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Diaspora vow to act as Rwanda’s ambassadors
By James Karuhanga

After completing a two-week country familiarization tour, members of the Diaspora, Wednesday spelt out seven resolutions that include correcting the falsehoods that are peddled about Rwanda.

The group is in the country as part of the “come and see” programme organized by the government to facilitate members of the Rwandan Diaspora to witness firsthand the remarkable progress the country has registered and understand the vision of Rwanda.

“We have resolved to go back and mobilize Rwandans to unite and cooperate in the development of our country,” said Jean Pierre Mabenga, from Belgium.

Mabenga said the group will call upon others who haven’t been to the country to come and see for themselves, adding that the Rwandan diplomatic missions abroad should help set up outreach efforts for the Diaspora communities globally.

The group also called for the reinforcement of the Diaspora General Directorate (DGD) in the Foreign Ministry to offer better services of coordinating Rwandans overseas.

Diaspora members also attended the just concluded eighth national dialogue, the Diaspora retreat, as well as the “Bye bye Nyakatsi” Expo. They extended special gratitude to President Paul Kagame for the plans he has for the country.
During one of the sessions, an emotional Aimable Ngab’Itsinze, also from Belgium said that he was sad that he had not previously played a key role in the country’s development.

“However, we all know, as it is often said that ‘it is better late than never’ – we are now ready to work together with other Rwandans to build our country,” Ngab’Itsinze said.
“I have witnessed how good the country and the people are– it gives me a feeling of confidence and pride”.

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TIGO, MINEDUC to connect primary schools to the internet
By Saul Butera

KIGALI – A local telecom operator, Tigo Rwanda, has entered into partnership with the Ministry of Education to facilitate the rollout of internet access points in the country’s primary schools in the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project

As part of the agreement, Tigo will sponsor the infrastructural development in schools across the country that will include wiring classrooms, installation of wireless LAN with internet access points and neighbouring communities will also benefit.

“The partnership was included in the 2008 Tigo licence bidding deal to support the country’s development and OLPC was among them. We are now implementing the government’s vision of to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy by the year 2020,” said Tigo’s CEO, Marcelo Aleman.

The Ministry of Education will provide Tigo with a list of schools to be connected, according to the agreement.

“We welcome the participation of corporations in the integration of the technology in schools and this MoU will work as a link between schools and Tigo which should go stronger and more diversified,” the Coordinator of OLPC project, Nkubito Bakuramutsa said.

He added that the project has so far distributed 55,000 laptops in 108 schools, and the distribution will continue next year.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sharon Haba, who was the guest of honour at the signing ceremony, said that internet connection to the OLPC computers will add more value to them.

“Every primary school is supposed to have these laptops but the first supplies were made to schools that have access to the electricity grid,” she added.

OLPC programme was adopted as a key driver towards the creation of a knowledge-based economy.

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http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14485&article=36885

Immigration to ease services for the Diaspora
By James Karuhanga

KIGALI – Officials at the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration, yesterday met members of the Diaspora currently in the country, and promised to help ease the delivery of consular services like acquisition of passports and visas, where possible.

In a session held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, senior staff from the Directorate took time to explain the processes, and in some particular instances, the difficulties involved in the application and provision of consular services.

Similarly, Pascal Nyamulinda, the coordinator of the National ID Project,t explained what it takes to acquire a national ID, as the officials responded to numerous questions from the Diaspora.

“Those who want passports even now can come to us, this afternoon, and submit applications. We will help you. It will take not more than three to five days since you are now here,” the Immigrations Director General, Anaclet Kalibata, said after a lady from Belgium complained that it takes 30 days for the process in their countries of residence.

Kalibata, and two senior members at his office listened as the Diaspora community raised concerns about the difficulties faced, in foreign countries, when some are wrongly suspected to have forged documents because of having mismatching information.

This problem arises from the fact that, in Rwanda today, many administrative units changed names as part of the restructuring within the local government.

Acknowledging the problem, Kalibata promised to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to streamline the issues, especially by appropriately communicating with foreign countries.

“We will explain how names of places have changed here – they (foreign countries) should surely understand that a name of a place can change. What, however, can be a problem, is when the date of birth changes,” Kalibata said.

