Weekly Review

EAC passport to go international The East African Community (EAC) is considering issuing a new regional passport that will be recognized across the globe. Speaking to The New Times Bill Kayonga, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of EAC Affairs said that the new passport will contain security features for Rwanda and Burundi. Kayonga stated that the council of ministers has the ambition to upgrade the passport from regional to international status. Recently, while addressing a plenary session of the regional legislative assembly, in Burundi, the Chairman of the EAC Council of Ministers, Hasfa Mosi, did not offer a definite date when the passport would start operating beyond the region. The EAC passport will also have the diplomatic, service and ordinary categories. According to Anaclet Kalibata, the Director General of Immigration and Emigration, they have forwarded Rwanda security features to the EAC Secretariat. 220 inmates paroled A week after the Cabinet announced that up to 1,667 inmates, countrywide, would be released after meeting minimum parole conditions, the Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS), Tuesday swung into action to implement the decision. The exercise was officially launched by the Commissioner General of RCS, Paul Rwarakabije. Those released demonstrated good behaviour and discipline while serving their sentences. Notable among those that received news of their release are two former district mayors Robert Kashemeza (Nyagatare) and Vianney Murego (Gatsibo), both of whom had been sentenced to three years and had served two years and two months. Rwarakabije disclosed to The New Times that more than 3,000 inmates had applied for parole, but only 1,667 met the minimum requirements. Those to be released do not include convicts of terrorism, Genocide, crimes against humanity, defilement or sexual torture. Rwandan, Congolese youth form cooperative Muslim youths from Rusizi District and their Congolese counterparts from Bukavu town in the Democratic Republic of Congo have formed a co-operative to champion development and promote unity. This was announced early this week during a ceremony held in Kamembe town in Rusizi District. The youth highlighted their intended activities, challenges and strengths. Their cooperation will involve starting a youth savings scheme, small income generating activities as well as teaching Islam. The group elected a committee to follow up on the activities. The co-operative reportedly intends to reach out to youths in Burundi and other neighbouring countries. Kagame visits Hyundai As part of his 3 day visit to South Korea, President Paul Kagame on Thursday visited the Hyundai Heavy Industries and Automobile Plant based in Ulsan, Seoul, where he was shown around the various facilities. The Head of State was given a guided tour of different activities including shipbuilding, offshore drilling and engineering, construction equipment and green energy. He also toured the Hyundai automobile manufacturing facility, the world’s fourth largest car maker, producing 1.6 million units annually. Rwanda’s Ambassador to Korea, Eugene Kayihura, who was part of the delegation pointed out that Rwanda, has a lot to learn from the multilateral company. We have fresh evidence pinning Rusesabagina-Ngoga The National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) has obtained new evidence implicating Paul Rusesabagina in financing terror activities. Speaking to The New Times, Prosecutor General, Martin Ngoga said that the new evidence confirms earlier proof that the self-exiled politician has been financing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Evidence obtained include numerous email correspondences between Rusesabagina and Providence Rubingisa, a Rwandan based in the United States, and top FDLR commanders discussing plans to cause insecurity in Rwanda. Rusesabagina has been linked to Western Union money transfers to the FDLR, which were forwarded to law enforcement agencies in the US and Belgium. Some of the FDLR commanders that Rusesabagina has communicated with have since been arrested and are charged alongside terrorism suspect, Victoire Ingabire. Over 1,900 graduate at KIE A total of 1,908 students graduated from the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE). 694 of them were females, while eight live with disabilities. Up to 298 graduands are teachers from Rukara and Kavumu colleges of education, all of whom were awarded diplomas in education. Both colleges are affiliated to KIE. 191 obtained Bachelors of Arts with Education; 463 graduated with Bachelors of Science with Education; 197 with Bachelors of Social Science with Education; while 235 tutors (for primary teacher colleges) obtained Bachelors of Education degrees. In other fields, 76 graduands were conferred a Bachelor of Business Studies (Finance and Accounting), 74 graduated with Bachelors Degree in business studies (Management), while 138 were awarded with Bachelor of Office Administration and Management. A total of 39 members of academic staff from Kigali Health Institute (KHI) and KIE were conferred with a Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. Three held over murder in Musanze Police in Musanze District is holding three people in connection with the murder of a 23-year old man only identified as Irankunda.The suspects were identified as Cyprien Hakizimana, Jean Baptiste Ntezirizaza and Jean Pierre Ntamuvurira. One of the suspects, Hakizimana, confessed to having stoned the deceased, on Monday, leading to his death after a heated argument. The other two suspects, however, denied their involvement. “My intention was not to kill him, and I regret what I did. We had spent the evening together,’’ Hakizimana said shortly after his arrest. martin.bishop18@yahoo.com