BY GEORGE KAGAME
The government of Rwanda will not deter from normalizing diplomatic relations with DR Congo despite the highly controversial and criticized report released earlier in the week by a group of UN Experts on DR Congo.
Speaking to Journalists in Kigali on Tuesday the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosemary Museminari said Rwanda would not be disrupted by the report from discussions with DR Congo regarding resuming diplomatic relations between the two neighbours after ten years of hostility. Museminari however stated that although the report would have an impact on the discussions it will not determine the direction of the discussions which are currently on going. The report accused Rwanda of recruiting children among other things which the government has insisted are false.
"It may have an effect but for us in Rwanda, we are determined to continue with the talks without any interruptions," said Museminari, she added that even if the report was very biased against Rwanda the meetings would continue.
The negotiations between Rwanda and Congo have in recent months been in full gear after being in a state of hostility since 1998. Since then the two countries have accused each other of supporting proxy wars against their respective governments. Opponents of Rwanda's government who are believed to have been the militias and forces interconnected with the Genocide in 1994 are suspected to be supported by the DR Congo government in massacring Congolese ethnic Tutsi tribesmen, these groups are now classified as negative forces and are mainly operating in Eastern Congo.
The negative forces are a combination of the Interahamwe, EX-Far, and mainly Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda-FDLR are believed to have camps based in Eastern Congo where Congolese minority Tutsi ethnic Tutsi are settled. The negotiations to renew relations between Rwanda and Congo come months after these ethnic Tutsi resumed their rebellion in Eastern Congo against the Kinshasa government in late August.
In mid November, DR Congo Foreign Minister Thambwe Muamba visiting Kigali said that his country was set to send an ambassador to Rwanda soon and was also evacuating people that were residing in the Rwandan Embassy in Kinshasa so as to welcome the Rwandan ambassador there. Museminari said that to underliner Rwanda's commitment to good relations with Congo, "we appointed our ambassador to Congo" but the deployment waits for formal agreements to be endorsed between the two countries.
She added that DR Congo has promised to send their ambassador to Kigali early next before the end of April. Commenting on the rejuvenated efforts to revive the diplomatic relations DR Congo President Joseph Kabila said in a televised state address last Saturday that; "we are increasing political and diplomatic actions to end war and misery."
The talks between the two countries are now in due process and are code-named as "four plus four" high level bilateral framework in which Rwandan officials are meeting with their Congolese counterparts to resolve the problem of the FDLR-Interahamwe. The framework is also handling a comprehensive operational plan against the negative forces.
The efforts also comes at a time when DR Congo is currently negotiating a peace deal with the minority tribes political party in Eastern Congo under the leadership of renegade General Laurent Nkunda in Nairobi under the mediation of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. The also come when both Rwanda Burundi and DR Congo are trying to rejuvenate the economic community of the Great Lakes states-CEPEGL.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Media crucial in preventing genocide ideology; Mucyo
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission charged with preventing genocide ideology in Rwanda Jean de Dieu Mucyo has called for increasing the capacity of the media in the country so as to eliminate the "still prevalent" genocide ideoelogy in Rwanda 14 years after over one million people were killed in what experts say is Africa's worst human catastrophe.
Speaking to the press in his Kacyiru based office Mucyo said; "the media is crucial. It was used by the Genocidal regime prior to 1994 in a campgain to promote genocide ideology. We need to increase its capacity today to fight the ideology."
Mucyo's appeal comes exactly a year after a parliamentary investigation found alarming cases in the country's formative education system where students were divided according to their ethnic groupings. The report released by a six man commission headed by Donatille Mukabalisa in December 2007 found schools especially in the Northern Province allegedly promoting genocide ideology "registering 97 percent cases of the ideology."
In Gakenke one secondary school was said to have lists of Tutsi students to be killed drawn up. However school administrators say no one has so far been killed on the said lists. In this same school students were made to wear different uniforms according to their ethnic group, books and poems inciting hatred. The headmaster of the school then said the uniforms were supplied by the Fund for Genocide Survivors'-FARG a charge that students at the school denied.
