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During the ruling held yesterday, the presiding judge Isabelle Riziki declared them innocent and ordered their release on grounds of failure to find evidence pinning them.

The acquitted officials include Executive Secretaries of four sectors including Janvier Ntihinyuka of Murunda, Mpirwa Migabo of Nyabirasi, Alida Ikizihiza of Rusebeya and Sylvestre Bisangabagabo of Kivumu.

Others include the Director of Administration and Finace in Rutsiro district, Alexis Basabose; Ngabo Fadhil Emmanuel, district engineer; Kamana Jean Marie, Division Manager for Corporate Services and Munyamahoro Cyato Justin, the Accountant.

The court also acquitted land managers namely; Nshizirungu Emmanuel of Nyabirasi, Sekamana Théophile of Ruhango, Kagaba J. Baptiste of Mukura, Murari Richard of Murunda and Ndagijimana Aloys of Kivumu sector.

Uwamukiza David, the contractor supplying equipment for the construction of VUP roads also connected to the case was acquitted.

Upon arrest, the employees were suspended for six months asn investigations were underway on suspected connivance in misallocation of funds meant for the construction of VUP feeder roads.

The mayor of Rutsiro district, Ayinkamiye Emerance said that the district will consider legal provisions for the acquitted employees.

It was said that suspects had connived to pay out a contractor before and the equipment were never delivered.

IGIHE

Women entrepreneurs and representatives from, Business Support Organizations attended the ceremony. The virtual launch also served as a platform for participants to discuss key issues and challenges that women in trade face in light of COVID-19.

Most Rwandan firms still struggle to compete in the domestic markets and face difficulties in accessing regional markets due to their level of capacity and needs.

According to the latest Establishment Census (2017), women are under-represented in business in Rwanda with only 33 percent of companies being women-owned. Among these, an estimated 98 per cent of women owned/led businesses are small or micro enterprises.

In addition, female entrepreneurs have limited access to skilled labour compared to their male counterparts, which results in lower production at the SME level and under-utilized talent among individual employees.

Funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework, (EIF) SheTrades Rwanda will bring a strong export and gender focus to government of Rwanda’s recently launched African Development Skills and Business Development Programme (SBDP).

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, speaking on the occasion said, 'The SheTrades Rwanda project will provide effective and tailored support to women entrepreneurs in Rwanda, especially in the coffee and horticulture sectors. Streamlined to meet the needs of women owned businesses, our support will enable them to build back better from the COVID-19 crisis. The measures include identifying strategies for hedging market risks and unlocking opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Rwanda in the aftermath of the crisis. The SheTrades Rwanda Hub, to be established next year, will serve as a catalyst for facilitating women in Rwanda run sustainable businesses.'

SheTrades Rwanda will enable women entrepreneurs to have full access to support from SBDP and avail opportunities to grow exports. It will also help unlock the potential in trade as an effective driver for the economic inclusion of women, overall economic expansion, job creation and innovation.

As part of the launch ceremony, a Crisis Management Workshop will be conducted tomorrow for women-owned/led businesses. This workshop will equip women entrepreneurs with expertise on planning business activities during times of uncertainty and change management.

Participants will also learn about export competitiveness and inclusive SME recovery. The workshop will also guide attendees towards identifying strategic adaptation to hedge market risks and unlock opportunities during and post COVID-19.

The SheTrades Rwanda project aims to increase the competitiveness of women-owned businesses in Rwanda and connect them to regional and local markets.

The project is implemented by International Trade Centre (ITC) under the framework of the SheTrades Initiative from September 2020 – February 2022. It is under the component of the 'Project to Enhance the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Export Growth Initiatives', funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and managed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Rwanda.

IGIHE

Rutahizamu wa APR FC, Danny Usengimana yakoze ubukwe n’umukunzi we wabaga muri Canada, Nyangabire Francine ni nyuma y’amezi abiri bwari bwarasubitswe.

Ku wa Mbere tariki ya 21 Nzeri 2020, ni bwo Danny Usengimana yasohoye urupapuro ruteguza abantu ubukwe bwe na Nyangabire Francine.(Save the Date).

Ubu bukwe bwagombaga kuba tariki ya 8 Ukwakira 2020, bukabera Kicukiro mu murenge wa Niboye.

Ariko ntibwaje kuba kubera ko umujyi wa Montreal muri Canada aho umukunzi we yabaga hakomeje kubamo ubwiyongere bw’abantu banduye icyorezo cya Coronavirus bituma uyu mujyi ujya mu kato ndetse n’ikibuga cy’indege kirafungwa abura uko aza.

