Poor Show for Team In Cat Event
July 18, 2008
18 July 2008
Posted to the web 18 July 2008
Bonnie Mugabe
Kigali
Three of four Rwanda’s leading players failed to take full advantage of home ground as they were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the second leg of the ongoing Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) U-14 tennis tournament at Cercle Sportif.
In the boys’ category, Hakim Gatete lost 6-3, 6-1 to Burundi’s seed one Hassan Ndayishimiye and Hakim Ntwali lost 6-4, 7-5 to a Burundian opponent Guy Iradukunda.
Tanzania’s Ibrahim Shabani defeated Peter Ayella of Uganda 6-1, 6-3 to qualify for today’s semi-finals where he will face seed one Ndayishimiye.
Kenya’s seed two Gabriel Teja ousted Burundi’s Ted Ntwari 6-0, 6-1 to draw Guy Iradukunda in the other semi-final fixture.
In the Girls’ category, Rwanda’s seed one Gisel Umumararungu continued her rich form from the first leg by outclassing Burundi’s Anithia Nzeyimana 6-1, 6-0.
The 14-year-old won the girls’ singles title in the first leg and she remains the only local player still in the hunt for the second leg title.
She will meet Kenya’s Michelle Onyancha in today’s semi-finals. The later defeated Burundi’s Santiana Iradukunda 7-5, 6-4 in yesterday’s quarter-final.
Chinese-born Kenya’s Chen Wendy defeated Rwanda’s Filadaus Cyiza in three sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to set up a semi-final clash with another Uganda’s Lydia Ndagire, who beat Kenya’s Paige Mbugua 6-3, 6-4.
The event is sponsored by the Confederation of African Tennis, UNICEF, Rwandatel, BRD, Sorwathe, Sonarwa, Novotel, and RNOC to a tune of Frw22 million.
Cecafa Rule Out Burundi Hosting Kagame Cup
July 17, 2008
16 July 2008
Posted to the web 17 July 2008
Bonnie Mugabe
Kigali
The Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) has ruled out Burundi hosting next year’s Cecafa/Kagame club championship.
The Cecafa Secretary General Nicholas Musonye told Times Sport on Tuesday by telephone from Dar es Salaam that Burundi doesn’t have the financial muscle to finance the tournament.
The Burundian football federation boss Lydia Nsekera approached Cecafa early this week with a bid to host the next edition.
"Though they are acquiring for rights to host the event, they are financially unstable to host such an event," Musonye stated.
He noted that the issue of the next host for the annual championship will be discussed in the Cecafa meeting that he said will sit before the end of the ongoing tournament in Dar es Salaam.
Musonye also confirmed the next edition of the Kagame Cup may be held between late December and early January.
This year’s edition was pushed to July due to the sudden withdrawal of Sudan to host the championship at the last minute and regional club featuring in continental competitions as well as World/African Cup qualifiers.
Six Murder Suspects of WHO Representative Set Free
July 16, 2008
14 July 2008
Posted to the web 16 July 2008
Bujumbura
The six persons charged for the murder in 2001 of Dr Kassi Manlan, Representative of World Health Organization (WHO) in Burundi, Monday were set free by the Supreme Court after being held in detention for nearly five years.
The accused - Emile Manisha, Gerard Ntunzwenayo, Japhet Ndayegamiye, Aloys Bizimana, Expert Bihumugani and Athanase Bizindavyi - were held in detention following an appeal lodged by the state attorney.
The acquitted have expressed their satisfaction over the Court’s decision, but have said that they have been victims of some people who conspired against them. "We are very happy that we have been set free, we have been waiting for this day for nearly five years… we were in prison following a conspiracy organized by people who wanted to protect real killers of Dr Manlan", stated one of acquitted, Manisha, former commander of the Burundi police.
They have also said that they intend to claim compensation for their wrongful detention and would also file soon legal proceedings against the former Public Prosecutor, Gerard Ngendabanka.
Dr.Manlan was murdered in mid November, 2001 in the capital, Bujumbura. The WHO had earlier reported that Manlan, was missing after he had gone for an early morning run.
Police retrieved the deceased’s body near Lake Tanganyika with no clear reason for the death.
Mr Manlan came from Ivory Coast and had been working in Burundi for four months
USADF Funds Horticulture Project
July 14, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
14 July 2008
Posted to the web 14 July 2008
Washington, DC
The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has restarted its development initiatives in post-conflict Burundi, expanding employment opportunities to a population that has struggled with extraordinary hardships. More than 100 new jobs, mostly filled by women, will be created by funding Agro-Trading Business S.A. (ATB) located in Kamenge, located on the outskirts of the city.
