Weekly Review

17,500 cows to be repossessed by gov’t It was reported that at least 17,500 cows distributed under the ‘One cow per poor household’ programme, locally known as ‘Girinka’, will be repossessed by the government. This is after it was established that they went to the wrong beneficiaries. This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Agnes Kalibata, during a press conference to unveil the exercise of reclaiming the cows. Kalibata said that for the past two weeks, the ministry of Agriculture has embarked on a process of identifying the wrong beneficiaries from the bonafide recipients. Jabana residents to be refunded It was also revealed that Jabana residents are set to receive their compensation after Kigali City Council (KCC), in conjunction with Gasabo District finalised the evaluation to assess the damage that was caused by mining activities in the area. According to KCC’s Communications Officer, Bruno Rangira, the evaluation committee had already established the amount to be dished out. List of 56 suspended civil servants out It was reported that the list of the 56 civil servants suspended last week for failing to declare their wealth is out. The list obtained from reliable sources lists senior government officials in various departments that either failed to declare or under-declared their assets leading to the decision to suspend them. The suspended civil servants are in two categories; those who failed to declare or under declared their wealth in, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Those suspended were from the Judiciary, Parliament, Military, Diplomatic missions and different Ministries as well as local government structures. The list includes one official from the Office of the President. Two people killed by rains Two people were killed and an estimated 50 hectares of maize crop destroyed in a two-day down pour that devastated three sectors of Gaseke Valley in Gakenke District. Area authorities reported that over 20 houses were also destroyed in Janja, Busengo and Muzo sectors. A bridge linking Busengo to Kivuluga collapsed making movement of people and goods difficult. 227 remains laid to rest Remains of 227 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi were laid to rest in Karongi district. 200 bodies were recently discovered in Bwishyura Sector buried near Kibuye hospital while the rest came from Rubengera, Mubuga and Twumba sectors. Addressing mourners, the Executive Secretary of the Western Province, Paul Jabo, urged the residents to provide information on the whereabouts of remains which are still scattered in different parts of the country. Tutu to grace Rights forum Renowned South African cleric and peace activist, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, is expected in Kigali to attend the first regional global UNESCO Intergenerational Human Rights Forum slated for January 1, 2010. The nine-day conference is expected to attract over 40 African and 50 youth leaders from all over the world to discuss various human rights issues and lay the groundwork for an international movement for change. Law makers consider scraping article on homosexuality It was also reported that the Political Affairs Committee in the Lower Chamber of Parliament has requested fellow law makers to consider scrapping the article on homosexuality from the penal code in conformity with the International Charter on Civil rights The President of the Political Affairs committee; Bernadette Kanzaire told parliament mid week that the United Nations AIDS (UNAIDS) council had requested the government to scrap the article pointing out that it was contrary to articles 16 and 26 of the United Nations Convenant on Civil and Political Rights that seek protection of all citizens with disregard to sex, religion and others. Ends