Media practitioners blast government policy of silence on crucial matters
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Butare:
At a debate meant to highlight the challenges and opportunities of journalism in Rwanda, almost all the reporters could agree on one point -- civil servants continually derail the performance and competence of the media.
Ignatius Kabagambe, the Managing Editor of The New Times, was one of two main speakers during the debate organized during a week-long training conference called "Improving Journalism One Story at a Time".
He said the recent suspension of three senior police officers is a classic example. "Everybody refused to give a comment to the media about the official government position on the matter, speculation went on, and there's no government policy for its activities to remain a secret," he said.
Kabagambe was referring to the indefinite suspension of Rwanda Police Chief Inspector Andrew Rwigamba along with Costa Habyara the director of the Criminal Investigations Department.
The actual date of the suspension is unknown because there was no official release of the information. Then days after media first broke the story the Minister of Internal Security, Sheik Fazil Musa Halerimana held a press conference where he would only describe the suspensions as at the perogative of the President.
Kabagambe blamed the incident on the secretive nature of Rwandan culture which he said emphasizes unnecessary politeness. But he also criticized journalists.
"The media in Rwanda lacks the necessary skills and sophistication to challenge the government on its policies."
Charles Kabonero, the Managing Director of the Rwanda Independent Media Group which publishes Umuseso and Newsline said it was unfair for government and other sectors in Rwanda to always criticize the media in the country for its lack of skills when they knew well the whole country had shortages in many sectors of the economy.
The journalism training workshop is being held this week in Butare and is sponsored by the Rwanda Initiative, a Canadian Rwanda cooperation programme which has seen several Rwandan journalists going for study programmes at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
It brought together many Rwanda print and electronic stakeholders including reporters, managers and lecturers from the National University of RTwanda's journalism school as well as facilitators from South Africa, Uganda and Canada.
Professor Allan Thompson the founder of the Rwanda Initiative said that the discussion between journalists was a good move; "i was struck by the honesty and openness of the journlists. The level o the debate and exchange is good for Rwandan journalism."
Canadian newspaper publisher John Honderich is also attending the training programme which has attracted over 50 practicing journalists in the country.
Friday 18 July 2008
Arusha 7
Kabuga's media machinery so successful in duping series
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Arusha
Recently during the lunch time news on a cool Arusha saturday, the anchorman, after the usual blur about headlines, he cleared his voice and said; "the most wanted criminal by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Felcien Kabuga has been arrested by police authorities in Nairobi Kenya."
I have forgotten what else the newsman added but i remember, but the next thing my memory recorded is that i hoped on s cab, (a rare treat in the circumstances) to the nearest internet cafe. The story had circulated to all the international news organisations least of all BBC on line.
I was lost between envy, (against the BBC online) and the feeling of gratification known to a great extent only by teachers, that i had been part of a procces to bring good in society-not neccessarily justice.
Immediately i picked my notes and went to the nearest quite garden and filed a story for my paper but the good old editors never published the story. And no explanation was not given why. I was bitter.
When i reported to work on Sunday, the story had variably changed versions, some versions making me doubt whether i had actually listened carefully to the news the previous day. It turned out that Kabuga was not actually arrested by Kenyan Police had detained a man who resembled the international fugitive.
The man had resembled Kabuga by virtue of the clothes he chose to wear that day. Mixed with a few jibes about DNA tests and all, the Kenyan Police announced albeit in subtle ways that they had arrested Kabuga-a millionaire Rwandan genocide reportedly living large in Nairobi.
Nobody the ICTR was willing to talk about the alleged arrest, but this was not unusual as the ICTR has a strict SILENCE policy that boarders on radical! So as i nursed by bruised ego late in the evenings it dawned on me that a story of that nature involving Kabuga was not unusual, the plot changed dates and names but the script remained familiar.
Kabuga, a wealthy businessman and close family man of Juvenal Habyarimana was very determined to eliminate the entire Tutsi lineage that only did he finance the extremist FM radio station RTLM, he also furnished the Interahamwe with the notorious matchetes purchased in China and imported through Egypt. The entire genocide politics bacame less cloudy since the Kabuga incident.
Here was a country at war, it was difficult ignoring the blatant folly of the 'international community' that in 1994 when an agricultural country like Rwanda was under a period of terror.
With words like genocide being muted and another country-an economic power to say the least, was selling matchetes to Rwanda. China was doing normal business with Rwanda, so was Egypt and South Africa.
Back to Kabuga's arrest story, it turns out that such stories are carefully planted by hi public relations machinery to confuse further the already confused tracking team of the ICTR's prosecutor's office. Kabuga's people are apparently very clever, and they have to be because he is a rich man.
When there man has not appeared in the news for sometime, they create a pseudo event, personality or something crafty succh that his name is smentioned. When it is mentioned, Kabuga's hiding machine learns about the progress in his case and the mandate of the ICTR.
The man can afford so many things, that reach beyond the limit of police and government authorities. On top of top notch PR and security firms working for him, Kabuga is reportedly doing very well comercially in Kenya where he banks revenue from several estate investments through out East Africa's largest economy.
The nature of free market economy is that as long as something is not a threat to the security of a nation, then there's no problem with it, even if it is a genocide. Therefore, while Paul Kagame and his cohorts in the RPF were fighting tooth and nails to get rid of a genocide regime, South Africa, China and Egypt saw nothing wrong with it. They continued business as usual.
Today, as the 'international community' seeks justice for the million Rwandans killed in the Genocide, Kenya sees nothing wrong with him as long as he invests in the country Till another story appears concerning this time a man with 'critical information' in the pursuit of Kabuga and the media duped again the game between Kenya, ICTR and Kabuga will continue.
So Kabuga and his comics survive one more time, justice is eluded and people are fooled. What the fugitive will not dodge however is his old age, the blind and timeless revenge machine!
Much more frustrating about justice is the fact that the combined effort of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, ICTR, Interpol and the Kenyan police have all failed in implementing another UN duty, 14 years after the same UN failed the Rwandan people.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Arusha
Recently during the lunch time news on a cool Arusha saturday, the anchorman, after the usual blur about headlines, he cleared his voice and said; "the most wanted criminal by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Felcien Kabuga has been arrested by police authorities in Nairobi Kenya."
I have forgotten what else the newsman added but i remember, but the next thing my memory recorded is that i hoped on s cab, (a rare treat in the circumstances) to the nearest internet cafe. The story had circulated to all the international news organisations least of all BBC on line.
I was lost between envy, (against the BBC online) and the feeling of gratification known to a great extent only by teachers, that i had been part of a procces to bring good in society-not neccessarily justice.
Immediately i picked my notes and went to the nearest quite garden and filed a story for my paper but the good old editors never published the story. And no explanation was not given why. I was bitter.
When i reported to work on Sunday, the story had variably changed versions, some versions making me doubt whether i had actually listened carefully to the news the previous day. It turned out that Kabuga was not actually arrested by Kenyan Police had detained a man who resembled the international fugitive.
The man had resembled Kabuga by virtue of the clothes he chose to wear that day. Mixed with a few jibes about DNA tests and all, the Kenyan Police announced albeit in subtle ways that they had arrested Kabuga-a millionaire Rwandan genocide reportedly living large in Nairobi.
