Arusha School clobber Uhuru in cricket league

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Arusha School girls’ cricket team cruised to the semi-finals of the Junior Cricket League after defeating Uhuru Primary School by 30 runs in a match played at the former’s venue in Arusha on Thursday.

Arusha Regional Cricket Committee (ARCC) has organized the tournament in support of efforts by the Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) to promote the sport among youth in the country. The league’s coordinator, Paul Manyanda, who is also the TCA Development Committee member, told the ‘Sunday News’ that Arusha School girls had an upper hand in the match and it was hardly surprising to see them snatch the convincing win.

The winners started to bat and posted 50 runs in their allotted 20 overs and still managed to smoothly coast to victory in the end, despite failing to record impressive total. In response, Uhuru Primary School girls failed to chase the obviously achievable target after managing paltry 20 runs and consequently lose the game.

With Uhuru girls struggling with the bat in the chase, their opponents capitalized on the weakness and tightened their fielding to give the former’s batters little breathing space. Victory in the game ensured Arusha School girls are well in contention for the first silverware at their own backyard, but the side definitely needs to step up performance should it wish to realize the dream.

Manyanda said the other teams, which will progress to the last four stage of the girls’ category, were expected to be known in the same week after a series of final round robin matches.  “The boys’ teams are still playing their last round robin matches and, by early next week, we will get teams that have qualified for the semi-finals,” he said.

Manyanda expressed his admiration of a stunning level of commitment the participating teams have been putting in matches, saying the youngsters have been working extremely hard in search of success in the league. “The youngsters have shown much progress in performance…their work rate is really promising,” he said.

The league, which involves 13 primary schools in the region, started in the 16th of this month with 25 teams battling it out in boys’ and girls’ categories, in which 13 teams compete in the boys’ category while the rest lock horns in the girls’ category. Participating schools are Arusha School, Engira, Hill, Kaloleni, Kijenge, Levolosi, Makumbusho, Njiro, Prime, Sanawari, Sekei, Themi and Uhuru. With the exception of Prime Primary School, which has entered only boys’ outfit, the rest have fielded both boys’ and girls’ teams.

By JAPHETH KAZENGA, Tanzania Daily News

Hoteliers urged to showcase Rwandan culture

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Dennis Karera, the head of Rwanda Hotels and Restaurants Association

Hoteliers have been advised to showcase the African culture in their hotels through furnishings and food as one way of attracting visitors and promoting Rwanda’s beauty.

Bonaventure Uwimana, the proprietor of Luxury Hotel, noted that there was need for Hotels and restaurants to take a leading role in promoting Rwanda’s culture as one way of promoting tourism.

“We must give our hotels an African touch so that people who come to visit and stay in the country can have something unique to tell when they go back home,” he said during the official launch of Luxury Hotel on Friday in Kimironko.

Dennis Karera, Chairman of Rwanda Hotels Association, had earlier said that hotels need to provide quality services and ensure customer care to improve and attract more visitors in the country.

Uwimana noted that he decided to challenge other hoteliers by using African wood designs and furnishings to set a new pace in the hospitality industry where Hotels will strive to improve service delivery and provide incentives to clients.

“We are increasing the number of rooms and good services in the hospitality sector which is key to our tourism,” he added

Diana Achieng, the  General Manager of the Hotel, said they will have a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, massage and sauna and rooms that will range from deluxe, simple, standard, suite and family rooms that all have steam bath-Jacuzzi.

Gordon Ochieng, a Kenyan, believes that supplementing room services with incentives like free internet, telephones and steam bath, will help customers feel the value for their money and also attract local people to use the services rather than depending on foreigners.

By Dias Nyesiga, The New Times

Tolerance key to avoiding bloodshed – US Envoy

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Ambassador R. Barrie Walkley, the US Special Advisor for the Great Lakes and the DR Congo lays a wreath at Kigali Genocide memorial center Gisozi. The New Times / T. Kisambira

Ambassador R. Barrie Walkley, the United States Special Advisor for the Great Lakes and the DR Congo, has said people should learn how to be tolerant to each other to avoid bloodshed.

He said this yesterday after visiting Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre to pay tribute to the over 250,000 victims laid to rest at the site.