On the other hand, Kalibata told a member the group from Zambia, where Rwanda has no High Commission, that it would be difficult, for the Directorate to have presence in every country in the world to ease services.

He advised Rwandans living abroad to always make use of chances when they are in the country to process the documents.

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Saturday, December 18, 2010
Diaspora urged to invest in Rwanda
By Stevenson Mugisha

KIGALI – The Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eugene Munyakayanza has called upon Rwandans in the Diaspora to invest in the country as a way of participating in the country’s economic growth.

Munyakayanza made the call, yesterday, while addressing a delegation of 35 Rwandans living in various countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

“I encourage you to always be proud of being Rwandans and to advocate for this nation in the various countries where you live,” Munyakayanza said. “This will enable our country to develop further, both economically and socially,”.

He promised the government support and assistance and urged them to be good ambassadors of the country when abroad.

Robert Masozera, the Director General in charge of Diaspora in the ministry, told The New Times that the delegation will attend the two-day forum hosted by Imbuto Foundation.
They are also expected to attend the National Dialogue Meeting that is expected to take place next week.

He added that 100 Rwandans from 21 countries from the Diaspora will attend this year’s National Dialogue.

After visiting MINAFET, the group was taken to Inyange Industry in Masaka sector where they toured the modern beverage processing plant.

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Thursday, December 16, 2010
Investors dash for Bralirwa shares as IPO deadline closes in
By Berna Namata

Appetite for Bralirwa shares within the local potential investors has increased ahead of tomorrow’s deadline for Rwanda’s first Initial Public Offer (IPO), a mini-survey by Business Times has revealed.

Retail and institutional investors are flocking to banks and brokerage firms to acquire equity stakes in the country’s biggest brewery and soft drinks maker.

This follows the official launch of the sale of government’s 25 percent stake in the brewery on November 23 to the public.

According to Lionel Mudandi, the Operations Officer at the Centenary House based African Alliance Rwanda Ltd one of licensed stockbrokers; interest in the IPO has increased dramatically within the last week.

“We are now very busy compared to the first week because many people are showing interest as the deadline is close,” he said yesterday.

However, Mudandi observed that generally the public is comfortable working with the banks as opposed to the brokerage firms.

“People trust banks and very few are coming to us (brokerage firms) because they do not have enough knowledge about brokerage firms and their services,”
Mudandi said the brokerage firm is working with banks to send them clients when shares beginning trading on the secondary market.

He however expressed concern over the timing of the IPO, saying that being a festive season; the majority of the people are preoccupied with celebration and holiday events.

An agent at Dyer &Blair Securities Rwanda limited, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak for the brokerage firm also noted that the IPO has gained momentum in the last week of the offer.

“People are rushing to the banks; most people are interested in finding out the benefits of investing in Bralirwa while others have to been taken through the fundamentals including defining a share.”

Each of the 128, 570, 000 shares of the IPO offer costs Rwf136. The minimum per application form which costs Rwf13, 600 is 100 shares.

Andrew Otengo Owiny, the Executive Director of MBEA Brokerage Services, observed that a significant number of potential investors have purchased shares this week.

“The traffic (of potential investors) has been higher – we are beginning to see people actually buying shares close to Rwf10 million,” he said.

Owiny who also doubles as the lead transaction adviser of the IPO, allayed fears by stock brokers that while potential investors may work with banks now, it will be mandatory for them to work with brokerage firms once the shares begin trading.

“This is purely about lack of familiarity with brokerage services; a lot of people have bank accounts – you cannot trade in shares unless you have brokers,” he said.
Owiny said banks will have to direct clients to brokerage firms once the shares begin trading.

While the deadline for buying shares still stands, Owiny said possibilities of extending the deadline will be determined by demand.

“If everything has been bought it (deadline) won’t be extended; we do not want to discourage investors who took their time to buy shares. The extension of the deadline would be purely to allow more Rwandans to participate should we see that there is an appetite.”

According to the Prospectus announcement of the offer and risk allotment results will be made public on January 18, next year while shares will start trading on the Rwandan Over-The-Counter (OTC) bourse on January 31, 2011.

