By Sulah Nuwamanya
WEEKLY OBSERVER
KIGALI: The much-awaited construction of the two big regional hydro electricity generation plants in Rwanda may have to wait longer until environmental concerns recently raised by the civil society are adequately addressed.
The Nile Basin Discourse Forum - Rwanda (NBDF), an environmental civil society body in Rwanda, has released a report that details the negative effects the two dams would have on the local people.
The report that is not opposed to the projects wants authorities to put in place measures to mitigate the possible damage the projects would cause to the environment.
The NBDF contracted the Rwanda-based environment consultancy firm,
Environmentalistes Sans Frontieres (ESF), to carry out the study.
The research revealed that the proposed Rusumo and Russiizi III hydropower projects would cause enormous environmental damage in some areas such as flooding.
“Though the respondents appreciated the likely benefits of the projects, like electricity and development, they were so much worried about physical and economic displacement, health and safety concerns, and the environmental risks,” the 62-page report reads in part.
The report says the two power projects would flood agricultural land, houses, and that there was no clear plan of compensation for the assets that would be lost.
“Many people will be affected directly and the establishment of the two mega hydroelectric power projects will have enormous negative effects, including high cost of electricity for communities around the projects since most of the neighbouring communities live in extreme poverty,” the report says.
It is also feared that the dams would increase the prevalence of waterborne diseases, cause shortage of safe water, and hunger.
“Yes, the project is very good for the regional countries under it and especially Rwanda, but there are serious concerns ranging from cost, safety and environment that need serious attention,” said Jean Bigagaza, the Managing Director of ESF. He added: “Otherwise only the rich are likely to benefit and the poor will suffer the more.”
Bigagaza says the communities near the proposed sites for the two power projects had already started to feel the effects of these projects.
“It is now two years since most of them were instructed to halt any developments on their land in preparation for the projects. The worst thing is that no one has been compensated and now, biting poverty is plaguing the redundant poor households,” he said.
But according to officials of the Ministry of Local Government, Good Governance and Social Development, the said evictions are illegal and were executed by local officials without government knowledge.
The Minister of State for Energy, Albert Butare, has no reservations about the viability and success of the projects, which he insists are a milestone in the socio-economic development of Rwanda.
When operational, these power projects would significantly increase the amount of electricity available to both domestic and business consumers in the region.
Burundi and Tanzania, both suffering shortages of energy would benefit.
The proposed Rusumo Falls Hydropower and Multi Purpose Project (RRFP) is the first major infrastructure project to be promoted by the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme (NELSAP) of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) within the overall Kagera Basin Integrated Development Framework.
Using transmission lines from Rusumo to each of the three countries (Kabarondo in Rwanda, Gitega in Burundi and Biharamulo in Tanzania), the RRFP is expected to provide an important backbone transmission interconnection between Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Rusumo project involves the construction of a hydro-electric power plant at the Rusumo falls situated in the Kagera River, just downstream of its confluence with the Ruvubu River, on the border between south eastern Rwanda and north western Tanzania.
Also, the Rusiizi III Hydro power project in the western province would be a run of the river development with a generation capacity of 82 MW.
However, the chairperson of NBDF, Albertine Uwimana is worried that while availability of electricity is imperative, it might come at very high cost.
“This is a very good and timely study. We want to show the government that while it is moving with focus put on generating more power for development, the interests of the communities around the areas to be affected have to be catered for,” he said.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Kagame defends RPF involvement in business
Kigali
The involvement of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Party (RPF) involvement in owning some of the major businesses in the country are acts of patriotism and strategic, President Paul Kagame has said.
Kagame, also the chairman of RPF, noted that the involvement in business dates way back during the liberation struggle of 1994 and will continue as away of sustaining the party and economic development of the country.
“The involvement of RPF in business is historical and dates way back before we captured power for reasons of survival,” Kagame defended, reacting to the question raised during the press conference he held on this Tuesday at state house Urugwiro, Gasabo district in Kigali .
The ruling party owns dozens of businesses in the country that range from real estates, banking, insurance, construction, transport, communication, supermarkets and media. According to critics more than 80 percent of private businesses in the country are said to be owned and run by RPF through its investment arm of Tri-Star Investments. The party has been accused by some critics of influencing the awarding of public tenders to several tri-star companies especially public institutions headed by party cadres.
Indeed there have been several cases of lack of transparency and accountability regarding the awarding of tenders in almost all public institutions.
In the 2007 Auditor general’s report covering the financial year, 2006-7, tenders worth about Frw 3.9 billions were awarded by public entities without the approval of the National Tender Board (NTB) and Frw7.9 billions without any evidence of approval by respective internal tender committees.
But Kagame insisted that all RPF companies are well known and pay huge sums of money in form of taxes and employee hundreds of Rwandans. “There are clear states procedures regarding warding of tenders and involvement in businesses.
These businesses are well known, pay taxes and invest even in areas that are difficult,” he pointed out and added: “Some of RPF companies have won and lost these tenders. Unless one comes with a clear issue regarding any mistake, these companies have been here and will continue to make money and no one will stop them.”
According to the Rwandan leader, RPF wealth was accumulated through collections from its supporters during the war and it’s the money that was used to run the government activities in early days of the ruling party. Kagame cause laughter when he disclosed that it was the RPF money which was used in the purchase of suits for its senior government officials. Among those was the former first prime minister, now ardent Kigali government critic, Faustine Twagiramungu. He now leaves in Europe . The money was also used to pay upkeeps and air tickets to government officials traveling abroad and buy military equipment for the military.
