Weekly Review

New police boss appointed Cabinet on Wednesday appointed Emmanuel Gasana as the new Commissioner General of Police. Gasana, who held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel prior to his appointment as police boss, was also promoted by the Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Paul Kagame, to the rank of Brigadier General. The post, which has been lying vacant ever since the former occupant, Andrew Rwigamba, was relieved of his duties, was temporarily being filled by Deputy Commissioner General, Mary Gahonzire, who was this week appointed head of the National Prisons Services, which was hitherto headed by Commissioner of Police, Steven Balinda. Presidential polls still U.S $1.2 million short The National Electoral Comission (NEC) Executive Secretary, Charles Munyaneza, disclosed that $1.2 million is the amount short of the total budget needed for next year’s presidential elections. he made the revelations during an interactive meeting with heads of diplomatic missions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters. He said that although there has been a financial allocation from government of Rwf 3.5 billion and funds from development partners, there is a gap which still needs to be filled. NEC estimates the budget for elections in 2010 to total to Rwf 6.5 billion, which Munyaneza said is based on the previous presidential elections in 2003 and parliamentary elections in 2008. NGO’s to be barred from politics The Lower Chamber of Parliament approved an amendment to the law that regulates the operations of local Non Governmental Organisations. The amendment seeks to prohibit NGOs from having any political inclinations. Defending the adjustment during a plenary session chaired by Deputy Speaker Denis Polisi, Local Government Minister, Christopher Bazivamo, said NGOs are prohibited from fundraising for any political party. Gov’t contains swine flu It was reported that government’s efforts towards treating cases of the Influenza A, H1N1 (Swine flu) have had positive results with some cases recovering fully according to the Head of the response team, Dr. Justin Wane. In relation to the development, the expert noted that a number of individuals who tested positive for the virus have successfully recovered from the influenza and will soon go back to their normal lives. Rwandas economy grows by 9 percent It was reported that despite the looming global financial downturn, Rwanda’s economy has showed resilience, growing at an average of nine percent in the first half of 2009. Finance and Economic Planning Minister, James Musoni, said the economy grew by 10 percent in the first quarter of 2009 driven mainly by both an expanding industrial base and a good crop yield. In the second quarter, the economy grew by 8 percent largely due to better agricultural output. On average, this means that first half GDP growth stood at 9 percent. RDF joins joint training The Rwanda Defense Forces contingent for the East African Community (EAC) left mid week for a joint Field Training Exercise codenamed “Natural Fire 10” (NF 10) which kicked off in Kitgum, Uganda. Army spokesperson Maj Jill Rutaremara, yesterday, revealed that the 133-strong Rwandan contingent is led by Maj. Cyuma Mabano who is deputized by Capt.Aaron Ndagije. The exercise is expected to run from October 16 - 25 and will be held in conjunction with the US Africa Command (US AFRICOM). Aviation authorities devise ways of curbing diseases Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), in conjunction with the International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO) held a meeting in Kigali to discuss strategies for curbing disease transmission in air travel. The meeting discussed how African governments can lay mechanisms for training more medical personnel in aviation medicine to handle airborne transmissions. Ends