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Heifer International provided this equipment through the ‘Mechanization for Africa Initiative,’ a project that offers agricultural machinery on a loan payment plan. This initiative has been operational in three African countries since 2022, and Rwanda becomes the fourth, following Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria.

The handover event was officiated by the State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources Eric Rwigamba

The handover event was officiated by the State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Eric Rwigamba, who expressed that the project is expected to accelerate agriculture in Rwanda.
He said, “It will help farmers cultivate faster and on time, enabling them to achieve higher yields. When you look at a farmer cultivating 10 or five hectares, they can hire manual labor, but often the delay causes them to miss the rainy season.”

In the next phase, an additional 15 tractors will be distributed to help farmers cultivate larger areas in a shorter time, increasing both the quantity and value of the yield.

Heifer International’s Vice President for Africa, Adesuwa Ifedi says that the organization is pleased to launch this program to uplift Rwandan farmers

Heifer International’s Vice President for Africa, Adesuwa Ifedi, stated that the organization is pleased to launch this program to uplift Rwandan farmers and noted that in other parts of Africa where it operates, the initiative has already advanced the level of local farming.

She said, “It helps farmers cultivate larger areas, which translates into higher income. We are pleased that, over the last two years, this program has improved agriculture in other countries. For instance, one testimony we received here was from a farmer who increased his cultivation from one hectare to five hectares thanks to the machine.”

Heifer International’s Director in Rwanda, Verena Ruzibuka, mentioned that the project will also create job opportunities for the youth across the country by connecting them with farmers who need these services.
However, Ruzibuka urged more partners to join the initiative to assist more farmers in accessing these loans.

Farmers who received the tractors say that they will help them to increase productivity in their work

She said, “We’ve provided the initial funding for the project, but we encourage financial institutions to explore how they can also get involved. We’ve seen interest from other donors, but we invite more partners to join us on this journey to help provide mechanization for more farmers.”

Modus operandi

Heifer International will provide the tractors in collaboration with a company called Hello Tractor, which connects the owners with farmers in need. A farmer who requires the tractor must cultivate at least 500 hectares annually, and cooperatives must have 500 hectares under cultivation.

Farmers are required to make an initial payment of 5% of the machine’s cost and sign a contract with Hello Tractor, which outlines the terms and conditions of collaboration. They typically pay for three to five years; after which they own them outright. Those who meet the criteria can register on the Hello Tractor website, undergo an assessment, and be connected with the providers.

Women are among the beneficiaries of this project

A facility for machine maintenance will soon be built in Kayonza District in the Eastern Province.
Each tractor provided has a value ranging from Rwf45million to Rwf50 million. They come with large plows that can cultivate, harvest, and perform other functions depending on the farmer’s needs.

IGIHE

The eight-day-long reed dance is a traditional rite of passage into womanhood, where young women sing and dance bare-chested, dressed in traditional attire that includes anklets and vibrant, colourful tassels. Some participants also carry mock swords and shields.

King Mswati, who has ruled the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) for 38 years, is allowed to marry multiple times.

Eswatini spokesman Alpheous Nxumalo told the BBC that Nomcebo and King Mswati III are “marrying for love,” downplaying criticism about the age gap and political power play.

“Love has no eyes to see or count age. Love happens between two people. It can happen between a person who is 100 years old and a person who is above the average of what is permitted constitutionally,” Nxumalo said.

A section of analysts had speculated that the marriage would strengthen political ties between the King and Zuma, who was president of South Africa from 2009 until 2018. The former Head of State, who is also polygamous and has been married six times, was forced to resign by his African National Congress party after a series of corruption allegations.

King Mswati, who has ruled the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) for 38 years, is allowed to marry multiple times. He has been married 15 times. Two of King Mswati’s wives are deceased, while two others are divorced.

Nomcebo Zuma (3rd L) and one of the king’s daughters, Princess Sakhizwe (2nd L), sing and dance with other young women during the Umhlanga reed dance.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

In a keynote address delivered by President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing on September 5, 2024, the Chinese leader outlined a shared vision for the future of China-Africa relations, highlighting the deep bond between the regions and their commitment to achieving modernization together.

'The friendship between China and Africa transcends time and space, surmounts mountains and oceans, and passes down through generations,' said Xi.

The high-level summit in Beijing is being attended by delegates from more than 50 African nations.

He noted that the relationship between the two regions has evolved over nearly seven decades and is now at its strongest point in history.