Nobody the ICTR was willing to talk about the alleged arrest, but this was not unusual as the ICTR has a strict SILENCE policy that boarders on radical! So as i nursed by bruised ego late in the evenings it dawned on me that a story of that nature involving Kabuga was not unusual, the plot changed dates and names but the script remained familiar.
Kabuga, a wealthy businessman and close family man of Juvenal Habyarimana was very determined to eliminate the entire Tutsi lineage that only did he finance the extremist FM radio station RTLM, he also furnished the Interahamwe with the notorious matchetes purchased in China and imported through Egypt. The entire genocide politics bacame less cloudy since the Kabuga incident.
Here was a country at war, it was difficult ignoring the blatant folly of the 'international community' that in 1994 when an agricultural country like Rwanda was under a period of terror.
With words like genocide being muted and another country-an economic power to say the least, was selling matchetes to Rwanda. China was doing normal business with Rwanda, so was Egypt and South Africa.
Back to Kabuga's arrest story, it turns out that such stories are carefully planted by hi public relations machinery to confuse further the already confused tracking team of the ICTR's prosecutor's office. Kabuga's people are apparently very clever, and they have to be because he is a rich man.
When there man has not appeared in the news for sometime, they create a pseudo event, personality or something crafty succh that his name is smentioned. When it is mentioned, Kabuga's hiding machine learns about the progress in his case and the mandate of the ICTR.
The man can afford so many things, that reach beyond the limit of police and government authorities. On top of top notch PR and security firms working for him, Kabuga is reportedly doing very well comercially in Kenya where he banks revenue from several estate investments through out East Africa's largest economy.
The nature of free market economy is that as long as something is not a threat to the security of a nation, then there's no problem with it, even if it is a genocide. Therefore, while Paul Kagame and his cohorts in the RPF were fighting tooth and nails to get rid of a genocide regime, South Africa, China and Egypt saw nothing wrong with it. They continued business as usual.
Today, as the 'international community' seeks justice for the million Rwandans killed in the Genocide, Kenya sees nothing wrong with him as long as he invests in the country Till another story appears concerning this time a man with 'critical information' in the pursuit of Kabuga and the media duped again the game between Kenya, ICTR and Kabuga will continue.
So Kabuga and his comics survive one more time, justice is eluded and people are fooled. What the fugitive will not dodge however is his old age, the blind and timeless revenge machine!
Much more frustrating about justice is the fact that the combined effort of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, ICTR, Interpol and the Kenyan police have all failed in implementing another UN duty, 14 years after the same UN failed the Rwandan people.
Media in Rwanda
Media houses in Rwanda advised to emphasize community issues in their coverage
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Retired Canadian media publisher John Honderich has advised Rwandan media practitioners to unite and work towards creating a serious industry in the country that can competently challenge government policies, instead of relying on it as the only source of news, legislation and funding.
Presenting a keynote speech on press freedom during the ongoing media training programme, dubbed 'Improving journalism in Rwanda, one story a time' on Wednesday in Butare. Honderich said if the Rwandan media industry debated on many affairs beyond government issues and events, in the country it would increasingly dominate public affairs and inevitably develop.
"People in the audience want to participate in public issues outside government, these are the people that will develop a greater freedom of the press", Honderich said.
Honderich, a former publisher of Canada's leading daily newspaper The Toronto Star has been in Rwanda before and has expressed a desire to help in the development of journalism in the country.
The Rwandan government has in the past been accused of being intolerant to media criticism which has arguably suppressed the development of a free and active media industry in the country.
International media rating organisations have also ranked Rwanda very low among 'media friendly' countries for its alleged hard line against media houses which are percieved as not toying the government official line.
In its defense, the Rwandan government has on many occasions stated that the media industry is unprofessional and many practitising journalists in the country needed further training.
In response, privately owned media organizations have cited limited revenue from the private and public sector as a reason for continued closure and poor management in many of these institutions. They say both factors conspire to maintain the current poor state of the media in Rwanda.
Honderich further said the Rwandan media needs to put more emphasis on the coverage of community issues, "there is a lot of interest among the public to participate in public and media related issues".
He gave the example of The Toronto Star which has long employed an in-house ombudsman whose job is to: "follow on issues and complaints raised by the readers The ombudsman also ensures the editorial policy book of the issues that the paper covers is maintained".
The 'Improving Journalism in Rwanda Ones story at a time' programme was organized by the Rwanda Initiative, a cooperation programme between the National University of Rwanda and Canada's Carleton University. T
he programme has seen some Rwandan journalists going for study programmes at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and 75 interns, journalists, and training editors from Canada to train journalists in Rwanda.
The training was opened by the Minister of Information Louise Mushikiwabo at the beginning of the week.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Retired Canadian media publisher John Honderich has advised Rwandan media practitioners to unite and work towards creating a serious industry in the country that can competently challenge government policies, instead of relying on it as the only source of news, legislation and funding.
Presenting a keynote speech on press freedom during the ongoing media training programme, dubbed 'Improving journalism in Rwanda, one story a time' on Wednesday in Butare. Honderich said if the Rwandan media industry debated on many affairs beyond government issues and events, in the country it would increasingly dominate public affairs and inevitably develop.
"People in the audience want to participate in public issues outside government, these are the people that will develop a greater freedom of the press", Honderich said.
Honderich, a former publisher of Canada's leading daily newspaper The Toronto Star has been in Rwanda before and has expressed a desire to help in the development of journalism in the country.
The Rwandan government has in the past been accused of being intolerant to media criticism which has arguably suppressed the development of a free and active media industry in the country.
International media rating organisations have also ranked Rwanda very low among 'media friendly' countries for its alleged hard line against media houses which are percieved as not toying the government official line.
In its defense, the Rwandan government has on many occasions stated that the media industry is unprofessional and many practitising journalists in the country needed further training.
In response, privately owned media organizations have cited limited revenue from the private and public sector as a reason for continued closure and poor management in many of these institutions. They say both factors conspire to maintain the current poor state of the media in Rwanda.
Honderich further said the Rwandan media needs to put more emphasis on the coverage of community issues, "there is a lot of interest among the public to participate in public and media related issues".
He gave the example of The Toronto Star which has long employed an in-house ombudsman whose job is to: "follow on issues and complaints raised by the readers The ombudsman also ensures the editorial policy book of the issues that the paper covers is maintained".
The 'Improving Journalism in Rwanda Ones story at a time' programme was organized by the Rwanda Initiative, a cooperation programme between the National University of Rwanda and Canada's Carleton University. T
he programme has seen some Rwandan journalists going for study programmes at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and 75 interns, journalists, and training editors from Canada to train journalists in Rwanda.
The training was opened by the Minister of Information Louise Mushikiwabo at the beginning of the week.
July stories
To:
donmuhinda@yahoo.com, ndahiro@gmail.com, jtasamba@gmail.com
Cc:
ikabagambe@yahoo.com, jbugago@yahoo.com, bideri@rwanda1.com, gusdaudi@yahoo.co.uk
EAC investors promise nursing school while APR suffers a long week
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Arusha
The week started off with the best and worst extremes of news, it began with a group of influential investors from Kenya who were in the country to assess business opportunities they could exploit.
