Kagame, Kabila meet

Presidents Paul Kagame and Joseph Kabila met on Thursday and held bilateral talks on security and economic cooperation. The two leaders held talks for over three hours at Ihusi Hotel in Goma and later addressed a joint press conference.

According to press reports, they agreed to tackle the problem of the Forces for the Democratic Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) that continues to present a security threat to the population in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Kabila stated that the days of the FDLR in eastern Congo are numbered. He was also quoted saying that the FDLR will be extremely weakened by the end of the year.

Clinton hails Rwanda

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has hailed Rwanda’s pace of development since 1994.

She made the remarks while addressing the opening ministerial session of 8th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that started in Nairobi, Kenya. She said that Rwanda is an example for hope in Africa.

Clinton also said that the Barack Obama administration is keen on enhancing trade and commerce between the US and Africa. Clinton’s visit to Kenya was her first stop on her seven nation journey across Africa.

QuestNet banned

The government this week announced the banning of QuestNet a company that has been operating in the country. A statement from the ministry of finance and economic planning indicated that the business practices of quest net contravene the companies and tax laws.

The ban follows a declaration by the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) that the company was working under a shadowy pyramid scheme.

BNR according to press reports indicated that the company could be involved in money laundering.

QuestNet describes itself as a direct marketing entity that uses network marketing. The company is based in Hong Kong.

Kagame urges leaders on Service delivery

Kagame this week reminded local leaders that the biggest challenge facing the country today is poor customer care that is still prevalent in both the private and public sectors.

He made the remarks while presiding over the presentation of the 2009/10 Performance Contract and review 2008/09 per district, at the parliamentary buildings.

According to press reports, Kagame said that despite the country registering major developments in the last few years, as exhibited by the outcomes of performance contracts, there is much more to do in the field of customer care.

He singled out the private sector as having poor customer care practices, especially business and service providers.

Kalisa, Rutagwenda acquitted

The Nyarugenge High Court this week found a local newspaper publisher guilty of extortion and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment.

The two co-accused were acquitted and immediately released. Hundreds had thronged the courtroom on Friday to witness the ruling in the blackmail case involving two journalists and another accomplice.

The trio had last week lost an appeal seeking a provisional release. The court ruled that Assouman Niyonambaza, the publisher of Rugari, Kinyarwanda language tabloid, was guilty of extortion.

RDF to create reserve force

Government this week tabled before the Lower Chamber of Parliament a new bill that seeks to restructure the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), where a reserve force will be created and Marine forces merged with Land forces.

The draft bill was tabled before lawmakers by the, Defence Minister Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi.

He said that the idea to merge Marines with Land Forces was based on the topography of the country that does not provide enough opportunities for such a section in a military composition.

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