Meanwhile, Kagame bitterly attacked the Spanish judge for issuing indictments against 40 top military generals and officers of his government, describing him as a colonialist siding with genociders and negativists.
Early this year, Judge Fernando Andreu of Spain ’s National Court issued indictments targeting 40 high-ranking Rwandan military officers on charges of “Genocide, crimes against humanity and terrorism”. President Paul Kagame is also subject in the case but cannot be tried owing to presidential immunity. But the Rwanda president observed that the indictments are targeting the RPF government and not individuals, the major objective is to poetry RPF members as killers and tarnish the name of government.
“These indictments are nonsense and mean nothing to RPF because the aim is to tarnish the good name of the government. The Spanish has no powers at all to indict any Rwandan,” he said. “How a bloody Spanish judge can seat in his village, feels a duty to indict people of another country, defeats my understanding if this not just arrogance of the highest order. The whole reason, Kagame reacted, is superiority complex of the West who don’t value Africans’ “They think they own us.”
The Rwandan lawmakers recently added their voice to the government, strongly attacking the Spanish judge, describing him as an agent of Rwanda ’s enemies.
The Spanish judge reached his decision after investigating the killing of nine Spanish citizens who worked in refugee camps in Rwanda following the 1994 Genocide.
The indicted 40 include General James Kabarebe, currently chief of the Rwandan armed forces, Maj. Gen. Karenzi Karake, serving in the joint UN-African Peacekeeping Force in Darfur, Lt. Gen. Nyamwasa-Kayumba , Rwanda ’s Ambassador to India , Brig. Jack Nziza, and Maj. Gen. Fred Ibingira.
The involvement of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Party (RPF) involvement in owning some of the major businesses in the country are acts of patriotism and strategic, President Paul Kagame has said.
Kagame, also the chairman of RPF, noted that the involvement in business dates way back during the liberation struggle of 1994 and will continue as away of sustaining the party and economic development of the country.
“The involvement of RPF in business is historical and dates way back before we captured power for reasons of survival,” Kagame defended, reacting to the question raised during the press conference he held on this Tuesday at state house Urugwiro, Gasabo district in Kigali .
The ruling party owns dozens of businesses in the country that range from real estates, banking, insurance, construction, transport, communication, supermarkets and media. According to critics more than 80 percent of private businesses in the country are said to be owned and run by RPF through its investment arm of Tri-Star Investments. The party has been accused by some critics of influencing the awarding of public tenders to several tri-star companies especially public institutions headed by party cadres.
Indeed there have been several cases of lack of transparency and accountability regarding the awarding of tenders in almost all public institutions.
In the 2007 Auditor general’s report covering the financial year, 2006-7, tenders worth about Frw 3.9 billions were awarded by public entities without the approval of the National Tender Board (NTB) and Frw7.9 billions without any evidence of approval by respective internal tender committees.
But Kagame insisted that all RPF companies are well known and pay huge sums of money in form of taxes and employee hundreds of Rwandans. “There are clear states procedures regarding warding of tenders and involvement in businesses.
These businesses are well known, pay taxes and invest even in areas that are difficult,” he pointed out and added: “Some of RPF companies have won and lost these tenders. Unless one comes with a clear issue regarding any mistake, these companies have been here and will continue to make money and no one will stop them.”
According to the Rwandan leader, RPF wealth was accumulated through collections from its supporters during the war and it’s the money that was used to run the government activities in early days of the ruling party. Kagame cause laughter when he disclosed that it was the RPF money which was used in the purchase of suits for its senior government officials. Among those was the former first prime minister, now ardent Kigali government critic, Faustine Twagiramungu. He now leaves in Europe . The money was also used to pay upkeeps and air tickets to government officials traveling abroad and buy military equipment for the military.
Meanwhile, Kagame bitterly attacked the Spanish judge for issuing indictments against 40 top military generals and officers of his government, describing him as a colonialist siding with genociders and negativists.
Early this year, Judge Fernando Andreu of Spain ’s National Court issued indictments targeting 40 high-ranking Rwandan military officers on charges of “Genocide, crimes against humanity and terrorism”. President Paul Kagame is also subject in the case but cannot be tried owing to presidential immunity. But the Rwanda president observed that the indictments are targeting the RPF government and not individuals, the major objective is to poetry RPF members as killers and tarnish the name of government.
“These indictments are nonsense and mean nothing to RPF because the aim is to tarnish the good name of the government. The Spanish has no powers at all to indict any Rwandan,” he said. “How a bloody Spanish judge can seat in his village, feels a duty to indict people of another country, defeats my understanding if this not just arrogance of the highest order. The whole reason, Kagame reacted, is superiority complex of the West who don’t value Africans’ “They think they own us.”
The Rwandan lawmakers recently added their voice to the government, strongly attacking the Spanish judge, describing him as an agent of Rwanda ’s enemies.
The Spanish judge reached his decision after investigating the killing of nine Spanish citizens who worked in refugee camps in Rwanda following the 1994 Genocide.
The indicted 40 include General James Kabarebe, currently chief of the Rwandan armed forces, Maj. Gen. Karenzi Karake, serving in the joint UN-African Peacekeeping Force in Darfur, Lt. Gen. Nyamwasa-Kayumba , Rwanda ’s Ambassador to India , Brig. Jack Nziza, and Maj. Gen. Fred Ibingira.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Kenya's first lady unleashes terror on official
A Kenyan broadcaster has lodged an official complaint after video images of the president's wife slapping an official were seized and erased.
Nation TV filmed Lucy Kibaki slapping the official during an independence day celebration at State House in Nairobi.
He had mistakenly introduced Kenya's first lady by the name of the woman widely alleged to be her love rival.
