On the grapevine

Cinema Unlimited boss fired The former boss of Rwanda Cinema Unlimited, Jean Claude Habiyakare, was recently sacked from his office duties due to the abuse of the office and embezzlement of funds among other allegations. Mr. Habiyakare allegedly accused to have signed Frw16million, of which he was supposed to pay the 300 vehicles hired during the shooting of one of their movie, instead pocketed the whole amount of money before paying the owners of the vehicles as was expected. As if that wasn’t enough to qualify him as a bungling director, he is also reported to have embezzled Frw10million from the office, which later led to his fate. After leading the project into a financial loss, and losing its corporate image, the board of shareholders decided to fire him from the office. As of now, many have continued to wonder whether the new director, Pierre Kigame will help to change the positive image of the project that has been tarnished. Meanwhile, the project has reached its final stage of the latest movie “Love in Agony” (Urukundo mu Mibabaro), that is due to be launched in March this year. NASA hires Rwanda to rescue disabled space station Rwanda has been hired by NASA to retrieve and drag the disabled space station back to Cape Canaveral for repairs. According to the emerging reports, a recently-installed solar panel caused an electrical surge which disabled the station’s computers Programmers in Russia and the USA have been unable to solve the problem. Meanwhile, the office of Space Rescue Facility (RSRF) is said to be working around the clock to complete the system. For the complex mission, the MANGO 1 astronauts will attach a tow chain to the space station and shuttle, and carefully pull them in tandem back to earth. A source from NASA was recorded by our scouts saying that only Rwanda has the advanced capability to undertake a complex mission such as this. We hope to influence some of their top scientists to come over here and work for us, so we can catch up to their expertise. Barefoot Rwandans, riding their donkeys down the muddy mountain roads proudly greeted the news that their once backward, third-world African nation has moved to the forefront in advanced space technology. German President to visit Rwanda No doubt, our government officials are busy preparing themselves to receive the Federal President of German Mr. Horst Köhler, who will be jetting in the country on February 03. Our snoops have established that the regional visit to be concluded on 08 February is part of focus on Africa that his presidency takes as priority. According to our snoops, Mr. Köhler’s visit in the country is the fifth working tour on the continent. Last November, Köhler, who is also the former International Monetary Fund boss was in Algeria and Mauritania. German is one of the major bilateral partners of Rwanda with annual injections totalling to some 23m Euro (over Frw16 billion). All this goes directly into project support. Parachute Band inspired by Rwanda During their recent trip in the country to see the World Vision’s community development projects, the Parachute Band was inspired by the country’s legacy and its good cooperation to see the success of the project. Parachute Band, is a Grammy-nominated Christian Alternative Metal band that originated in Nashville. According to those in the know, since 2007, 880 child sponsors have signed up with Parachute 2008 to help needy children. So far, five schools have been built in the country. Water tanks have been put in place, standards of hygiene are improved and children can spend time on their lessons that they would once have spent collecting water. One of their beneficiaries told our scouts that the scheme is just pure and simple genius. Instead of spending hours walking to fetch water, they go to a school close by for education but at the end of the day they get to take water home. A series of short films featuring New Zealanders who have seen World Vision’s community development work for themselves will also be playing onsite. Kenya isn’t Rwanda - Dr. Josh Ruxin The horrific events in Kenya have caught the attention of the world that is more accustomed to thinking of the country as an African success story, a democracy with a booming economy and a host of great vacation destinations. The talk has led to the end of Kenya’s bright future; even making the comparison with Rwanda’s 1994 Genocide. Dr. Josh Ruxin is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Public Health at the Mailman School of Public Health and directs the Centre for Global Health and Economic Development. He says that, the chaos that has erupted in Kenya over the past weeks provides some strong evidence that democracy and development go hand in hand, and that economic growth does not necessarily reinforce weak political institutions. Dr. Ruxin says, what is happening in Kenya is terrible and horrifying; something else is occurring, a failure to accompany economic development with a concomitant strengthening of the institutions of political democracy. Ends