Kagame calls for increased entrepreneurship

President Paul Kagame this week stated that poor nations can meet their development goals through entrepreneurship. In an article published in the Financial Times, Kagame says that poor nations can improve their economies through entrepreneurship rather than relying on aid.

President Kagame writes about the pitfalls of aid stating that it has at times left recipient populations, unstable, distracted, and more dependent. He states that aid has failed to meet its objectives and has rarely dealt with the underlying issues of poverty and weak societies.

He also wrote, "Do not get me wrong. We appreciate support from the outside, but it should be support for what we intend to achieve ourselves. No one should pretend that they care about our nations more than we do; or assume that they know what is good for us better than we do ourselves. They should, in fact, respect us for wanting to decide our own fate.”

Diplomats reshuffled

It was announced this week that Rwandan diplomats had been reshuffled and an envoy nominated for the post of ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The ambassador designate to the DR Congo is Amandin Rugira the outgoing Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

At the same time Christine Nkurikiyinka was nominated as ambassador to Berlin, Germany. It will be recalled that Rwanda’s ambassador to Germany was recalled in a diplomatic row in late 2008.

Rwanda economy to remain strong

It was reported in the media this week that Rwanda’s economy is going to remain strong despite the global financial crisis. The prediction was made by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

According to AfDB, the economy will "maintain moderate robust” performance in 2009 and 2010, because demand for its major agricultural exports is "less sensitive” to repercussions of the crisis.

Kagame in South Africa

Also in the week, Kagame was one of the many international leaders who attended the inauguration of Jacob Zuma  the new President of South Africa. Since 1994, South Africa has become an important trading partner to many countries especially in the East African region.

Rwanda gets electronic driving licenses

It was reported this week that distribution of electronic driving licenses has commenced. The Minister for Infrastructure Linda Bihire was the first to receive the licenses at a ceremony attended by several drivers and government officials.

Bihire was quoted saying that the licenses can not be easily duplicated or forged and that they meet international standards. There have been reports in the past of the existence of many forged driving licenses in the country.

Genocide fugitive found working as a priest

A genocide fugitive has been discovered working as a priest in Italy, according to media reports. A nine page report by Africa Watch indicates that Fr. Emmanuel Uwayezu, now working as a vicar at a parish in Empoli, a small town some 20 kilometers west of Florence, is responsible for the death of more than 80 students at Kibeho College of Arts in Southern Province in 1994.

The rights group recently released a report on Vincent Nzingiyinfura, a businessman in Malawi, who is also accused of participating in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

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