At the age of five, Tsatsi Rugege knew acting was her passion

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Tsatsi Rugege

Tsatsi Rugege is barely seventeen years of age, but her acting skills cannot go unnoticed. She is currently pursuing International Baccalaureate Diploma programme at the Green Hills Academy, in Kigali. We recently caught up with her at the KWETU Film Institute, where she performed a sensational Broadway hit musical, FAME. Below are the excerpts.

Q: When did you realise your acting skills?

A: I have never thought of drama as a talent but rather as a passion. My first experience was the day I acted ‘Mary’ in a Christmas play about the birth of Jesus Christ. I was only five years at the time.

Q: Who is your role model in the creative industry – in theatre or films?

A: I do not have a person as my role model, but rather a story that inspires me, the Broadway hit musical, FAME! That is why I chose to do it at Green Hills Academy.

Q: Apart from today’s performance, have you acted before?

A: I have acted in two Christmas plays at pre-primary school. In primary school, I took part in a production inspired by Rudyard Kipling writings, The Jungle Book and a poetry performance. I also did Trolls, a male artists inspired production.

Q: What do you think about the film industry in Rwanda?

A: The film industry in Rwanda seems to be hot right now! It is rapidly growing and I am sure, it will soon be very lucrative. In a nutshell, Rwanda’s film industry is very promising.

Q: What impact do you think the establishment of KWETU Film Institute will have on Rwanda?

A: I see the institute contributing rapidly to the development of entertainment and hence Rwanda’s economy.

Educating people means ensuring their stability as far as an income is concerned, which is extremely important in any country. I also see the institute inspiring the youth to get into the creative sector where they will able to express themselves positively.
Q: Which is your favourite film and why?

A: My favourite film is ‘Finding Neverland’. It is really a sad story about the playwright and inspiration of Peter Pan, but the way the film portrays reality and imagination and its combination with music is absolutely amazing!

Q: Do you think films produced in Africa are weaker compared to Hollywood films?

A: I do not think so. In Africa, we had to give the first priority to pressing issues like infrastructure and suitable societies to live in. We are only a bit behind but, many countries, especially Rwanda, are catching up at a good pace.

We only need to keep trying, take constructive criticism and learn to ask for help where necessary.

Q: If an upcoming local filmmaker asked you to take part in their film, what would be your reaction?

A: First, I would be shocked.  But really, I would be thrilled to work with a local filmmaker!

Q: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

A: I see myself combining my two passions; engineering and performing arts. Many people think the two are incompatible, but I think they have a major factor in common; movement. I don’t know how, but I will do it.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: I really like attending Spoken Word Rwanda at Shooters’ Lounge, because I love reciting poetry and singing.

Q: Lastly, what message do you have for the young people who would love to join the creative industry, especially in acting?

A: Performing Arts is like a child. It requires love, strength, patience and it is the greatest gift!

By Joseph Njata, The New Times

Rwandan youngsters pass ITF circuit first round tests

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Anatole Bizimana. (File photo)

Anatole Bizimana and Hakim Ntwali are through to the second round of the ITF East Africa 18 and Under Circuit in Nairobi after yesterday’s first round victories.

Ntwali dismissed India’s N. Adusumilli (ranked 1203) in straight sets 6-3 6-4.

Bizimana had an even easier walk into the second round after a 6-1 6-1 win over Burundi’s Shaban Kabura, who is ranked 1751 in the world.

Bizimana will now play Polish Peter Dobrzynski (943) in today’s second round while Nwali faces a stern test against Aviv Darmon of Israel. Both Dobrzynski and Darmon had byes in the first round.

The tournament will climax on February 4.

Boys (Singles)

A. Bizimana (RWA) 6-1 6-1 S.Kabura (BDI)
H. Ntwali (RWA) 6-3 6-4 N. Adusumilli (IND)

By Bonnie Mugabe, The New Times

Rayon face La Jeunesse test

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Rayon Sport Coach Ntagwabira expects a tough challenge from La Jeunesse this afternoon.