“It’s remarkably an emotional experience walking through the memorial centre. This was the worst tragedy to have ever happened to human kind,” he asserted.

“This brings tears to everyone who visits this centre and reminds the world that this shouldn’t happen again, not in Rwanda, not in any part of the world”.

Walkley stated that people should be aware of the dangers of hatred, tribalism and divisionism in society, calling for tolerance to each other.

He said that, his trip to Rwanda was his first after being named by Hilary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, as a Special Advisor for the Great Lakes and the DR Congo one month ago.

The envoy who arrived in the country on Friday evening, will meet with Rwandan government officials to discuss issues related to the situation in the Great Lakes Region, including Rwanda, Burundi, and the DR Congo.

By Frank Kanyesigye, The New Times

World Bank official commends Nyagatovu Model Village

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Racheal Kyte

Kayonza – Rachel Kyte, the Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank, has commended activities of Nyagatovu Model Village.

The official, who toured various project at the village, yesterday joined hundreds of residents and local leaders in community work to plant vegetables.

She told the residents that the World Bank will continue supporting them in their efforts to develop agriculture and basic infrastructure.

“Our job is to help you get water, electricity and nutrition so that you feed well …it is all about helping each generation in this village to live longer and better,” she said.

She addd that the activities and projects in the model village set a very good example for all developing countries.

“We have seen your house and all things you do …it is great! Biogas, kitchen garden, green house, livestock, and electrification just tells big story.

We have great expectations that you can do great things with all these resources. We shall carry it in our memory wherever we go. I have no doubt that you will succeed,” she noted.

Enock Byabashaija, the Coordinator of model villages in the Province, told The Sunday Times that Nyagatovu village has transformed people’s living standards.

He said the average income of each family had drastically risen, hence improving their livelihoods and lifestyles.

“The issue of land fragmentation was put to halt…basic infrastructure like schools and health centres are accessible in the village. Mixed farming practiced here, has allowed the necessary recycle to take place,” he said.

Jeannette Kagoyire, a resident of Nyagatovu, said residents were grateful to the government support.

“We were taught how to plant vegetables and tomatoes in a very economic manner. Our children get essential nutrients…they also use the cheap electricity we have to do their revision after school. We are vry happy living here,” she said.

By Stephen Rwembeho, The New Times

Rwanda: New HIV test kit under evaluation

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Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana

A new HIV testing kit is under evaluation to replace the SD Bioline, an HIV testing device, which was recently removed by the World Health Organization (WHO) from its list of approved rapid test kits after it failed quality assurance tests.

The new test kit that will replace SD-Bioline is ‘Shangai Kehua Dg’ and it has 100 percent sensitivity, according to Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Head of HIV Division at Rwanda Biomedical Center.

He noted that it is a very effective test based on international evaluations and that is why WHO has recommended it.

“However, we will first conduct a two-week evaluation to confirm International conclusions. By March 2012, we will have a new algorithm (a confirmatory) including this new test though we have also set an intermediate algorithm for next month,” Nsanzimana said.

By Maria Kaitesi, The New Times

BPR retains top investor award

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Premier Pierre D Habumuremyi (R)handing over the award of the Best Investor to Herman Klaassen, Chief Executive Officer of Bank Populaire on Friday. The New Times / T. Kisambira

Bank Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) warded off stiff competition from Nakumatt Supermarket to emerge top investor for the second year running in the RDB Business Excellence Awards.

The awards ceremony was hosted at Serena Hotel on Friday and attracted over 100 guests including investors, government and World Bank officials.

“We are obviously glad! Being at the top in Rwanda is not an easy job to do because very many businesses are growing. With a market share of about 20 percent, Bank Populaire endeavoured to spread its services throughout the country, and it is a pleasure that our efforts have once again been recognized,” Herman Klaassen, the Chief Executive Officer of BPR, said in an interview.

Last year BPR largely invested in automating all its branches and to date, operates 108 automated locations. In the same year, the bank unveiled a new mobile banking platform which allows its clients to transfer money to none account holders. As part of its corporate responsibility, BPR donated foodstuffs to victims of mudslides that claimed the lives of four people in Kinyababa Sector, Burera District.

The biggest surprise of the night was the naming of Rwanda Directorate General of Immigrations and Emigrations as the best customer care body, beating MTN Rwanda, which failed to win a single category for the first time since the introduction of the awards.