In their meeting with President Paul Kagame the investors promised to set up a nursing training school which, according to William Kituyi a former trade minister in Kenya will help strengthen Rwanda's ambition of being a knowledge based economy, the investors added that they will also train Rwandans involved service sector.
The service sector in Rwanda is the largest sector of Rwanda's economy by 2007 estimates, contributing Frw 173 billion. Talk about Rwanda's power of seduction in the East African Community. On the other side of the news, it was reported that Rwandans who are closely suspected to have committed genocide and crimes against humanity here in 1994 are still causing havoc in other parts of Africa.
Ex members of Interahamwe (who need no further introduction) are reported to have been very active in recent violent outbreaks during Zimbabwe's failed presidential election.
The Interahamwe, the media stated were recruited in Robert Mugabe's fanatical band militias commonly known as liberation fighters.
It was not reported however, whether the ICTR wanted fugitive, the former head of Juvenal Habyarimana's presidential guard Protais Mpiranya was among Zimbabwe’s ‘terror squads’. Mpiranya is reportedly chilling in Zimbabwe.
The Interahamwe along with Mpiranya met up with Mugabe's people when Zimbabwe used them to fight alongside the DR Congolese army during the war in that country beginning in 2002. The development of the media in Rwanda; "one story at a time" was a theme that National University of Rwanda in partnership with Carleton University in Canada took to practicing Rwandan journalists in a one week long training programme. While in parliament, the minister of information Louise Mushikiwabo was called to explain why radio transmission was not covering the entire country, leaving many Rwandans out of the 'information age' and susceptible to the infamous 'genocide ideologies'.
Mushikiwabo admitted the equipment used by ORNINFOR; the national information office is outdated and promised changes soon. ORINFOR is funded by the government and runs a thriving publishing enterprise in the country as a near monopoly. When ambition and pragmatism meet, the common folks suffer; therefore it comes as no surprise that Kigali kiosk owners are lugging it out with the city administrators about the location of their enterprises-this time in courts of law.
You see, the government has been very consistent with talk about helping create: "strong vibrant small and medium scale private sector in the country", cum the small investors who have opened up commercial sharks along main streets in a city, the city itself is striving to be a hallmark of beauty in regional capitals, in their determination to attract tourists, investors and conferences.
These kiosks serve "amata na fanta bikonje"or cold milk and soft drinks, cigarettes and mid day bars have since been chased away from the face of the city and the small investors are not happy, as a result, they have taken KCC to court. The sharks are accused of spoiling the beauty of the Kigali city which has cretwd itself a niche as one of the cleanest capitals in East and Central Africa.
The case, if it comes up for mention will be one of biggest so far for the recently created Commercial Court will have handled.
The developments come soon after Kigali's new and modern Master Plan is due for passing by the cabinet. Football players plying their trade in professional leagues have been known to live a life of paradise, blessed with mind boggling salaries, which are only dreamt of by professionals in other careers the soccer players led by Michael Ballack and Clarence Seerdorf have decided to clean up their image.
Recently the footballers, many of whom are from Africa formed an organization which will help reduce global poverty in an interesting and practical manner.
The organization known as Goal4Africa will see soccer fans donate a small amount of money whenever their favourite team scores a goal. The announcement comes only weeks before the extremely popular English Premiership resumes in August, the revenue from this project will be used to fund education and development on the African continent, it is estimated to have collected $90m by 2010 when the World Cup begins in South Africa. Also in the news;
The National Identity card issuing scheme begins in time for good preparations for parliamentary elections in September. The national identity cards will be used as the voting cards.
APR football club have been humiliated in the going Kagame Cup in Dar Salaam, after drawing in their opening match against Tanzania’s Yanga FC, APR were thumped by Zanzibar minnows Miembeni. By press time, APR were making mathematical calculations to qualify for the quarterfinals of the tournament in which they are considered as giants.
donmuhinda@yahoo.com, ndahiro@gmail.com, jtasamba@gmail.com
Cc:
ikabagambe@yahoo.com, jbugago@yahoo.com, bideri@rwanda1.com, gusdaudi@yahoo.co.uk
EAC investors promise nursing school while APR suffers a long week
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Arusha
The week started off with the best and worst extremes of news, it began with a group of influential investors from Kenya who were in the country to assess business opportunities they could exploit.
In their meeting with President Paul Kagame the investors promised to set up a nursing training school which, according to William Kituyi a former trade minister in Kenya will help strengthen Rwanda's ambition of being a knowledge based economy, the investors added that they will also train Rwandans involved service sector.
The service sector in Rwanda is the largest sector of Rwanda's economy by 2007 estimates, contributing Frw 173 billion. Talk about Rwanda's power of seduction in the East African Community. On the other side of the news, it was reported that Rwandans who are closely suspected to have committed genocide and crimes against humanity here in 1994 are still causing havoc in other parts of Africa.
Ex members of Interahamwe (who need no further introduction) are reported to have been very active in recent violent outbreaks during Zimbabwe's failed presidential election.
The Interahamwe, the media stated were recruited in Robert Mugabe's fanatical band militias commonly known as liberation fighters.
It was not reported however, whether the ICTR wanted fugitive, the former head of Juvenal Habyarimana's presidential guard Protais Mpiranya was among Zimbabwe’s ‘terror squads’. Mpiranya is reportedly chilling in Zimbabwe.
The Interahamwe along with Mpiranya met up with Mugabe's people when Zimbabwe used them to fight alongside the DR Congolese army during the war in that country beginning in 2002. The development of the media in Rwanda; "one story at a time" was a theme that National University of Rwanda in partnership with Carleton University in Canada took to practicing Rwandan journalists in a one week long training programme. While in parliament, the minister of information Louise Mushikiwabo was called to explain why radio transmission was not covering the entire country, leaving many Rwandans out of the 'information age' and susceptible to the infamous 'genocide ideologies'.
Mushikiwabo admitted the equipment used by ORNINFOR; the national information office is outdated and promised changes soon. ORINFOR is funded by the government and runs a thriving publishing enterprise in the country as a near monopoly. When ambition and pragmatism meet, the common folks suffer; therefore it comes as no surprise that Kigali kiosk owners are lugging it out with the city administrators about the location of their enterprises-this time in courts of law.
You see, the government has been very consistent with talk about helping create: "strong vibrant small and medium scale private sector in the country", cum the small investors who have opened up commercial sharks along main streets in a city, the city itself is striving to be a hallmark of beauty in regional capitals, in their determination to attract tourists, investors and conferences.
These kiosks serve "amata na fanta bikonje"or cold milk and soft drinks, cigarettes and mid day bars have since been chased away from the face of the city and the small investors are not happy, as a result, they have taken KCC to court. The sharks are accused of spoiling the beauty of the Kigali city which has cretwd itself a niche as one of the cleanest capitals in East and Central Africa.
The case, if it comes up for mention will be one of biggest so far for the recently created Commercial Court will have handled.
