UN-Habitat pledges more support

The UN-Habitat has pledged to support the country’s urbanisation policy, one of the government’s priority sectors, a move aimed at both sustainable urbanisation and economic development. Dr. Joan Clos, the Executive Director of UN Habitat said this early this week during a press conference in Kigali. Clos, who commended Rwanda’s process in the implementation of the urbanisation programme, said his organisation will offer support in the implementation of its cities’ Master Plans. Currently, 18 districts have Master Plans in place, while others are expected to unveil theirs before the end of this year. Clos noted that UN-Habitat is in talks with the government to assist in the development of various projects and the implementation of Master Plans in public spaces, basic infrastructure and the housing sector.

The UN has been helping in the implementation of the Kigali Master Plan besides helping to resettle Rwandans repatriated from Tanzania. In 2010, Rwanda was awarded the prestigious UN Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, the highest human settlement accolade. It was the first African city to receive such an accolade.

Local leaders arrested

Five local leaders in Kirehe and Nyagatare districts have been arrested for flouting tender procedures to buy maize from local farmers. The racket began to unfold when funds were instead diverted to buy maize from neighbouring countries, apparently in an attempt to make a profit. Maize millers had availed money to buy maize at Rwf 120 per kilogramme to ensure market for all farmers’ produce. People acting as middlemen between the milling companies, particularly one in Mukamira connived with the local leaders to secure maize from neighbouring countries at relatively cheaper prices. According to Jean Marie Makombe, the Executive Secretary of the Eastern Province, farmers and milling companies ended up making heavy losses as a result. Eric Zikamwa, the Executive Secretary of Kirehe District, identified one of those implicated as Alphonse Karambizi, the Executive Secretary of Mahama Sector and four other local leaders.

Civil servants get salary raise

Teachers will get a 50 percent salary increment over the next six years, the Minister of Public Service and Labour, Anastase Murekezi, announced. According to the minister, teachers at A2 education level (S.6 graduates) will be the first to get a 10 percent increment on their salaries effective this month, besides another 10 percent general increment among all teachers’ salaries to be effected in July. Going by the previous structure, a teacher at the level of A2 who was getting a net salary of Rwf 41,804 will at the end of this month receive Rwf 44,334. After another 10 percent increment in July this year, the same teacher will be earning Rwf48, 168, with the increment expected to be gradual over the course of six years.

"By 2016, a teacher at the level of A2 will be earning Rwf 62,803 representing a 50 percent increment,” announced Murekezi.

Generally, the government has been spending Rwf 36 billion on teachers’ salaries annually since 2006. This January, the amount will shoot up to Rwf 58 billion. The amount will soar to Rwf 84 billion after the July increment. In the same development, the government has drawn what it termed as the regularisation scheme, where teachers who have served for long without salary increments will have all outstanding arrears cleared. The country has 54,692 teachers and among those, 16,000 will benefit from the programme. Meanwhile, a recent cabinet meeting approved Presidential Orders revising salaries and other benefits among top government officials, and according to Murekezi, there was a slight percentage increase for other government officials, apart from teachers.

Man arrested over parents’ murder

A man identified as Theodomir Ngendahayo, was mid this week arrested in Gatsibo in connection with the cold blooded murder of his parents. The suspect confessed to committing the crime, according to Police spokesman, Supt. Theos Badege. His accomplice, only identified as Majyambere, was still at large by press time, he added. Grief engulfed residents of Mataba Village, Nyagitabire Cell, in Nyagihanga Sector of Gatsibo District after the bodies of the couple were found lying near their home. Police identified the couple as Jean Pierre Nzabanita, 58, and his wife Astelia Mukankwaya, also 58. Supt. Badege said preliminary investigations indicated the murders were instigated by a family feud.