However, MTN’s competitor in the telecoms sector, TIGO Rwanda, managed to scoop best ICT firm in the large category, whereas Hosiyana won best ICT firm in the SME sector.

Bralirwa was a double winner emerging as top manufacturer in the large sector as well as replacing Sorwathe as the best exporter of 2011.

Wolfram Mining Processing Ltd was named best in the mining sector whereas the manufacturer and exporter of banana wine, Coproviba, emerged best SME with a cash prize of US$5,000.

Last year’s winner, Zulfat Mukarubega, the founder of Rwanda Tourism University College, shook off competition from Akaliza Gara, the Managing Director of Shaking Sun, as the woman entrepreneur of the year, bagging US$5,000.
Most business friendly district 2011 was named as Ruhango, Southern Province, whereas Bank of Kigali emerged as best in the financial sector.

However, the night belonged to Soft Group, a manufacturer of paper bags and plastics, which scooped three awards as best general manufacturer in the SME category, Runners up in best SME category and its founder, Jean De Dieu, walking away with the young entrepreneur of the year award, which fetched him US$5,000 and a return ticket to Dubai.

RDB retained the same panel of judges for the last three years, made up of eight local and regional private sector gurus as well as policy analysts and researchers.

John Gara, the CEO of RDB, said that up to 81 companies were eligible for the awards after answering questionnaires.

“Compliance to the Companies Act of 2009 was one of the major indicators we considered in awarding companies. Other factors included the awareness of their environment and measures implemented to protect it. We also looked at their performance against their projected plans,” Gara said.

The guest of honour at the awards, Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, commended RDB for successfully fueling competitiveness, citing the awards ceremony as critical in influencing performance in the private sector.

By Ivan R. Mugisha, The New Times

BRD commits to supporting MFI’s

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Some of the participants from various MFI’s in Rwanda. The Sunday Times / C. Muyani

MUHANGA – Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) has made a commitment to support Microfinance Institutions (MFI’s) in areas of access to finance and capacity building.

Benjamin Manzi, a BRD official, made the remarks on Friday during the training of bank managers in market research which was held in Muhanga.

The training was conducted by Business Development Fund (BDF) a project that deals with microfinance institutions and aimed at helping bankers develop marketing skills and research.

“The objective of such training is to polish the activities of microfinance institutions so they can provide bigger business opportunities to their clients” Manzi said.

“We are ready to finance banks which will come up with good business projects, that will propel community development such as the energy sector and tourism.

The trainees, who comprise of bank managers from various institutions, received various skills in market research, which will solve some of the difficulties faced by MFI’s in Rwanda.

Rose Uwingabire, a banker with Goshen Finance in Ruhango, said the training increased their marketing skills.

“It’s funny but true, that some of us have been running marketing departments without any marketing skills. These skills will enable us to sell more products and increase the clientele”.

John Kagarama, a BDF official, said similar trainings will be conducted with more banks and the activities of BDF will be disseminated to various communities so that more community development projects can be financed and implemented through use of community banks.

By Christetor Muyani, The New Times

Power blackout disrupts business in Nyagatare

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Electricity transmission lines. Businesses in Nyagatare have suffered as a result of constant power blackouts. The Sunday Times

NYAGATARE – The business community in Nyagatare district is blaming constant power blackout in the district for the decline in business activities.

In recent days, Nyagatare district has been experiencing power outages at least three times a day.

“You see my business greatly depends on electricity. I have a generator in case electricity goes off, but this constant blackout disrupts business. Sometimes it affects our machines,” said a discotheque owner in Nyagatare town.

Jean Munyarukiko, a barber, said that when power goes off, he has to spend a lot of time convincing his clients to wait.

“Whenever power goes off when I am attending to a client, I have to run around and get them caps to hide their heads,” he said.

Officials from Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) called on electronics users to buy power stabilisers to prevent further short circuits.

Vedaste Kanamugire, the head of EWSA in Nyagatare, said there is an ongoing electrification exercise in many parts of the district which is causing disruptions.

He said EWSA disconnects power when an electrification exercise is ongoing to prevent accidents.

EWSA targets to distribute electricity to over 30,000 homes by the end of this year, out of 70,000 homes projected in the district.

