S
Olympian Crispin Duenas improves performance and hopes for more podium finishes
by george kagame
Archery superstar and Scarborough resident Crispin Duenas has strengthened his profile in the game after winning a silver medal in the first World Cup competition that was held last week in the Dominican Republic.
The 23 year old University of Toronto student and 2008 Canada Olympian finished 5th in the seeding round and in the single elimination rounds he won four matches and defeated a 2004 Olympic medallist at the semi finals before loosing to Frenchman Roman Girouille at the finals.
“I am very happy with my result, especially being the first outdoor competition of the year. The venue is great and the heat was not as tough as last year.”
Duenas victory was further complimented by the Canada mens’ which also won a silver at the tournament. Team Canada won three matches before capitulating to the US team in the final.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Government to introduce national transport and energy agencies; officials
BY GEORGE KAGAME
In a bid to enhance access to energy resources and improve the quality of public transport services in the country, the Ministry of Infrastructure is set to introduce a National Energy Development and a National Transport Development Agency in 2009 to coordinate both sectors and promote dialogue between the private and public sectors.
The initiatives are contained in the ministry's second phase of decentralization programmes (2008-2012)-a five work policy that stipulates the tasks and objectives it aims to achieve in the five years. Among other projects in the five year plan also includes continued efforts in training infrastructural planners in the country to the lowest local government authorities, and building a strong computerized database of the country’s infrastructure programmes such that monitoring by local government authorities so that implementation and evaluation is simplified.
In a telephone interview, Joseph Mvurirwenande the Acting director of planning in the Ministry of Infrastructure confirmed the plans and said; "we are working on it", he added that specialists are working on a framework and it is in advanced stages and that the plans will soon be released to the public. Mvurirwenande however refused to provide any further details concerning the projects. But another senior officer in the Ministry Alexis Karani said that these two agencies will first serve as examples before the ministry sets up other national regulatory agencies in the Information and communication technology, Habitat & Urbanisation, and Meteorology sectors that it oversees. Karani said this would make service delivery easier all over the country as district authorities will be dealing with independent agencies instead of the ministry as has been the case.
The new initiatives according to Mininfra officials is part of ongoing administrative reforms that began in 2006 and will see the ministry transfer some of its responsibilities to districts and remain with the task of designing policies. Prior to these new developments, Mininfra has been the sole body involved in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the five sectors. The new reforms are also meant to decrease government’s monopoly and invite investors on the table so that by 2012 the mentioned sectors are in the hands of the private sector, where government officials hope competence in service provision will greatly improve.
Apart from charcoal, government is the sole supplier and regulator of energy resources in the country while the transport sector is largely in the hands of the private investors with meagre government involvement in managing the national public transport agency Onatracom.
The move to set up a national transport will according Albert Mugisha a regular commuter in Kigali encourage investors in the public sector like Atraco to adhere to basic standards in managing transport services like hygiene inside their vehicles. "Currently the setting up of standards in the sector is left to the greedy hands of private investors. Who only care for profit. The new reforms in the sector especially help raise the standards of transporting livestock for consumption from rural to urban areas."
In a bid to enhance access to energy resources and improve the quality of public transport services in the country, the Ministry of Infrastructure is set to introduce a National Energy Development and a National Transport Development Agency in 2009 to coordinate both sectors and promote dialogue between the private and public sectors.
The initiatives are contained in the ministry's second phase of decentralization programmes (2008-2012)-a five work policy that stipulates the tasks and objectives it aims to achieve in the five years. Among other projects in the five year plan also includes continued efforts in training infrastructural planners in the country to the lowest local government authorities, and building a strong computerized database of the country’s infrastructure programmes such that monitoring by local government authorities so that implementation and evaluation is simplified.
In a telephone interview, Joseph Mvurirwenande the Acting director of planning in the Ministry of Infrastructure confirmed the plans and said; "we are working on it", he added that specialists are working on a framework and it is in advanced stages and that the plans will soon be released to the public. Mvurirwenande however refused to provide any further details concerning the projects. But another senior officer in the Ministry Alexis Karani said that these two agencies will first serve as examples before the ministry sets up other national regulatory agencies in the Information and communication technology, Habitat & Urbanisation, and Meteorology sectors that it oversees. Karani said this would make service delivery easier all over the country as district authorities will be dealing with independent agencies instead of the ministry as has been the case.