In 2005, Mrs Kibaki was accused of slapping a cameraman in a protest over coverage of her row with a neighbour.
This gaffe comes at a sensitive time as Kenya prepares to elect a new president in two weeks.
Embarrassment
When the official from the president's office mistakenly introduced the first lady by the name of the woman widely believed to be President Mwai Kibaki's second wife, Mrs Kibaki marched up to him and promptly slapped him around the face.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
One in 6 jailed journalists are held without charge
Census shows an overall decline; China remains the leading jailer
New York- One in six journalists jailed worldwide are being held without any publicly disclosed charge, many for months or years at a time and some in secret locations, the New York based press freedom watch dog, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has found in a new analysis.
CPJ’s annual worldwide census of imprisoned journalists found 127 behind bars on December 1, a decrease of seven from the 2006 tally. The drop is due in large part to the release this year of 15 Ethiopian journalists who were either acquitted or pardoned of antistate charges stemming from a broad government crackdown on the press. CPJ and others had waged an intensive advocacy campaign on their behalf.
China, which has failed to meet its promises to improve press freedom before the 2008 Olympics, continued to be the world’s leading jailer of journalists, a dishonor it has held for nine consecutive years. Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, and Azerbaijan round out the top five jailers among the 24 nations that imprison journalists.
Antistate allegations such as subversion, divulging state secrets, and acting against national interests remain the most common charge used to imprison journalists worldwide, CPJ found. About 57 percent of journalists in the census are jailed under these charges, many of them by the Chinese and Cuban governments.
The proportion of journalists held without any charge at all increased for the third consecutive year. Eritrea and Iran account for many of these cases, but the United States has used this tactic as well. U.S. authorities have not filed charges or presented evidence against Al-Jazeera cameraman Sami al-Haj, held for more than five years at Guantánamo Bay, or Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein, held in Iraq for more than 19 months. The U.S. military said in November that Hussein’s case would be referred to Iraqi courts for prosecution but continued to withhold details explaining the basis for the detention.
“Imprisoning journalists on the basis of assertions alone should not be confused with a legal process. This is nothing less than state-sponsored abduction,” the CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “While we believe every one of these 127 journalists should be released, we are especially concerned for those detained without charge because they are often held in abysmal conditions, cut off from their lawyers and their families.”
The practice of holding journalists without charge has eroded basic standards of fairness and accountability. Iranian authorities, for example, jailed Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand in July, but they have yet to file formal charges or bring the editor before a judge. Kaboudvand’s lawyer has not been allowed to see him or review the government’s case. Eritrean authorities will not even confirm whether the journalists in its custody are alive or dead. At least 19 journalists worldwide are being held in secret locations, CPJ found, with Eritrea the worst offender in this regard.
Continuing a decade-long trend, Internet journalists make up an increasing proportion of CPJ’s census. Bloggers, online editors, and Web-based reporters constitute about 39 percent of journalists jailed worldwide. Print journalists make up the largest professional category, accounting for about half of those in jail.
The rise of Internet journalism and its risks are evident in China, where 18 of the 29 jailed journalists worked online. China’s list includes Shi Tao, an award-winning journalist serving a 10-year sentence for e-mailing details of a government propaganda directive to an overseas Web site. The Internet giant Yahoo supplied account information to Chinese authorities that led to Shi’s 2004 arrest and triggered an ongoing debate over corporate responsibility.
China continues to rely heavily on the use of vague antistate charges, imprisoning 22 journalists on accusations such as “inciting subversion of state power.” Despite China’s 2001 promises to the International Olympic Committee that it would ensure “complete media freedom,” its leaders continue to jail reporters and operate a vast system of censorship, CPJ found in a special report in August. CPJ has urged the IOC and the Games corporate sponsors to hold Beijing accountable to its word.
Journalists who either disappear or are abducted by non-state entities, including criminal gangs, rebels, or militant groups, are not included on the imprisoned list. Their cases are classified as ‘missing’ or ‘abducted’.
Details of this story available on CPJ's Web site.
New York- One in six journalists jailed worldwide are being held without any publicly disclosed charge, many for months or years at a time and some in secret locations, the New York based press freedom watch dog, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has found in a new analysis.
CPJ’s annual worldwide census of imprisoned journalists found 127 behind bars on December 1, a decrease of seven from the 2006 tally. The drop is due in large part to the release this year of 15 Ethiopian journalists who were either acquitted or pardoned of antistate charges stemming from a broad government crackdown on the press. CPJ and others had waged an intensive advocacy campaign on their behalf.
China, which has failed to meet its promises to improve press freedom before the 2008 Olympics, continued to be the world’s leading jailer of journalists, a dishonor it has held for nine consecutive years. Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, and Azerbaijan round out the top five jailers among the 24 nations that imprison journalists.
Antistate allegations such as subversion, divulging state secrets, and acting against national interests remain the most common charge used to imprison journalists worldwide, CPJ found. About 57 percent of journalists in the census are jailed under these charges, many of them by the Chinese and Cuban governments.
The proportion of journalists held without any charge at all increased for the third consecutive year. Eritrea and Iran account for many of these cases, but the United States has used this tactic as well. U.S. authorities have not filed charges or presented evidence against Al-Jazeera cameraman Sami al-Haj, held for more than five years at Guantánamo Bay, or Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein, held in Iraq for more than 19 months. The U.S. military said in November that Hussein’s case would be referred to Iraqi courts for prosecution but continued to withhold details explaining the basis for the detention.
“Imprisoning journalists on the basis of assertions alone should not be confused with a legal process. This is nothing less than state-sponsored abduction,” the CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “While we believe every one of these 127 journalists should be released, we are especially concerned for those detained without charge because they are often held in abysmal conditions, cut off from their lawyers and their families.”