Eight-time winners Rayon Sport are in for a tricky test when they take on La Jeunesse in the Primus Cup round of 16 this afternoon at Amahoro Stadium.

Both sides are full of confidence after pulling off convincing wins in the previous round. The blues thumped Musanze 5-0 while La Jeunesse strolled through after a 5-1 victory over second division side Etoile de l’Est.

However, Rayon coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira is well aware of his opponents’ potential after losing to the youthful side (1-2) in the first round of the Primus League.

Without three key players, La Jeunesse coach Emmanuel Ruremesha, who also had a short coaching stint at Rayon, faces a huge task.

Cassim Habyarimana and Juma Uwimana are nursing ankle injuries while Ildbrand Nshuti (striker) has school engagements.

“We are missing two key players in defense and one in attack but we shall still play for a win,” the soft-spoken coach said.

In other fixtures, defending champions APR entertain Bugesera at Kigali Regional Stadium, SC Kiyovu face second division side Aspor, Mukura and Etincelles lock horns at Amahoro stadium, Police play away to Nyanza while AS Kigali host Interforce at Kicukiro.

At Mumena stadium, Unity takes on SEC Academy before another tie between Marines and Amagaju.

Last year, APR lifted their sixth Peace Cup title after beating Police 4-2 in the final.

This year’s winner will earn a ticket to the 2013 Orange Confederation Cup.

Peace Cup (Round of 16)
Today
Mukura vs Etincelles
(Amahoro, 1.30 PM)
Rayon Sports vs La Jeunesse (Amahoro, 3.30 PM)
SC Kiyovu vs Aspor
(Kigali Regional Stadium, 1.30 PM)
APR vs Bugesera (Kigali Regional Stadium, 3.30 PM)
Police vs Nyanza (Muhanga, 3.30 PM)
AS Kigali vs Interforce (Kicukiro, 3.30 PM)
Unity vs SEC (Mumena, 1.30 PM)
Marines vs Amagaju (Mumena, 3.30 PM)

By Bonnie Mugabe, The New Times

Delays in completion of Nyanza market riles traders

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The market operates in an open space at Rwesero hill, nearly 4 km from the town.

NYANZA – It is around mid-day and the sun is too hot. In Nyanza market, set up in an open space on Rwesero hill, traders in their stalls wait for buyers with a number of them sitting under uncovered stands, drenched in sweat.

A few customers come in and out; some with wares, others not. Some traders sit holding their cheeks, having lost any hope of getting any clients.

“This place is far from the town centre, which means that buyers are very few as there are other shopping centres in town”, laments Eric Bahati, a trader.

“I hardly earn Rwf 15,000 a day yet I used to get about Rwf 100,000 when the market was still located in the city centre”.

In late 2010, authorities in Nyanza District chose to relocate the market from the city centre to Rwesero hill about four kilometres away from the original site.

They promised that the market would be completed within six months, however, almost 15 months later, it is gradually becoming a flight of fancy.

“Since I began operating from here, I hardly manage to fulfil all my family’s needs,” complains Jean Baptiste Havugamenshi.

“Some of our colleagues have been closing their businesses as a result of losses incurred in this place. If the new market is not completed sooner, I think we are also going to be affected too,” Havugamenshi observed.

Another trader, Jeannette Umurerwa, concurs : “If we are to go on with business, authorities should do their best to speed up the construction,” she says, standing next to her garments stall.

When contacted, the district vice Mayor in charge of Economic affairs, Francis Nkurunziza, explained that the delay was partly due to a change in the market plan.

“At the beginning, we planned to refurbish the old market but after we realised that it could endanger traders’ lives, we decided to demolish it and begin the construction of a new safe and modern market,” he clarifies.

“In the course of the construction, we also had a problem with contractors as they failed to meet the deadline. They were supposed to hand over the market to the district in October [2011] but they failed. We have started fining them as provided by the law,” he notes.

