Africa Travel News, Rwanda Information and Gorilla Safaris

The President of Rwanda has urged researchers to work out ways through which biodiversity can be preserved in a way that is compatible with the growing human needs.

Kagame made the request while opening a three-day environment conference under the theme ‘International Research Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management’ at Kigali Serena Hotel yesterday.

Biodiversity refers to the variety of both plant and animal life in the world. “The challenge before us is to design and implement strategies to manage the delicate balance between conservation of biological diversity and human development needs,” Kagame told researchers from more than twenty countries attending the conference.

He said that Rwanda has registered some modest success giving an example of Gorilla conservation in the Virunga’s Volcanoes mountain Gorilla National Park. Rwanda Gorilla safaris currently contribute the highest portion foreign exchange in the tourism industry.

“Through the effective fostering of eco-tourism, these unique primates are protected in their natural habitats while ensuring a steady revenue stream for our country,” added the President.

The President remarked that some of the challenges Rwanda faces include lack of required capacities in most of the country’s institutions and weaknesses in scientific research, both in terms of human and institutional resources and called upon Rwandans to think afresh about the biodiversity challenges, presentation them as a profitable venture.

“We must abandon the old paradigm in which conservation was viewed as a governmental responsibility and as a matter of urgency, shift into a new mode of critical thinking and action where the protection of biodiversity is viewed as a profitable business opportunity, for both mainstream enterprise and small businesses,” he stressed.

Dr. Russell Mittermeier, the president of Conservation International lauded Rwanda’s accomplishment in biodiversity conservation, attributing it mainly to the political will.

“The President especially did a good gesture of reinstating Nyungwe Forest as a national park. His personal commitment to this cause is a major stimulant that will lead to better results,” Mittermeier said.

Mittermeier said that Rwanda was better placed to host the first ever conference given her geographic location which is in the Albertine Rift.

It’s a Tuesday afternoon; I am walking down a dusty street in Kimihurura towards CSS-ZIGAMA bank to get some money. Two women are seated alongside this dusty street enduring the scorching sun and the dust but patiently waiting for customers, they are charcoal sellers. Unfortunately I am not a potential customer but a journalist who wonders how much they earn from that rather painstaking business.

Reading the need for money on the two faces, I develop a desire of releasing 1000 francs to contribute to their income since I was not going to buy from them, but had no cash with me only hopes that I would on my return route.

Still seated under the hot sun, these two ladies still saw a charcoal customer in me but since I had got some money now I knew it was a story for me thus moved towards them with a smile on my face and handed Frw 500 hundred note to of the women while the other rushed to pick a khaki paper bag bearing in mind the money was for paid charcoal.

“Oya mama ni mwakire” literally meaning no mama have this, with a lot of excitement they begin blessing me and that’s when a friendly atmosphere is created for me to ask more about their earning from charcoal selling.

One of the women, Chantal Muliisa 28 who lives in the Kimihurura-Rugando says that it’s from this charcoal business that she has managed to educate her four children who are in primary five and four at Ecole De Kimihurura.

She however she adds that there is a big secret in selling charcoal since many people in Kigali demand on charcoal for fuel.

“You know many homes rarely use firewood so charcoal is on demand here. There are no customers at this time of the day, many having finished their cooking but by evening they will be surrounding this place in need of charcoal,” Muliisa says.

Asked if she is happy with the business, Muliisa says that of all the businesses ventures she has tried, the charcoal business has earned her a lot and she does not regret. She said that she has been able to clears big debts and paid school fees for her children and young cousins in primary six.

“Since we are few charcoal sellers in this particular area all money comes to us. We earn a lot because all the charcoal we bring gets finished in the evening of the same day and very early we shop for more from Nyabugogo” Muliisa adds.

Her colleague Anonciata Umutoniwase is not married but takes care of her elderly parents since she is the youngest and the only surviving child in the family after the 1994 Genocide.

Umutoniwase aged 26 says that she cannot give up selling charcoal because it has helped her solve many problems.

“You can’t believe that I began selling charcoal three years after the Genocide, (1997) when I was considerably young but it is through this business that I have managed to rent a big house for my parents and their close relatives. At first I thought life had come to an end because by that time I was the youngest and all my brothers and sisters had been killed, it was a friend that gave me the idea of selling charcoal believing that the business would help me out since it is always on demand especially here in Kigali,” she said.

Umutoniwase has seen her business expand for last ten years; she has been able to employ other people who include Muliisa her partner at this particular point while there are other similar businesses across Kigali in areas like in Kabeza, Kanombe and Kimisagara.

Umutoniwase is not about to marry since she wants to first own a house then can think of marriage.
Finding out that there are bosses even in charcoal business is amazing but this boss is dressed just like her employee. When asked as why she has to dress and sell the charcoal her self, Umutoniwase said that she has mastered the selling language that she cannot afford to sit by and watch other people sometimes failing her business.

“When you want money you have to bow even when you are a boss I don’t mind who says what, provided I leave for home with enough money. We enjoy this work because we earn a lot and understand each other” says Umutoniwase.

Among the challenges faced by these charcoal sellers is the fact that during rainy seasons the charcoal gets wet and very few people manage to access their place of work which is a distance from residential houses.

“When it rains everything comes to a stand and we can’t sell like on the sunny days, infact it is hard to find customers who cannot endure the rain.

We make more money when it shines than when it rains” says Umutoniwase.
These two women are satisfied with the charcoal business. Whereas the passersby may look at them with sympathy and think they are desperate, poor or leading a miserable life. It’s not until you approach them that you will know how they rejoice in their business.