The practice of holding journalists without charge has eroded basic standards of fairness and accountability. Iranian authorities, for example, jailed Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand in July, but they have yet to file formal charges or bring the editor before a judge. Kaboudvand’s lawyer has not been allowed to see him or review the government’s case. Eritrean authorities will not even confirm whether the journalists in its custody are alive or dead. At least 19 journalists worldwide are being held in secret locations, CPJ found, with Eritrea the worst offender in this regard.
Continuing a decade-long trend, Internet journalists make up an increasing proportion of CPJ’s census. Bloggers, online editors, and Web-based reporters constitute about 39 percent of journalists jailed worldwide. Print journalists make up the largest professional category, accounting for about half of those in jail.
The rise of Internet journalism and its risks are evident in China, where 18 of the 29 jailed journalists worked online. China’s list includes Shi Tao, an award-winning journalist serving a 10-year sentence for e-mailing details of a government propaganda directive to an overseas Web site. The Internet giant Yahoo supplied account information to Chinese authorities that led to Shi’s 2004 arrest and triggered an ongoing debate over corporate responsibility.
China continues to rely heavily on the use of vague antistate charges, imprisoning 22 journalists on accusations such as “inciting subversion of state power.” Despite China’s 2001 promises to the International Olympic Committee that it would ensure “complete media freedom,” its leaders continue to jail reporters and operate a vast system of censorship, CPJ found in a special report in August. CPJ has urged the IOC and the Games corporate sponsors to hold Beijing accountable to its word.
Journalists who either disappear or are abducted by non-state entities, including criminal gangs, rebels, or militant groups, are not included on the imprisoned list. Their cases are classified as ‘missing’ or ‘abducted’.
Details of this story available on CPJ's Web site.
Industrialization is not the answer to Africa’s poverty
BY MATHIAS KULUBYA
IN LONDAN
I wish to offer an alternative view to The Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s argument that industrialization is the prime answer to Africa’s severe poverty and social transformation. Industrialization is not the key to alleviating poverty in Africa or in a single poor and developing country. It is integrated development plans including upgrading our transport systems, hospitals, provision of decent housing, identification documents and security that can do so.
The proponents of industrialization forget the basic tenets in International Economics of comparative advantage and economies of scale. This is not an era to work hard but to work smart. Consider this: Premark, a British company, is the cheapest clothing store thanks to exploiting close to 2.2 million Bangladeshi factory workers who earn about £10 a month.
It is, therefore, cheaper to build factories in the third world to provide opportunities for the west to develop their environment and turn former industrial sites into housing. The countryside in England is so beautiful that you sometimes wonder whether all the talk about Uganda's beauty is just meant to lull us into our small world.
President Museveni has interacted with top-notch billionaires like Richard Branson, Bill gates and others who could easily sign investment cheques without draining our treasury. why then does he have to deal with poorly-funded businessmen who need free land?
Business is not charity but a profit-making venture using today's collaborators with capitalism. What brings money and investment capital is worthwhile products and Uganda needs repackaging itself better. Every project in the UK, for example, goes through the relevant councils not the executive arm of government.
What are our labor unit costs and the necessary infrastructure to support these discovered beliefs in industries as the key to Africa's poverty alleviation and employment growth? Do we have comparative advantage against China and India in manufacturing from textile to processing?
The reasoned and researched answer is no. There are alternative ideas to counter the government reasoning of giving away our land without an integrated development programme including building new hospitals, schools, roads and railway extensions. Uganda is in an enviable position in Africa having lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, Edward and the second longest river in the world including being closer to the Congo basin.
However, we have failed to manage these resources for our generation and the future generations. It costs $25m to get each household in Uganda to have tap water! The swamps and forests which used to filter our wells are being lost to investors and haphazard property developments.
Richard Branson recently announced close to $2 billion to invest in reducing carbon emissions and bio- gas, ethanol related industries.
We can use our position in Africa close to the desert to fight for a portion of these funds in the global fight to save the world from climate changes. Commercial farming is preferable to industries once again using our water resources.
IN LONDAN
I wish to offer an alternative view to The Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s argument that industrialization is the prime answer to Africa’s severe poverty and social transformation. Industrialization is not the key to alleviating poverty in Africa or in a single poor and developing country. It is integrated development plans including upgrading our transport systems, hospitals, provision of decent housing, identification documents and security that can do so.
The proponents of industrialization forget the basic tenets in International Economics of comparative advantage and economies of scale. This is not an era to work hard but to work smart. Consider this: Premark, a British company, is the cheapest clothing store thanks to exploiting close to 2.2 million Bangladeshi factory workers who earn about £10 a month.
It is, therefore, cheaper to build factories in the third world to provide opportunities for the west to develop their environment and turn former industrial sites into housing. The countryside in England is so beautiful that you sometimes wonder whether all the talk about Uganda's beauty is just meant to lull us into our small world.
President Museveni has interacted with top-notch billionaires like Richard Branson, Bill gates and others who could easily sign investment cheques without draining our treasury. why then does he have to deal with poorly-funded businessmen who need free land?
Business is not charity but a profit-making venture using today's collaborators with capitalism. What brings money and investment capital is worthwhile products and Uganda needs repackaging itself better. Every project in the UK, for example, goes through the relevant councils not the executive arm of government.
What are our labor unit costs and the necessary infrastructure to support these discovered beliefs in industries as the key to Africa's poverty alleviation and employment growth? Do we have comparative advantage against China and India in manufacturing from textile to processing?