The new initiatives according to Mininfra officials is part of ongoing administrative reforms that began in 2006 and will see the ministry transfer some of its responsibilities to districts and remain with the task of designing policies. Prior to these new developments, Mininfra has been the sole body involved in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the five sectors. The new reforms are also meant to decrease government’s monopoly and invite investors on the table so that by 2012 the mentioned sectors are in the hands of the private sector, where government officials hope competence in service provision will greatly improve.
Apart from charcoal, government is the sole supplier and regulator of energy resources in the country while the transport sector is largely in the hands of the private investors with meagre government involvement in managing the national public transport agency Onatracom.
The move to set up a national transport will according Albert Mugisha a regular commuter in Kigali encourage investors in the public sector like Atraco to adhere to basic standards in managing transport services like hygiene inside their vehicles. "Currently the setting up of standards in the sector is left to the greedy hands of private investors. Who only care for profit. The new reforms in the sector especially help raise the standards of transporting livestock for consumption from rural to urban areas."
Man causes Kigali reproach with public masturbation at KBC
BY GEORGE KAGAME
On the onset of Rwanda's ascension to the East African Community table, Jaque Ruzibiza whom you can safely refer to hereafter as Uwijenga a 30 something small scale investor in Nyamirambo confided with me that it was good that we were joining the EAC but Uwijenga later revealed a deep seated resentment at Kigali's character and identity being consumed by the vices from other EAC members.
He mentioned Kenya and Uganda as being the bases of all sorts of corruption and if their way of life came to Rwanda, 'innocent' Rwandans would have their 'Girl Next Door' image corrupted and spoiled.
Uwijenga aside, there's a another debate currently doing the rounds in the moral circles of East Africa. The debate is concerned with finding out which of the EAC five cities (plus Arusha) is the most perverted. Since their debate is not official in any country it is goes that the statistics its students refer to can be ignored. However the debate-at its latest postings-states that Dar Salaam remains the most morally corrupt place in the East African region. The reasoning is that having been under the heavy and watchful yoke of communism for a very long-while, Tanzania opened up too soon to the temptations of a free market enterprise economy in the mid 1990s when 'Baaba wa Taifa'-Father of the Nation Julius Nyerere saw the light and converted.
It is also worth noting that during the mid 1990s the world was undergoing its most significant transition in modern times. The move towards the information and communication technology lifestyle, there were simply too many choices of consumer gadgets to make normal life extraordinary. Even in countries where the control and surveillance of communism had not existed earlier, the excitement was beyond imagination. So Tanzania came from the stage of its development where the government dictated or determined the dressing code of common men to the the stage where the individual and his/her freedom was an entitlement. The story goes that Tanzanians did everything in their power to catch up with capitalism. My classmate from Dar-as if to emphasize the new vision of his country nicknamed himself Capitalist, the other "American" and another one Washington.
The beautiful and large coastal city of Tanzania became a hotbed of many enterprises like a thriving commercial market for body parts of albinos-believed to be helpful in complimenting ARVs-and new lifestyles like homosexuals'. When the new generation of urban commercial pop music became available on ordinary computers, many in Dar became pop artists and the Tanzanian music industry expanded taking up all the traits of American pop star culture like bling bling, bar fights, pseudo rivalries and a couple of anecdotes of women's thighs bursts and painted faces.
You may wonder where this Dar drama is heading, i'll save you. Last weekend as the city celebrated the arrival of 2009 at KBC, a popular and enduring feature of Kigali's night life was one of such venues that were set to host the joyous Kigali's partying people. The club was parked to capacity, the music was not the kind to write home about but the crowd was extremely lively. There's no amount of words to describe the magnitude and quality of beautiful women that were attending call that night. Everyone seemed happy-or made a successful impression of being so.
A certain man believed to be in his 30s whom you can safely refer to as Kavukire took a seat on one of the open Bingalos in KBC with a clear view of the dance-floor. He unzipped his trousers and openly began masturbating, he stroked his penis according to the rhythm and pace of the music and kept at this ordeal for over four hours. He seemed not to mind even when one patron took his photograph. Finally Kavukire stood up zipped up and walked towards the dance-floor. His story somehow got to the ears of the aforementioned Tanzanians who were quick to opine between themselves about the issue. As usual Kigali Notes correspondent Big Ben Tumbo got some of the Tanzanian deliberations.
Capitalist: Huh, Kavukire came, he saw and he conquered!
American: What do you mean? Oh, i get it. He imagined himself making love to the beautiful ladies that were on the dance floor?
Washington: Uhhmm! These Rwandans, that kind of stuff did not come from the EAC. They are learning too much too quick. If Kigali men are busy masturbating in public who then is taking care of the beautiful women that country is reputed to have in large numbers?