At the release of the report, members of Parliament in the previous term put the then minister of Education Dr. Jean D'arc Mujawamariya under alot of pressure, she was questioned by the house along with her deputy Joseph Murekeraho. Both were accused for doing little to stop the spread of the ideology. The report disclosed that" genocide ideology" was detected in 84 of the 637 secondary schools in Rwanda IN 2007.
Mucyo said today the media was essential in promoting an open and frank society were citizens discussed freely issues relating to the Genocide; "we need to promote an open society culture among Rwandans where people talk freely instead of going to their homes to indoctrinate their children with the evil ideologies of genocide."
He said that government has since set up a national framework covering all layers of the local government structure to help in sensitizing Rwandans against the ideology saying that all institutions in the country were responsible for fighting genocide ideology; "its our duty but all institutions in the country must work hard. There's a national advisory council to fight genocide ideology in the country headed by the President Paul Kagame, the council has a wide outreach to the grassroots administrations."
Mucyo said that it was now important to sensitize local administrations to advise the citizens so that they can tour local Genocide memorials as the current norm of coming to Gisozi was not necessary; "there should be literature written by locals about hat happened in their localities. This way children will be discouraged from the ideology at an early age if they knew that he genocide was organized even in their (children) areas." He added that places of social interaction were the leading centres for the dissemination of Genocide ideology and only the media could contribute to ending this hate propaganda.
Stephen Rangira a veteran teacher in Kigali said; "Most journalists in the country are young, they are not very familiar with the country's geopolitical and socio-econmic history. Many need much training in covering issues such as genocide ideology and its multi faceted manifestations,"
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission charged with preventing genocide ideology in Rwanda Jean de Dieu Mucyo has called for increasing the capacity of the media in the country so as to eliminate the "still prevalent" genocide ideoelogy in Rwanda 14 years after over one million people were killed in what experts say is Africa's worst human catastrophe.
Speaking to the press in his Kacyiru based office Mucyo said; "the media is crucial. It was used by the Genocidal regime prior to 1994 in a campgain to promote genocide ideology. We need to increase its capacity today to fight the ideology."
Mucyo's appeal comes exactly a year after a parliamentary investigation found alarming cases in the country's formative education system where students were divided according to their ethnic groupings. The report released by a six man commission headed by Donatille Mukabalisa in December 2007 found schools especially in the Northern Province allegedly promoting genocide ideology "registering 97 percent cases of the ideology."
In Gakenke one secondary school was said to have lists of Tutsi students to be killed drawn up. However school administrators say no one has so far been killed on the said lists. In this same school students were made to wear different uniforms according to their ethnic group, books and poems inciting hatred. The headmaster of the school then said the uniforms were supplied by the Fund for Genocide Survivors'-FARG a charge that students at the school denied.
At the release of the report, members of Parliament in the previous term put the then minister of Education Dr. Jean D'arc Mujawamariya under alot of pressure, she was questioned by the house along with her deputy Joseph Murekeraho. Both were accused for doing little to stop the spread of the ideology. The report disclosed that" genocide ideology" was detected in 84 of the 637 secondary schools in Rwanda IN 2007.
Mucyo said today the media was essential in promoting an open and frank society were citizens discussed freely issues relating to the Genocide; "we need to promote an open society culture among Rwandans where people talk freely instead of going to their homes to indoctrinate their children with the evil ideologies of genocide."
He said that government has since set up a national framework covering all layers of the local government structure to help in sensitizing Rwandans against the ideology saying that all institutions in the country were responsible for fighting genocide ideology; "its our duty but all institutions in the country must work hard. There's a national advisory council to fight genocide ideology in the country headed by the President Paul Kagame, the council has a wide outreach to the grassroots administrations."
Mucyo said that it was now important to sensitize local administrations to advise the citizens so that they can tour local Genocide memorials as the current norm of coming to Gisozi was not necessary; "there should be literature written by locals about hat happened in their localities. This way children will be discouraged from the ideology at an early age if they knew that he genocide was organized even in their (children) areas." He added that places of social interaction were the leading centres for the dissemination of Genocide ideology and only the media could contribute to ending this hate propaganda.