The reasoned and researched answer is no. There are alternative ideas to counter the government reasoning of giving away our land without an integrated development programme including building new hospitals, schools, roads and railway extensions. Uganda is in an enviable position in Africa having lakes Victoria, Kyoga, Albert, Edward and the second longest river in the world including being closer to the Congo basin.
However, we have failed to manage these resources for our generation and the future generations. It costs $25m to get each household in Uganda to have tap water! The swamps and forests which used to filter our wells are being lost to investors and haphazard property developments.
Richard Branson recently announced close to $2 billion to invest in reducing carbon emissions and bio- gas, ethanol related industries.
We can use our position in Africa close to the desert to fight for a portion of these funds in the global fight to save the world from climate changes. Commercial farming is preferable to industries once again using our water resources.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Kabagambe's sacking from TNT was innevitable, Bideri is a lesser evil
Kabagambe is the worst media predator, time could only be a right judge
The bad and great news (one's coin side)flooded Kigali streets this week and left many hearts broken or refilled with optimism (those who respect the journalism profession). The obvious reasons, are, the self anointed strong man, 'President Kagame's cousin'(misused the good name of the president) Ignatius Rweyemaho Kabagambe got sacked or sucked from one of Rwanda's highly rated media houses or the country's only daily, The New Times. Kabagambe who has just been replaced by the former Rwandan information agency (Orinfor), Joseph Bideri, received the axe after causing untold suffering and tormentions to many of the company's employees. With his ridiculous and unprofessional administrative decisions, his short regime has been characterized by numerous sackings of employees for no reasons or caused several resignations from some employees who could not afford to bear his tormentions. The guy since assuming office early this year has been on rampage, doing the sackings like no body's business. According to reliable sources, his sacking has been on for quite some time but he tactfully avoided it by hijacking and rushing many reforms his predecessor had left in pipeline. He always pleaded for more time to accomplish a certain A and B, bla bla. But as a final stroke that broke the camel's back, Kabagambe was supposed to go. And here, he allowed (did he read anyway)the publication of Kampala-Chogm advert with a story of how President Paul Kagame and the late Fred Rwigyema in one of Kampala's drinking joints (Gabiro), allegedly planned the 1994 RPF/RPA invention of the then Kigali blood thirsty govt. Not a bad idea though but as a top most editor (really??), he as usual underrated the double effect of the advert especially to the President who was in Kampala attending Chogm and wooing several investors to try their lack in Kigali while also campaigning for the former Belgian colony to join the English club. But poor Kabagambe by 'mistake' (said to have been upcountry in a retreat with his top guns) overlooked the piece and at the end portrayed the good and ever sober president as a 'drunkard'(am sure that was an oversight resulting from the ever lazy editor-in-chief at the helm of a critical institution like TNT). There are several allegations pointing to serious financial mismanagement of that company (call it salary and allowance bonanza). Mid-this month, the top managers for reasons best known by their hearts, decided to award themselves triple salaries. Unfortunately, the junior staff (reporters) non of them received any increment of his/her salary. Get it that these are beasts of burden as George Owel in his book of 'the animal farm) would rightly put it. Imagine for a company like TNT, had more than three consultants almost doing the same job. Inside sources state that this was Kabagambe's style of 'eating' the company money as he would be seen as very hardworking. But alas, that was not the case. There came in the issue of The Weekly Post that had since remained a ghost to his administrative life. For starters, when The Weekly post launched its ever first publication on June 4, Kabagambe purely surprised or startled by this piece of great work, froze to heal. As a resurrection from that part of the world, he came up with a deadly idea of showing a final exit to the new radiating and professional paper that the founders were Ugandans and working for the Ugandan govt (are spies) when he teamed up with a bunch of jealousy ‘top’ journalists to champion it’s sudden closure. Of course this a serious allegation one can ever make. Through their several maneuvers, they were believed and on June 6, the great paper was transported to the national museum for tourists to see (…not for its presence there). The Weekly Post was closed and no reason was ever given to date. But that’s the inside fact atleast known to the founders and Kabagambe and his school for scandal. Of course, the truth can never be killed forever and its now clear that the top authorities that ordered for the closure of the paper have realised the pure cowardice of their man. Remember the issue attracted international and national outrage and for wrong reasons, the country was classified a one of the worst media predators in the world (may be or may be not) at a crucial time when country is lobbying to join the Commonwealth. Kabagambe purely lied about the facts of The Weekly Post. The truth is, the founders are not foreigners and never received any foreign funding. The paper was built on mere passion and determination to penetrate the media market and to cause a landmark to the profession's history let alone a dream team that would not be easily assembled by a media investor. That was done and the rest is for God to decide where to place the evil minded characters.
But as was once stated by one African novelist, when the hunter finally turns into the hunted, then its prudent to call off the hunting game for its over. And at this time, considering the way things were going on in that company and looking at several miserable faces of the ever hardworking great women and men, the writings were on the wall and everything seemed to be falling apart and as day went by. Things were no longer at ease as Chinwa Acebe would suggest. Kabagambe's center of things could hold no more and many had rightly predicated, the right time docked at his station with clear willingness to show him exit. And now, one can rightly say that the man, who conspired with others to engineer the closure of what would now be Rwanda’s shinning light in the East African region for reasons best known to him but mainly to protect his then infant MDship, is either demoted or no more in the corridors of TNT. Of course with fear, cowardice ranging on his face, Rweyemaho (as the name would suggest), passed on senseless rumors in collaboration with his network of school for scandal of some fellow journalists in the country to say that the new paper was of spies. Also that they received funding from foreign and neighboring countries, a thing that was never true but was unprofessionally and wholesomely consumed by the Kigali intelligence system that never gives a chance for a second reasoning especially on matters related to the national security. The Weekly Post is now history or enjoying great life in the beautiful city of cemetery Ville. Some of the founders have been forced to flee their great country seeking refugee for their dear life. But some are here to stay even when it means final death for this is their country. The country's image that took the outmost gift of sacrifice from the liberators was in few seconds put at risk by silly mistakes of a man that aimed at putting his ego to satisfaction. But, as life goes, the truth can never be subdued and evil has never defeated the truth, not in the history of the universe. One especially those from The Weekly Post, can at last push-a-breath that the truth is finally disembarking and heading for a serious showdown with evil, the tormentor of innocent souls and hater of success and thinking. Hope, the public will at the end make its own judgment of who is actually the real enemy of the people.
