Diva magazine issue 11 by The Diva Magazine

EMPOWERED TO INSPIRE

April - June 2014

Creating Investment opportunities Mauritius Investors

Rwandan Hospitality

Genocides & Lessons Issue No. 11

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Getting your man a gift

What GREAT MANAGERS Do Differently A journey of 20 years COVER STORY

Dimitrie Sissi

Mukanyiligira

CONTENTS

editor’s note

PUBLISHER FALCON G. NDIRIMA EDITOR Lillian M. Ndrima CONTRIBUTORS ANN ANJAO ATHAN TASHOBYA CLAIRE ADUVUKA EFUA HAGAN FRED NKUSI JESSE KIMANI JUDITH ACHIENG KUSTOM STELLA CHRIST DR. CONNIE MUREITHI MARTHA AYUMA NICOLE KAYIHURA

Generational Curses

A journey of 20 years

‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning,’ says Psalms 30: 5. 20 years ago, Rwanda wept, not cried. Wept. Brother lifted up a machete against brother. Sister betrayed sister, and neighbor slaughtered one neighbor after another. Each year, as we commemorate the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, the nation goes into mourning to not only remember with fondness those who needlessly passed on, but also remember ‘Never again’ as a slogan that must bind our hearts and minds with reconciliation and a peaceful existence.

Genocides & Lessons

Cover Story: self reliance & resilience

RDB launches new customer care campaign

Rwandan Hospitality

That is why we celebrate Dimitrie Sissie Mukanyiligira, our cover personality, whose story will not only draw your emotions, but also leave you with a strong resolve that there is life beyond genocide. Here is one person who, after losing almost all her family members, sensibly told herself that life needed to not only go on, but to be lived successfully. And a success she is. Like the dry bones in the book of Ezekiel, Dimitrie has had the breath of God breathed into her very existence. She lives folks!

The skin as an ecosystem

Alternative methods of keeping away mosquitoes

Mauritius Investors

Creating Investment Opportunities: RSEZ

The genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 was not unique to history either. People all over the world get bitten by a strange evil bug that causes them to desire to annihilate an entire tribe, race or group of people. Read about this in Martha Ayuma’s article.

Do girls have equal succession rights as boys?

Interior: Focal Point

What great managers do differently

Living by the right principles

Getting your man a gift

We have not forgotten our key function as journalists: to inform. Hence, we implore you to kindly indulge in our educative stories in health, career, relationships, art and design, family law amongst others.

Who says girls can’t do math?

My Mother, My Very Own Diva

We are grateful for your continued support in giving us vital feedback that enables us give you what you desire.

In each tear there is a lesson

Your Feedback

Recipe: Baked Chicken Breasts

strictly prohibited. The name The DIVA

Pictorial: RDB CEO Campaign

Media Ltd.

Because we cannot be steeped in mourning forever, and as Dimitrie has shown us, life must be lived to the full. Therefore, we also bring you stories on business and investment, a key and vital ingredient in the development of our beloved nation Rwanda.

Keep it locked to the Diva magazine, and enjoy!

Lillian Ps . Remember to drop us a line or two on thediva@gmail.com

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Liberty; while every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein or any consequences arising from it.

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Apr - Jun 2014

devotion

Generational

Curses

By Anne Anjao

I believe we live in a physical as well as spiritual world. Some people only believe what they see in the natural. As long as it is not tangible, it doesn’t exist. But I know man has a body, soul and spirit hence the presence of generational curses is very real. Consider what God says in the following verses: Exodus 34:7, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

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Lamentations 5:7, “Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.” It may not make sense why God would want to punish innocent children who had no idea what sins their ancestors committed. Well, He still remains God and His way is often good. I would not want my children to be cursed on my account so I will do everything possible to avoid offending God. The reason most of us accept the negative situations that plague us is simply because of ignorance. Your great grandfather, father and your father were hopeless alcoholics, what makes you think you will be clean? With sufficient knowledge on generational curses, you will break this alcoholic curse and not only go on to live a sober life but ensure your children never touch alcohol as well. It could be a family is bound by the spirit of poverty. When it seems like something good is about to happen, all hell breaks loose and soon, life goes back to where it all started-in poverty. I met a gentleman who recently fled from wartorn Southern Sudan. Tom’s family is dirt poor. His parents are peasant farmers in Karongi. His 3 siblings are struggling, none having completed