On the onset of Rwanda's ascension to the East African Community table, Jaque Ruzibiza whom you can safely refer to hereafter as Uwijenga a 30 something small scale investor in Nyamirambo confided with me that it was good that we were joining the EAC but Uwijenga later revealed a deep seated resentment at Kigali's character and identity being consumed by the vices from other EAC members.
He mentioned Kenya and Uganda as being the bases of all sorts of corruption and if their way of life came to Rwanda, 'innocent' Rwandans would have their 'Girl Next Door' image corrupted and spoiled.
Uwijenga aside, there's a another debate currently doing the rounds in the moral circles of East Africa. The debate is concerned with finding out which of the EAC five cities (plus Arusha) is the most perverted. Since their debate is not official in any country it is goes that the statistics its students refer to can be ignored. However the debate-at its latest postings-states that Dar Salaam remains the most morally corrupt place in the East African region. The reasoning is that having been under the heavy and watchful yoke of communism for a very long-while, Tanzania opened up too soon to the temptations of a free market enterprise economy in the mid 1990s when 'Baaba wa Taifa'-Father of the Nation Julius Nyerere saw the light and converted.
It is also worth noting that during the mid 1990s the world was undergoing its most significant transition in modern times. The move towards the information and communication technology lifestyle, there were simply too many choices of consumer gadgets to make normal life extraordinary. Even in countries where the control and surveillance of communism had not existed earlier, the excitement was beyond imagination. So Tanzania came from the stage of its development where the government dictated or determined the dressing code of common men to the the stage where the individual and his/her freedom was an entitlement. The story goes that Tanzanians did everything in their power to catch up with capitalism. My classmate from Dar-as if to emphasize the new vision of his country nicknamed himself Capitalist, the other "American" and another one Washington.
The beautiful and large coastal city of Tanzania became a hotbed of many enterprises like a thriving commercial market for body parts of albinos-believed to be helpful in complimenting ARVs-and new lifestyles like homosexuals'. When the new generation of urban commercial pop music became available on ordinary computers, many in Dar became pop artists and the Tanzanian music industry expanded taking up all the traits of American pop star culture like bling bling, bar fights, pseudo rivalries and a couple of anecdotes of women's thighs bursts and painted faces.
You may wonder where this Dar drama is heading, i'll save you. Last weekend as the city celebrated the arrival of 2009 at KBC, a popular and enduring feature of Kigali's night life was one of such venues that were set to host the joyous Kigali's partying people. The club was parked to capacity, the music was not the kind to write home about but the crowd was extremely lively. There's no amount of words to describe the magnitude and quality of beautiful women that were attending call that night. Everyone seemed happy-or made a successful impression of being so.
A certain man believed to be in his 30s whom you can safely refer to as Kavukire took a seat on one of the open Bingalos in KBC with a clear view of the dance-floor. He unzipped his trousers and openly began masturbating, he stroked his penis according to the rhythm and pace of the music and kept at this ordeal for over four hours. He seemed not to mind even when one patron took his photograph. Finally Kavukire stood up zipped up and walked towards the dance-floor. His story somehow got to the ears of the aforementioned Tanzanians who were quick to opine between themselves about the issue. As usual Kigali Notes correspondent Big Ben Tumbo got some of the Tanzanian deliberations.
Capitalist: Huh, Kavukire came, he saw and he conquered!
American: What do you mean? Oh, i get it. He imagined himself making love to the beautiful ladies that were on the dance floor?
Washington: Uhhmm! These Rwandans, that kind of stuff did not come from the EAC. They are learning too much too quick. If Kigali men are busy masturbating in public who then is taking care of the beautiful women that country is reputed to have in large numbers?
Friday, 2 January 2009
Kigali's heartbeat to be recorded by Umnva.rw
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Having been hustled off his hard earned money by Kagali's moto riders thanks to his limited knowledge of the city's street names or the lack of, American journalist Josh Kron developed a business idea. He decided to invest his money in a localized databank and multi service providing agency and named it Umnva,a Kinyarwanda expression for; "Hey Listen".
Kron who has been a resident of Kigali for over two years now says he has been here long enough to know this is one of the most beautiful places he been too and unfortunately he says that most features of the country's beauty are not recorded and furthermore, where it is recorded, the information is not readily available for those that give it and the ones that need it or are supposed to use it.
"After working in several newsrooms in Kigali, at certain times i was embarrassed by the kind of questions that journalists asked after being assigned for stories. I realized for the start i could start a service company where any information about Rwanda can be updated by members of the public by uploading their own data and images about issues and events of importance to the vision of the country," Kron said.