The financial package will be disbursed to support key sectors in Africa, including infrastructure, agriculture, industry, health, and education.

'This financial support will not only enhance Africa’s industrial capacity but will also provide tangible benefits to millions of ordinary Africans,' Xi stated.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is among Heads of State attending the summit.

The initiative is seen as a major step forward in China’s commitment to Africa’s development and modernization.

One of the most significant aspects of the support package is China’s commitment to opening its markets further to African products. Xi announced that least-developed countries with diplomatic ties to China, including 33 African nations, will receive zero-tariff treatment for all tariff lines.

'This will help turn China’s big market into Africa’s big opportunity,' Xi emphasized.

This move is expected to provide a major boost to African agricultural exports and deepen economic ties between the two regions.

Xi’s also highlighted the importance of infrastructure development in Africa’s modernization journey. As part of the multibillion financial support, China will carry out 30 connectivity projects across the continent, aimed at improving transport links, boosting trade, and fostering regional integration.

'Together, we are building a network of connectivity that will benefit future generations,' Xi said.

This commitment aligns with Africa’s broader goal of achieving sustainable development through enhanced connectivity and cooperation.

In terms of technology and industrialization, China will work with Africa to create digital technology cooperation centers and launch 20 digital demonstration projects across the continent. These initiatives are intended to help Africa embrace the ongoing industrial revolution and foster inclusive economic growth.

In addition, China intends to focus on environmental sustainability by establishing clean energy projects to promote biodiversity conservation and disaster prevention thereby setting a hallmark of modernization in the new era of a low-carbon future.

According to Xi, various medical personnel will be sent to Africa and work with the continent to establish joint medical centers. These efforts will enhance Africa’s healthcare capacity, particularly in combating diseases such as malaria.

Xi also reaffirmed China’s support for the development of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which will play a crucial role in strengthening the continent’s public health systems.

Security and peace, described as an essential component of modernization, will also be highly prioritized in the next three years to create a stable environment for development and modernization

China and Africa, together account for one-third of the world’s population. They are therefore poised to play a critical role in shaping global modernization.

'Without our modernization, there will be no global modernization,' President Xi declared.

As clear as it seems, this partnership between China and Africa is not only aimed at addressing historical injustices but also at creating a more just and equitable global order.

Xi criticized the Western approach to modernization, which he argued has inflicted immense suffering on developing nations. Instead, he championed a new path, in which countries like China and African nations can pursue their own models of modernization based on their unique national conditions.

'Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries,' Xi said, underscoring the importance of inclusivity and mutual respect in the modernization process.

This multi-billion financial support reflects China’s broader vision of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future. It is a vision that seeks to foster deeper cooperation, promote economic growth, and ensure that no country or region is left behind in the global modernization journey.

As Xi poignantly noted, 'Let us rally the more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people into a powerful force on our shared path toward modernization.'

With this bold commitment, China and Africa are embarking on a new chapter of cooperation, one that promises to yield significant benefits for both regions. The shared journey toward modernization is set to bring about lasting changes that will shape the future of both China and Africa for generations to come.

President Xi Jinping has pledged RMB360 billion (approximately USD 50.7 billion) in financial support to Africa, in the next three years to improve the stage for modernization and cooperation between the two regions.

Sam K Nurunziza

Kagame, extended heartfelt congratulations upon the upcoming 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, attributing the country’s transformation over the last decade to effective leadership that prioritizes the values and expectations of its citizens.

The 2024 edition of the FOCAC Summit has attracted representatives from over 50 African Countries

“Effective state governance is undoubtedly central to the success China has achieved,” Kagame said during the opening ceremony of the high level summit attended by more than 10 African Heads of State and Government.

“However, for governance to be truly effective, it must be grounded in the values and expectations of its citizens and not imposed from outside,” he said.
Kagame highlighted China’s impressive strides in poverty alleviation, development, and technological innovation as key areas from which Africa can draw valuable lessons to accelerate its own modernization efforts.

The Rwandan Head of State praised China’s commitment to shared development, which has facilitated a flourishing relationship between the two regions in areas such as infrastructure development, scientific innovation plus peace and security. The Belt and Road Initiative, launched by China in 2013, was hailed by Kagame as a transformative force with a global impact, benefiting not only China but also nations like Rwanda.

President Paul Kagame during the FOCAC Summit in Beijing. He has called for effective state governance and mutual support

Reflecting on Rwanda’s post-genocide reconstruction, Kagame shared two crucial lessons. First, he emphasized that there is no universal model for governance; each nation must navigate its own path in accordance with its unique context, history, and aspirations. He described how Rwanda, in the wake of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, relied on homegrown solutions to rebuild its economic, social, and political foundations.