university education. Only he has a Masters degree, through the goodwill of certain kind people he met along the way. Despite his Masters in Social Work degree, getting a good job was quite a challenge. However, he found a job in Southern Sudan only a year ago with an NGO. Not only did Tom have a good job but also had just hit on an excellent business idea which had started giving him very good returns for only the two months he had been in operation. Things were looking up until that Sunday that things went haywire in war-torn Sudan. Tom is back in Rwanda, his rural Karongi home with his parents. To say he is devastated is an understatement. Many are the times you will catch him deep in thought, just staring straight into the distance. He is clearly torn between poverty and security. There are those bound by a spirit of sexual immorality-it just runs in the family. Others are in families where none of the girls is married or almost all the siblings are divorced. Others are bound by a spirit of death-they are ever burying someone every year. Still others are bound by a spirit of gossip. Every one in the family is ever peddling rumours and no one has the ability to

just shut up. Others suffer from the spirit of family disunity. Know that Christ was made a curse, so we can be freed from the curses that sin has brought us. Once you become a child of God, no longer will the sins of your forefathers follow you: Jeremiah 31:2930, “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eat the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” My maternal grandmother, my mother and my aunt all passed on due to breast cancer. I recognized this as a spirit of sickness, bound it and the result is that year after year, tests show am cancer free. I believe this curse over my life and children is broken. Another curse was early death in the family where out of a family of nine, only three of us are left alive. I believe this curse is broken as the last premature death we suffered was in 1994 when we lost our only brother. Curses are real but God’s ability to deal with them is even more real. Trust in Him. You simply can’t allow Satan to rule over your life.

Apr - Jun 2014

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topical feature

A journey of 20 years

because the results are there for all to see. If there is one thing she respects the current leadership for is the fact that resources are evenly distributed across the country. “There was more division then in provision of national resources, but today, everyone is not only equal but feels so. There was nepotism then which excluded legitimate Rwandans from their right to national resources,” says Agnes. For Mukundirehe Colette, a business

lady in Gatsibo District, what gladdens her heart

By Anne Anjao

As Rwanda commemorates 20 years since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, it is indisputable that she has made great strides in all faucets of life. The Diva Magazine sought respondents’ views on the one thing they can commend the government for, 20 years down the line. In other words, what are their thoughts on Rwanda then, and Rwanda now? Nyakuri Lydie, a student at the Kigali institute of Management,

immediately identifies with reconciliation. To her, there can be no greater thing than reconciliation. 8

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She recalls the chaos that characterized the previous regime where hatred and enmity were openly declared. She says when you think of the barbaric acts and atrocities committed against innocent people, then you will appreciate the enormous strides registered in reconciliation. People then were conscious of which political divide they fell under but

today, the script reads different. People now relate well. Neighbours interact freely and yes, people now inter–marry without much fuss. Lydie says Gacaca played a significant role and she is confident reconciliation is solid and will hold. As far as Kanyana Agnes, a cashier in Kabarore is concerned, it all boils down to sound

leadership. She believes the current leadership

is focused, not for propaganda’s sake but

as far as achievements attributed to the current government are concerned, is that today, more than ever in the history of Rwanda, there is gender balance. Women were undermined then. They had no voice. Today however, more women than men are parliamentarians. It is not only in parliament where women’s stars are rising and their impact felt. Even local governments in districts, sectors and cells have witnessed the

powerful voice of women who are sometimes the decision makers.

it means Rwanda’s future is secure,” she concludes. “Infrastructure and good governance,” are the words that quickly escape from Mutesi Jackline’s lips when

Niyokwizerwa Grace, a receptionist at

a health centre in Kamonyi, says her number one achievement would be education for all. Attending school was difficult then. Poverty levels were very high. You wouldn’t get a place in secondary schools and the university without greasing someone’s hands. “It is humbling and exciting that today, education is easily accessible to those who get high marks. I can imagine what went through the mind of a candidate who had excelled but was denied a chance to further her studies due to corruption,” philosophizes Grace. She says when poor students are assisted through their cells, then you know Rwanda is in tandem with Nelson Mandela who said education is the most powerful weapon on earth. “I know we are on the right track. When you educate a nation, you preserve its future. So when our government gives free basic education,

asked to pinpoint one thing she can credit this government for, 20 years after the Genocide. Mutesi, an accountant at Ngarama Hospital in Gatsibo District, is very much appreciative of the impressive infrastructure. The roads in Rwanda, though narrow, are clean and clearly marked, and not just in Kigali but the entire nation as well. “The good thing is that no one can blame the roads for any accident that occurs on our roads because they are in good condition,” adds Mutesi. Another achievement with regard to infrastructure according to Mutesi, is construction of new buildings ,especially in Kigali. “A person who was here 20 years ago would be forgiven for thinking he is in a new place for the humble, dusty Kigali of

