It has been quite a busy week with Rwanda Environmental Management Authority reminding Rwandans that they should start parting ways with single-use plastics. Small scale outside catering firms will feel the pinch as the plastic cutlery, cups and water bottles will be shown the door forever. Our meteorology people who we have come to trust in their weather predictions are now using their skills to predict an even more sinister thing in the air; the dreaded locusts that have invaded East Africa. They predict that depending on the weather patterns, the insects could make landfall in Rwanda in the next two weeks. People have come up with all kinds of devices to counter them and many have adopted the frying pan as their favourite weapon. But one of our enterprising neighbour who is feeling the full brunt of the insect invasion has a very elaborate plan complete plan that includes using stones and hiring stone-throwers against the insects. The “Desert Locust Response Budget” is over 20 billion in their local currency. Now what remains to be seen is whether the stone-throwers will be paid per “kill” and how efficient the tactic so that other endangered countries can adopt the strategy. And as we go to press, the tedious Uganda-Rwanda talks have been again locked in a marathon=on session making one wonder what is so difficult in implementing only three points identified during in the Luanda talks. But all that might come out clear tomorrow when the National Leadership Retreat (Umwiherero) opens since that is where the country’s roadmap is charted.