Stephen Rangira a veteran teacher in Kigali said; "Most journalists in the country are young, they are not very familiar with the country's geopolitical and socio-econmic history. Many need much training in covering issues such as genocide ideology and its multi faceted manifestations,"
KCC comes good on its promise to reward top performing schools
BY GEORGE KAGAME
Kigali City Council on Friday rewarded six top primary and secondary schools in the city with brand new HP computers for their exceptional performance in last year's national examinations released at the beginning of 2008.
Speaking at the awarding of the gifts at KCC offices in the city centre Ms Martha Yakurije the city's Education Officer said that the computers were part of KCC's response to government Information and Information Technology policy. "this KCC's way of supporting school going children to boost their performance, we have also rewarded the best performing students every year with cash, tuition and other scholastic materials."
Yakurije said KCC has embarked on a vigorous campgain to raise education standards in the city, "we continue to monitor the performance of schools by constantly inspecting their facilities." Back in May, KCC rewarded students that came top of their peer in national exams in Kigali, the gifts included tuition subsidies for top students proceeding to tertiary institutions and other materials." She revealed that KCC was in the final stages of organizing academic competition for students in Kigali, the students would sit similar exam tests organized by KCC.
With Kenya recently scrapping working permits for Rwandans seeking employment there, Yakurije said KCC was set to introduce a "rigorous" campaign to teach school going children regional languages like Swahili and English such that they can compete for jobs regionally. "Early next year we are organizing an oral competition for pupils and we will reward the winners handsomely."
She added that Kigali was also set to begin start the acclaimed One Lap Top per child programme launched recently by President Paul Kagame. The programme seeks to introduce ICT and its related functionaries to school children while they are in their early education career so as to grow and master the information age. So 50,000 laptops have been supplied in the three district pilot project reaching Kigali y January 2009. Yakurije said KCC is currently sensitizing parents on how they help the success of the laptop project.
Among the schools that benefitted from the KCC gifts include ApeperCyahafi, Petit Seminaire Ndera, Fawe Girls School and Notre Dame. Reverand Jean Bosco Ntagungira the Headmaster of Petit Seminaire said his school would use the computer to boost its ICT department, " we are happy that in our endeavors to raise the standard of education in the country we have the support of KCC. This culture will encourage other schools to increase their performance and the school going children will benefit more from the competition among schools."
Kigali City Council on Friday rewarded six top primary and secondary schools in the city with brand new HP computers for their exceptional performance in last year's national examinations released at the beginning of 2008.
Speaking at the awarding of the gifts at KCC offices in the city centre Ms Martha Yakurije the city's Education Officer said that the computers were part of KCC's response to government Information and Information Technology policy. "this KCC's way of supporting school going children to boost their performance, we have also rewarded the best performing students every year with cash, tuition and other scholastic materials."
Yakurije said KCC has embarked on a vigorous campgain to raise education standards in the city, "we continue to monitor the performance of schools by constantly inspecting their facilities." Back in May, KCC rewarded students that came top of their peer in national exams in Kigali, the gifts included tuition subsidies for top students proceeding to tertiary institutions and other materials." She revealed that KCC was in the final stages of organizing academic competition for students in Kigali, the students would sit similar exam tests organized by KCC.
With Kenya recently scrapping working permits for Rwandans seeking employment there, Yakurije said KCC was set to introduce a "rigorous" campaign to teach school going children regional languages like Swahili and English such that they can compete for jobs regionally. "Early next year we are organizing an oral competition for pupils and we will reward the winners handsomely."
She added that Kigali was also set to begin start the acclaimed One Lap Top per child programme launched recently by President Paul Kagame. The programme seeks to introduce ICT and its related functionaries to school children while they are in their early education career so as to grow and master the information age. So 50,000 laptops have been supplied in the three district pilot project reaching Kigali y January 2009. Yakurije said KCC is currently sensitizing parents on how they help the success of the laptop project.