The developments come soon after Kigali's new and modern Master Plan is due for passing by the cabinet. Football players plying their trade in professional leagues have been known to live a life of paradise, blessed with mind boggling salaries, which are only dreamt of by professionals in other careers the soccer players led by Michael Ballack and Clarence Seerdorf have decided to clean up their image.
Recently the footballers, many of whom are from Africa formed an organization which will help reduce global poverty in an interesting and practical manner.
The organization known as Goal4Africa will see soccer fans donate a small amount of money whenever their favourite team scores a goal. The announcement comes only weeks before the extremely popular English Premiership resumes in August, the revenue from this project will be used to fund education and development on the African continent, it is estimated to have collected $90m by 2010 when the World Cup begins in South Africa. Also in the news;
The National Identity card issuing scheme begins in time for good preparations for parliamentary elections in September. The national identity cards will be used as the voting cards.
APR football club have been humiliated in the going Kagame Cup in Dar Salaam, after drawing in their opening match against Tanzania’s Yanga FC, APR were thumped by Zanzibar minnows Miembeni. By press time, APR were making mathematical calculations to qualify for the quarterfinals of the tournament in which they are considered as giants.
ICTR Mandate
UN Security Council extends ICTR mandate to end of 2009
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Arusha
The UN Security Council this week extended the mandate of the the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for another year till 31-December 2009.
The ICTR was due to close at the end of 2008, however, in his recent report about its Completion Strategy, Dennis Byron the President of the ICTR had asked the Security Council for a one year extension such that the court could clear its trials. In a document released by the Security Council after the 111th plenary session of the UN the sixty second General Assembly in New York, the ICTR was allowed one more year.
This was after UN Secretary General had approved to the request of the ICTR to extend the contracts of Trial Chamber judges, most employees of the ICTR have their contracts ending on 31 December 2008.
The extension, Byron stated were because the ICTR had: "faced new developments beyond the control of the Tribunal, he cited especially recent arrests as one of the reasons for extending the ICTR mandate by a year: “Two accused were arrested at the end of 2007 and one in early 2008. Such events have an impact on the date by which trials can be completed." He added that among the recent arrests are three high level cases which can only be tried by the Arusha based Tribunal. The calendar of the ICTR demonstrates that "seven permanent judges and eight ad litem judges (non permanent) can complete all the remaining cases, including the three new ones, by end of 20 November 2009."
The ICTR was formed in 1994 but began trial procedures in 1997, since then the court has indicted 91 persons accused to have prepared and carried out the 1994 Rwandan Genocide which claimed close to one million innocent citizens.
The court has so far completed 35 trials, has 23 suspects in detention in Arusha and is still tracking down at least 13 fugitives headed by Felicien Kabuga believed to be living in neighbouring Kenya.
The ICTR is estimated to have cost one billion US dollars by the end of 2007 and Byron said the financial cost of extending the contracts of Trial Chamber judges alone would total up to 1.5 million USD.
The Rwandan Representative at the UN expressed dissatisfaction at the decision to extend the ICTR mandate, he said instead of extending the mandate of judges, efforts must and resources should be directed at further improving Rwanda's capacity to deal with cases referred by the Tribunal to its national courts, where improvements had been modeled by the Tribunal." The ICTR has already denied the transfer to Rwanda of three cases involving Yusuf Munyakazi, Gaspard Kanyarukiga and Ephrem Hategekimana. The Security Council also approved Byron's request to extend the terms of office of Trial Chamber judges until 31 December 2009 and those of the Appeals Chamber until 31 December 2010.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Arusha
The UN Security Council this week extended the mandate of the the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for another year till 31-December 2009.
The ICTR was due to close at the end of 2008, however, in his recent report about its Completion Strategy, Dennis Byron the President of the ICTR had asked the Security Council for a one year extension such that the court could clear its trials. In a document released by the Security Council after the 111th plenary session of the UN the sixty second General Assembly in New York, the ICTR was allowed one more year.
This was after UN Secretary General had approved to the request of the ICTR to extend the contracts of Trial Chamber judges, most employees of the ICTR have their contracts ending on 31 December 2008.
The extension, Byron stated were because the ICTR had: "faced new developments beyond the control of the Tribunal, he cited especially recent arrests as one of the reasons for extending the ICTR mandate by a year: “Two accused were arrested at the end of 2007 and one in early 2008. Such events have an impact on the date by which trials can be completed." He added that among the recent arrests are three high level cases which can only be tried by the Arusha based Tribunal. The calendar of the ICTR demonstrates that "seven permanent judges and eight ad litem judges (non permanent) can complete all the remaining cases, including the three new ones, by end of 20 November 2009."
The ICTR was formed in 1994 but began trial procedures in 1997, since then the court has indicted 91 persons accused to have prepared and carried out the 1994 Rwandan Genocide which claimed close to one million innocent citizens.
The court has so far completed 35 trials, has 23 suspects in detention in Arusha and is still tracking down at least 13 fugitives headed by Felicien Kabuga believed to be living in neighbouring Kenya.
The ICTR is estimated to have cost one billion US dollars by the end of 2007 and Byron said the financial cost of extending the contracts of Trial Chamber judges alone would total up to 1.5 million USD.
The Rwandan Representative at the UN expressed dissatisfaction at the decision to extend the ICTR mandate, he said instead of extending the mandate of judges, efforts must and resources should be directed at further improving Rwanda's capacity to deal with cases referred by the Tribunal to its national courts, where improvements had been modeled by the Tribunal." The ICTR has already denied the transfer to Rwanda of three cases involving Yusuf Munyakazi, Gaspard Kanyarukiga and Ephrem Hategekimana. The Security Council also approved Byron's request to extend the terms of office of Trial Chamber judges until 31 December 2009 and those of the Appeals Chamber until 31 December 2010.
Thursday 17 July 2008
Kijega kya Bizimungu and NUR tales
Bizimungu’s water tank and the tales of NUR
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Butare
The serene gardens of Rwanda National University's main campus are as beautiful as they are deceptive. In the lush green lawns are several insects which crawl on you if you stayed long, while the equally captivating old town buildings which make up the campus infrastructure are host many sad and dramatic tales-with many of the protagonists of these tales being historical figures in the evolution of Rwanda.
The gardens, according to students were an innovation of the reign Chrosologue Karangwa. The grey haired academician, Emmanuel Tushime a first year environment student says spent most of his time walking about in the campus, "he took care of the gardens, planted trees everywhere, and even ensured that we had benches, these wooden wonders have been a place of solace, love, ambition and relaxing for us."
Karangwa loved the students fraternity very much that while he was in charge, the famous genocide ideologies, (it has been reported in the media that at NUR, the simple identification of Anglo or Francophone has wider and deeper meanings not just limited to the language in which one is proficient.
The current Rector of the university Professor Silas Lwakabamba admits to these allegations, and he adds that they take on a radical spreading during student guild elections.) So during Karangwa’s reign, there was never a tolerance of students, teachers and administration staff identifying each other as "Franco or Anglophone."
