Africa can eradicate impunity – Karugarama

The Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama, on Thursday told African prosecutors that if they work closely together, Africa will eradicate impunity. Karugarama, who is also the Attorney General, made the remarks while opening the sixth annual Africa Prosecutors Association’s conference on Thursday in Kigali.

He emphasised the need for cooperation among African prosecution authorities. The president of the Africa Prosecutors Association, Olyvia M. Imalwa, also emphasised the need for cooperation among African justice systems saying it was a way of ensuring equitable delivery of justice. The three day conference drew several African chief prosecutors to forge ways of strengthening their cooperation to ensure that fugitives are brought to justice.

Genocide fugitive arrested in France

The former Minister of Public Works, Hyacinthe Nsengiyumva Rafiki, alias John Muhindo, was on Wednesday night arrested in France in response to a Red Notice issued by Interpol on the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General. Rafiki is a co-founder of the FDLR and according to prosecution, the indictment was first sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the terrorist outfit is based. His arrest was confirmed on Thursday by John Bosco Siboyintore, the head of the Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit in the Prosecutor General’s office. On April 9, 1994, many Tutsi refugees at Nyundo Cathedral, in the former Gisenyi Prefecture, were killed by a militia under the command of Rafiki. In February 1999, Rafiki, along with Col. Tharcisse Renzaho and Col. Aloys Ntiwirigabo founded the DRC-based terrorist outfit, FDLR.

70 more girls to obtain science scholarships

A total of 71 girls are set to join institutions of higher learning to study science and technology under the Equal Opportunity Programme. The project is coordinated by the Ministry of Education and funded by the African Development Bank (ADB). It targets to enroll a total of 200 girls in tertiary institutions.This is the second group of beneficiaries under this project. The first intake was made up of 120 girls presently in various universities. According to the acting project coordinator, Alexandre Ndahumba, the goal is to improve science and technology and industrial skills base by building female students’ capacity to join institutions of higher learning. The girls selected are normally those who did not obtain the set pass mark in sciences. They instead undergo a six month training program in science subjects after which they are examined for university studies.

 70-year-old woman kills granddaughter

A 70-year old woman in Ngororero District early this week surrendered to police after allegedly slaying her 5-year-old granddaughter. Marie Mukabagema, went on the run, but later turned herself in. Police alleges that Mukabagema chopped off the neck of the little girl only identified as Dukuzemariya with a knife. Neighbours discovered the deceased’s body lying in a pool of blood.The motive of the murder is still unknown but witnesses said that the woman is mentally unstable.Two people suspected to be accomplices are also in custody. Crime in Ngororero District is on the rise with the girl’s murder now the fifth in less than just a month.

Rubavu District to sue traders for defamation

The traders, who had submitted bids for a tender to collect taxes on behalf of the district, claim that the selection process was fraudulent and petitioned the Office of Ombudsman. Rubavu district Mayor, Sheikh Hassan Bahame, challenged the Ombudsman’s office to send a team to verify the claims. "I am happy that the Office of the Ombudsman knows about this issue. We shall show what the rules stipulate and after we are cleared, we will sue the losers for tarnishing the district’s name,” Bahame said. He advised prospective bidders to always be ready to accept the outcome of the process, saying that losing is part of the process. The disgruntled group first petitioned the District Tender Committee before seeking the intervention of the Ombudsman.

RBS nabs fraudulent rice dealers

The Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) this week busted a rice fraud ring reaping off consumers.The standards body discovered that traders importing rice from Tanzania into the country deliberately labelled the sacks of rice, Grade 1, yet, they contained grade 2 rice, which is of lower quality. According to RBS, the two grades differ in price and therefore members of the public were being defrauded. Speaking to The New Times, the Deputy Director of RBS, Patrice Ntiyamira, said that as an institution charged with enforcing standards, RBS had to stop the act and order the traders to repackage the rice appropriately. Ntiyamira said that the traders were currently re-labelling their merchandise according to the quality. He, however, warned them against the practice which is against the law.

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