Talk of modern farming is futile without water
East Africa is currently experiencing plenty of rainfall (floods in some areas) after about five months of extremely dry weather.
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Rumors of Rwanda as heaven
I once lived in Kampala, the city of seven daily rumors. During a season without a free press Radio Katwe ruled the air. Then a free press developed. Bit by bit the media put rumors to the test. Some passed the test of truth. Some did not. Some played to prejudice and survived even when evidence proved the rumor false. A few times I was a victim of a vicious rumor. They can be destructive. Yet, I found a certain comfort in the rumors. I may not know what was true. However, at least I knew the options.
FDI: Africa must end wild goose chase and find home solutions
Last year, the whole of Africa managed to attract a paltry 5.5% of the entire global foreign direct investment (FDI) projects. Even as this was a mere 1% rise from the previous year, optimists are touting this as being very positive and remarkable. I find it laughable.
Can we pick up the tank?
Do you ever have those moments where you ask, “Why did I never see that before? What is wrong with me? I need to do something about that situation.” I had one of those “What have I been thinking?” moments two weeks ago.
Chivalry is alive and well in Rwanda
Sometimes the biggest stories of a week are the ones no one reports. I observed one a few months ago. I was in line at Banque Commerciale du Rwanda (BCR) on a busy Friday afternoon. The lines were long. In front of me was a Rwandan man dressed in a casual business manner. He was a little shorter than I, but about my age. I have never seen his face in the newspapers so I assume he’s not a known public figure. Most of us were trying to make the transactions go as quickly as possible.
Stop paying lip-service and invest in infrastructure to fuel growth
Technocrats in finance ministries must now be making final touches on the 2012/13 budgets of the five East African Community member-states to be read simultaneously some time in June .
Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement was shoddy job
Sudan and South Sudan remain in a state of war even as Juba hastily withdraws its troops from the disputed oil region of Heglig, amidst threats from Khartoum and with the urging of the UN seeking to prevent war.
Pro-life virtues: truth, forgiveness, and compassion
A firestorm of debate has been swirling in Rwanda the last few weeks related to abortion legislation. A study, conducted by the National University of Rwanda’s School of Public Health and the U.S.-based Guttmacher Institute, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, concluded that an estimated 60,000 induced abortions occurred in 2009. This translates to a national rate of 25 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. These estimates of abortion incidence in Rwanda project that one in 40 women aged 15-44 had an abortion in 2009. The researchers gathered data from a nationally representative sample of health facilities and knowledgeable key informants to draw these conclusions. It appears that from the representative sample more than 40% of women who had an abortion – suffered complications that required medical treatment.
Will the East African Community have teeth to bite like Ecowas?
So, as predicted in this very space about three weeks ago, the military coup in Mali came to nothing after the increasingly assertive West African economic bloc, the Ecowas, emphatically said “NO” to military and any form of unelected leadership.
Rwanda’s youth inspire
History shows that during times of great society building the key turning points are choices of the next generation. What will those who follow the original vision bearers believe, become, and do? Sometimes, they are spoiled brats who want their seemingly entitled privileges. Sometimes, they squander opportunity. However, sometimes they catch a vision; and build it to places their predecessors could not dream. Sometimes, it is the youth who provide zeal, energy, ideas, and inspiration. I believe Rwanda’s youth inspire.
