returnees included 15 children, 7 women and 4 men who came from Mwenga, Karehe, Kasheshe and Shabunda areas and they were residents of former Cyangugu, Gisenyi and Kibuye provinces. The reason they decided to return back to their country is their social welfare which was worse and deteriorating, death and torture they were inflicted on by armed forces in DRC including...

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Rwanda : Public Urged To Handover Fire Arms

Light weapons and fire arms: Police calls upon the public to voluntarily hand them over The Police have in the past conducted various campaigns to get firearm weapons from the public, but the rate at which they are causing harm shows that they are still scattered around the country. Last week, September 5, a 12-year old boy died following a grenade explosion at their home in Nyarurama cell, Ntongwe sector, Ruhango District. The blast took place right in their store. According to ACP Sam Karemera, the National Focal Point Coordinator on small arms and light weapons, there is still need for timely sharing of information on the whereabouts of firearms and those that still keep them. He said Community Policing Committees should take such...

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Rwanda : Kigali City Takes Tough Measures On Motor Transporters

Starting from Monday 10, September 2012, motor-taxi transporters in Kigali City Council (KCC) will have  to carry passengers wearing full head gear, otherwise face a fine of Rwf10.000 for not abiding with the directives. The announcement was made by the KCC City Mayor Fidel Ndayisaba, while presiding over an event in which Tigo Rwanda Ltd donated rain jackets to over 1000 motor-taxi operators at Nyamirabo stadium, this September 7. Ndayisaba said that the new measures of reprimanding motor taxi operators to use the hygiene pack, was taken in a bid to improve the hygiene and professionalism in the motor-taxi transport sector authorities. He noted that anyone one found defaulting this regulation will be fined with Rwf10.000 and would...

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Kagame: What Rwanda Can Do, Other Africans Can As Well

President Kagame is received by the Prime Minister of China, Wen Jiabao, in Tianjin, 11 September 2012. The meeting is among various high level encounters the President has had on his Asia tour (Photo: PPU) President Paul Kagame on Tuesday challenged other African countries that there is nothing impossible about making their economies globally competitive – but have to “work very hard”. Speaking on a panel discussing “Championing Competitiveness; What is driving the success of competitiveness champions across the global”, at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin – China, President Kagame said ‘it’s not an exaggeration to say Africa has potential to achieve competitiveness’. “If Rwanda can achieve this in terms of competitiveness, many...

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Rwanda : Kagame, China Premier discuss investment promotion

President Kagame meets China’ Premier, Wen Jiabao, before the two leaders prepared to speak at separate events at the ongoing World Economic Forum (Photo: PPU) President Paul Kagame on Tuesday held bilateral talks with China’s prime minister Wen Jiabao – with investments top on agenda, on the latest leg of the Head of State’s Asia tour. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 6th Annual Meeting of the New Champions at the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin, China. President Kagame told the premier thatRwanda would help solidify Rwanda-Africa relations. Mr Kagame said China’s assistance has enabled Rwanda’s economy to grow – which has translated into improved livelihoods for Rwandans. Rwanda wants...

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Rwanda : Airtel Named Telecoms Brand of the Year, Most Innovative Telecoms Company and Customer Friendly Operator

Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria on Saturday night clinched three industry Awards at the prestigious 8th edition of the Nigerian Telecoms Awards. The telecoms operator beat other competitors to emerge the Industry’s Most Innovative Telecom Company of the Year, Telecom Brand of the year and Customer Friendly Operator of the year at the well-attended event marked by a huge presence of dignitaries from both the private and public sectors. According to Awards’ citations, Airtel emerged overall best in the three categories following its enviable strides in charting new paths in meeting the demands and needs of its esteemed stakeholders through superior brand experience, a rich portfolio of innovative products...

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Rwanda : Good Leadership Encourages Nationalism – Governor

Aime Bosenibamwe, Governor of Northern Province Governor of Northern Province Aime Bosenibamwe has asked different leaders in the province to serve residents well because good governance is their right and restores their value. During the event to officially start Agaciro Development Fund in Burera district on September 7th2012, the governor said good customer care is the foundation of all. When residents are served well, they love their country more and corporate with their leaders in the building of the nation, Governor Bosenibamwe highlights. He adds that authorities at every level should depict government values, this way residents see leadership through the good service from their leaders. “Leaders who let residents issues...

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