Nyuma y’uko bakomorewe uyu mukunzi wa Danny Usengimana akaba yarahise aza, ubukwe bwabo bukaba bwabaye uyu munsi ku wa Kane tariki ya 10 Ukuboza 2020.

Ubu bukwe bukaba bwabereye muri salle ya Rainbow Kicukiro. Nyuma y’umuhango wo gusaba no gukwa abatumiwe n’ubundi baracyirirwa muri iyi salle niho ubukwe buri bukomereze.

Uyu musore akaba yagiye mu muhango wo gusaba no gukwa aherekejwe na manager we akaba na team manager wa UTB VC, Mucyo Gilbert, ndetse mu bamwambariye harimo n’umunyamakuru Uwimana Clarisse wa B&B FM.

Uyu rutahizamu yakiniye amakipe atandukanye, yigiye umupira mu ishuri ry’Isonga, akinira Police FC kuva 2015 aho batandukanye muri 2017 yerekeza muri Tanzania mu ikipe ya Singida United, mu ntangiriro za 2019 ni bwo yerekanywe nk’umukinnyi wa APR FC.

Danny Usengimana n’umukunzi we Nyangabire Francine mu muhango wo gusaba no gukwa

Danny Usengimana yakoze ubukwe

Mucyo Gilbert akaba na Manager wa Danny ni we wari wamwambariye

In 2018, PSF announced 3-year plan to have built new modern grounds known as 'Rwanda International Trade and Exhibition Park’ to host the annual exhibition that was previously held in Gikondo.

The decision was informed by observations that the existing Gikondo expo ground is not big enough to host a large number of exhibitors and visitors.

Speaking to the media at the occasion of announcing preparations for the upcoming trade fair, the Chairman of PSF, Stephen Ruzibiza noted there was delay of planned activities but discussions with contractors are underway.

'It has been many years since we planned to build new expo grounds but construction takes time. It is not easy as demolishing. We are however holding discussions with suppliers to provide construction equipment. Studies have been completed and we are in final phases of the master plan. We are to start construction activities towards the end of December or early January,' he said.

Rwanda is preparing for the 23rd International Trade Fair scheduled between 11th and 31st December 2020.

The expo will start from 9am to be closed 8pm every day for people to respect curfew hours. As of today, PSF has confirmed the participation of 372 companies including 72 foreign companies from 12 countries.

The decision was informed by observations that the existing Gikondo expo ground is not big enough to host a large number of exhibitors and visitors.

IGIHE

As he announced the arrival of the tourists via twitter account, Israel ambassador to Rwanda, Ron Adam welcomed them to the Country of a Thousand Hills.

'Just landed the first flight of our National carrier El Al Airlines with 125 tourists who come to explore beautiful Rwanda. Welcome,' he said.

In November, Israir announced plans for weekly flight to Rwanda starting from 26th November at a cost of US$ 399 (approximately Rwf 400,000) from Israel to Kigali.

Today’s flight follows the maiden flight of Israir, Israel’s carrier, towards the end of November 2020 with 80 passengers on board. The latter was the opening for weekly flights from Israel to Rwanda.

Rwanda, Israel relations date back to 1962 when the country obtained independence.

In 2014, Rwanda became the first African country signing cooperation agreements with Israel and later in 2015 opened embassy headquartered in Tel Aviv.

In January 2019, both countries signed bilateral air service agreement to operate direct flights. In the same year, RwandAir started flights to Tel Aviv.

Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu visited Rwanda in 2016.

IGIHE

So far, four coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines have reached the final stage of testing, and one of the frontrunners is making progress toward the goal of proving to be safe and effective.

However, not all aircraft can carry the vaccine as they require storage conditions with temperature ranging between 2 and 8 Celsius degree. Some vaccines on the other hand require storage with Zero Celsius degree or below, which means only designated aircrafts can transport the vaccines.

For instance, AstraZeneca’s vaccine candidate from Oxford University can be stored at normal refrigeration temperatures, not needing the supercool storage the Pfizer vaccine requires. It is the only one with easy transport requirements.

Moderna vaccine manufactured by Americans is expected to remain stable at standard refrigerated conditions of 2° to 8°C for up to 30 days within the 6-month shelf life.

Pfizer or BionTech vaccines already in use in the United Kingdom set conditions for storage in standard refrigerated conditions of 70 Celsius degree while Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine can be stored under same conditions of AstraZeneca.

Health experts show that poor countries or majority of African countries might choose AstraZeneca with moderate storage conditions unlike other vaccines with higher temperature requirements.