Two enterprises, EMUJABO and Just Size Enterprise, however, deny any role in the delay; instead blaming it on the district.

“The district has been changing the market plan and every time there was a change, we had to wait until it is adopted,” says Baudouin Muhayimana of Entreprise EMUJABO.

“Our initial contract was to refurbish the market, but it kept changing until we were offered another one to build a new one. This resulted into the delay.”

A week ago, the two parties held a meeting with the Southern Provincial authorities and agreed to do their best to have the market completed before March this year.

According to the new agreement, the first phase of the market is due to be complete before the end of February while the second one is due in March this year.

The construction of the market will cost about Rwf 196 million.

By Jean Pierre Bucyensenge, The New Times

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Frustrated Nyirabarame shifts focus to Rome

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Two-time Olympian Epiphanie Nyirabarame.

After skipping the Dubai Marathon due to visa issues, two-time Olympian Epiphanie Nyirabarame has started preparations for next month’s Rome Marathon.

Speaking after a light training session at Amahoro stadium yesterday, she said, “I’m back on the track. It was a big disappointment to miss the Dubai Marathon but I’m over that now. I have a new challenge before me and I want to focus on that for now.”

Visa hitches majorly due to disorganization in the athletics federation forced Nyirabarame and Felix Ntirenganya to skip last month’s Dubai Marathon.

Nyirabarame, who has a personal best of 2:33:59 in the full marathon, still needs to slash it down to 2 hours and 31 minutes to qualify for the London Olympic Games.

The Maratona di Roma, which attracts runners from all over the world, has a reputation for its fast, flat, scenic course which passes through the centre of the Italian capital taking in all the famous tourist sites.

By Bonnie Mugabe, The New Times

Rwandatel takeover : Lap Green out of the running

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Rwandatel’s assets, including its telecom masts are set for sale. The New Times / T.Kisambira.

Libya’s LAP Green has lost the chance to reclaim the assets of its former troubled telco Rwandatel which are up for sale in the ongoing liquidation process, Rwandatel’s Administrator has disclosed.

Lap Green had earlier on approached the authorities for a possible bid to reclaim assets of its former subsidiary.

The liquidation process has attracted big players in the telecom industry including Bharti Airtel, which is set to commence operations in Rwanda before the end of this year.

“Lap Green was given an opportunity to submit a bid like any other player, but they didn’t submit any, now I can declare them out of the running,” Rwandatel’s Administrator, Richard Mugisha, said.

“They approached us with a view of participating in the liquidation process and it is possible they (LAP Green) will participate like any other potential buyer,” RURA Director General, Regis Gatarayiha, said earlier last month.

Rwandatel’s assets were supposed to be on course before the end of this month but ,according to Mugisha, they have pushed the deadline forward by another one month.

“Because assets will be sold in parts, we have received some bids from successful bidders and are about to close them but we are still evaluating others, causing the delay to the selling date,” Mugisha noted.

Mugisha dismissed claims that Airtel has already acquired Rwandatel’s telecom masts, saying that they have submitted a different bid but not for masts.

A court decision, last year, placed Rwandatel under liquidation.

Rwandatel’s woes started when its GSM licence was revoked, early last year, by sector regulator RURA, following what RURA insisted was the failure by Rwandatel to comply with its operating obligation.

The company was jointly owned by LAP Green networks a subsidiary of Libyan African Portfolio and the National Social Security Fund of Rwanda (CSR), with 80 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

LAP Green is an investment arm that was mooted and started by the government of former Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi, who was ousted and later killed last year, during an uprising in the African oil rich nation.

By Saul Butera, The New Times

Rwanda Gov’t to intensify appraisal of service delivery

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Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi (L) chats withMinisters Stanislas Kamanzi (C) and John Rwangombwa after the Governance open day discussions yesterday. The New Times / John Mbanda.

The Government will begin an evaluation process to assess the performance of local leaders, from provincial to village level, in order to streamline service delivery and good governance in the country.

Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi disclosed this yesterday while giving his key note speech during the ‘Accountability Day’ discussions at Telecom House, where cabinet ministers and top officials convened to discuss what the country had achieved so far, while looking at the future.

The PM observed that though the country has achieved a lot in all sectors; much still needed to be done to consolidate the accomplishments as well as ensuring proper provision of services.

“We are going to make sure that provinces evaluate the performance of districts. Districts will in turn evaluate the sector. What we need is to ensure quality performance that provides quality services to the population,” he said.

The Premier noted that top government officials would be required to visit residents to assess their needs and solve their problems.

The discussions also noted that citizens and the international community exhibited confidence in the justice sector.

“The image of justice in the country has totally changed .The international community and Rwandans in general now have confidence in our justice system. That’s why countries like Canada can send people like Leon Mugesera to be tried in Rwanda”, Justice Minister, Tharcisse Karugarama told participants.

The 59-year old genocide suspect was deported recently from Canada.

During the meeting, the Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi, revealed that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees recommended the invocation of the Cessation Clause. This will come into effect on June 30, 2013 targeting refugees who fled the country between 1959 and 31st December 1998. He pointed out that the Government was ready to receive refugees interested in returning home.

The event, which was broadcast live on national radio and television, provided a platform for Rwandans to participate in the discussion by asking questions and sharing ideas.

By Eric Kabeera, The New Times

New audio tape sheds light on JFK assassination

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President John F. Kennedy works in the Oval Office at the White House in this 1963 file photo. Long-lost audio recordings of the aftermath of president John F. Kennedy’s assassination have been made public, captivating historians and stirring fascination about that fateful day. Photograph by: JFK Presidential Library/The White House/Robert Knudsen/Handout, Reuters

WASHINGTON – Long-lost audio recordings of the aftermath of president John F. Kennedy’s assassination have been made public, captivating historians and stirring fascination about that fateful day.

Almost 50 years after the November 22, 1963 assassination, a two hour and 22 minute reel was found among the personal effects of JFK’s senior military aide, Major General Chester Clifton, who died in 1991.

The reel contains more than 30 minutes of previously unheard footage of conversations on board Air Force One as Kennedy’s body was being transported back to Washington from Dallas.

It includes new code names and incidents, including a private conversation by the head of the Secret Service, Jerry Behn, about where to take the body and plans for where the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, would be taken.

There is also an urgent effort by an aide to Air Force chief of staff Curtis LeMay, a well-known hawk and Kennedy critic, to reach Clifton; and attempts to locate various congressmen from Texas.

The material was acquired by the Raab Collection, a rare documents dealer based in Philadelphia, who donated a digitized copy to the National Archives, made public at gpo.gov/fdsys.

Experts say the tapes will stir debate among conspiracy theorists, especially about LeMay, a major Kennedy adversary whose name was conspicuously missing from an edited version of the original tape.

“People have always wanted to know where was Curtis LeMay on the day Kennedy was shot and there have been mixed messages about it. This tape provides exactly where he was,” Kennedy historian Douglas Brinkley told CNN.

The Raab Collection is looking to sell on the original box and tape — which has a label reading “Radio Traffic involving AF-1 in flight from Dallas, Texas to Andrews AFB on November 22, 1963? — for $500,000.

“As Americans have looked to the history of the Kennedy assassination in search of answers, somewhere in an attic there existed a tape, made years before the only known surviving version, of the conversations on Air Force One on that fateful day,” vice-president Nathan Raab says in a sale flier.

“This longer, more complete tape is a crucial discovery, and a landmark piece of American history.”

The recording is a longer, unedited version of audio produced by the library of president Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy after the assassination.

Shares dip again on Rwanda Stock Market

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Rwanda Stock Exchange

Rwanda Stock Exchange

The turnover and share prices dipped on Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) in yesterday’s trading compared to the previous trading session.

According to RSE daily report, both the turnover and share prices went down.