Students state that their academic performance could be determined by which language they spoke or wrote class discourses in. There’s one particular incident where a lecturer was disappointed that Anglophone students got good grades in his class. It is said that the teacher was upset he had had ‘proved’ by the students.
The most dramatic and eloquent tale involves former president Pasteur Bizimungu, who was a student of NUR in the early 70s.
It is said that while the Bizimungu's reputation as a brilliant student of the science department, also possessed a character that would have taken critical interest of mental psychiatrists in the country at that time.
In the middle of the campus is a tall water tank with railings to help technicians to climb on top in case the tank needs repairing or cleaning . Built several decades back, the tank serves a total population of 10,000 (which the total population of the university).
Bizimungu according to several tales used to undress to his Adam's suit; he would then climb on top of the tank and throw up a free for all tantrums. One time he demanded that a recently elected University beauty queen say that she loved him. He demanded the belle to say she loved him or he would hurl himself to the ground!
That tale has been told so many times that today the place where the tank is situated is known as 'Kijega kya Bizimungu' loosely translated as Bizimungu's tank.
The award for the scariest tale at NUR goes Theoneste Bagosora, a student of NUR in the 70s also. Bagosora's time at the university is so rich in thriller material that people at Rwanda Cinema Centre will one day make into Oscar material. Considering Bagosora's record in the history of Rwanda, there's no surprise in Bagosora’s character during his formative years.
Apparently Bagosora was a genius of mobilization right from his early days at university. He led the fanatical cheer group of energetic boys which intimidated visiting teams during sports competitions between the Butare based NUR and several "catholic institutions across the country,"said one story teller.
After leading his cheer group during sport events, Bagosora and the boys would then head to the main auditorium-where during official university functions they terrorized every speaker they disagreed with. Their weapon? "They backed as wild animals, and it was always dark in there." stated the teller.
Positioned in the most dark end of the auditorium, it is here that Bagosora sat during official university ceremonies, he would then mobilize fellow students to terrorize everything they did not like or agree with at the university. I visited the corner at a few minutes after mid day on a bright Friday afternoon and at that time of day it still looked dark as midnight.
Today the cheer group is alive and has taken on a different name; it’s most popular during sports and political events.
The boys that have gone through Butare have definitely left an indelible mark on the campus and surrounding area in several ways. For example, the boys wing of the university resident halls are several well built hostels, many have very exotic yet practical names.
For example, Cambodia is highly considered as the Nyarutarama of NUR, the nearby White House needs no description. Outside the boys hostels are several women washing heaps of jeans and brown men's shoes.
The ladies are surrounded by a variety of children aged from two years to 10 running about the cloth lines.
It is said among Campus residents that some of these babies were in fact fathered by the male residents of the hostels. According to legend at NUR, some of these children have been told that their fathers are successful men in Kigali. The story goes that when you meet a street child in Butare town they tell you to give them money and then remind you "My father is a rich man in Kigali, he was a student of Butare, but he abandoned me here...... ..You could even be my father but you are ignoring me because you fathered me with a woman that washes clothes in the university hostels."
The walk around NUR's main campus is like walking through beauty, every walkway or path is carefully drawn to appear under a canopy of a tree, under these trees are several wonderful little gardens, and well maintained thickets of grass. There are also several wooden benches, where the social, academic, political and romantic lifestyle of the university plays itself out.
There is one particular story that runs through the 'Anglo'-'Franco' phone students. It is said that these two groups never socialize, there's limited interaction that when a Francophone students who resides the Francophone apartments is seen in the Anglophone end is found raises eyebrows.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Butare
The serene gardens of Rwanda National University's main campus are as beautiful as they are deceptive. In the lush green lawns are several insects which crawl on you if you stayed long, while the equally captivating old town buildings which make up the campus infrastructure are host many sad and dramatic tales-with many of the protagonists of these tales being historical figures in the evolution of Rwanda.
The gardens, according to students were an innovation of the reign Chrosologue Karangwa. The grey haired academician, Emmanuel Tushime a first year environment student says spent most of his time walking about in the campus, "he took care of the gardens, planted trees everywhere, and even ensured that we had benches, these wooden wonders have been a place of solace, love, ambition and relaxing for us."
Karangwa loved the students fraternity very much that while he was in charge, the famous genocide ideologies, (it has been reported in the media that at NUR, the simple identification of Anglo or Francophone has wider and deeper meanings not just limited to the language in which one is proficient.
The current Rector of the university Professor Silas Lwakabamba admits to these allegations, and he adds that they take on a radical spreading during student guild elections.) So during Karangwa’s reign, there was never a tolerance of students, teachers and administration staff identifying each other as "Franco or Anglophone."
Students state that their academic performance could be determined by which language they spoke or wrote class discourses in. There’s one particular incident where a lecturer was disappointed that Anglophone students got good grades in his class. It is said that the teacher was upset he had had ‘proved’ by the students.
The most dramatic and eloquent tale involves former president Pasteur Bizimungu, who was a student of NUR in the early 70s.
It is said that while the Bizimungu's reputation as a brilliant student of the science department, also possessed a character that would have taken critical interest of mental psychiatrists in the country at that time.
In the middle of the campus is a tall water tank with railings to help technicians to climb on top in case the tank needs repairing or cleaning . Built several decades back, the tank serves a total population of 10,000 (which the total population of the university).
Bizimungu according to several tales used to undress to his Adam's suit; he would then climb on top of the tank and throw up a free for all tantrums. One time he demanded that a recently elected University beauty queen say that she loved him. He demanded the belle to say she loved him or he would hurl himself to the ground!
That tale has been told so many times that today the place where the tank is situated is known as 'Kijega kya Bizimungu' loosely translated as Bizimungu's tank.
The award for the scariest tale at NUR goes Theoneste Bagosora, a student of NUR in the 70s also. Bagosora's time at the university is so rich in thriller material that people at Rwanda Cinema Centre will one day make into Oscar material. Considering Bagosora's record in the history of Rwanda, there's no surprise in Bagosora’s character during his formative years.
Apparently Bagosora was a genius of mobilization right from his early days at university. He led the fanatical cheer group of energetic boys which intimidated visiting teams during sports competitions between the Butare based NUR and several "catholic institutions across the country,"said one story teller.
After leading his cheer group during sport events, Bagosora and the boys would then head to the main auditorium-where during official university functions they terrorized every speaker they disagreed with. Their weapon? "They backed as wild animals, and it was always dark in there." stated the teller.
Positioned in the most dark end of the auditorium, it is here that Bagosora sat during official university ceremonies, he would then mobilize fellow students to terrorize everything they did not like or agree with at the university. I visited the corner at a few minutes after mid day on a bright Friday afternoon and at that time of day it still looked dark as midnight.
Today the cheer group is alive and has taken on a different name; it’s most popular during sports and political events.
The boys that have gone through Butare have definitely left an indelible mark on the campus and surrounding area in several ways. For example, the boys wing of the university resident halls are several well built hostels, many have very exotic yet practical names.
For example, Cambodia is highly considered as the Nyarutarama of NUR, the nearby White House needs no description. Outside the boys hostels are several women washing heaps of jeans and brown men's shoes.
