Weekly review

Anti- smoking bill goes to parliament The Minister of Health Dr. Richard Sezibera, early this week tabled a bill before parliament that seeks to restrict smoking in public places, the Minister told law makers that unfortunately tobacco contains as much as 400 toxic substances and that research figures reveal that there are tobacco related effects and 25 diseases that affect the lungs, the heart and the blood veins. According to the bill, ‘No person shall smoke in any public place including work places, or in any part of a public place. Rwanda new plane arrives One of the two aircraft recently acquired by RwandAir, arrived Monday evening. General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the World’s largest aircraft leaser, recently signed a deal with the national carrier for two Boeing 737-500s on a dry-lease arrangement for a period of three years. Unveiling the aircraft, Rwanda Air CEO, Rene Janet said that the company is planning to introduce daily flights to Johannesburg, Dubai, Addis and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Senior police officer sentenced to life for Genocide The tribunal sitting in Huye, District on Monday sentenced Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Cyriaque Habyarabatuma, to life in jail for crimes committed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The tribunal found Habyarabatuma a former senior military officer in both the former Army (Ex-FAR) guilty of complicity in the killings of hundreds of Tutsi who had sought refuge at Cyahinda parish in April 1994. Economy to grow by 7% The economy is expected to grow by seven percent this financial year, up from the six percent registered last year.This was announced this week by the minister of Finance and Economic Planning John Rwangombwa, while tabling the 2010/11 budget in parliament. He also revealed that total expenditures will increase to Rwf 984billion. KCC halts expropriations The Kigali City Council has temporarily halted expropriating land owners in the city until all the land acquired by real estate developers has been developed. Kigali City vice-mayor in charge of finance and economic development, Alphonse Nzeyimana, confirmed the development this week. “With all this land, we found it necessary to halt the expropriation exercise” he said. He also identified government land like the current KCC and the Office of the Tourism (ORTPN) premises in Nyarugenge district which are supposed to be redeveloped. Chief Justice calls on judges to champion Human Rights The Chief Justice Aloysia Cyanzayire has reminded judges that it’s their duty to up-hold, and promote national human rights as a service to the citizens. Cyanzayire made this call on Thursday during a two day-day workshop held in Kigali, which attracted over 60 judges to discuss the application of international human rights laws and principles in Rwanda. Finnish court hands life to Bazaramba for Genocide A court in Ita-Uusimaa, Finland, on Friday handed a life sentence to Francois Bazaramba for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Bazaramba who had sought asylum in the country was found guilty of taking part in the killings committed in the Southern Province, where he served as a clergyman. He has been in detention since 2007 and during the course of his trial, the judges had to travel to Rwanda to both see the crime scene and also screen witnesses, a session that lasted for two weeks. Bazaramba was convicted on two charges of ‘intent to destroy the Tutsi population in Maraba on April 15 1994, and his propaganda speech that called for the extermination of Tutsis. Ends