“Tuesday’s trading session recorded a turnover of Rwf27,227,600 from 4,000 BK shares and 81,800 Bralirwa shares traded in 10 deals compared to Monday’s trading session which recorded a turnover of Rwf85,583,300 from 402,000 BK shares and 110,800 Bralirwa shares traded in 16 deals,” the report stated.

Bralirwa counter also reported a decline of Rwf1 compared to the previous trading session.

“BK shares traded and closed at Rwf122; registering a decline of Rwf11 from Monday’s closing price while Bralirwa shares traded between Rwf324 and Rwf330 before settling at Rwf324, representing a Rwf1 decline from Monday’s closing price,” the report stated.

KCB and NMG shares last transacted at Rwf175 and Rwf1,200 respectively.

At the end of formal trading hours, there were outstanding bids of 1,335,700 BK shares at Rwf122 and outstanding offers of 199,100 BK shares between Rwf130 and Rwf137.

The Bralirwa counter, there were outstanding bids of 75,700 shares at Rwf320 and an outstanding offer of 10,000 shares at Rwf340.

By Saul Butera, The New Times

Sofia Vergara voted ‘Most Desirable Woman’

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Sofia Vergara

(CNN) — Looking at the world’s most beautiful women, from actresses to musicians to models, AskMen.com wanted its users to consider one thing above all else: Would you date them?

AskMen released its list of the “Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2012? Tuesday, based on the results of polling both readers and office staff. While Editor-in-Chief James Bassil agrees that it’s not as easy to qualify a woman you’ve only seen on TV as a potential girlfriend, the list isn’t just made up of gorgeous models.

“Looks are obviously a big one for guys — there’s no question about that — but other factors are where a woman is in life, the kind of career she’s in and the success or ambition that reflects. Sincerity and loyalty, all of those values that guys appreciate. We ask them to try to really assess the candidates as prospective girlfriends and rank them according to that. That’s what really distinguishes the list from a straight-up ‘hot women list.’ ”

“Modern Family’s” Sofia Vergara nabbed the top honors and, at age 39, is the “most senior No. 1 we’ve had,” Bassil said.

“Seeing her in the show’s family context contributes to that desirability perception and those very criteria that we ask users to judge them by,” he said. “There’s no question that she’s hot. She does lots of interviews where she’s funny and charming and seems easygoing — all of those personal characteristics that guys prize in women. It seems like there is a sincerity there too, and that’s a huge thing for guys in relationships.”

While models have their fair share of representation on the list, a few surprises also sneaked into the top numbers.

Kate Upton, Rooney Mara, Miranda Kerr, Nicki Minaj, Emma Stone, Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and Candice Swanepoel made up the rest of the top 10.

While Victoria’s Secret models are enjoying more visibility these days because of increased TV specials, Bassil doesn’t believe they’re at the same level of supermodels from the ’80s and ’90s, like Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer.

Noticeably absent were Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston. Bassil believes men are “fatigued” by the two actresses. Jolie’s private, reserved life makes her too much of a mystery without allowing insight into her personality, while Aniston has never performed well on the list, Bassil said.

Newcomers like Lana Del Ray, Emilia Clarke, Adele, Kreayshawn, and Paz de la Huerta edged standbys from past years aside. Kristen Wiig outranked Tina Fey at No. 36, while Fey dropped to No. 97. Former child stars are also being perceived as the mature young women they’ve grown into, like Selena Gomez and Emma Watson, ranked respectively at Nos. 14 and 17.

Kate Middleton, making the list at No. 11, beat her sister, Pippa, by a long shot. The younger sibling barely made the list at No. 98, but Bassil believes that may be a reflection of the new voting system.

The voting, which began in October, lasted just over six weeks, with an initial pool of 170 candidates. Users ranked their top 10 on a personal list, and each woman received points for being added to a list, as well as her ranking on the list. The results created one list of 99 candidates. AskMen’s staff also conducted an internal vote, and the two lists combined represent the final product.

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