Among the schools that benefitted from the KCC gifts include ApeperCyahafi, Petit Seminaire Ndera, Fawe Girls School and Notre Dame. Reverand Jean Bosco Ntagungira the Headmaster of Petit Seminaire said his school would use the computer to boost its ICT department, " we are happy that in our endeavors to raise the standard of education in the country we have the support of KCC. This culture will encourage other schools to increase their performance and the school going children will benefit more from the competition among schools."
Friday, 12 December 2008
Gisenyi-Bujumbura road to ease trade in northern corridor
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The government is currently sourcing for funds to begin construction works on a new road linking Gisenyi in the western province to Bujumbura in Burundi.
This was revealed by Vincent Gatwa@@@@, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Infrastructure to the press on Monday, “the new road will improve transportation of goods and people connecting to Bujumbura (and Goma), it will also increase access between the two cities for travelers interested different activities like tourism.”
He said construction will begin 2010.
Gatwa@@ added that the road will enhance the fast tracking of Rwanda and Burundi into the East African Community on top of improving the business environment on the Northern Corridor Transport System.
According to sources from the Ministry of Finance and economic planning, the road will cost USD: 618m and funds for its construction will be sourced from the African Development Bank, World Bank, European Union, OPEC, Saudi Fund and others.
The Northern Corridor Transport System has been hailed by many observers as being important to the economic transformation of the Great Lakes Region. The corridor connects Rwanda and Burundi with the coast through Uganda and Kenya, instead of the shorter but very poorly developed connexion through Tanzania.
The corridor also hosts the extremely fertile soils for agriculture spanning the entire western Rwanda, Eastern Congo and South Western Uganda. Gisenyi and its surrounding area is agriculturally productive and nearby Ruhengeri remains the food basket of Rwanda.
Gatwa@@@ said government was set to hold a roundtable meeting with donors on 16-17 this month to discuss the road.
When completed this will be the third highway road connecting Rwanda and Burundi, the first goes through Butare in the Southern Province, the second through Nyamata in the eastern province and is in its completion stages (from the Rwanda side, the Burundi side is yet to start.)
Bosco Ndahimana a food trader in Musanze welcomed the Gisenyi=Bujumbura road saying that he will be able to maximize his Fuso trucks properly as he will be able to sell agricultural produce to Burundi and that competition for the Kigali market will also reduce.
Rwanda has in recent times embarked on a serious campaign in setting up structures to ease the free movement of goods and services in East Africa after the failure to deepen regional economic integration. Last Month, Rwanda hosted President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya who scrapped working permits for Rwandans seeking jobs in Kenya as well increasing working hours of the crucial Mombassa seaport and Gatuna boarder post.
The government is currently sourcing for funds to begin construction works on a new road linking Gisenyi in the western province to Bujumbura in Burundi.
This was revealed by Vincent Gatwa@@@@, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Infrastructure to the press on Monday, “the new road will improve transportation of goods and people connecting to Bujumbura (and Goma), it will also increase access between the two cities for travelers interested different activities like tourism.”
He said construction will begin 2010.
Gatwa@@ added that the road will enhance the fast tracking of Rwanda and Burundi into the East African Community on top of improving the business environment on the Northern Corridor Transport System.
According to sources from the Ministry of Finance and economic planning, the road will cost USD: 618m and funds for its construction will be sourced from the African Development Bank, World Bank, European Union, OPEC, Saudi Fund and others.
The Northern Corridor Transport System has been hailed by many observers as being important to the economic transformation of the Great Lakes Region. The corridor connects Rwanda and Burundi with the coast through Uganda and Kenya, instead of the shorter but very poorly developed connexion through Tanzania.
The corridor also hosts the extremely fertile soils for agriculture spanning the entire western Rwanda, Eastern Congo and South Western Uganda. Gisenyi and its surrounding area is agriculturally productive and nearby Ruhengeri remains the food basket of Rwanda.
Gatwa@@@ said government was set to hold a roundtable meeting with donors on 16-17 this month to discuss the road.
When completed this will be the third highway road connecting Rwanda and Burundi, the first goes through Butare in the Southern Province, the second through Nyamata in the eastern province and is in its completion stages (from the Rwanda side, the Burundi side is yet to start.)