Kron says there is so much going on in Rwanda currently but there's a general lack of information on what is happening; "Umva House will address many sectors in the country and this is shown in its multi lingua franca, we have our information collected from official sources and will be translated in Kinyarwanda, Swahili, English and French to be able to appeal to a cross section of Rwandans."
The American says his idea is not similar to the popular language schools in the country that claim to help Rwandans to achieve Vision 2020, he says that Umva will soon be one of the examples of private-public partnerships where followers will be able to get updated online on what is happening in the country and that this information will be provided by government, multinational companies and organizations to individuals-who through a given procedure will also be able to contribute to the information flow by updating umva.co.rw with their own perceptions and experiences.
He adds that his vision for Kigali is a well cleaned, socially connected and with competent delivery services, "and Umva hopes to be one of the first ventures that beyond event management will guide everyone interested in Rwanda to get contacts, book buses to different areas in the East African region, food delivery in Kigali and have every sector of the population represented in its coverage." He says that UMVA will also list public and private weekly events and will bridge the gap that exists between Rwanda's tourists, locals, students, policy makers and politicians. Kron reviews his website-which is listed by the registrar of companies as a private limited liability company-as being geared towards the rebirth of Rwanda culture, national identity and prestige, both domestically and abroad while keeping the identity of the country's leaders at par with their subjects.
Coming soon, the lighting city of Bugesera
With an industrial park, airport, free trade zone, a new road linking up to Burundi, perhaps the most equipped boarding school in the country and a soon to be introduced irrigation scheme-the first in the country-it is of utmost importance that residents are worried about the soon to be importance of Bugesera.
Part of the larger Eastern Province Bugesera is emerging from was otherwise Rwanda's poorest regions where malaria thanks to the area's relative comfort for mosquitos, the Eastern town will soon rival our good old Kigali in terms of attracting settlers and investors. There are many projects underway to prove this not least the new modern road and a better planned water distribution framework.
The costs of a pierce of land has also shoot to the skies and if you are from Kigali, price discrimination is one concept you might love to revise if you are interested in looking up. Three years ago, a plot of land here cost in the region of Frw 300,000 to 500,000 today this figure has gone up tenfold and the district authorities know the importance of beauty, their housing plans that have to be strictly adhered to and like in Kigali, the construction boom is taking its root here too. Bugesera will in the near future be the true symbol of where Rwanda has come from and where it is headed.
Having been hustled off his hard earned money by Kagali's moto riders thanks to his limited knowledge of the city's street names or the lack of, American journalist Josh Kron developed a business idea. He decided to invest his money in a localized databank and multi service providing agency and named it Umnva,a Kinyarwanda expression for; "Hey Listen".
Kron who has been a resident of Kigali for over two years now says he has been here long enough to know this is one of the most beautiful places he been too and unfortunately he says that most features of the country's beauty are not recorded and furthermore, where it is recorded, the information is not readily available for those that give it and the ones that need it or are supposed to use it.
"After working in several newsrooms in Kigali, at certain times i was embarrassed by the kind of questions that journalists asked after being assigned for stories. I realized for the start i could start a service company where any information about Rwanda can be updated by members of the public by uploading their own data and images about issues and events of importance to the vision of the country," Kron said.
Kron says there is so much going on in Rwanda currently but there's a general lack of information on what is happening; "Umva House will address many sectors in the country and this is shown in its multi lingua franca, we have our information collected from official sources and will be translated in Kinyarwanda, Swahili, English and French to be able to appeal to a cross section of Rwandans."
The American says his idea is not similar to the popular language schools in the country that claim to help Rwandans to achieve Vision 2020, he says that Umva will soon be one of the examples of private-public partnerships where followers will be able to get updated online on what is happening in the country and that this information will be provided by government, multinational companies and organizations to individuals-who through a given procedure will also be able to contribute to the information flow by updating umva.co.rw with their own perceptions and experiences.
He adds that his vision for Kigali is a well cleaned, socially connected and with competent delivery services, "and Umva hopes to be one of the first ventures that beyond event management will guide everyone interested in Rwanda to get contacts, book buses to different areas in the East African region, food delivery in Kigali and have every sector of the population represented in its coverage." He says that UMVA will also list public and private weekly events and will bridge the gap that exists between Rwanda's tourists, locals, students, policy makers and politicians. Kron reviews his website-which is listed by the registrar of companies as a private limited liability company-as being geared towards the rebirth of Rwanda culture, national identity and prestige, both domestically and abroad while keeping the identity of the country's leaders at par with their subjects.
