HakiPensheni: March 2019

Saturday, March 30, 2019

State governments key allies for successful businesses, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday described state governments as key allies for successful businesses in the country. Buhari made the statement at the opening of the 40th Kaduna International

In this file photo taken on November 28, 2017,an Ethiopian Airline Boeing 737-700 aircraft takes off from Felix Houphouet-Boigny Airport in Abidjan. An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 crashed on March 10, 2019 with 149 passengers and eight crew on board. PHOTO | ISSOUF SANOGO | AFP

In Summary

An anti-stalling system on the plane, a Boeing 737 Max, has been blamed for the disaster which killed all 157 people on board.
Soon after take-off — and just 450ft (137m) above the ground — the aircraft's nose began to pitch down.
One pilot, according to the Wall Street Journal, said to the other "pitch up, pitch up!" before their radio died.

Kenya’s first bitcoin ATM was recently installed in Westlands, Nairobi in 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY OF DAVID GITONGA

In Summary

Regulators are concerned that with no guidelines the digital currencies could have an impact on financial stability.

A technician of California-based robotics company Zipline launches a drone, on October 12, 2016 in Muhanga, Rwanda. PHOTO FILE | NATION

In Summary

Political and business interests undermining adoption of digital innovations.
Stakeholders call for inclusion of healthcare policy in the AfCFTA pact.

A delegate speaks during the opening day of the Africa CEO Forum at the Kigali Convention Center in Rwanda on March 25, 2019. Business leaders say protectionism is impeding efforts by firms to invest in the region. PHOTO | AFRICA CEO FORUM

In Summary

Business leaders say protectionism and differences between politicians are impeding efforts by companies to invest in the region.
They also urge EAC partner states to relax labour laws and abolish work permits.

Detail from Nairobi Under Pressure, by Peter Walala; and right, DYU See It?, a cityscape by Andrew Chege. PHOTOS | FRANK WHALLEY | NMG

In Summary

All-comers exhibition celebrates its 10th anniversary with a show of students and established artists, but as usual the judges’ choice excites debate and now we’ll have to look to the future with hope in our hearts.

Women selling grains at St Balikuddembe market in Uganda. Ten companies are owed for maize and sorghum supplied to South Sudan under Strategic Grain Reserve. PHOTO | MORGAN MBABAZI | NATION

In Summary

South Sudan was Uganda’s main export market until civil war broke out in 2013 and many Ugandan traders, mainly grain dealers, lost their products or did not get paid by South Sudan government departments.

A Uganda Airlines aircraft. Kampala is looking to relaunch the airline which was grounded fifteen years ago. PHOTO | NMG

In Summary

Government now claims full ownership of the Uganda National Airline Company Ltd.
A report presented to parliament indicated that the government will have only two shares in the national airline, leaving the 98 per cent to unknown beneficiaries.
But, acting on the pointer, the government rushed to have the changes and fresh incorporation made just hours ahead of the House sitting.

ACT-Wazalendo party leader Zitto Kabwe (right) joined Seif Sharif Hamad, who defected from Civic United Front, in a homecoming tour of Zanzibar on March 21, 2019. PHOTO | THE CITIZEN | NMG

In Summary

Tanzanian authorities have found themselves grappling with an emerging political force, ACT-Wazalendo, a small opposition party which has been boosted by the defection of Zanzibar's most prominent opposition figure.
CUF branches in Zanzibar and Pemba, a CUF stronghold, are being turned into ACT-Wazalendo branches, with the CUF protesting the takeover of its properties.
But the Registrar of Political Parties has come in to rain on the Zitto-Seif parade, threatening ACT-Wazalendo with deregistration over alleged violation of the Political Parties Act.

In Summary

An anti-stalling system on the plane, a Boeing 737 Max, has been blamed for the disaster which killed all 157 people on board.
Soon after take-off — and just 450ft (137m) above the ground — the aircraft's nose began to pitch down.
One pilot, according to the Wall Street Journal, said to the other "pitch up, pitch up!" before their radio died.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in a white hat, on a tour of the Mombasa port. He is flanked by Kenya’s Transport CS James Macharia and Mombasa governor Hassan Ali Joho at berth number 20 on March 28, 2019. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NMG

In Summary

Kenyatta’s dry port land offer seen as effort meant to lock Uganda into the SGR project, whose fate appeared uncertain in the wake of Kampala’s recent dalliance with Tanzania.
It would be disastrous for Kenya if President Magufuli once again staged a diplomatic coup and got Uganda to sign up for Tanzania’s railway. That would leave Kenya’s Mombasa port as the big loser.
For Kenya, locking in Uganda to the Northern Corridor project guarantees return on investment and the generation of money to repay the Chinese loans.

Presidents Yoweri Museveni, Uhuru Kenyatta and Paul Kagame. Suddenly they are meeting and making the right diplomatic noises but there is still deep unease. TEA GRAPHIC | NMG

In Summary

Threats to long-term national interests have left regional leaders ill at ease, moving across countries.
Over the past month alone, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has made state visits to Kenya whose President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has been to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Uganda and Namibia.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has been to Tanzania, Morocco and Angola. President Tshisekedi has been to Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda while President Zewde has been to Rwanda.

