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Kagame, Japan Prime Minister Witness Signing of Nzove Water Project

by Dan Ngabonziza
4:00 pm

Signing of the agreement between Rwanda and Japan

Following their bilateral discussions as part of his 2-day official visit to Japan, President Paul Kagame and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan today witnessed the signing of a bilateral agreement on Nzove-Ntora Water Transmission.

The Nzove-Ntora Water Principal Pipeline in Rwanda’s capital Kigali will be constructed through a 3,191,000,000 Japanese Yen ($29,450,324.18) grant by Japan.

The project will cut down on the water distribution deficit especially in the capital Kigali.

Aime Muzora – Director general of Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) told KT Press that the project is a transmission pipe of 900 diameters for Nzove water evacuation.

“Japan will finance construction with counterpart funds including mainly expropriation and taxes. Detailed design starts next month (February) and construction will start around August this year,” Muzora told KT Press.

Under the current fiscal year, government seeks to increase water production from 50,079,512 m3 to 55,679,512m3 annually effective this fiscal year.

Japan-Rwanda partnership hailed

President Kagame who is accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame for their first overseas working trip of 2019, hailed the ongoing partnership between Rwanda and Japan.

First Lady Jeannette Kagame gives Mrs Akie Abe a gift

The President highlighted key areas such as agriculture, ICT, infrastructure and human capacity development, among others.

Singling out the capital Kigali, President Kagame paid tribute to Japan’s hand in the current transformation of transport system in the city.

“I wish to thank you for Japan’s support to the Kigali Urban Transport Improvement Plan. As Rwanda’s population grows and becomes more urbanized, we are keen to learn from Japan’s longstanding expertise and experience in city planning and urban transport,” Kagame told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Kigali started having some form of public transport since 1970s, when the 18-seater Toyota Hiace omnibuses arrived in Rwanda.

Simultaneously, Nissan UD buses with 60 seats came in as a donation from Japan for transport of civil servants and for the shabby roads upcountry.

First Lady Jeannette Kagame receives a gift from Mrs Akie Abe

Currently, transport system in the city of Kigali has attracted several accolades – with the recent installation of high-speed internet in public buses, among several other smart transport initiatives.

“Rwanda very much appreciates the ongoing development cooperation with Japan. We have productive partnerships in many areas, including in agriculture, ICT, and infrastructure.

I also want to thank you for Japan’s contribution to Rwanda’s human capacity development, through the Africa Business Education Initiative, which is benefitting young Rwandans,” President Kagame said.

President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame along with Rwandan delegation joined Japanese delegation for a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

President Kagame who is the current chairperson of the African Union, extended his appreciation for Japan’s role in the continent’s development.

“Let me also take this opportunity to express my appreciation for Japan’s contribution to Africa’s development through, the TICAD process. We look forward to building on this good collaboration during the upcoming TICAD 7 in Yokohama.”

The VIIth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VII) will be held in Yokohama City in Japan later this year.

TICAD VI, which was held in 2016, adopted three pillars for Japan’s cooperation policy with Africa including; Promotion of economic structural changes through economic diversification and industrialization, Promotion of a resilient health system for high quality of life, and Promotion of social stabilization for shared prosperity.In his speech, Kagame commended Japan’s continued role in global affairs.

President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame alongside Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mrs Akie Abe

“I also want to thank you for the useful role that Japan is playing in the international community, including in peace-keeping.

As you may know, the African Union has been undergoing institutional reforms for the last two years. We have achieved good progress in making AU more fit for purpose, and enhancing the continent’s engagement with the rest of the world, including with Japan.”

The President echoed AU’s commitment to work with the world including Japan in particular.

“The African Union will continue to work with Japan and other global partners, in the reforms of the UN Security Council, to make it more relevant to today’s realities,” Kagame said.