Kagame highlighted Rwanda’s focus on national unity, economic diversification, and decentralized governance as pillars of its development strategy. “Our journey of self-reliance has allowed us to forge many productive partnerships, particularly with China and other African countries,” he stated.

The Head of Sate expressed confidence that as new global challenges and opportunities continue to emerge; the Africa-China partnership will remain more united and strengthened. He acknowledged the significant gains made in trade, industrial cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges since the inception of FOCAC, demonstrating the vitality of South-South cooperation.

Looking ahead, Kagame reaffirmed Africa’s readiness to build on the momentum achieved through participation in the three Global Initiatives on Development, Security, and Civilization proposed by President Xi Jinping.

Heads of African States during during the FOCAC summit 2024

On his part President Xi Jinping pledged to step up Chinese support to Africa with 30 infrastructure projects across the African continent and offer $50.7billion in financial assistance. The projects are expected to create a million jobs. “China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment,” Xi said during the forum attended by delegates from more than 50 African nations.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Speaking in a podcast aired by Table Media published on Thursday, August 5, 2024, Stamp noted that Rwanda was willing to implement the model as part of its efforts to find solutions to the global migration crisis.

“We currently have no third country that has come forward, with the exception of Rwanda,” Stamp said.
According to his proposal, asylum processes in Rwanda would take place under the oversight of the United Nations.

Joachim Stamp is Germany’s Special Representative for Migration Agreements

Stamp, a member of the junior coalition FDP party who holds a position within Germany’s Interior Ministry, stated that the proposed model would target refugees crossing the EU’s eastern borders, rather than all refugees, as suggested by the conservative opposition. “My suggestion would be that we concentrate on this group. It’s about 10,000 people a year,” he said.

Stamp also proposed eliminating the “connecting element” in the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which presently mandates that external asylum processes be carried out in countries where the asylum seeker has existing social ties.

In December last year, the European Union reached an agreement on updated regulations to manage irregular migrant and asylum seeker arrivals, marking a significant breakthrough after nearly a decade of disputes. The full implementation of this pact may not occur until the end of 2025.

Meanwhile, Stamp’s proposal comes in the wake of rising pressure on Germany’s ruling coalition government to restrict irregular migration following a fatal stabbing linked to Islamic State at a city festival last month. The incident fueled far-right opposition and criticism of Berlin’s migration policies.

Seasoned German parliamentarian Alexander Throm also urged his government in July to adopt the Rwanda migration scheme that was terminated by the UK.
The spokesperson for Germany’s center-right CDU/CSU faction said the government should build on the preparatory work done by the UK to advance their own plans for the agreement.

He noted that since Rwanda was willing to collaborate with European countries on migration issues, the end of the UK deal meant more ‘capacity’ for Germany.
'We should stick to the plan and make use of the groundwork our British partners laid for it,' the member of the German Parliament for Heilbronn told local media.

In the UK, the migration scheme was meant to deter illegal migrants from arriving using small boats across the English Channel by moving the migrants to Rwanda. However, the Labour Party differed with the Conservatives over the effectiveness and cost of the plan.
Despite the cancellation of the UK-Rwanda plan, the Rwandan government has reiterated its willingness to collaborate with other nations to tackle migration challenges.

'We remain committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity, and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country,” the Office of the Government Spokesperson said in July.

Germany’s migration commissioner has proposed the removal of migrants arriving illegally in the European Union to Rwanda for processing, as part of efforts to address the bloc’s migration challenges.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

In a contentious exchange at the National Association for Black Journalists (NABJ) on Wednesday, former US President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump questioned Vice President Kamala Harris's ethnicity. Hours later, far-right commentator Laura Loomer posted Harris's birth certificate, listing her mother's ethnicity as 'Caucasian,' ostensibly supporting Trump's claim that Harris is not Black.

The post was met with mixed responses, with many pointing out the lack of logic in it, stating that Harris's father could be both Black and Jamaican. This echoed Trump's comment where the Republican nominee could not seem to understand that Harris could be of both Indian and Black origins.

I have a copy of Kamala Harris's @KamalaHarris's birth certificate.

Nowhere on her birth certificate does it say that she is BLACK OR AFRICAN. @KamalaHQ is a liar.

Donald Trump is correct. Kamala Harris is NOT black and never has been.