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Dear Investor

We are pleased to inform you that the Bralirwa IPO( Initial Public Offering) is now launched and you can apply to be a shareholder as from today 23rd November 2010.

In order to help you in your investment decision, we have summarized some relevant investor information for you. This information is based on the Brochure that has been circulated during the launch. We shall provide you a comprehensive summary once we get the prospectus which will be ready by midday today.

1. 128,570,000 shares on offer at Frw 136 per share

2. Minimum of 100 shares per application at Frw 13,600

3. Offer for sale runs from 23 November to 17 December 2010

4. Announcement of offer and allotment results 18 January 2011

An application is available at CDH. Our office will be opened from 8 am to 5 pm (Monday to Friday) and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturday. Our offices are located at Ecobank Building 5th Floor opposite CMAC offices.

Our staff will be ready to assist you in the following processes:

1. Filling original application form from us

2. Filling in Central Securities Depository (CSD) form. The CSD is a account for shares (you will require 2 passport size photo, copy with your ID / Passport)

3. For corporates, the requirements are the following: Registration Certificate, Authorised signatories for the Company, two passport size photos of signatories, Tax Identification Number

4. Making payment for the amount of shares purchased (you will be issued a receipt torn off from the bottom of page 3 of the Application Form)

5. Payment can be made by either cash or cheque.

CDH has set up a special desk to help you buy shares in Bralirwa. Our office is ready to assist and facilitate you during the whole process of acquiring the shares.

We thank you for having preferred us as your Broker and look forward to offering you high quality service.

Yours sincerely

Shehzad Noordally
General Manager
CDH Capital
0788301007/3777/0788304276/0788302555/0788304275/0788304274

Diaspora gears up for 2nd retreat
By James Karuhanga

The Diaspora General Directorate (DGD) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will commence consultative planning this week in preparation for December’s 2nd Diaspora Retreat, an official has said.

According to Robert Masozera, the DGD Director General, beginning this week, they intend to meet all stakeholders to set dates and identify venues.

“December is a month for the Diaspora and apart from the National Dialogue (Umushyikirano) and the Diaspora retreat, we are also going to organize a very big party, on the eve of the year’s end – December 31,” Masozera said.

“It will be a dance party for the young Diaspora. This will be jointly organized by a group known as Happy People who are experienced in organizing parties, here in Kigali.”

Masozera says the proceeds from the party will be sunk into the current campaign against grass thatched dwellings commonly known as ‘Nyakatsi.’

Last year, the Rwanda Diaspora Global Network (RDGN) was allocated land in Bugesera District to build over 500 houses for the district’s poor under this campaign dubbed ‘Bye Bye Nyakatsi’.

Liziyeri Village in Bugesera district is now known as the “Rwanda Diaspora Village in Bugesera” and plans are underway for the construction of low, moderate to high-end houses.

Rwanda is increasingly attaching importance to its Diaspora as an instrumental network to mobilize financial resources, skills, knowledge transfer, image building and promoting the Rwandan culture.

Last year’s convention held under the theme: “Integrating the Rwandan Diaspora into national development strategies for the benefit of all,” focused, among other things, on mobilizing savings in the Diaspora for investment in Rwanda.

It is during that event that the Rwandan Diaspora Mutual Fund (RDMF) was launched.

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Spread Rwanda’s good news, Mushikiwabo urges Diaspora
By Ivan R. Mugisha

KIGALI – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo, has urged the Rwandan Diaspora to have pride in their country and speak out on the development achieved.

Mushikiwabo made the remarks in Washington DC, USA, during a party to celebrate President Paul Kagame’s victory in the recent Presidential elections.

“Let us carry the integrity of our country, have pride and continue to spread the good news about what’s happening in Rwanda,” Mushikiwabo said.

She also encouraged members of the Diaspora to come home and observe firsthand, the remarkable progress the country has registered.

“You are a reflection of your country while you’re here, so you have to speak the truth about Rwanda and continue to advocate for her positive image”.

She told the community not to be scared of what they see portrayed in some foreign media outlets, and said that it is not the true picture of the current state of affairs in the country.

Over 200 members of the Rwandan Diaspora Community in Washington DC attended the ceremony. The celebrations dubbed Intsinzi 2010, were also graced by Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United States of America, James Kimonyo.