The ladies are surrounded by a variety of children aged from two years to 10 running about the cloth lines.
It is said among Campus residents that some of these babies were in fact fathered by the male residents of the hostels. According to legend at NUR, some of these children have been told that their fathers are successful men in Kigali. The story goes that when you meet a street child in Butare town they tell you to give them money and then remind you "My father is a rich man in Kigali, he was a student of Butare, but he abandoned me here...... ..You could even be my father but you are ignoring me because you fathered me with a woman that washes clothes in the university hostels."
The walk around NUR's main campus is like walking through beauty, every walkway or path is carefully drawn to appear under a canopy of a tree, under these trees are several wonderful little gardens, and well maintained thickets of grass. There are also several wooden benches, where the social, academic, political and romantic lifestyle of the university plays itself out.
There is one particular story that runs through the 'Anglo'-'Franco' phone students. It is said that these two groups never socialize, there's limited interaction that when a Francophone students who resides the Francophone apartments is seen in the Anglophone end is found raises eyebrows.
Pee Wee and the Hollywood firing
I went to meet her so we could have a drink, maybe a set up a dinner date. On phone she had been so courteous that had i been a millitary i would have sensed danger.
But everything aout Pee Wee is done with alot of calculation.
So whern i entered her large office and saw her exquisite sense of fashion that day, i had no idea that i would leave with tears weeling in my eyes.
It was not the most vivacious 'chucking'. But it was certainly the most dramatic, ytou call a guy with alot of expectations maybe for a drink or date and baaam; "i cannot walk, eat, drink or do anything with you...." and then you get pissed off.
I wonder how long it took her planing how to do it!
In a way, i liked the whole incident after i had thought about it, and certainly it reminded of "10 year old' jokes.
But everything aout Pee Wee is done with alot of calculation.
So whern i entered her large office and saw her exquisite sense of fashion that day, i had no idea that i would leave with tears weeling in my eyes.
It was not the most vivacious 'chucking'. But it was certainly the most dramatic, ytou call a guy with alot of expectations maybe for a drink or date and baaam; "i cannot walk, eat, drink or do anything with you...." and then you get pissed off.
I wonder how long it took her planing how to do it!
In a way, i liked the whole incident after i had thought about it, and certainly it reminded of "10 year old' jokes.
NUR tALES
International systems operate in freedom, even their prisoners
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Arusha
Recently during a Rwanda media fraternity meeting in Butare, several journalists started off a conversation about the ICTR, one of the popular FM radio presenters stated; "Rwandans will run to Arusha and declare themselves as genocidaires".
The unnamed journalist said the Rwandans would this as one techinique for escaping poverty in Rwanda. The journalist was concerned because the detainees at the Arusha based UN detention facility were "living as kings while Rwandans are languishing in poverty."
He could not be more wrong about the part of ICTR detainees living as royalty. However, the assertion that Rwandans are willing to commit genocide or go to Arusha and declare themselves as genocidaires so as to be treated as royalty was patronizing.
The topic about the ICTR was started off by a senior international journalist John Honderich who was concerned by the recent decision of the ICTR to allow its detainees to meet their wives, concubines and girlfriends and have sex, legally known as conjugal rights.
On a different note, the topic of conjugal rights has awakened a huge debate in the Tanzanian media, as if the the detainees are Tanzanians, matters of the body are a favourite pastime with many Tanzanians, Dar Salaam the capital is known in the country as the 'East African city of sex'.
Renown Canadian newspaper mogul Honderich was bewildered that jailed fellow newspaper investor Conrad Black who is serving time for mismanaging his business empire Horlinger Inc. is not allowed conjugal visits while genocide suspects are allowed such treats of freedom as conjugal rights.
I told the discussants that the detainees are Rwandan in the context that they are answering for crimes they committed in the country, but that is as Rwandan as they get currently. They are now part of the larger international community not Rwanda and the international community operates with excesses, even their prisoners. Thats why, when the detainees are acquitted, they never return to Rwanda but the UN locates another country for them to adopt citizenship.
The ICTR detainees are not your regular 'guys in pink', they are savvy and know that they have so many influential forces on their side, ton top of keeping a large spy network around Arusha and Kigali where they monitor events in Kigali and advise their cohorts who are still being tracked by the ICTR tracking team. For a Rwandan first timer at the ICTR you can take them for being an alternative central government.
Even before the issue of conjugal visits was put on paper, it is said that they did not entirely live like catholic priests. The detainees are actually living large, they are driven around in a convoy and their vehicles are made to ensure that there's enough comfort for the inmates.
Walking to work on Tuesday morning i met Clare Roberts, a visiting intern at the ICTR from one of the leading universities in Europe. An anthropologist by training, Clare is also frustrated by the practices of the international community. "The developed countries are feeling a sense of guilt for doing nothing for Rwanda while the genocide was taking place, instead of helping the country and its citizens seek justice now, they bring the court to Arusha so they can now feel good for helping Rwandans see justice, far away from the scenes of the crimes".
Clare was disappointed that there are also very few Rwandans at the ICTR; "Rwanda is a distant memory for many people here, they don't want to talk about the country or simply they don't know." The week before I had thought the Rwandan journalist was speaking out of naivety of the international community but never knew how to take the views of the European intern.
The official granting of conjugal rights by the ICTR is a small treat to prisoners who are used to opulence and power. For example recently the ICTR interupted internet connection to the cells after it was found that Hassan Ngeze was running a website from his cell.
Ngeze the notorious hustler journalist is reported to have been funded by the the powerful 'Akazu' under the patronage of first lady Agathe Habyarimana to start a newspaper 'Kangura.
This paper was responsible for primarily printing the famous 10 commandments of the Hutu power. Ngeze after his arrest continued his journalism experience even in jail where he used his website to spread the Kangura propaganda.
When the ICTR learnt about it, the site was closed but it is believed to have changed names and managers. Now Ngeze's propaganda is carried out by a variety of publications with Iwacu.com leading the pack.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Arusha
Recently during a Rwanda media fraternity meeting in Butare, several journalists started off a conversation about the ICTR, one of the popular FM radio presenters stated; "Rwandans will run to Arusha and declare themselves as genocidaires".
The unnamed journalist said the Rwandans would this as one techinique for escaping poverty in Rwanda. The journalist was concerned because the detainees at the Arusha based UN detention facility were "living as kings while Rwandans are languishing in poverty."
He could not be more wrong about the part of ICTR detainees living as royalty. However, the assertion that Rwandans are willing to commit genocide or go to Arusha and declare themselves as genocidaires so as to be treated as royalty was patronizing.
The topic about the ICTR was started off by a senior international journalist John Honderich who was concerned by the recent decision of the ICTR to allow its detainees to meet their wives, concubines and girlfriends and have sex, legally known as conjugal rights.
On a different note, the topic of conjugal rights has awakened a huge debate in the Tanzanian media, as if the the detainees are Tanzanians, matters of the body are a favourite pastime with many Tanzanians, Dar Salaam the capital is known in the country as the 'East African city of sex'.