Bosco Ndahimana a food trader in Musanze welcomed the Gisenyi=Bujumbura road saying that he will be able to maximize his Fuso trucks properly as he will be able to sell agricultural produce to Burundi and that competition for the Kigali market will also reduce.
Rwanda has in recent times embarked on a serious campaign in setting up structures to ease the free movement of goods and services in East Africa after the failure to deepen regional economic integration. Last Month, Rwanda hosted President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya who scrapped working permits for Rwandans seeking jobs in Kenya as well increasing working hours of the crucial Mombassa seaport and Gatuna boarder post.
Increasing Inflationary gap leaves city tenants crying foul
BY GEORGE KAGAME
As ever, in the 2008-9 financial year plan, the government has released well designed and eloquent graphs to be presented to the private, public and civil society sector financiers (read donors) seeking for the establishment of a housing scheme for low income earners in the country.
The plan targets increased cheap financing to the housing bank, encouraging the local production of construction materials, providing longer-term mortgage financing and so many other colourful words to have more houses in the city for people with small earning means.
The paradox of housing in Rwanda is so cloudy that while blue collar employees cry foul because of unscrupulous land lords for due to poor quality condos and exorbitant rent charges, many of these workers are employed in an unprecedented construction boom in Rwanda.
So as the blue collars finish their working day at Vision 2020 blocks mainly in Gasabo district they retire home to shanty townships in the neighbourhoods of Nyabugogo where they share single room condos with the ever present cousins visiting from the country. The new initiative by government comes years after the housing bank started a scheme catering for the Diaspora market. This market is largely responsible for turning Nyarutarama from a green to a concrete jungle it is slowly becoming now.
The blue collars, who spend their day in this area as moto drivers, journalists, guards and casual labourers are left to the machinations of Kigali's crafty landlords. Whose mastering of price discrimination is unrivaled.
After a long working day at one of the various printing shops in the city centre commonly known as "Imperimerie,' Sulambaya a city land lord and Kigali Notes Correspondent brings you a beer chat with three of his friends concerning the housing sector or lack of it in our great city.
Abilia: I think the best powerpoint presenters are found in this great country. I was very impressed by their recent work in Serena as they presented the housing scheme reforms to donors attending the development indicators meeting last week. The donors have eloquent graphs showing the success of the funds they have poured in the fight against this and that sector, while local government officials have even more brilliant presentations showing projects that need more funding and others still progress but speed slowed because one donor has not fulfilled his pledge.
Msafiri: You are very stupid Abilia, don't you know that the people who do their shopping at UTC are the same ones that employ us? If you and your fellow protesters disturb them who will pay us? Let me tell you, your problem is finding rent. Well, it is also my big problem but right now am more concerned about how i will make it watch Shaggy. The entrance fee is quite high it equals my monthly rent. I must make it to see Shaggy, don't make noise about your rent. Instead i will join you if you protest about the morphology of our houses. They are all built to resemble car garages. Why by the way?
Mwafaka: All government officials talk about is the rising inflationary gap, food fuel, airtime and everything else. Why don't they talk about rent? The government is more concerned with bigger projects than your fellow 'city houseless' mates. I have to stage a massive protest against my land lord, government and my neighbours. This protest will make the one in support of Kabuye look childish. Me and my fellow squatters-the ones that have no issues with neighbours-will shout and thereafter we will enter UTC and not go out. This will scare away the shoppers from entering the mall. The ones we trap inside we will lecture them about making laws that curtail the powers of landlords especially in regard to hiking rent.
Sulambaya: The reason Mwafaka is mad about land lords is because when he got his one room house the land lord insisted that he be a "Cilibateri" then he brought his charcoal selling girl friend later two days, then his big black cousin who also invited his wife. Now their house resembles an IDP camp. I wish i was his land lord, i'd not hike his rent, i'd also charge him rent per head in the house. With the increased rent returns i'd be able to increase my contribution to one of the Koperativus my family belongs to.
