WEEKLY REVIEW

Commonwealth SG visits Towards the end of the week, President Paul Kagame received the visiting Commonwealth Secretary-General (SG), Kamalesh Sharma, at Urugwiro Village. It was reported that during discussions with the President, they focused on a number of areas where the organization will be partnering with Rwanda to foster development.Genocide fugitive arrested, released It was also reported that a Genocide fugitive recently arrested in Malawi, Charles Bandora, was released under unclear circumstances. According to a highly placed source who preferred anonymity, the ex- senior official of the former ruling party in Rwanda, the MRND, was let off the hook last week a few days after his arrest. Bandora had been arrested a fortnight ago by Malawi’s Criminal Intelligence Department (CID) on Devil Street, near Mugasa House, where he allegedly operated a business.Swedish embassy to open The government of Sweden announced that it will upgrade its Section Office in Kigali to an embassy sometime this year. The move was announced recently by the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt. Military chiefs agree to fight FDLR rebels It was reported that the three military chiefs of member states of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), a regional grouping that brings together Rwanda, Democratic Republic Congo and Burundi, agreed to maintain military pressure on FDLR rebels in eastern DRC. Rwanda’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. James Kabarebe, DRC army Chief, Lt. Gen. Didier Etumba and Burundi’s Maj. Gen. Godefroid Niyombari, made the commitment during a meeting held in the western Congolese port city of Matadi to evaluate the recently concluded UN-backed “Operation Kimia II”. RISD and Ombudsman’s office sign alliance It was reported that the Rwanda initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD) signed an indefinite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ombudsman’s Office to jointly fight land-related injustices and monitor implementation of land reform programs. The new alliance will see RISD which has experience in implementing strategies to solve land disputes at local levels, join efforts with the Office of the Ombudsman which has among its mandate prevention and fighting against injustices. Former Horizon boss refutes claims It was also reported that the former Managing Director of Horizon Group, Lt. Col. Paul Semana, refuted claims made by two experts saying they didn’t consider technical expertise when making their assessment. Semana and his co-accused are accused of performing shoddy work in the construction of Gashora Dyke that led to loss of Rwf 500m. In his defence, he told the military tribunal that “the experts did not consider the slopping down and upward nature of the Dyke,” and that the findings came out in 2009, three years after the Dyke was built. He said the experts did not consider the expansion and contraction factor after three years giving an example of Gatuna road they used to renovate every year because of downgrading. It was also reported that Horizon Construction Company boss Col. John Zigira was arrested for alleged embezzlement of funds belonging to Horizon Group, a company he was heading. Army Spokesperson, Major Jill Rutaremara confirmed the development Saturday but was reluctant to give any details. Zambian president Banda visits President Paul Kagame received his Zambian counterpart, Rupiah Banda, and held talks at Urugwiro village in which they discussed the security situation in the Great Lakes region and the issue of Rwandan Genocide fugitives living in the southern Africa nation. The Zambian President currently chairing the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) was on a fact-finding mission on the peace process within the region ahead of tabling a final report to the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government summit scheduled for Addis Ababa early this year. Every Rwanda child to drink milk It was reported that every Rwandan child will soon be able to take a pint of milk everyday as a government initiative that aims at supplementing their diets. This was approved by cabinet meeting earlier this week where it was suggested that urgent activities be done to kick start this programme as soon as possible. Ends