Renown Canadian newspaper mogul Honderich was bewildered that jailed fellow newspaper investor Conrad Black who is serving time for mismanaging his business empire Horlinger Inc. is not allowed conjugal visits while genocide suspects are allowed such treats of freedom as conjugal rights.
I told the discussants that the detainees are Rwandan in the context that they are answering for crimes they committed in the country, but that is as Rwandan as they get currently. They are now part of the larger international community not Rwanda and the international community operates with excesses, even their prisoners. Thats why, when the detainees are acquitted, they never return to Rwanda but the UN locates another country for them to adopt citizenship.
The ICTR detainees are not your regular 'guys in pink', they are savvy and know that they have so many influential forces on their side, ton top of keeping a large spy network around Arusha and Kigali where they monitor events in Kigali and advise their cohorts who are still being tracked by the ICTR tracking team. For a Rwandan first timer at the ICTR you can take them for being an alternative central government.
Even before the issue of conjugal visits was put on paper, it is said that they did not entirely live like catholic priests. The detainees are actually living large, they are driven around in a convoy and their vehicles are made to ensure that there's enough comfort for the inmates.
Walking to work on Tuesday morning i met Clare Roberts, a visiting intern at the ICTR from one of the leading universities in Europe. An anthropologist by training, Clare is also frustrated by the practices of the international community. "The developed countries are feeling a sense of guilt for doing nothing for Rwanda while the genocide was taking place, instead of helping the country and its citizens seek justice now, they bring the court to Arusha so they can now feel good for helping Rwandans see justice, far away from the scenes of the crimes".
Clare was disappointed that there are also very few Rwandans at the ICTR; "Rwanda is a distant memory for many people here, they don't want to talk about the country or simply they don't know." The week before I had thought the Rwandan journalist was speaking out of naivety of the international community but never knew how to take the views of the European intern.
The official granting of conjugal rights by the ICTR is a small treat to prisoners who are used to opulence and power. For example recently the ICTR interupted internet connection to the cells after it was found that Hassan Ngeze was running a website from his cell.
Ngeze the notorious hustler journalist is reported to have been funded by the the powerful 'Akazu' under the patronage of first lady Agathe Habyarimana to start a newspaper 'Kangura.
This paper was responsible for primarily printing the famous 10 commandments of the Hutu power. Ngeze after his arrest continued his journalism experience even in jail where he used his website to spread the Kangura propaganda.
When the ICTR learnt about it, the site was closed but it is believed to have changed names and managers. Now Ngeze's propaganda is carried out by a variety of publications with Iwacu.com leading the pack.
Malaria rates drastically reduce in rural areas of Huye district
The story of Agnes Mukarwema BY GEORGE KAGAME
Agnes Mukarwema gently covers the head of her five four year old son Albert Butera to shield him from the protruding sun rays through the hospital window.
She is nursing her son who has been in the children’s' wing of Kabutare hospital for two weeks now.
Mukarwema traveled 47 kiliometres from her village of Cyinya in Nyamagabe district before reaching the premises of Kabutare, the biggest hospital in the Southern Province. Prior to the admission at Kabutare, Butera's persistent fever became worse one Saturday night, his was transported from Nyamagabe health centre almost in a coma, the health centre is 11 kilometres from her home.
The extra ordinary journey from the centre to the hospital is the reason Butera's mother fully understands and can easily talk about malaria control programmes in the country. "that ambulance drive saved my son, my happiness. My son was going to die if the authorities at the health centre had not called the ambulance from Butare," she says. Mukarwema attributes her son's salvation to the improved performance of workers at her health centre. Her child now looks health, he can smile and hold a conversation: "we shall be out of here soon," says Butera.
His mother is more direct; "had it not been that ambulance, my child would be dead now," Mukarwema says.
Dr. Jean Claude Ntagarukanwa, the Director of Kabutare hospital says the hospital keeps on standby three medical ambulances; "we have two that work during the day and one at night, the night ambulance is the one which collected Butera and his mother." He adds that the vehicles are part of many measures that the hospital has undertaken to improve health services to the more than 272000 population it covers. "or malaria control we have sensitization campaigns accompanied by mosquito nets, officially sanctioned malaria drugs, and encouraging all people in the area through local government authorities to enroll for Mutuelle De Sante health insurance scheme.
Such efficiency is what has made Rwanda a success story in the fight against malaria in Africa says Dr. Corine Karema the director general of the National Malaria Control Programme, PNLIP; "we have adopted several mechanisms and we are hopeful that the disease will cease being a burden to the development of the country."
According to the recent National Health Management Information Survey, the use of health centres in the country was at 75 percent in 2007 while use of Mutualle de Sante schemes was at 73 percent of the population of Rwanda.
In May 2008, Novartis, the manufacturers of Coartem has also reduced the cost of the drug had been reduced by 20 percent, making it much more affordable for many people in the area.
There are several mechanisms in the control of malaria as Karema says, these have involved sustained massive awareness campaigns for Rwandans to be conscious of their health, supply of insecticide treated mosquito nets, and subsidizing Coartem, a malaria dose that is currently recommended by the World Health Organisation as the most effective drug in the fight against malaria.
Coartem according to Karema is subsidized "so that with Frw 300 as many Rwandans as possible can assess the treatment and the cost reduces with possession of Mutuelle de sante cards. With possession of a Mutualle De Sante cards a patient is required to pay only 15 percent of the total cost health care in public hospitals through out the country.
For long malaria and its related infections have been responsible for 60 percent of deaths in the country.
Development experts have stated that it is a serious bottleneck to efforts in reducing poverty in the Sub Saharan Africa. However currently, Rwanda is the model country among developing nations in combating the most serious health threat in the country.
The government in August 2007 adopted the Indoor Residual Spray (which has controversially been stopped since February 2008 by the national malaria control programme due to safety concerns) on top of massive distribution of mosquito nets distribution, cheap malaria drugs and the provision of safe and clean drinking water through supplying at cheaper rates water purifying substances.
Professor Michael Kramer, the director general of the Infectious Diseases Centre said Rwanda is performing very well in fighting malaria; “we are on top of Africa in controlling malaria, we also a model country by WHO in fighting the disease."
In Huye district alone, malaria prevalence has reduced greatlys says Ntagarukanwa, he says the prevalence of malaria among the total number of patients admitted in the hospital was 5.2 percent and in May 2008, band this figure had reduced to 4 percent of the total number of patients admitted in the hospital.
Karema says; “Under-5 child mortality rate through out the country has greatly reduced to and the proportion of child related deaths attributable to malaria is currently below 5 percent.”
After two weeks at Kabutare, Mukarwema is optimistic, she says her family faces the normal problems that poverty "carries with itself," but currently health care issues are no longer a permanent worry; "from the recovery of my son, i know health issues now have greatly improved."
Ntagarukanwa says malaria is a big problem in the district but is no longer alarming; "the ministry of health has set for us several measures to control the disease," he adds that the supply of insecticide treated mosquitoes as being particularly important in reducing the prevalence rate of malaria in Huye district.
According to Kabutare hospital records, there was only one malaria related death among the total number of patients admitted in the month of June, the hospital authorities however could not release the total number of patients and the nature of their illnesses.