As ever, in the 2008-9 financial year plan, the government has released well designed and eloquent graphs to be presented to the private, public and civil society sector financiers (read donors) seeking for the establishment of a housing scheme for low income earners in the country.
The plan targets increased cheap financing to the housing bank, encouraging the local production of construction materials, providing longer-term mortgage financing and so many other colourful words to have more houses in the city for people with small earning means.
The paradox of housing in Rwanda is so cloudy that while blue collar employees cry foul because of unscrupulous land lords for due to poor quality condos and exorbitant rent charges, many of these workers are employed in an unprecedented construction boom in Rwanda.
So as the blue collars finish their working day at Vision 2020 blocks mainly in Gasabo district they retire home to shanty townships in the neighbourhoods of Nyabugogo where they share single room condos with the ever present cousins visiting from the country. The new initiative by government comes years after the housing bank started a scheme catering for the Diaspora market. This market is largely responsible for turning Nyarutarama from a green to a concrete jungle it is slowly becoming now.
The blue collars, who spend their day in this area as moto drivers, journalists, guards and casual labourers are left to the machinations of Kigali's crafty landlords. Whose mastering of price discrimination is unrivaled.
After a long working day at one of the various printing shops in the city centre commonly known as "Imperimerie,' Sulambaya a city land lord and Kigali Notes Correspondent brings you a beer chat with three of his friends concerning the housing sector or lack of it in our great city.
Abilia: I think the best powerpoint presenters are found in this great country. I was very impressed by their recent work in Serena as they presented the housing scheme reforms to donors attending the development indicators meeting last week. The donors have eloquent graphs showing the success of the funds they have poured in the fight against this and that sector, while local government officials have even more brilliant presentations showing projects that need more funding and others still progress but speed slowed because one donor has not fulfilled his pledge.
Msafiri: You are very stupid Abilia, don't you know that the people who do their shopping at UTC are the same ones that employ us? If you and your fellow protesters disturb them who will pay us? Let me tell you, your problem is finding rent. Well, it is also my big problem but right now am more concerned about how i will make it watch Shaggy. The entrance fee is quite high it equals my monthly rent. I must make it to see Shaggy, don't make noise about your rent. Instead i will join you if you protest about the morphology of our houses. They are all built to resemble car garages. Why by the way?
Mwafaka: All government officials talk about is the rising inflationary gap, food fuel, airtime and everything else. Why don't they talk about rent? The government is more concerned with bigger projects than your fellow 'city houseless' mates. I have to stage a massive protest against my land lord, government and my neighbours. This protest will make the one in support of Kabuye look childish. Me and my fellow squatters-the ones that have no issues with neighbours-will shout and thereafter we will enter UTC and not go out. This will scare away the shoppers from entering the mall. The ones we trap inside we will lecture them about making laws that curtail the powers of landlords especially in regard to hiking rent.
Sulambaya: The reason Mwafaka is mad about land lords is because when he got his one room house the land lord insisted that he be a "Cilibateri" then he brought his charcoal selling girl friend later two days, then his big black cousin who also invited his wife. Now their house resembles an IDP camp. I wish i was his land lord, i'd not hike his rent, i'd also charge him rent per head in the house. With the increased rent returns i'd be able to increase my contribution to one of the Koperativus my family belongs to.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
The next round of fuel price negotiations: Inflation
BY GEORGE KAGAME
As this year's festive seasons begins, Kigali is facing fuel shortages and forcing many car owner to leave their vehicles packed at home and use public buses or the Kigali trademark, the Moto to conduct their daily businesses. The buses and motos are currently enduring long queues on many petrol stations around the city in the evenings as they fill up for the next day. There's a looming fuel crisis.
A disagreement between a cartel of fuel importers in the country and government is causing this misery. Apparently fuel importers were displeased by the recent reduction in the prices of fuel. The decision to reduce fuel costs was reached after negotiations between government and the importers, documents were signed, smiles abound and photos were taken. The press was invited, good news had to be told and shared.