Coming soon, the lighting city of Bugesera
With an industrial park, airport, free trade zone, a new road linking up to Burundi, perhaps the most equipped boarding school in the country and a soon to be introduced irrigation scheme-the first in the country-it is of utmost importance that residents are worried about the soon to be importance of Bugesera.
Part of the larger Eastern Province Bugesera is emerging from was otherwise Rwanda's poorest regions where malaria thanks to the area's relative comfort for mosquitos, the Eastern town will soon rival our good old Kigali in terms of attracting settlers and investors. There are many projects underway to prove this not least the new modern road and a better planned water distribution framework.
The costs of a pierce of land has also shoot to the skies and if you are from Kigali, price discrimination is one concept you might love to revise if you are interested in looking up. Three years ago, a plot of land here cost in the region of Frw 300,000 to 500,000 today this figure has gone up tenfold and the district authorities know the importance of beauty, their housing plans that have to be strictly adhered to and like in Kigali, the construction boom is taking its root here too. Bugesera will in the near future be the true symbol of where Rwanda has come from and where it is headed.
Cooking gas costs to reduce early next year; Electrogaz
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Early next year, government is set to introduce incentives for importers of cooking gas and reduce its levies on the product so that many Rwandans are able to afford it.
This was was revealed by John Mirenge the Managing Director of Electrogaz, the national energy supplying agency while speaking to journalists in his office. Gas is considered by many experts to be the most efficient and low cost cooking energy but its prices in Rwanda are far too high compared to prices in regional countries like Tanzania and Uganda. Most Rwandans however are not aware of the effectiveness of cooking gass and those that know cannot afford it as it is beyond the affordability of many. A 6kg can of cooking gas at Kobil Petrol stations costs Frw 75000 while a 12kg can costs Frw 85000 in Nakumatt mall. The same cans are sold at 64 and 153 USD respectively in neighbouring Tanzania and cheaper in Uganda.
Mirenge said government will early next year introduce a scheme to encourage and support gas importers in the country such its cost to the last consumer in Rwanda reduces. He did not offer any details however regarding the actual incentives but said the package was being handled by the Ministry of Energy and Natural resources and would be released at the beginning of the year. Furthermore Mirenge said that government had earmarked 8 mini hydro electricity projects and construction works were already underway for some while many will start in January 2009. Efforts to get a comment for Eng Albert Butare the state minister for energy were futile.
"Soon consumers will be relieved, government will introduce incentives on LPG (cooking gas), we are trying to reduce dependence on charcoal as this is very costly to the environment and we do not have enough electricity to cater for most energy requirements in the country."
Mirenge also said that Rwandans would have to wait a little longer to begin enjoying the benefits of methane gas whose extraction began in November 2008 on Lake Kivu; "the equipment at Gisenyi pilot plant is only capable of producing 5 megawatts of electricity but because of the limited machinery we have currently it is only able to produce 1.5 megawatts." He said that the investors in the gas project are expanding the plant so that it can produce to its maximum but added that the extensions would be completed by 2011.
Till then, the national energy requirements are being met by thermal generators which are very expensive as their daily costs is estimated at 2M USD.
In a telephone interview, Alex Kabuto he Director General of the methane gas extraction pilot plant in Gisenyi said that they are currently supplying Gisenyi town with 2 mega watts of electricity but added that Contour Global the American firm in charge of extraction was acquiring and installing new machinery and would soon increase output to between "50-100 mega watts."
Experts say that if the project succeeds it has capacity to deliver 350 mega watts which would solve most energy problems in Rwanda. The national energy requirements are stretched enough already yet only less than 10 percent of the population remains with access to hydro electricity.
Kabuto said that currently the extraction is very expensive "because we have been renting the machinery but we are soon buying our own machinery. Within the next two years we will be able to stop depending on the diesel generators for electricity and supplement national energy requirements with this methane gas." Kabuto said the national budget will be relieved of alot foreign expenditure on diesel when the methane gas plant is expanded.
Methane gas has long been considered as the solution of Rwanda energy requirements, exploration works on the lake began in 1963 by a Belgian company. Today, the International Finance Corporation with other donors are financing the project in Gisenyi.
Early next year, government is set to introduce incentives for importers of cooking gas and reduce its levies on the product so that many Rwandans are able to afford it.