She is also the descendent of slave… pic.twitter.com/E0uq1TCfFy

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) July 31, 2024

Kamala Harris' heritage

Fact-checkers clarify Harris' certificate does not mention race

Controversy around Obama's ethnicity and birthplace

Donald Trump recently alleged that vice president Kamala Harris 'happened to turn Black' some years ago, and that 'all of a sudden, she made a turn' in her identity. However the former president's claim is not true. Harris never switched from identifying as Indian-American to Black.

'Through Jinhua University, we focus on areas such as research, academic discussions, and skills training, and we’ve established a new multilevel, multifield, and multiform pattern of China-Africa education cooperation,' Zhu stated.

To date, Jinhua City has trained over 30,000 African students from more than 50 countries. Zhejiang Normal Universityin Jinhua is home to the first comprehensive African Research Institute in a Chinese university and has hosted nearly 300 training programs for over 6,000 African officials, experts, and scholars. This has cultivated a significant number of African experts in China and China experts in Africa.

The city’s educational collaboration includes partnerships like the Morocco-Yiwu Business School and Jinhua Polytechnic Universities. Additionally, Jinhua Polytechnic has partnered with Musanze Integrated Polytechnic in Rwanda’s Northern Province. Zhu expressed optimism about this year’s FOCAC Summit, seeing it as an opportunity to deepen such collaborations.

Many African students have benefited from Chinese development initiatives in Africa

'In April, the university welcomed 30 international students from Rwanda’s Musanze College [IPRC Musanze]. These students have quickly adapted to their studies in Jinhua and have strengthened their confidence in the future of vocational education,' Zhu noted.

'Looking ahead, we take this Beijing Summit FOCAC as an opportunity to further deepen and expand pragmatic cooperation with African countries in all aspects. We will continue to polish businesses as part of China Africa cooperation and make great contributions for building a China-Africa high level community with a shared future,' added Zhu.

On March 28, 2024, Jinhua signed a Sister Cities Agreement with Musanze District in Rwanda’s Northern Province, marking the first such agreement between China and Rwanda and symbolizing a new chapter of friendship and cooperation.

In the same month, Jinhua Polytechnic, signed a five-year agreement for an exchange program that initially allowed students from IPRC Musanze departing for China to study for two years in Rwanda and one year in China for an Advanced Diploma. This agreement followed a long term partnership between the two side, spanning more than a decade.

Zhu Chonglie, Secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Jinhua Municipal Committee addressing members of the press.

Zhejiang Province is one of China’s most economically developed regions, and has forged agreements with various African countries in trade, education, and development.

Chen Jiangfeng, Deputy Director of Zhejiang’s Department of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that Zhejiang has launched two consecutive three-year action plans on Zhejiang-Africa cooperation. 'These efforts have led to new progress and results, particularly in frequent people-to-people exchanges,' he said.

Zhejiang has established 31 sister relationships with African countries, including Rwanda, ensuring friendly relations at the provincial, municipal, and district levels. In recent years, delegations led by top Zhejiang officials have visited Africa, co-hosting events and signing major cooperation agreements with local governments.

Economic and trade ties between Zhejiang and Africa are yielding significant results. In 2023, bilateral trade reached USD 53.9 billion, with Zhejiang’s investment in Africa totaling USD 4.6 billion. In the first half of 2024, two-way trade amounted to USD 27.88 billion, with a 12.9% year-on-year increase in imports from Africa, totaling USD 5.55 billion.

Journalists attending the press briefing in Beijing.

Educational and cultural exchanges are also flourishing. More than 20 Zhejiang universities have formed partnerships with African institutions, and eight Confucius Institutes have been established across the continent, training 120,000 Chinese language talents. Zhejiang has also provided vocational training for over 2,800 individuals from more than 160 African companies, and over 6,500 African students are currently studying in Zhejiang.

Medical cooperation is another pillar of Zhejiang’s engagement with Africa. For 55 consecutive years, Zhejiang has sent medical aid teams to African countries, including Mali and Namibia. In 2022 and 2023 alone, Zhejiang dispatched 110 medical personnel to Africa, delivering services to 183,800 people. These teams also provided free clinics in remote areas and promoted traditional Chinese medicine while conducting over 70 medical training sessions and 15 academic meetings.

Chen Jiangfeng, Deputy Director of Zhejiang’s Department of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that Zhejiang has launched two consecutive three-year action plans on Zhejiang-Africa cooperation.

Théophile Niyitegeka