As can be expected in the hustling world of the petrol dollar, a few weeks after the drama above unfolded. Government and petrol investors were back at the negotiating table. At the beginning of this week, the monthly meeting between the two was locked in a stalemate as fuel importers were unrelenting in their determination to charge a higher rate per average costs, point which government objected to. The issue at contention is about a mid ground price at which to sell a litre of fuel can be sold at petrol stations. The government insists on one and the importers want another, the former has insisted that fuel costs should keep pace with inflationary gaps in the economy. Not only are the importers finding this kind of talk bothering, they also refuse to understand it. As ever the case with these things, the involvement of the press in the matter was limited to press conferences and PR letters.
The talk of inflation and pump prices has left many in our great Kigali wondering who is fooling who! At a recent introduction ceremony in Cyangugu in the other province left some in the brides entourage wondering. Their deliberations were captured by our correspondent Sikiofupi. He presents its excerpts here below.
Mtupu: If the government is concerned about commodity prices and inflation, why don't they hold negotiations with land lords in the country, supermarkets, restaurants and private sector employees. These are the people in dire need of inflation lectures.
Msani: Who cares about prices of commodities, the Rwanda Bureau of standards? I choke!!!!!!
Mteja: Who cheats the consumers in this country? It it government high taxes, investors? We ask the private sector federation? Huh, don't mention that, what do they do kumbe? Hire consultancies and advocate. By the way, is there any trade union in our country?
Mhudumu: Today my supervisor told me to clean up and freshen the 'salle', he said that people in clean black suits, white shirts and red ties from Kigali are coming over the weekend to discuss development indicators in Rwanda. They will be escorted by other even more savvy people from The World Bank here to release a report showing indicators of growth in the country for 2007-8. I will inform you anything they talk about. The government is likely to welcome the report upon its release but a few weeks later the same government will be criticizing it.
And early next year they will hire a glamorous consultancy firm to advise them on what to do about the report. The private sector federation will also hire another consultancy firm probably from South Africa to advise it also. The investors meanwhile will wait for another investment conference to voice their frustration about Doing Business in Rwanda, high taxes, poor service delivery culture, these 'slow and backward' Rwandans'. At least i will be kept busy organizing the salle. The consumer will, well, what will you do?
As this year's festive seasons begins, Kigali is facing fuel shortages and forcing many car owner to leave their vehicles packed at home and use public buses or the Kigali trademark, the Moto to conduct their daily businesses. The buses and motos are currently enduring long queues on many petrol stations around the city in the evenings as they fill up for the next day. There's a looming fuel crisis.
A disagreement between a cartel of fuel importers in the country and government is causing this misery. Apparently fuel importers were displeased by the recent reduction in the prices of fuel. The decision to reduce fuel costs was reached after negotiations between government and the importers, documents were signed, smiles abound and photos were taken. The press was invited, good news had to be told and shared.
As can be expected in the hustling world of the petrol dollar, a few weeks after the drama above unfolded. Government and petrol investors were back at the negotiating table. At the beginning of this week, the monthly meeting between the two was locked in a stalemate as fuel importers were unrelenting in their determination to charge a higher rate per average costs, point which government objected to. The issue at contention is about a mid ground price at which to sell a litre of fuel can be sold at petrol stations. The government insists on one and the importers want another, the former has insisted that fuel costs should keep pace with inflationary gaps in the economy. Not only are the importers finding this kind of talk bothering, they also refuse to understand it. As ever the case with these things, the involvement of the press in the matter was limited to press conferences and PR letters.
The talk of inflation and pump prices has left many in our great Kigali wondering who is fooling who! At a recent introduction ceremony in Cyangugu in the other province left some in the brides entourage wondering. Their deliberations were captured by our correspondent Sikiofupi. He presents its excerpts here below.
Mtupu: If the government is concerned about commodity prices and inflation, why don't they hold negotiations with land lords in the country, supermarkets, restaurants and private sector employees. These are the people in dire need of inflation lectures.
Msani: Who cares about prices of commodities, the Rwanda Bureau of standards? I choke!!!!!!
Mteja: Who cheats the consumers in this country? It it government high taxes, investors? We ask the private sector federation? Huh, don't mention that, what do they do kumbe? Hire consultancies and advocate. By the way, is there any trade union in our country?