Jack Ma’s Africa Netpreneur Prize opens for submissions

Julius Bizimungu

The Prize which was launched by Chinese billionare Jack Ma, seeks to support and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. Courtesy .

The application process for the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) is officially open to African entrepreneurs from all countries, Rwanda included, the Jack Ma Foundation said this week in a

New dawn in DR Congo could do with a more organised EAC

Allan Brian Ssenyonga

I hope by now we have all gotten a chance to experience that tantalising scent when some rain falls on dry soil: Petrichor is the word for it. For a while now the cries about the heat had grown into a huge regional chorus.

The rains have finally showed up and the dry soil has been trying to quench its thirst as much as possible. I do hope that the harsh weather served as a good reminder for us to be gentle with mother earth. We need to plant more trees and reduce on our addiction for putting concrete in every space.
It is sad that as we craved the rains, down south they faced the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Idai that hit Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi claiming close to 1000 lives with many still missing. We have gotten used to hearing about such disasters in far of places but with climate change it appears no one is safe from the wrath of Mother Nature.
As if that is not enough, in South Africa it looks like the xenophobia wave was reignited once again. The reckless talk by politicians that incites people to go after immigrants needs to stop immediately. It is 2019 and we should be working with, not against each other.
The news that warmed my heart the most was the announcement that RwandAir is set to launch direct flights between Kigali and Kinshasa the capital of the Democratic

ICT Expert advocates for more data centres in Africa

Emmanuel Ntirenganya

Didier Nkurikiyimfura speaks during a past event. Courtesy.

There is a need to increase capacity for Africa to be able to have more data centres and host more of its data, Didier Nkurikiyimfura, an expert in ICT has said.
Nkurikiyimfura is the Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Smart Africa Secretariat, an

Over 50% of minerals disappear due to poor mining techniques – Gatare

Michel Nkurunziza

Francis Gatare, the chief executive of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (3rd from left) with officials during a visit of a mining cooperative in Gakenke District. Michel Nkurunziza.

Francis Gatare, the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board has said more investment in skills and modern mining techniques is needed to reduce the loss of 50 per cent of

Umuganda is about hard work and cooperation – Kagame

Michel Nkurunziza

President Kagame takes part in Umuganda at Nyanza genocide memorial site in Kicukiro District on Saturday. Village Urugwiro.

President Paul Kagame urged residents to continue upholding the values of working hard and joining hands to transform the country that form the foundation of the monthly community service-Umuganda.
The President was speaking to residents of Kicukiro District after taking part in Umuganda at Nyanza genocide memorial site as part of preparations for 25th commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
“The reason behind community work-Umuganda is collaborating and working together to achieve transformation. It should not be just working together but also working even faster” he said.
President Kagame participated in Umuganda with residents who were building water trenches and cleaning the memorial site.
At the memorial site, a garden of memory is being built to document how the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi was executed in Kicukiro district.

Residents of Kicukiro district take part part in Umuganda at Nyanza genocide memorial site yesterday. Village Urugwiro.
The memorial garden will be a place where people can meet, remember and reflect on the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi and will be launched on April 8.
The community work was also attended by East African Community Ministers, Heads of Organs and Institutions of EAC who earlier this week attended the EAC strategic retreat. A delegation from DRC who had come for environment affairs in Rwanda also joined Umuganda.
“Today we have our fellows from EAC countries that came to join us in community work. We are working together as residents of East Africa Community. If you happen to go in any EAC country such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and South Sudan also join them and work with them to further the activities that develop them as they did it here in Rwanda,” Kagame urged the residents.
The concept of Umuganda can be translated as ‘coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome’.
In 1998, with the efforts to rebuild Rwandan society and nurture a shared national identity after 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, the Government of Rwanda reintroduced Umuganda as one of Rwanda’s home grown solutions to reinforce socio-economic development and to promote the use of cultural resources in mitigating effects of scarce resources as envisioned in vision 2020.
The president reiterated that Rwanda seeks cooperation starting in Rwanda, East African Community and the whole Africa and beyond.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com

Bad deal? Questions on Kenya-Uganda import talks

President Uhuru Kenyatta welcomes his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni at Moi International Airport in Mombasa on March 27, 2019. The two leaders want to deepen trade ties between Nairobi and Kampala. PHOTO | PSCU

In Summary

The pledges seemed to incense the public, which went on social media to claim the country was mortgaging its economy.
By allowing Uganda to sell more goods to Kenya and giving it free land for dry port, government hopes country will accept the railway pact.
But the cries of Kenyan traders may have a basis. Since 2015, trade with Uganda has been benefiting Kampala. In 2012, Kenya sold to Uganda goods worth Sh76 billion but those sales dropped to Sh62 billion in 2017, as Uganda sold Sh49 billion.