By Dan Ngabonziza, The New Times

Malaria on the rise among workers at Nyagatare Rice Scheme

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A rice field: There is an increase of Malaria cases among Workers at Kilimburi Rice Scheme in Nyagatare district. The Sunday Times

NYAGATARE-Many workers at Kilimburi Rice Scheme in Nyagatare district have been hit by Malaria due to lack of mosquito nets.

The scheme in Tabagwe Sector, Nyagatare District, is run by Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP) and is set to produce 21,000 tonnes of rice annually with a projected annual income of Rwf 4.5 billion once complete.

When The Sunday Times visited over 170 workers camping in tents in Cyenjojo cell, most of them were suffering from severe malaria.

“I have slept in this tent for a week without going to work because of severe Malaria that hit me last week. We don’t get access to mosquito nets yet this place is home to mosquitoes due to its terrain,” narrated one Nzabamwita, a casual worker at the rice scheme.

Another worker, who declined to be named said; “We hear there is a massive distribution of mosquito nets around the district…but we wonder why RSSP did not advocate for us to receive those prevention kits like others. And when we complain of suffering from Malaria, our managers keep a deaf ear,” he said.

A report presented in a recent district security meeting cited Nyagatare District as having the highest cases of malaria compared to other districts in the country.

According to reports compiled from various health centres in the district, Nyagatare tops with 40.4% malaria prevalence.

While the government plans to uproot malaria by the year 2015, health specialists in the district warn that the percentage of infection could rise unless tough measures are taken.

“Nyagatare’s terrain provides suitable breeding ground for mosquitoes. There are also people like herdsmen who live in places with low penetration of mosquito nets such things fuel the spread of malaria,” said Dr. Benon Karekezi Rukunda, the Director of Nyagatare Hospital.

Olivier Ruhumuriza, a Health Inspector at the hospital, said workers at Kilimburi Sice scheme will be included in the second phase of mosquito net distribution.

Apart from having no mosquito nets, most workers at the scheme told The Sunday Times that they don’t even have health insurance commonly known as Mutuelle.

“I have been suffering from Malaria for the last four days without reporting to work. I could not afford going to hospital for treatment because I don’t have health insurance. I decided to buy tablets on the black market to see if I can improve,” he said.

Geoffrey Kamugisha, the head of health insurance scheme in Nyagatare District, recently told reporters that only workers who pay for health insurance receive direct services.

Speaking to reporters, Benjamin Murigande, an official from RSSP, said they agreed with Nyagatare hospital, Rwempasha and Nyagatare health centres to always offer medical services to the workers and payment deducted from the workers’ salaries.

By Dan Ngabonziza, The New Times

Bradez To Release A New Song Called “Me Do Me Ghana” Which Talks About Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

News Ghana
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Bradez won the most popular song at the 2009 Ghana Music Awards. It is very likely they will win more awards with their latest single ,off the ‘Conquer the World’ album, Me do Me Ghana.

Me Do Me Ghana is a beautiful song that puts Ghana into perspective. Produced by Senyo and mixed Peewezel CUE, the song talks about Ghana, the beauty, the glory and the inconsistencies. Me Do Me Ghana, features one of Ghana’s finest hiphop acts and former BET nominee D-Black and it simply means ‘I Love My Ghana’ no matter what. The song has a unique hiphop/adowa fuse and has a special appearance by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of the republic of Ghana. Additional vocals are performed by Cabum, the son of the late Highlife Legend Alhaji K. Frimpong.

Bradez told BroadwayGhana that “Ghana goes to the polls in December. Things are heating up but we want to let our brothers and sisters from the various political divides know that no matter what, the interest of the nation should be first. If you love your country, you’ll not do things that will bring war; you’ll rather die for peace to prevail. This is exactly what we want all our fellow Ghanaians to know.

Me Do Me Ghana will be released soon with a video. Yours truly, BroadwayGhana, will make it available as soon as the release date is confirmed.

Follow Bradez of Twitter: @Bradez
Like Bradez on Facebook: facebook.com/bradez.bradez
Get Personal with Bradez: Text BRADEZ to 1402 on all networks
Call Management for Bookings and Interviews: 0266185838/0243158646

[Via BroadWayGhana]

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