Mhudumu: Today my supervisor told me to clean up and freshen the 'salle', he said that people in clean black suits, white shirts and red ties from Kigali are coming over the weekend to discuss development indicators in Rwanda. They will be escorted by other even more savvy people from The World Bank here to release a report showing indicators of growth in the country for 2007-8. I will inform you anything they talk about. The government is likely to welcome the report upon its release but a few weeks later the same government will be criticizing it.
And early next year they will hire a glamorous consultancy firm to advise them on what to do about the report. The private sector federation will also hire another consultancy firm probably from South Africa to advise it also. The investors meanwhile will wait for another investment conference to voice their frustration about Doing Business in Rwanda, high taxes, poor service delivery culture, these 'slow and backward' Rwandans'. At least i will be kept busy organizing the salle. The consumer will, well, what will you do?
Kenyans in Rwanda happy with relations between Kigali and Nairobi
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The Chairperson of the Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda Ms Carol Nderitu has welcomed the decision by Kenya to abolish working permits for Rwandans able to find employment in her home country.
The decision to abolish work permits for Rwandan residents in Kenya was announced last month by President Mwai Kibaki while on a state visit here. It came only months after Rwanda scrapped working permits for residents of the five member making up the East African Community, however, other members of the EAC have not yet scrapped the permits. In Kenya citizens from other EAC members save for Rwanda are required to have work permits, while the permits are still in place for Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday in Kigali, Nderitu said that the move is an important step towards achieving regional integration and bilateral relations between Kenya and Rwanda. She said members in her association were 'extremely happy" with their relationship with the government of Rwanda and added that officials normally attend meetings of her 316 member group to note issues that they raise.
Nderitu said her association is inspired by the monthly Umuganda public service. "We meet regularly to network and find means of increasing opportunities for trade between Kenya and Rwanda, we have also participated in Umuganda activities to have and promote dialogue between Kenyans here and Rwandans." She said that the asociation is set to host its second annual end of year dinner at Kigali's Serena Hotel this Friday.
To cement the good relations existing between Rwanda and Kenya today, Kibaki also promised that his government was set to eradicate all non-tariff barriers to trade with emphasis on reduction of weigh-bridges and road blocks. The announcement came after Kenya opened up a 24-hr service at the crucial Mombassa port and Rwanda declaring Gatuna customs post open for the same period. There are 30 Kenyan companies that have been approved by the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotions Agency while 2000 Kenyans are recorded to be living in Rwanda.
The Chairperson of the Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda Ms Carol Nderitu has welcomed the decision by Kenya to abolish working permits for Rwandans able to find employment in her home country.
The decision to abolish work permits for Rwandan residents in Kenya was announced last month by President Mwai Kibaki while on a state visit here. It came only months after Rwanda scrapped working permits for residents of the five member making up the East African Community, however, other members of the EAC have not yet scrapped the permits. In Kenya citizens from other EAC members save for Rwanda are required to have work permits, while the permits are still in place for Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday in Kigali, Nderitu said that the move is an important step towards achieving regional integration and bilateral relations between Kenya and Rwanda. She said members in her association were 'extremely happy" with their relationship with the government of Rwanda and added that officials normally attend meetings of her 316 member group to note issues that they raise.
Nderitu said her association is inspired by the monthly Umuganda public service. "We meet regularly to network and find means of increasing opportunities for trade between Kenya and Rwanda, we have also participated in Umuganda activities to have and promote dialogue between Kenyans here and Rwandans." She said that the asociation is set to host its second annual end of year dinner at Kigali's Serena Hotel this Friday.
To cement the good relations existing between Rwanda and Kenya today, Kibaki also promised that his government was set to eradicate all non-tariff barriers to trade with emphasis on reduction of weigh-bridges and road blocks. The announcement came after Kenya opened up a 24-hr service at the crucial Mombassa port and Rwanda declaring Gatuna customs post open for the same period. There are 30 Kenyan companies that have been approved by the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotions Agency while 2000 Kenyans are recorded to be living in Rwanda.
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