This was was revealed by John Mirenge the Managing Director of Electrogaz, the national energy supplying agency while speaking to journalists in his office. Gas is considered by many experts to be the most efficient and low cost cooking energy but its prices in Rwanda are far too high compared to prices in regional countries like Tanzania and Uganda. Most Rwandans however are not aware of the effectiveness of cooking gass and those that know cannot afford it as it is beyond the affordability of many. A 6kg can of cooking gas at Kobil Petrol stations costs Frw 75000 while a 12kg can costs Frw 85000 in Nakumatt mall. The same cans are sold at 64 and 153 USD respectively in neighbouring Tanzania and cheaper in Uganda.
Mirenge said government will early next year introduce a scheme to encourage and support gas importers in the country such its cost to the last consumer in Rwanda reduces. He did not offer any details however regarding the actual incentives but said the package was being handled by the Ministry of Energy and Natural resources and would be released at the beginning of the year. Furthermore Mirenge said that government had earmarked 8 mini hydro electricity projects and construction works were already underway for some while many will start in January 2009. Efforts to get a comment for Eng Albert Butare the state minister for energy were futile.
"Soon consumers will be relieved, government will introduce incentives on LPG (cooking gas), we are trying to reduce dependence on charcoal as this is very costly to the environment and we do not have enough electricity to cater for most energy requirements in the country."
Mirenge also said that Rwandans would have to wait a little longer to begin enjoying the benefits of methane gas whose extraction began in November 2008 on Lake Kivu; "the equipment at Gisenyi pilot plant is only capable of producing 5 megawatts of electricity but because of the limited machinery we have currently it is only able to produce 1.5 megawatts." He said that the investors in the gas project are expanding the plant so that it can produce to its maximum but added that the extensions would be completed by 2011.
Till then, the national energy requirements are being met by thermal generators which are very expensive as their daily costs is estimated at 2M USD.
In a telephone interview, Alex Kabuto he Director General of the methane gas extraction pilot plant in Gisenyi said that they are currently supplying Gisenyi town with 2 mega watts of electricity but added that Contour Global the American firm in charge of extraction was acquiring and installing new machinery and would soon increase output to between "50-100 mega watts."
Experts say that if the project succeeds it has capacity to deliver 350 mega watts which would solve most energy problems in Rwanda. The national energy requirements are stretched enough already yet only less than 10 percent of the population remains with access to hydro electricity.
Kabuto said that currently the extraction is very expensive "because we have been renting the machinery but we are soon buying our own machinery. Within the next two years we will be able to stop depending on the diesel generators for electricity and supplement national energy requirements with this methane gas." Kabuto said the national budget will be relieved of alot foreign expenditure on diesel when the methane gas plant is expanded.
Methane gas has long been considered as the solution of Rwanda energy requirements, exploration works on the lake began in 1963 by a Belgian company. Today, the International Finance Corporation with other donors are financing the project in Gisenyi.
Government to reform Rwandair and improve air transport; official
Government to reform Rwandair and improve air transport; official
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The government is set to introduce new operation standards for Rwandair Express and make it an ; "an airline of choice by focusing on safety and quality service" this was revealed by a senior official in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning who preferred not to be named.
In a telephone interview the senior official said that government aims to create an alliance with British Airways such that it benefits from the BA's vast route network and modern management resources, the official added that BA would also be allowed to fly directly to Kigali and tap in the passengers that prefer flying directly to Europe on top of purchasing additional planes to increase the current fleet. Currently BA flies only to Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania with passengers to Kigali booking another flight to connect to Rwanda while the planes that Rwandair Express owns are considered below internationally accepted standards.
The new changes at Rwandaiar Express come when government is searching for funds to construct Bugesera International Airport to facilitate Rwanda's desire of being a regional hub for passengers and cargo. The official said that when the air transport challenges currently facing the country are reduced, Rwanda will be able to earn much more from tourism which according to a new year's message from national office of tourism stood at USD: 214 million by the end of 2008.
In a related development the end of year statistics released by the Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks-ORTPN on Thursday stated that currently tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner for Rwanda. Rosette Rugambwa the director general of ORTPN said with the the increased investment in the tourism sector the growth would be sustained and is expected to consolidate its its position as the country’s leading foreign exchange earner. She added that investments in the industry especially the increase in the number of hotels around the country from 148 hotels with 2,391 rooms in 2007 to 163 hotels with 3,552 in 2008 have bolstered the sector.
In his new year's message, Gerald Zirimwabagabo Rwandair Express executive chairman said they will launch a 10 year Strategic plan in 2009 along with a 5 year business plan for the airline company to achieve sustainable and profitable growth, expand our network and increase intercontinental partners so that Rwanda witnesses more global aviation connectivity. Acquisistoin of more aircrafts.