Charcoal selling has done these ladies well and so far they seem satisfied with the charcoal business because they earn over 40,000 francs from all their small branches around per day.

By PATIENCE UWITONZE
Rwanda Travel and Safari Guide

With courtesy of the commercial bank of Rwanda (BCR), phone banking has finally come to Rwanda.

During a function held at the Hotel des Mille Collines, the marketing and communication manager of bcr, Mr. Hannington Namara announced the introduction of phone banking to the country.

“This is the first of its kind in the banking industry in the country. People in the diaspora can now call the bank and get real information on their account without having to go through a relative or a manager who might be busy,” he exposed during the press conference.

This innovation of voice over phone will aid in of the banking services including cheque request, transaction inquiries, balance inquiry, product information and account opening information. This service is to reduce on the hassle of going to the bank physically on issues concerning one’s account.

Subscribers to Rwandatel will dial 227 while those using MTN will dial 3227 and this will be free facility to all account holders in this bank.

Rwanda’s bank of the year 2006 according to “The Banker magazine” and “Financial Times” of London has initiated this first step in technology banking and hopes to advance up to sms and internet banking.

“The service will be available from 7am to 8pm on weekdays and 7am to 2pm on Saturdays. If a client calls after 8pm, they can leave a message and we will get back to them later,” said Ms. Vivian Kayitesi the call centre manager.

For privacy requirements, each client will be required to field a secret question and answer in addition to the system generated personal identification number or PIN code.

Brussels Airlines together with Italy’s Meridiana have been chosen to tender for 40 percent of Rwanda’s single airline and the proceeding should be through by the end of the year, said the carrier’s chief executive officer.

Rwandair Express CEO Manzi Kayihura said the two qualified out of five international carriers that had shown interest.

“We have just completed a bidders’ conference and the privatisation process should be completed by the close of the year, “Kailua told Reuters in an interview.

“We are not necessarily looking for the highest financial offer but a strategic partner who has a commitment to add value, expand the network and experience to grow the airline.”

An additional 40 percent of shares will be awarded to a local investor, he said, while the government will take possession 20 percent.

As well as operating internal flights, the five year old Rwandair Express flies daily to Kenya, Uganda and Burundi. It also flies to Tanzania and Johannesburg, South Africa, three times a week.

Landlocked Rwanda has immense plans to turn into a limelight for flights in Africa’s Great Lakes region, Kayihura uttered. “Any strategic partner must be able to advance this vision, and if we fail to get one in this round then we will wait.” This step will help to improve the quality of services offered on flights to Rwanda.

Kwita Izina is a traditional ceremony among Banyarwanda for giving newborn baby gorillas names. It was adopted by the Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) in an attempt to raise awareness and celebrate the birth of gorillas in their natural habitat.

The naming is also intended to confirm the successful conservation and protection programme with a principal objective of removing the mountain gorilla off the endangered species list.

This year’s gorilla naming ceremony was passed under the theme “Caring for Wildlife Concerns us All” which took place in Kinigi, Musanze District, Northern Province.

Chantal Rugamba, the Director General of ORTPN, attributed the successful conservation and Kwita Izina ceremony to the joint commitment by the local community, researchers and several partners.

This was the third year for Rwanda to hold the gorilla naming ceremony, and Ragamba noted that “Kwita izina seeks to put on record the milestone Rwanda has registered in conservation of wildlife and in particular the mountain gorilla.”

While officiating the Kwita Izina, president kagame said that the promotion of tourism and conservation of mountain gorillas in volcanoes National Park will only be successful with the participation of the community. “There is need for every Rwandan to play a role in the promotion of tourism, in conserving environment and in promoting yourselves by providing items and services that you can sell to tourists so that they feel at home whenever they are in the country,” added the president.

Kagame called upon everyone to put value to tourism because it supports many people’s standards of living and as such asset, “You are charged with the responsibility to keep gorillas safe by offering the necessary security.” He added that though crafts can be used to represent the country, Gorilla trekking safaris are also an important source of income to the neighboring community.

“The context of our presence here has significance beyond the recognition of these young national treasures,” Kagame said before mentioning factors including successful conservation and the post conflict resolutions that are development oriented.

The President remarked that the Rwanda had begun getting peace and stability signals and that tourism has been a vital economic driver of the country’s economy. He advised that conservation and tourism should be treated with equal strength.

The colourful ceremony attracted over 600 gevernment officials officials, the private sector, regional and international organisations, and saw 23 baby gorillas receive names.

The ceremony was brightened by many rich cultural dances, music, drumming but the highlight was a moving poem from a 13-year-old Marie Aline Uwayezu.

The previous gorilla naming ceremonies and fundraising raised $2 million (about Frw1.1 billion). From this fund, the community has been provided with schools, hospitals and water tanks.

This year’s Kwita Izina ceremony was followed by a fundraising function at Kivu Sun Serena Hotel, projected to raise US$1.5million (about Frw825 million). Rugamba said that this year’s priority projects include installing an electric fence around Akagera Park, a community commercial complex in Kinigi for craft selling and the resettlement of the community evicted from gazetted zone and tea planting regions around Nyungwe National Park are also among the priorities.

The tourism sector of Rwanda recorded $33million (about Frw18.2 billion) last year as revenue against the target of US$31million (about Frw 17 billion), which made the sector the country’s third most foreign exchange earner.

By Grace