It is said that these vaccines take definitive effect after taking it two times.

Towards the beginning of September, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that shipping a coronavirus vaccine around the world will be the “largest transport challenge ever” adding that the equivalent of 8,000 Boeing 747s will be needed.

“Safely delivering Covid-19 vaccines will be the mission of the century for the global air cargo industry. But it won’t happen without careful advance planning. And the time for that is now,” said IATA’s chief executive Alexandre de Juniac.

At the time, he said that flights to certain parts of the world, including some areas of South East Asia, will be critical as they lack vaccine-production capabilities.

Distributing a vaccine across Africa would be “impossible” right now IATA says given the lack of cargo capacity, size of the region and the complexities of border crossings.

Transportation will need “almost military precision” and will require cool facilities across a network of locations where the vaccine will be stored.

IATA urged governments to begin careful planning now to ensure they are fully prepared once vaccines are approved and available for distribution.

Is RwandAir ready?

RwandAir is one among airlines flying to many African destinations that could intervene in the distribution of the vaccine once approved and ready for distribution.

The CEO of RwandAir, Yvonne Manzi Makolo has told IGIHE that the carrier has been using passenger aircrafts as an alternative for air cargo shipping since the period of lockdown.

She explained that transportation of COVID-19 vaccine might be possible when available.

'We still use passenger aircrafts for air cargo transportation even to Europe. We are studying how we can also transport the vaccines using ordinary airlines when it is time. It has not yet been approved but it is possible. The vaccine has to be transported in special temperature conditions. So, I cannot assure you of accurate information right now because we are still weighing on requirements for transportation of various vaccines,' said Makolo.

Kenya Airways is another regional carrier seeking to play a role in the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.

Kenya Airways chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka has announced that the airline has been relying on cargo flights to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic that has paralysed the global travel, tourism and aviation sectors.

Mr Kilavuka said the national carrier prepared early for a role in taking the vaccines to various countries. 'Even before the vaccine was announced, we had set up a cold room in Nairobi at our cargo centre which can store heat sensitive products like medicines,' he said.

The CEO of RwandAir, Yvonne Manzi Makolo has told IGIHE that the carrier has been using passenger aircrafts as an alternative for air cargo shipping since the period of lockdown./ Photo : File

IGIHE

Iyi Chorale ifite amateka n’ibigwi mu muziki waririmbiwe kuramya no guhimbaza Imana ariko ukoreshwa cyane muri Kiliziya Gatolika by’umwihariko, ikora igitaramo gisoza umwaka kuva muri 2013.

Visi Perezida wa Chorale de Kigali, Rukundo Charles Lwanga yabwiye UKWEZI ko icy’uyu mwaka kizaba ku wa Gatandatu tariki 19 Ukuboza 2020, muri Kigali Arena i Remera.

Yavuze ko ari igitaramo batangiye kwitegura mbere ubwo ibikorwa bihuza abantu n’ibitaramo byari bitarasubukurwa ariko nyuma aho babonye ko bishoboka ko iki gitaramo kizaba bahise bahindura uburyo bw’imyiteguro.

Rukundo avuga 'Twari twaratangiye imyiteguro cyera ariko tumenye ko ibitaramo byakomorewe ariko hakubahirizwa amabwiriza, ubu niyo gahunda turimo n’ubwo tubiteguye dutinze gato, twagombaga kubanza kureba icyo amabwiriza avuga.'

Kigali Arena isanzwe ijyamo abantu benshi aho nibura hajyagamo ibihumbi 10 ariko kuri ubu Chorale de Kigali izakora igitaramo harimo abantu 1580, ni ukuvuga ko abantu basabwa kugura amatiki hakiri kare dore ko kuri uyu wa Gatandatu aribwo hatangazwa ibiciro n’aho abantu bazayasanga.

Rukundo avuga ko igitaramo cy’uyu mwaka kizaba ari umwihariko kuko batoranyije indirimbo zakunzwe, mu bitaramo bitandukanye bagiye bakora kuva muri 2013, ndetse n’izagiye zirebwa n’abantu benshi kuri YouTube.

Ati 'Agashya karimo ni uko twatoranyije indirimbo zakunzwe kuva Chorale de Kigali yatangira gukora ibitaramo. Nta ndirimbo nshya muzumvamo ahubwo tuzagenda turirimba izo bagiye basaba.

Rukundo yavuze ko mu izina rya Chorale de Kigali bakomeje kwifuriza abanyarwanda kuzagira Noheli Nziza n’Umwaka mushya muhire ariko bakomeza kwirinda icyorezo cya COVID19.