Malaria according to Ntagarukanwa is still a problem in the district but he adds that there's a new ambitious plan launched by the ministry of health recently. The new plan known as Home Based Treated of malaria trains health workers to regularly check on children with malaria complications in their families, he says this has targeted especially children below the age of five.
"Here we have more cases of adults suffering from malaria than children because we have been able to monitor the health of every born child in the hospital. We do this through a broad network of community health workers, grass roots local government officials, public and private health centres through out the area which our hospital serves."
The efforts to save Huye from malaria according to Ntagarukanwa has in large part been due to the national health insurance scheme known as Mutuelle De Sante, through this scheme Rwandans pay to local government authorities a small fee after which they are given cards, upon presenting these cards at public health centres, patients are required to pay just a small fraction of the total cost of treatment. This scheme has been particularly helpful among the rural communities where the levels of poverty are high.
Mukarwema is able to pay the bill for her two weeks stay in the hospital thanks to the Mutuelle system. However, Ntagarukanwa adds that these insurance cards have not been fully utilized by Rwandans; "many times we get young people admitted here after an accident or something, they don't normally acquire these cards.
The younger generation assumes that because they have no one to take care of, they have no need for mutuelle de sante cards. "Many times they have discovered the importance Mutuelle cards too late."
The story of Agnes Mukarwema BY GEORGE KAGAME
Agnes Mukarwema gently covers the head of her five four year old son Albert Butera to shield him from the protruding sun rays through the hospital window.
She is nursing her son who has been in the children’s' wing of Kabutare hospital for two weeks now.
Mukarwema traveled 47 kiliometres from her village of Cyinya in Nyamagabe district before reaching the premises of Kabutare, the biggest hospital in the Southern Province. Prior to the admission at Kabutare, Butera's persistent fever became worse one Saturday night, his was transported from Nyamagabe health centre almost in a coma, the health centre is 11 kilometres from her home.
The extra ordinary journey from the centre to the hospital is the reason Butera's mother fully understands and can easily talk about malaria control programmes in the country. "that ambulance drive saved my son, my happiness. My son was going to die if the authorities at the health centre had not called the ambulance from Butare," she says. Mukarwema attributes her son's salvation to the improved performance of workers at her health centre. Her child now looks health, he can smile and hold a conversation: "we shall be out of here soon," says Butera.
His mother is more direct; "had it not been that ambulance, my child would be dead now," Mukarwema says.
Dr. Jean Claude Ntagarukanwa, the Director of Kabutare hospital says the hospital keeps on standby three medical ambulances; "we have two that work during the day and one at night, the night ambulance is the one which collected Butera and his mother." He adds that the vehicles are part of many measures that the hospital has undertaken to improve health services to the more than 272000 population it covers. "or malaria control we have sensitization campaigns accompanied by mosquito nets, officially sanctioned malaria drugs, and encouraging all people in the area through local government authorities to enroll for Mutuelle De Sante health insurance scheme.
Such efficiency is what has made Rwanda a success story in the fight against malaria in Africa says Dr. Corine Karema the director general of the National Malaria Control Programme, PNLIP; "we have adopted several mechanisms and we are hopeful that the disease will cease being a burden to the development of the country."
According to the recent National Health Management Information Survey, the use of health centres in the country was at 75 percent in 2007 while use of Mutualle de Sante schemes was at 73 percent of the population of Rwanda.
In May 2008, Novartis, the manufacturers of Coartem has also reduced the cost of the drug had been reduced by 20 percent, making it much more affordable for many people in the area.
There are several mechanisms in the control of malaria as Karema says, these have involved sustained massive awareness campaigns for Rwandans to be conscious of their health, supply of insecticide treated mosquito nets, and subsidizing Coartem, a malaria dose that is currently recommended by the World Health Organisation as the most effective drug in the fight against malaria.
Coartem according to Karema is subsidized "so that with Frw 300 as many Rwandans as possible can assess the treatment and the cost reduces with possession of Mutuelle de sante cards. With possession of a Mutualle De Sante cards a patient is required to pay only 15 percent of the total cost health care in public hospitals through out the country.
For long malaria and its related infections have been responsible for 60 percent of deaths in the country.
Development experts have stated that it is a serious bottleneck to efforts in reducing poverty in the Sub Saharan Africa. However currently, Rwanda is the model country among developing nations in combating the most serious health threat in the country.
The government in August 2007 adopted the Indoor Residual Spray (which has controversially been stopped since February 2008 by the national malaria control programme due to safety concerns) on top of massive distribution of mosquito nets distribution, cheap malaria drugs and the provision of safe and clean drinking water through supplying at cheaper rates water purifying substances.
Professor Michael Kramer, the director general of the Infectious Diseases Centre said Rwanda is performing very well in fighting malaria; “we are on top of Africa in controlling malaria, we also a model country by WHO in fighting the disease."
In Huye district alone, malaria prevalence has reduced greatlys says Ntagarukanwa, he says the prevalence of malaria among the total number of patients admitted in the hospital was 5.2 percent and in May 2008, band this figure had reduced to 4 percent of the total number of patients admitted in the hospital.
Karema says; “Under-5 child mortality rate through out the country has greatly reduced to and the proportion of child related deaths attributable to malaria is currently below 5 percent.”
After two weeks at Kabutare, Mukarwema is optimistic, she says her family faces the normal problems that poverty "carries with itself," but currently health care issues are no longer a permanent worry; "from the recovery of my son, i know health issues now have greatly improved."
Ntagarukanwa says malaria is a big problem in the district but is no longer alarming; "the ministry of health has set for us several measures to control the disease," he adds that the supply of insecticide treated mosquitoes as being particularly important in reducing the prevalence rate of malaria in Huye district.
According to Kabutare hospital records, there was only one malaria related death among the total number of patients admitted in the month of June, the hospital authorities however could not release the total number of patients and the nature of their illnesses.
Malaria according to Ntagarukanwa is still a problem in the district but he adds that there's a new ambitious plan launched by the ministry of health recently. The new plan known as Home Based Treated of malaria trains health workers to regularly check on children with malaria complications in their families, he says this has targeted especially children below the age of five.
"Here we have more cases of adults suffering from malaria than children because we have been able to monitor the health of every born child in the hospital. We do this through a broad network of community health workers, grass roots local government officials, public and private health centres through out the area which our hospital serves."
The efforts to save Huye from malaria according to Ntagarukanwa has in large part been due to the national health insurance scheme known as Mutuelle De Sante, through this scheme Rwandans pay to local government authorities a small fee after which they are given cards, upon presenting these cards at public health centres, patients are required to pay just a small fraction of the total cost of treatment. This scheme has been particularly helpful among the rural communities where the levels of poverty are high.
Mukarwema is able to pay the bill for her two weeks stay in the hospital thanks to the Mutuelle system. However, Ntagarukanwa adds that these insurance cards have not been fully utilized by Rwandans; "many times we get young people admitted here after an accident or something, they don't normally acquire these cards.
The younger generation assumes that because they have no one to take care of, they have no need for mutuelle de sante cards. "Many times they have discovered the importance Mutuelle cards too late."
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