Furthermore, the Association of Hotels and Restaurants and Rwanda Workforce Development Authority-RWODA- are set to improve the quality of catering and other services in the country. In a recent Memorandum of Association of Understanding between the two it was agreed that they will inspect the hygiene and services of restaurants on top of training staff in the hotel industry. The initiative comes at a time when many Rwandans and visitors voice their disappointment and frustration for the quality of hotel and catering services in the country.
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The government is set to introduce new operation standards for Rwandair Express and make it an ; "an airline of choice by focusing on safety and quality service" this was revealed by a senior official in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning who preferred not to be named.
In a telephone interview the senior official said that government aims to create an alliance with British Airways such that it benefits from the BA's vast route network and modern management resources, the official added that BA would also be allowed to fly directly to Kigali and tap in the passengers that prefer flying directly to Europe on top of purchasing additional planes to increase the current fleet. Currently BA flies only to Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania with passengers to Kigali booking another flight to connect to Rwanda while the planes that Rwandair Express owns are considered below internationally accepted standards.
The new changes at Rwandaiar Express come when government is searching for funds to construct Bugesera International Airport to facilitate Rwanda's desire of being a regional hub for passengers and cargo. The official said that when the air transport challenges currently facing the country are reduced, Rwanda will be able to earn much more from tourism which according to a new year's message from national office of tourism stood at USD: 214 million by the end of 2008.
In a related development the end of year statistics released by the Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks-ORTPN on Thursday stated that currently tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner for Rwanda. Rosette Rugambwa the director general of ORTPN said with the the increased investment in the tourism sector the growth would be sustained and is expected to consolidate its its position as the country’s leading foreign exchange earner. She added that investments in the industry especially the increase in the number of hotels around the country from 148 hotels with 2,391 rooms in 2007 to 163 hotels with 3,552 in 2008 have bolstered the sector.
In his new year's message, Gerald Zirimwabagabo Rwandair Express executive chairman said they will launch a 10 year Strategic plan in 2009 along with a 5 year business plan for the airline company to achieve sustainable and profitable growth, expand our network and increase intercontinental partners so that Rwanda witnesses more global aviation connectivity. Acquisistoin of more aircrafts.
Furthermore, the Association of Hotels and Restaurants and Rwanda Workforce Development Authority-RWODA- are set to improve the quality of catering and other services in the country. In a recent Memorandum of Association of Understanding between the two it was agreed that they will inspect the hygiene and services of restaurants on top of training staff in the hotel industry. The initiative comes at a time when many Rwandans and visitors voice their disappointment and frustration for the quality of hotel and catering services in the country.
Monday, 29 December 2008
2008 new money meets Rwandans not ready
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The end of every year resembles that of each working day for the largest supermarket in my neighbourhood. At the end of each working day here, the owner closes the entrance door and along with her husband and Petero Gatera their cousin from the country converge behind the counter. With Gatera remaining at the door to keep watch while the rest of the family sit behind the small counter to count the returns from the day's sales. It otherwise called taking stock. As it is with every end of year we all go; 'Happy New Year" and then follow the statement with the reminiscing about the last and the forecasts for the new one. We are like a super market to translate.
The routine of the supermarket like that of every new year has been similar for a very long-while but the seriousness with which the family carries out this task daily makes it it look like that is the first day for sales reconciliation and its the last. Albert Uwayesu the husband told me that if the universal issue in discussion is money the lingua franca starts and ends with 'utmost seriousness' at every step. "Is life not about money?" he asked.
New money is what Kigali has been experiencing since the beginning of 2008 and the results are there for all to see, the city is now abuzz with many Yuppies-Young Urban Professionals- moving around with laptop bags, while their younger colleagues are now in space and out of place.
These are the teenagers, campusers who equipped with latest mobile phones and Ipods have left the verbose Africa.
There are no more conversations in buses or restaurants, every one in the newest generation seems to be having earphones plugged on their heads and they are all listening to downloaded music from the internet. This is the Kigali of ICT, and yes, that is the story of Kigali now, new money, new kids and newer laptops.
And like Uwayesu said, Kigali has been about money this year, not only has the number of banks from foreign lands increased their presence here, the new banks have also sparked a competition for attraction in the city centre. BK was the first to set up an ultra modern office block-if you ignore Ecobank, then Finabank, then BCR and even Banki Ya Baturage is following suit.
