Rwanda to introduce electronic driving licenses

It was reported early in the week that the Rwanda National Police will start distributing new electronic driving licenses next month. The head of Traffic Police, Superintendent Robert Niyonshuti was quoted saying that they will be given to those who apply for them. The plastic license as reported by the media will have an inbuilt data bar that will contain all details of the holder. The process of registering for the electronic drivers licenses started in the last quarter of 2008 and according to Niyonshuti, police is now in the final stages of verifying the lists of the individuals who registered for the new permits. Third telecom operator Millicom International Cellular, a Luxembourg based telecommunications group has been awarded a licence in Rwanda as the third national telecoms operator, it was announced this week. The Minister in the Presidents Office in charge of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Romain Murenzi was quoted in the media this week saying that the company was awarded the licence in December 2008 during a cabinet meeting. This means that Millicom will be competing for subscribers with MTN and Rwandatel. The implication of this competition is most likely going to be an improvement in services and a reduction in call rates as they compete for customers. This in a way is a blessing to mostly mobile phone users in the country. The firm won the licence after beating competition from Telecel Globe, Zain and Larrycom-Expresso. MINIFRA to introduce new agencies It was reported mid-this week that the Ministry of Infrastructure plans to introduce a National Energy Development Agency and a National Transport Development Agency this year to coordinate both sectors and promote dialogue between the private and public sectors. Officials in the ministry were reported saying that the effort is also aimed at enhancing access to energy resources and improving the quality of public transport services in the country. Congo moves against Genocidaires Government has expressed optimism over recent comments by the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, that his country was analysing the list of over 6,900 individuals suspected to have taken part in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis, according to media reports this week. Rwanda provided DR Congo with a list of 6,945 names of people responsible for the 1994 Genocide, now believed to be holed up in the neighbouring country. The head of the National Public Prosecutions Authority (NPPA), Martin Ngoga, was reported saying that the development was a clear indication that the ongoing bilateral talks between the two countries were paying off. China donates to Presidential Fund Also in the news was the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda which donated over Rwf 39m towards the Presidential Fund as a gesture of good cooperation between the two nations. The money according to media reports will go into projects initiated and funded by the Presidential Fund, a charity initiative mooted by President Paul Kagame that supports needy people. The donation was received on behalf of the President by Rosemary Museminali, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation during a ceremony that took place at the ministry headquarters. Obasanjo optimistic on Congo The UN Secretary General’s special envoy, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Thursday reiterated his optimism that peace will ultimately come to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo). Stressing that the on-going peace talks have now “progressed into a substantive phase” the former Head of State, however, pointed out that peace in the DR Congo is not something that will be attained overnight. He made these remarks at Urugwiro Village, shortly after holding consultations with President Paul Kagame. Kabuye back to France The Director of State Protocol, Rose Kabuye, flew to France on Friday and was expected to report in court yesterday. But according to media reports she told journalists before she left that the date for her appearance before judges was still unknown to her. Ends