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Security guard’s honesty awes hotel clients
By Frank Kanyesigye

KIGALI – The Management of Dubai World Nyungwe Forest Lodge in Rusizi District and its clients were left speechless after a security guard recovered a wallet containing US$8,000 that belonged to a client and immediately presented it intact to a front desk attendant.

Jean Pierre Habimana of Intersec Security Company, on September 5, found the lost wallet in the compound without anyone seeing him, and reckoned it belonged to a client hence handing it to a receptionist, convinced that the owner would be found.

The receptionist did not however immediately notify anyone else until Habimana overheard the frustrated owner of the missing money telling the hotel manager that he was going to return to Kigali to get some money.

It is at that time that the guard went straight to the manager and told him that he had picked a wallet containing money and handed it to the counter attendant to pass it over to the owner. Indeed, both manager and the client walked straight to the counter, only for the attendant to give them the same wallet with all its contents.

The General Manager of Dubai World Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Deo Kamurase, said that the hotel is planning to reward Habimana for his integrity.

“We are very grateful to him for being an honest and exemplary guard. We are yet to decide what type of token of appreciation to give him, but we will do it soon,” he said.
The guard was also praised by his employers back in Kigali. John Kyanga, the Acting General Manager of Intersec, said that Habimana’s good conduct and committed service serve as an example to other security guards and many other people.

“This is quite extraordinary; we have had guards who have done exceptional service, but Habimana beats them all,” he stressed.

“His action is a lesson on Integrity; it’s not so often that people who have picked such a huge amount of money end up doing the right thing.”

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Rwandan officer cadet excels at Sandhurst

By Edmund Kagire

SANDHURST – A Rwandan Officer Cadet has won three awards at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst – UK.

Ramsey Simba, a Senior Under Officer was awarded the prestigious medals after a 1 year Commissioning Course in Leadership at the 300 year-old military Academy.

The military training was aimed at developing leadership in Cadets by expanding their character, intellect and professional competences to a level demanded of an Army Officer on first appointment.

Simba excelled with high grades and was awarded The Overseas Sword Award, given to the overseas Cadet considered to be the best of his course and The HRC Prince Saud Abdullah Prize, awarded to the Overseas Cadet who obtained the best aggregate mark in Academic Subjects.

Officiating at the passing – out ceremony, British premier David Cameron commended the young officers for the bravery shown during the long and difficult training.

“I want you to be proud of the difference that you can make….. You have been through 44 weeks of the toughest and the best training that anyone can do,”

“Your training here has given you the best possible start. You will need to continue to develop all these skills and more”. Cameron said.

Cameron further noted that despite the technology of today, an army is an intensely human business, based on personal relationships and the ability of young newly commissioned officers to lead men and women in the face of danger.

It is in this, “human business” that Simba was also awarded the Communication and Applied Behavioural Science Prize for his best performance.

The pass-out ceremony was also attended by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ernest Rwamucyo and the Rwanda’s Defence Advisor Brig. General Frank Rusagara, who both commended the cadet for making Rwanda proud.

Other dignitaries who had sons or grandsons passing out included the King of Swaziland, The President of Yemen, the Prime minister of Bahrain and the Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain in the United Arab Emirates.

Formed in 1720, Sandhurst Military Academy is where all officers in the British Army are trained to take responsibilities of leading soldiers. The Academy also hosts Oversees Senior Officers.

A total of 226 officers graduated last week with 21 Overseas Cadets from Afghanistan, Bahrain, Belize, China, Ghana, Kosovo, Oman, Qatar, Swaziland, UAE, USA, Yemen and Rwanda.

Over 700 Officer Cadets attend the Commissioning Course each year. In addition, Sandhurst trains annually some 240 Territorial Army Officers, and 260 regular and Territorial Army Professionally Qualified Officers including doctors, dentists, nurses, vets, lawyers and the clergy.

Simba was the only Overseas Cadet to be included in what is known as the Cadet Government – a privileged appointment that allows more than 15 cadets to be recognised.

Simba was formerly a 2nd year student at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology [KIST] before he joined the Rwanda Military Academy – Gako as a student Cadet and subsequently selected to attend Sandhurst.  NewTimes Story.