For the great self-motivated employees at The New Times, hope is there to receive, for your tormentor has either been shown exit or his golden feathers reduced to normality. Good things and new life is right at your door-steps, gone are days of being called bullshits or useless women and men. No no, the writing is now in black and white at your notice board. Read right in excitement for its now true. For the new MD, i very much know is a man of experience and will for all reasons deliver. He has been at the helm of that organisation (that i think means a lot to the development agenda of this govt) since its inception and knows all the dynamics. Lets hope he has come to put things right and will not be pushed out as soonest. no, i believe he will not but has to expect anything when in that paper, for David Kabuye was a good administrator but suffered the trap and wrath of MD hungry and thirsty Kabagambe. For no one who doesn’t know the gymnastics of Rweyemaho man during those rush hours with one of the board members plotting against the best MD that Company has ever had. Please Mr Bideri my friend, Listen to the workers and think twice always to affect their morale. Bideri, for now, all our support are your bucket of roses, wishing you success at that company troubled by poor leadership, focus and in a financial deficient of millions. At least employee salaries (with some higher than their contribution) are over-bank-drafted every Month. Please sort that out, as at one point the company should be able to provide considerable revenues to the govt. So God help Bideri.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Global effort on World Aids Day
Events are being held to mark the 20th World Aids Day, many highlighting the need to fight continued prejudices against people with HIV-Aids.
The UN recently reduced its estimate of the number of people with HIV/Aids, but the figure still stands at 33 million.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said strong leadership was needed if the fight against the disease was to be won.
Campaigners have warned that progress in treating and slowing the disease is breeding complacency about the risks.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
IFC Global Trade Finance Program Expands to Rwanda
*BCR becomes the first beneficiary
* Boosting International Trade Prospects for Local Businesses
The International Financing Cooperation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced on Thursday Novermber 29, that Banque Commerciale du Rwanda (BCR) is the first bank in Rwanda to join IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program.
According to a press release issued by the World Bank office in Kigali, IFC will issue guarantees of up to $2 million against the bank’s underlying trade transactions, covering payment risk and helping increase Rwanda’s global trade volumes.
The release notes that the transaction is IFC’s third in Rwanda in less than a year, reflecting a commitment to increasing activities that support the country’s sustainable economic growth.
IFC is focusing on mobilizing investments and providing advisory services in key sectors for maximum development impact, including financial markets, tourism, agribusiness, infrastructure, and construction.
“Working with IFC will greatly increase our capacity to facilitate trade between Rwanda and other countries, promoting the private sector and contributing more to economic development,” said David Kuwana, Managing Director of BCR. “We see this as a first step in a collaborative partnership with IFC.”
The IFC Global Trade Finance Program was launched in 2005 to support trade with emerging markets worldwide and promote flows of goods and services between developing countries. IFC provides guarantee coverage of bank risk in emerging markets, allowing recipients to expand their trade finance transactions within an extensive network of countries and banks and to enhance their trade finance coverage.
“Trade finance is part of IFC’s strategy to help Africa become fully engaged in global trade,” said IFC Executive Vice President and CEO Lars Thunell (Above), who signed the agreement during a two-day visit to Rwanda. “I look forward to working with BCR to create opportunities for economic growth.”
To date, the IFC Global Trade Finance Program has provided about $1.5 billion worth of guarantees to issuing banks in developing countries. The program has supported $2.2 billion in trade globally since 2005, of which $1.2 billion was trade involving a Sub-Saharan African nation. The program includes 29 issuing banks as participants in 15 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, including such conflict-affected countries as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. In conjunction with Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), Lars addressed a press conference on FRIDAY November 30. Lars visit is to discuss with the Government of Rwanda and The private Sector, IFC activities and how best IFC can help Rwanda achieve its development objectives.
Democracy will never work in a third world country
Recalling our African history and Ugandan national motto that "For God and my country", I think it’s either now or never that we accept the fact.
Democracy as we define it right away from Primary school assumes one principle that cannot be left out; ALL PEOPLE OF A COMMUNITY/COUNTRY/STATE/PROVINCE HAVE A PERFECT UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLITICS AND ECONOMY OF THE AREA.
Well, in the developed world, majority will cast their vote based on reason or at least basing on inherited love for a particular political party which their predecessors supported or founded and this approximates the assumption underlying democracy.
Just a reminder, the democracy we are talking about today is more American than Greek! Americans formulated their Democratic Principles after discontent with the British way of doing things, but all the same the two societies are the exact mirror reflections of the African societies of the Third world like in Uganda and many other African countries.
Sincerely, at times people say that intellectuals tend to under look other people and they said that when professor Kanyeihamba one time implied that peasants' votes should not carry the same weight as those of their educated sons and daughters. I strongly agree with the learned justice's implications because in third world countries like my motherland, the illiteracy levels are still very low and it actually makes no sense for me to go and cast my vote to any African leader basing on the a better expression of ideas in a certain party manifesto ahead of any opposition contestant and yet another country votes for that leader also basing on the fact that the said leader's agent has sponsored him a waragi bottle.