Photo: VOA/Google Maps

File photo

By John Nditi in Morogoro

AT least 5,400 Tanzanians are set to get employment during the implementation of Stiegler's Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station (SGHPS), which will be able to generate over 2,100MW.

Minister for Energy, Dr Medard Kalemani, told the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals, which visited the construction site recently, that 5,000 Tanzanians would be employed as

THE Commission for Science and Technology (Costech), through financial support from the Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF), has provided a 1.3bn/- grant to support grassroots innovations and innovation hubs in the country.

HDIF Team Leader, David McGinty revealed this in Dar es Salaam early this week at the opening of

Commercial Banks Cashing In After Forex Shops Closure in Tanzania

By Deogratius Kamagi in Sanya

SANYA city in China's tropical island of Hainan is intending to start working together with various cities in Africa in a move that will also play a role in opening up opportunities for both parties and bring shared interest.

The initiative will be part of taking further implementation of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative

Government to spend Shs3 billion to get children off streets

Some of the Karamojong children who live in Katwe II Parish, Makindye Division. Photo by Eve Muganga

By Eve Muganga

ENTEBBE- The State Minister Youth and Children Affairs, Ms Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi has said that her ministry is expecting Parliament to approve a Shs3 billion supplementary budget that would

Joshua Cheptegei from Uganda crosses the finish line to win the Men's senior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships on March 30, 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark. Photo by AFP

In Summary

Cheptegei beat his country mate Jacob Kiplimo who finished second and Kenyan athlete Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor came third.

By Monitor Reporter

Uganda's Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei on Saturday won a gold medal at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark.

RAIS WA ZANZIBAR MHE.DK. SHEIN AZUNGUMZA NA VIONGOZI WA KAMISHENI YA UTALII NA WIZARA IKULU

RAIS wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Mhe.Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein, akionesha Michoro wa Majengo inayotarajiwa kujengwa katika eneo la Bungi Kwa Bihole sehemu ya historia,Wilaya ya Kati Unguja, wakati wa mkutano wake na Viongozi wa Wizara ya Habari Utalii na Mambo ya Kale Zanzibar,Uongozi wa Kamisheni ya Utalii na Makamishna ya Kamisheni ya Utalii Zanzibar, uliofanyika ukumbi wa Ikulu Zanzibar leo,30-3-2019

RAIS wa Zanzibare na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Mhe.Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein, akisisitiza jambo wakati wa mkutano wake na Uongozi wa Wizara ya Habari Utalii na Mambo ya Kale Zanzibar,Uongozi wa Kamisheni ya Utalii Zanzibar, uliofanyika katika ukumbi wa Ikulu Zanzibar

RAIS wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Mhe.Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein, akimsikiliza Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Mhe.Balozi Seif Ali Iddi, akichangia Mada wakati wa mkutano huo uliofanyika Ikulu Zanzibar kulia Waziri wa Habari Utalii na Mambo ya Kale Zanzibar.Mhe. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.

MWANASHERIA Mkuu Mhe. Said Hassan Said na Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Fedha na Mipango Zanzibar Ndg. Khamis Mussa wakiwa na Makamishna wa Kamisheni ya Utalii Zanzibar, wakifuatilia mkutano huo na Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Mhe.Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein, uliofanyika leo katika ukumbi wa Ikulu Zanzibar.

MAKAMISHNA wa Kamisheni ya Utalii Zanzibar,wakimsikiliza Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Mhe.Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein, wakati wa mkutano huo uliofanyika leo 30-3-2019,Ikulu Zanzibar kuzungumzia masuala ya Utalii Zanzibar.

KATIBU Mkuu Wizara ya Fedha na Mipango Zanzibar Ndg. Khamis Mussa akizungumza wakati wa mkutano huo, kulia Mwanasheria Mkuu Mhe. Said Hassan Said na Kaimu Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi na Katibu Mkuu Ofisi ya Rais Zanzibar Ndg Salum Maulid, wakifuatilia mkutano huo uliofanyika Ikulu leo 30-3-2019

KATIBU Mtendaji wa Kamisheni ya Utalii Zanzibar Dkt. Abdallah Mohammed Juma, akizungumza wakati wa mkutano huo na Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi.Mhe.Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein, uliofanyika Ikulu Zanzibar, kulia Naibu Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Habari Utalii na Mambo ya Kale Zanzibar Dkt, Amina Ameir Issa na Katibu Mkuu Bi. Khadija Bakari wakifuatilia mkutano huo

RAIS wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi Mhe.Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein,kushoto Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Mhe. Balozi Seif Ali Iddi, Mwenyekiti wa Kamisheni ya Utalii Zanzibar Bi. Sabaah Saleh na kulia Waziri wa Habari Utalii na Mambo ya Kale Zanzibar Mhe. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo na Mwenasheria Mkuu wa Serikali Mhe. Said Hassan Said, wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja na baadhi ya Makatibu Wakuu na Makamishna wa Kamisheni ya Utalii Zanzibar.(Picha na Ikulu)