ATB provides livelihood for hundreds of families, with plans to provide job opportunities for the community as they cultivate an additional two hectares. The current 206 person staff, two-thirds of which are women, is projected to quickly grow, increasing the quality of life of individuals and their families. Members of the Kamenge community can expect job security, increased wages, health care, and educational benefits for their children, resources not typically available in post-conflict periods of peace.
In speaking about the project, USADF President Lloyd Pierson stated, “ADF’s project focuses on an under-served population in Burundi and will create additional jobs and opportunities for those individuals involved.”
USADF Regional Program Coordinator Christine Fowles and United States Ambassador to Burundi, Patricia Moller, presided over a signing ceremony in Burundi recently. Ambassador Moller stated “I am delighted to witness USADF’s first financing of such a deserving enterprise.”
In following the Ambassador’s remarks, Christine Fowles expressed what ATB’s presence has meant for the community, stating “ATB is a shining example of private sector initiative combined with social commitment, a model to inspire other Burundi enterprises. ATB has created employment opportunities for a population deprived of any sense of personal safety, economic security, and hope for more than a decade.”
The $250,000 grant is designed to increase cut roses production by building additional greenhouses and buying specially propagated plant rootstock.
The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunity in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 18 African nations. Over the past 25 years, USADF has funded nearly 1,100 projects representing in excess of $150 million in support of African enterprises and local African communities. For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit .
UN Releases $1.3 Million for Consultations On Transitional Justice
July 14, 2008
10 July 2008
Posted to the web 14 July 2008
The United Nations released Sunday 1.3 million US dollars to facilitate the national consultations intended to set up transitional justice in Burundi, reports Hirondelle Agency.
Speaking during a justice training session of about 20 local journalists, a senior Burundian official, Procès Bigirimana, representing the first Burundian vice-president, said the money would help to speed up the already delayed consultations.
According to Bigirimana, three steps remain to be overcome before the installation of the mechanisms of transitional justice.
"Firstly, the negotiations should continue on the question of the relationship between the Commission and the Special Tribunal and the principle of independence of the Prosecutor", he explained.
He continued: "if the two parties arrive to a consensus on this question, a general outline agreement on the installation of the double mechanism of transitional justice will have to be concluded after these steps and on a
basis of the results of the national consultations."
Finall, he added, the two parties will have to write the main documents of the two mechanisms of transitional justice.
The two preliminary steps to the preparation of the critical documents of the mechanisms of transitional justice should be completed before the end of the consultations, which, if the schedule remains unchanged, is in nine months.
Country’s Clubs Eye Liberation Glory
July 4, 2008
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 4 July 2008
Julius Mbaraga
Kigali
Burundi’s renowned basketball clubs will attempt to make an improved showing at this year’s Liberation day tournament which gets under today until Sunday at Amahoro stadium indoor courts.
Dynamo and New star basketball clubs arrived in Kigali on Wednesday and will battle against Rwanda’s heavy weights APR (defending champions), CSK A, National University of Rwanda (NUR) and Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) for the top prize in the three-day tournament.
However, league defending champions Marine have not been drafted into the tournament after missing the first round which was staged last weekend.
"It’s unfortunate that they (Marine) will not participate because they are the best team in the country.
"They play attractive basketball and it is obvious that their presence could have spiced up the tournament," a close source to the local basketball governing body acknowledged yesterday.
On the road to last year’s title, APR dislodged Dynamo at the semi-final before ousting local rivals Espoir in the final.
Fatal Chicken Disease a Blow to Food Security
July 3, 2008
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 3 July 2008
Bujumbura
Food security in Burundi’s Kayanza province is under threat because of an untreatable disease that has killed more than 1,000 chickens in one commune, according to a senior official.
"The disease has also been reported in other parts of the country but total numbers of dead chickens are not [yet] available," the director of the Animal Health Department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Stockbreeding, Pierre Bukuru, told IRIN.
"With the pandemic among the chickens, the population will face a significant lack of animal proteins and many people will suffer from the shortage, as chicken is widely raised and consumed in Burundi," he added.
Bukuru said the illness, which has similar symptoms to Newcastle Disease, was affecting the economic lives of people raising chickens or trading in meat and eggs.
"Egg production has dropped by 80 percent," he said.
He added that the meat of infected chickens did not pose a threat to human health as long as it was well-cooked.
And although the disease itself can be passed on to humans, the only effects are mild conjunctivitis.