Some times it is hard to admit the truth except if it has marks on our body like signs of AIDS or disability, but we need to contemplate and accept that provided that our society is still like that then the concept of Democracy shall never work here and therefore trying to imitate the maturity in multiparty politics of the Unites States is a mere DREAM! The Ugandan President M7 for instance has always communicated this clearly and still some people seem to have failed to get his point right. Ok if you are one of them, here it is; A society needs a revolutionary and visionary leader who should be given the chance to steer the country through a period of continued development and transformation and lead it to TAKE-OFF stage and then you can start talking about Democracy and multi-partyism.
Ofcourse, someone like Dr Kiiza Besigye of Uganda or Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, will never come to admit the fact that revolutionary leaders like M7, Rober Mugabe or Paul Kagame are not just average men/ boys that they watched grow! Leaders like M7 and many great leaders of this world is a wise man and a great reader and that is what makes one a great leader!!!! M7, Kagame and Mugabe have read widely about dictatorial regimes, transformation of countries in far East Asia and believe me such leaders have mastered African society.
For instance M7 has maintained strategic flexibility despite harboring his own ideology (movement democracy) and will always swing around a 'multi-party' democracy which never is!
To drive the point home, I have this to say "For the West to promote Multi Party Democracy in low developed Africa; it is re-inventing the wheel i.e. pre-independence civil wars and slave trade." The argument here is not against multiparty democracy, but just like the formulas in mathematics, it’s not universally applicable and thus third world is among the EXCEPTIONS.
You will agree with me that it takes courage to agree to this and admit that if we are to take off, then we need to leave revolutionary leaders like M7, Kagame, Col. Umar Gadafi of Libya and Mugabe to steer the continent to greater heights for they have a ‘vision’ and then think of true democracy.
Democracy as we define it right away from Primary school assumes one principle that cannot be left out; ALL PEOPLE OF A COMMUNITY/COUNTRY/STATE/PROVINCE HAVE A PERFECT UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLITICS AND ECONOMY OF THE AREA.
Well, in the developed world, majority will cast their vote based on reason or at least basing on inherited love for a particular political party which their predecessors supported or founded and this approximates the assumption underlying democracy.
Just a reminder, the democracy we are talking about today is more American than Greek! Americans formulated their Democratic Principles after discontent with the British way of doing things, but all the same the two societies are the exact mirror reflections of the African societies of the Third world like in Uganda and many other African countries.
Sincerely, at times people say that intellectuals tend to under look other people and they said that when professor Kanyeihamba one time implied that peasants' votes should not carry the same weight as those of their educated sons and daughters. I strongly agree with the learned justice's implications because in third world countries like my motherland, the illiteracy levels are still very low and it actually makes no sense for me to go and cast my vote to any African leader basing on the a better expression of ideas in a certain party manifesto ahead of any opposition contestant and yet another country votes for that leader also basing on the fact that the said leader's agent has sponsored him a waragi bottle.
Some times it is hard to admit the truth except if it has marks on our body like signs of AIDS or disability, but we need to contemplate and accept that provided that our society is still like that then the concept of Democracy shall never work here and therefore trying to imitate the maturity in multiparty politics of the Unites States is a mere DREAM! The Ugandan President M7 for instance has always communicated this clearly and still some people seem to have failed to get his point right. Ok if you are one of them, here it is; A society needs a revolutionary and visionary leader who should be given the chance to steer the country through a period of continued development and transformation and lead it to TAKE-OFF stage and then you can start talking about Democracy and multi-partyism.
Ofcourse, someone like Dr Kiiza Besigye of Uganda or Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, will never come to admit the fact that revolutionary leaders like M7, Rober Mugabe or Paul Kagame are not just average men/ boys that they watched grow! Leaders like M7 and many great leaders of this world is a wise man and a great reader and that is what makes one a great leader!!!! M7, Kagame and Mugabe have read widely about dictatorial regimes, transformation of countries in far East Asia and believe me such leaders have mastered African society.
For instance M7 has maintained strategic flexibility despite harboring his own ideology (movement democracy) and will always swing around a 'multi-party' democracy which never is!
To drive the point home, I have this to say "For the West to promote Multi Party Democracy in low developed Africa; it is re-inventing the wheel i.e. pre-independence civil wars and slave trade." The argument here is not against multiparty democracy, but just like the formulas in mathematics, it’s not universally applicable and thus third world is among the EXCEPTIONS.
You will agree with me that it takes courage to agree to this and admit that if we are to take off, then we need to leave revolutionary leaders like M7, Kagame, Col. Umar Gadafi of Libya and Mugabe to steer the continent to greater heights for they have a ‘vision’ and then think of true democracy.
African Diaspora key to the continent’s development
*WB meets with Diaspora groups to discuss increased engagement, cooperation
African Diaspora defined as peoples of African descent/origin living outside the continent play an increasingly important role in the continent’s development, both through the financial resources they send back to their home countries and through their professional expertise. According to a 2005 World Bank report, remittances flows from the African Diaspora are in excess of $4-6 billion per year and a significant number of professionals from the continent are currently living outside of Africa.
In order to engage with these groups and support the African Union’s ongoing effort to work with the African Diaspora, the World Bank on Thursday November 29, held an African Diaspora Open House in Washington with over 200 representatives from groups based in the United States and Canada to discuss opportunities for closer collaboration.