It is not just in the blocks alone that the banks are competing, their managers are busy behind their flashy glass windows devising means with which to attract Rwandans to start up business plans that the banks are ready to fund. Yes, it is official Rwanda's commercial banks are lamenting that they have too much money in their coffers which Rwandans are not borrowing it to create business enterprises that will in turn create more money. As a remedy the banks started a program in 2008 whereby customers are given incentives to design good business plans that can be funded by the banks, all the customers need to is good business acumen to present a plan.
Three of the customers that entered the most recent business plan competition and failed met up with Kigali Notes' good old corespondent Matu Sikiofupi who captured their lamentations and recounts them below:
Mchizi: I designed a good plan. I wanted to open up a bar and saloon and i wanted some of the rooms in my house as premises for the enterprises, however the bank panel threw my plan out and never offered me an explanation. They said this is not a good plan. Now i have asked them to assist me learn how to make good plans.
Taperi: What were you doing going for business competitions when you know that you have never entered leave alone won any competition in your life. There has been alot of money coming into Kigali this year and i mean big money, if you want some of it the bank is not the place to go. I suggest you try entering one of the 'Ishirahamwe' there you will get money without straining your little brain. eti business plan!!!
Bonfere: I suggest that we try going to Kenya to look for work there so you can save and start your business without mocking yourself with bank competitions. Have you not heard that Kenya this year allowed us the opportunity for employment there without paying any taxes. This has been a great year to be in Rwanda and even greater if you are in Kigali.
The end of every year resembles that of each working day for the largest supermarket in my neighbourhood. At the end of each working day here, the owner closes the entrance door and along with her husband and Petero Gatera their cousin from the country converge behind the counter. With Gatera remaining at the door to keep watch while the rest of the family sit behind the small counter to count the returns from the day's sales. It otherwise called taking stock. As it is with every end of year we all go; 'Happy New Year" and then follow the statement with the reminiscing about the last and the forecasts for the new one. We are like a super market to translate.
The routine of the supermarket like that of every new year has been similar for a very long-while but the seriousness with which the family carries out this task daily makes it it look like that is the first day for sales reconciliation and its the last. Albert Uwayesu the husband told me that if the universal issue in discussion is money the lingua franca starts and ends with 'utmost seriousness' at every step. "Is life not about money?" he asked.
New money is what Kigali has been experiencing since the beginning of 2008 and the results are there for all to see, the city is now abuzz with many Yuppies-Young Urban Professionals- moving around with laptop bags, while their younger colleagues are now in space and out of place.
These are the teenagers, campusers who equipped with latest mobile phones and Ipods have left the verbose Africa.
There are no more conversations in buses or restaurants, every one in the newest generation seems to be having earphones plugged on their heads and they are all listening to downloaded music from the internet. This is the Kigali of ICT, and yes, that is the story of Kigali now, new money, new kids and newer laptops.
And like Uwayesu said, Kigali has been about money this year, not only has the number of banks from foreign lands increased their presence here, the new banks have also sparked a competition for attraction in the city centre. BK was the first to set up an ultra modern office block-if you ignore Ecobank, then Finabank, then BCR and even Banki Ya Baturage is following suit.
It is not just in the blocks alone that the banks are competing, their managers are busy behind their flashy glass windows devising means with which to attract Rwandans to start up business plans that the banks are ready to fund. Yes, it is official Rwanda's commercial banks are lamenting that they have too much money in their coffers which Rwandans are not borrowing it to create business enterprises that will in turn create more money. As a remedy the banks started a program in 2008 whereby customers are given incentives to design good business plans that can be funded by the banks, all the customers need to is good business acumen to present a plan.
Three of the customers that entered the most recent business plan competition and failed met up with Kigali Notes' good old corespondent Matu Sikiofupi who captured their lamentations and recounts them below:
Mchizi: I designed a good plan. I wanted to open up a bar and saloon and i wanted some of the rooms in my house as premises for the enterprises, however the bank panel threw my plan out and never offered me an explanation. They said this is not a good plan. Now i have asked them to assist me learn how to make good plans.
Taperi: What were you doing going for business competitions when you know that you have never entered leave alone won any competition in your life. There has been alot of money coming into Kigali this year and i mean big money, if you want some of it the bank is not the place to go. I suggest you try entering one of the 'Ishirahamwe' there you will get money without straining your little brain. eti business plan!!!
Bonfere: I suggest that we try going to Kenya to look for work there so you can save and start your business without mocking yourself with bank competitions. Have you not heard that Kenya this year allowed us the opportunity for employment there without paying any taxes. This has been a great year to be in Rwanda and even greater if you are in Kigali.
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