Laboratory tests were being carried out to determine the precise identity of the disease, although he ruled out the possibility of it being avian influenza.
"Bird flu has not yet reached Burundi up to now," Bukuru said.
No treatment is available for the disease, and although chicks can be vaccinated, doing so would be impractical in a country where most poultry is kept by individual households.
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
Burundian Wins BBC Swahili Award
July 2, 2008
2 July 2008
Posted to the web 2 July 2008
Florence Mutesi
Kigali
A 24-year-old Burundian has won the grand final of the BBC Swahili young entrepreneur competition, Faidika na BBC (Prosper with the BBC), a press statement from BBC World Service said.
Uganda’s Prime Minister, Apolo Nsibambi, presented Ashura Kisesa with the winning trophy and US £5000 to help launch her business of building commercial public toilets in the cities and towns of East and Central Africa, a press statement read in part.
‘When the competition launched last year there were no female finalists, so my hearty congratulations to Ashura. I urge the BBC to adopt an affirmative action approach to encourage even more women to get into formal business.
This is a fantastic initiative helping young people to develop innovative skills and become job creators rather than job seekers’. Nsibambi said.
Ashura, the only woman in the final, beat four other budding entrepreneurs by effectively demonstrating how she would use the prize money to help turn her idea into a successful business that would have a positive impact on her community.
She pitched her idea to a panel of expert judges infront of a live audience. The judges were impressed with her presentation and well thought-out business plan.
‘I am very happy to win the top prize in this competition. The lack of public toilets throughout East and Central Africa is a major problem that needs to be addressed, and I hope to make a difference with my business idea. I cannot wait to get started with my business," Kisesa said.
Faidika Na BBC Project Manager, Salim Kikeke said, "Kisesa is a worthy winner. Her business idea is fantastic and will clearly benefit lots of people in East and Central Africa. I wish her all the best, I am confident that she has a brilliant future."
The four Faidika na BBC runners up were 22-year-old Witness Omoga from Kenya, 17-year-old Rangira Aime Frederick from Rwanda, 23-year-old Apolinary Joseph Laksh from Tanzania, and 23-year-old Derrick Kajukano from Uganda.
Govt Tips Investors Following Peace Deal
June 30, 2008
28 June 2008
Posted to the web 30 June 2008
Bosco Hitimana
Kigali
Burundi president, Pierre Nkurunziza has expressed optimism that his country is safe for investment with reforms in place to entice investors.
Nkurunziza was speaking at the first East African Community investment conference held in Kigali at last week.
"My government has already engaged great efforts to reform the economy by setting up macro economic policies, appropriate judicial and financial systems with the view to creating an adequate atmosphere for investment and business", Mr. Nkurunziza said.
Burundi which recently signed a peace agreement with the last rebel group is just regaining momentum and working round the clock to attract foreign direct investments like its other EAC members.
The Burundi government and its private sector showcased what was on offer in Burundi. Nkurunziza stressed that Burundi has got a lot investment potential given its strategic position on Lake Tanganyika and its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Nkurunziza cited coffee, tea, cotton, vegetables and fruits as very strategic areas for investors. He also mentioned that other opportunities like tourism, energy and mining were available for investment.
"As far as I am concerned, investors wishing to work in Burundi are welcome. We will grant them work permits and other relevant facilities", the head of the state said, adding that his country is already harmonizing the investment code to conform with the EAC requirements.
UN Will Finance Transitional Justice Consultations
June 30, 2008
20 June 2008
Posted to the web 23 June 2008
Bujumbura
The Government of Burundi, Joint Steering Committee for Consolidation of Peace in Burundi and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement to support the national consultations on the set up of the mechanisms for transitional justice in Burundi, which will cost USD 1, 380 000.
According to an official of the representative of the UN in Bujumbura, the objective of the project was "to involve the Burundian population in the national reconciliation process for the set up of the mechanisms of transitional justice".
The consultations are aimed at creating an environment favourable to the appropriation of the mechanisms of transitional justice and to the participation of the population in the process of reconciliation; to consult the population as a whole and at all the territorial levels to collect its points of view on the mechanisms of transitional justice and ; to ensure that the points of view of the population on the mechanisms of the transitional justice are consigned in a widely distributed report.
The agreement should pave way for the start of the national consultations, expected to last about one year.
The project falls under the priorities expressed by Burundi in its Priority Plan of Consolidation of Peace in regards to the reconciliation and the fight against impunity envisaged by the Arusha Accords for peace and reconciliation in Burundi.