Among other initiatives, the World Bank announced that it will collaborate with the African Union in exploring the possibilities for the development of a Diaspora Remittances Investment Fund, which will be based on global experiences that exploit the benefits of and leverage remittances to finance Diaspora-led development activities, in a manner similar to existing mechanisms in Latin America.
The World Bank is also exploring multiple approaches for working with the African Diaspora, including through:
• Engagement of the Diaspora—in collaboration with African member countries— in the design and implementation of the ongoing portfolio of World Bank-assisted projects (338 projects for about $22 billion), and in the planned pipeline of proposed new World Bank-assisted projects over the FY08 - FY10 period (estimated at 248 projects for about $13 billion)
• Partnerships with private sector organizations, notably multi-national corporations with strong business interests in Africa;
• Support for Diaspora to build on ongoing efforts through a blended strategy of "virtual" participation; short, medium and long term placements; return and retention; and institutional networks;
• Dialogue with donors to contribute to a proposed African Diaspora Engagement and Facilitation Fund to support program activities;
• Facilitation of policy-relevant networks on topical issues such as sub/regional integrated infrastructure, energy, transportation, and research on diverse topics;
• Support to African governments in creating the enabling policy and institutional environment to harness Diaspora potential; strengthening Africa’s response to globalization, among others.
"The World Bank is in a very strategic position to assist in the mobilization of the African Diaspora in support of economic development on the ground in Africa” says Melvin P. Foote, President of the Constituency for Africa (CFA) a 16 year-old Washington, D.C. based network of organizations, groups and individuals committed to the progress and empowerment of Africa and African people worldwide. “Engaging the Diaspora in providing technical assistance in Africa may well create the necessary synergy to transform how development will be pursued on the continent in the future”.
More than a third of Africa’s highly qualified human resources are presently in the Diaspora. Studies show that the most educated Africans increasingly opt not to return to the continent and stay in their host country after completion of their studies. A survey of African PhD students in the U.S. and Canada in 1986-96 showed that about 44 per cent decided to stay. The impact of the non-return has been debilitating on Africa’s public and private sector, in some cases forcing countries to rely on high rates of international consultants to tackle development work. A partnership with the African Diaspora for the continent’s development is thus essential to enable Africa to increase its capacity to use and apply knowledge and increase its access to financial resources.
With support from African governments, the World Bank hopes to use its engagement with the African Diaspora to strengthen the performance of its extensive portfolio of investment and development policy loans in the region (about US$22 billion) by better engaging the African Diaspora with government support, in the over US$6 billion of technical assistance which is financed by this portfolio.
African Diaspora defined as peoples of African descent/origin living outside the continent play an increasingly important role in the continent’s development, both through the financial resources they send back to their home countries and through their professional expertise. According to a 2005 World Bank report, remittances flows from the African Diaspora are in excess of $4-6 billion per year and a significant number of professionals from the continent are currently living outside of Africa.
In order to engage with these groups and support the African Union’s ongoing effort to work with the African Diaspora, the World Bank on Thursday November 29, held an African Diaspora Open House in Washington with over 200 representatives from groups based in the United States and Canada to discuss opportunities for closer collaboration.
Among other initiatives, the World Bank announced that it will collaborate with the African Union in exploring the possibilities for the development of a Diaspora Remittances Investment Fund, which will be based on global experiences that exploit the benefits of and leverage remittances to finance Diaspora-led development activities, in a manner similar to existing mechanisms in Latin America.
The World Bank is also exploring multiple approaches for working with the African Diaspora, including through:
• Engagement of the Diaspora—in collaboration with African member countries— in the design and implementation of the ongoing portfolio of World Bank-assisted projects (338 projects for about $22 billion), and in the planned pipeline of proposed new World Bank-assisted projects over the FY08 - FY10 period (estimated at 248 projects for about $13 billion)
• Partnerships with private sector organizations, notably multi-national corporations with strong business interests in Africa;
• Support for Diaspora to build on ongoing efforts through a blended strategy of "virtual" participation; short, medium and long term placements; return and retention; and institutional networks;
• Dialogue with donors to contribute to a proposed African Diaspora Engagement and Facilitation Fund to support program activities;
• Facilitation of policy-relevant networks on topical issues such as sub/regional integrated infrastructure, energy, transportation, and research on diverse topics;
• Support to African governments in creating the enabling policy and institutional environment to harness Diaspora potential; strengthening Africa’s response to globalization, among others.
"The World Bank is in a very strategic position to assist in the mobilization of the African Diaspora in support of economic development on the ground in Africa” says Melvin P. Foote, President of the Constituency for Africa (CFA) a 16 year-old Washington, D.C. based network of organizations, groups and individuals committed to the progress and empowerment of Africa and African people worldwide. “Engaging the Diaspora in providing technical assistance in Africa may well create the necessary synergy to transform how development will be pursued on the continent in the future”.
More than a third of Africa’s highly qualified human resources are presently in the Diaspora. Studies show that the most educated Africans increasingly opt not to return to the continent and stay in their host country after completion of their studies. A survey of African PhD students in the U.S. and Canada in 1986-96 showed that about 44 per cent decided to stay. The impact of the non-return has been debilitating on Africa’s public and private sector, in some cases forcing countries to rely on high rates of international consultants to tackle development work. A partnership with the African Diaspora for the continent’s development is thus essential to enable Africa to increase its capacity to use and apply knowledge and increase its access to financial resources.
With support from African governments, the World Bank hopes to use its engagement with the African Diaspora to strengthen the performance of its extensive portfolio of investment and development policy loans in the region (about US$22 billion) by better engaging the African Diaspora with government support, in the over US$6 billion of technical assistance which is financed by this portfolio.
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