WEEKLY REVIEW

Kagame calls for easing of border restrictions President Paul Kagame called upon authorities, including local government leaders and the Rwanda Revenue Authority to quickly establish customs posts to facilitate trade along the Rwanda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border. Addressing Local Government leaders at the closure of a three-day retreat, President Kagame said that despite his directive last year to ease cross-border movements, nothing has been done yet to improve trade between the two countries. Harerimana shades light on driving licences The Minister of Internal Security Musa Fazil Harerimana addressing the Senate said candidates interested in acquiring driving licenses will now register with driving schools before they are considered for the exam. Harerimana was appearing in the Senate for the second time last evening to shed more light on the questions raised after last year’s damning report that criticized the traffic police unit. The minister told the Senators that a lot had been achieved since the report was published, saying that policies and procedures have been revised to further improve the force. Makuza lashes out at Ingabire Prime Minister Bernard Makuza lashed out at Victoire Ingabire, the leader of the yet-to-be-registered political party - FDU-Inkingi, for what he said is an attempt to disrespect Rwandans and the country’s laws. The Prime Minister said that Ingabire’s rhetoric showed utter disrespect for Rwandans and what they have worked hard to achieve over the past 16 years. He accused Ingabire of trying to instil fear in people, strongly warning her against this path, especially the attempt to use ethnic card. Cabinet approves sacking of 23 police officers A cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame, Wednesday approved the expulsion of 35 officers from the Rwanda National Police force. According to the minutes of the Cabinet meeting that was held at Urugwiro Village, CSP Emmanuel Gakwaya, IP Jean Paul Ngabonziza, IP Jean Damascene Karake as well as 32 other junior officers were sacked due to gross misconduct while on duty. Ingabire’s aide sentenced Joseph Ntawangundi, an aide to presidential hopeful Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, leader of FDU-Inkingi was sent to jail to begin his prison sentence. Ntawangundi was sentenced in absentia in 2007 to 19 years in prison for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Gacaca court turns down exonerations A Gacaca court turned down an earlier court decision to exonerate seven people, including a pastor of the Adventist Church in Nyabisindu, Muhanga district, of their genocide charges. Pastor Pedaie Ntihanabayo, and six others who are accused of killing Eleazar Mpumguje, will have to wait for a new hearing by the Gahogo Gacaca Appeal Court on Thursday, to decide their fate. They are being held at Gitarama prison. The same court sentenced four other suspects to 19 years for concealing information on the victim’s death. Ends