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.
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