Police net Rwf700m in money laundering

The Police Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) has intercepted about Rwf714 million at Kigali International Airport in less than a month, which was either being brought in or taken out of the country under suspicious circumstances, it has emerged. Chief Supt Costa Habyara, the director of FIU, confirmed the development, saying that the money was seized between December 23, 2011 and January 15, 2012, including $1.2 million and Rwf50 million. The establishment of FIU, Habyara said, is paying off as efforts to fight the illegal flow of money intensify. The FIU was established last year under the Presidential Decree of May 30, to prevent, combat and investigate financial crimes, including money laundering, funding terrorists, among others. The move followed the enactment of the anti-money laundering law in 2008. According to the law, any person who leaves or enters the country transporting cash or negotiable bills or exchange exceeding $10,000, without prior declaration, except for funds certified by a withdrawal
slip issued by an accredited bank, will be committing a money laundering offence. Habyara says the unit has registered impressive achievements in fighting money laundering since its establishment, adding that a directive on cross-border cash declaration has been drafted and only awaits to be gazetted.

Student found dead in septic tank

Students at Ruhengeri Higher Institute of Education-INES are mourning the death of one of their colleagues who is believed to have committed suicide last weekend. Elizabeth Nyiransabimana, 23, a second year student and Genocide survivor, had earlier suffered from severe trauma and depression, students said. She had earlier been taken to Ndera Psychiatric Hospital and had hoped to resume school this year. Her body was discovered in a septic tank, at her uncle’s home in the Kigali suburb of Remera. Nyiransabimana has been pursuing Biotechnology. Born in Kirehe District, Nyiransabimana lost her parents and all siblings in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. She sought refuge in Tanzania where she stayed for five years without a trace. A statement from INES-Ruhengeri, described Nyiransabimana as a very hard working and intelligent student.

Owners of foreign registered vehicles rush to get local number plates

Effective February this year, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) will end a four-month grace period given to all cars with foreign registered number plates in Gisenyi town. In the past, RRA has attempted to phase out all foreign registered vehicles, especially those bearing Democratic Republic of Congo number plates, with little success. Faced with time running out for the law to take its course, car owners are scrambling to have their number plates changed and change the steering wheel from right to left hand. Over 90 percent of vehicles in Gisenyi town bear Congolese plates yet they are owned by Rwandans, who the tax body accuses of tax evasion.

Top RDF officers suspended

Four top military officers were on Tuesday suspended and put under house-arrest due to indiscipline, according to a statement from the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF)."The RDF leadership has suspended from duty and placed under house arrest Lt. Gen. Fred Ibingira, Brig. Gen. Richard Rutatina, Brig. Gen. Wilson Gumisiriza, and Col. Dan Munyuza with effect from 17 January 2012,” reads part of the statement signed by the Military and Defence Ministry spokesperson, Col. Joseph Nzabamwita. The four are all suspected of involvement in shady business dealings in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the statement adds. Lt. Gen. Fred Ibingira was the Chief of Staff of the Reserve Force while Brig. Gen. Rutatina was currently serving as the head of military intelligence. Brig. Gen. Wilson Gumisiriza was a division commander, while Col. Dan Munyuza was the current head of External Intelligence. The RDF is widely known for demanding and maintaining a high level of discipline and continues to be recognised as an exemplary
force both regionally and internationally. Rwanda has one of the largest UN peacekeeping contingents.

150 co-ops risk losing licenses

As many as 150 cooperatives risk closure as part of a campaign by the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) designed to eliminate ghost and unprofessional cooperative unions. Speaking to journalists mid this week , RCA Deputy Director, Gilbert Habyarimana, said the cooperatives in question include those which started way back in the 1960s. He explained that some cooperatives, among other factors, do not even comply with the membership clause, which requires a minimum of 15 members. In the 150 cooperatives, some are not operational while others are family owned which is also against the law. Some of the heads of cooperatives in question admitted they do not meet legal requirements, but hastened to add they were willing to adjust.

KCC to spend Rwf2.6bn on street lights

The Vice Mayor of Kigali City in charge of Finance and Economic Affairs, Alphonse Nzeyimana, has said the city management will this year spend about Rwf2.6billion to install streetlights in various neighbourhoods. According to Nzeyimana, the streetlights would be put up along the Remera-Kabuga, Kimironko-Zindiro, Kinamba-Nyabugogo and Nyabugogo-Ruliba roads, in total, 41 kilometres.

"Our target is to finish this programme before the end of November because everything is already available,” Nzeyimana said. He said the objective of installing street lights is aimed at promoting security in the city. The official added that the street lights will also improve the socio-economic welfare of Kigali residents saying that they will enable members of the business community to operate for extended hours.

Ends