1994 is no more. In its place is a city slowly emerging with newly designed architectural masterpieces,” says Mutesi. “At the KBC roundabout for instance are two buildings coming up, one with the shape of a basket. I can’t wait to see the finished product,” adds Mutesi. In addition, good governance has seen the opening up of Rwandan space with foreigners encouraged to invest. The effect is that more jobs have been created for Rwandans. “Look at the number of banks and universities being set up all over the country. Banks like Equity and KCB have branches all over the country with mostly Rwandans working in them,” says Mutesi. According to Mutesi, people have woken up. Before, naivety and ignorance characterized Rwanda . Not anymore for people’s eyes are now opened. “Can you believe 20 years ago, many people had no shoes! Today, poverty levels have gone down, people have joined cooperatives and generally the economy has improved,” says Mutesi.

Apr - Jun 2014

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topical feature

Genocides By Martha Ayuma

& lessons

In ‘Shake Hands with the Devil,’ author Romeo Dallaire, Commander of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda(UNAMIR), vividly revisits the frantic efforts he made to New York, the UN headquarters, desperately seeking direction. All was not well. Not well at all. He had intelligence that UN peacekeepers in Rwanda would be provoked to force a withdrawal, men were being trained to kill Tutsis and that a major weapons cache had been created but bureaucracy blocked him from saving hundreds of thousands of lives.

It is 20 years since the terrible happenings visited Rwanda. Blood flowed then. Tears ran freely. Terror was pasted on the faces of innocent men, women and children. Despite this, a society had to soldier on and Rwanda has soldiered on. Reconciliation has seen the light of day in ordinary folk, mostly through Gacaca (citizen-based justice). A city has been rebuilt. Clean water now

flows in this city and the guns and machetes have since died.

Lessons have been learned hence the expression, “Never again.” The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was not unique to history. Sample this:

The remaining warlike Maori tribes soon 10

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came into contact with Americans and Europeans, and while initial meetings sometimes ended in cannibalization of the foreigners, the Maoris highly valued Western guns—so trade flourished. Beginning in 1835, the now well-armed Maori arrived at the Chatham Islands, where they proceeded to murder and devour

Beginning in 1915, while the rest of the world was distracted by World War One, the Ottomans turned fiercely on the Armenians, a Christian minority. Able-bodied men were slaughtered, and women and children were forced to embark on death marches through the Syrian desert. Entire

their defenseless cousins. Those who survived were enslaved, and forced to intermarry with the Maori. In less than thirty years from the moment of contact, there were only 101 Moriori left. The last pure-blooded Moriori died in 1933.

villages were burned to the ground with their inhabitants still inside, and boatloads of Armenians were taken out into the Black Sea and sunk. There were at least two dozen concentration camps established, where poisoning and gassing occurred. Innocent children were injected by Turkish doctors with the blood of typhoid fever patients. It is estimated that between 600,000 and 1.8 million Armenians died.

The Bosnian Genocide

In 1990, Yugoslavia began splintering into republics, leading to intense ethnic tensions and population displacement. The worst of the crimes occurred in the newlyformed Bosnia, with

General Ratko Mladić of the Army of Republika Srpska leading the execution of thousands of Bosnian Muslims and Serbs in an attempt to “ethnically cleanse” the area. Most of them were executed, burnt raped, and even publicly beheaded.

The Holocaust The socioeconomic state of Germany in the years following World War One was on the decline. In the midst of these chaos, Adolf Hitler preached his message of hate, using the Jews

as the scapegoat for Germany’s fall from grace. The rest is etched into history; the Jews were herded into ghettos, and eventually shuttled in train cars to concentration camps, where they were murdered and tortured

THE LESSONS

1. Love covers a multitude

The Maori vs the Morior The Maori have dwelt in New Zealand for some eight hundred years. About five hundred years ago, a group of Maori migrated to the nearby Chatham Islands, where they began their own society and called themselves the Moriori.

The Armenian Genocide

of sin. Somebody may dismiss this as biblical brainwashing but it’s the truth. Better be brainwashed with love than be brainwashed with hatred. The catastrophic results documented above could have been avoided by simple Godly love.

2. Reconciliation is not an option. It is a need. It is a necessity. Rwandans

have made great strides due to reconciliation. This word must beat inside the hearts of men and women everywhere.

3. Salvation does not

come from without but from within. Dallaire tried. Certain NGO’s tried but they could not stop the free fall of peace in Rwanda. It was the RPF that came to the rescue of Rwandans. The world watched as 6m Jews

in the most inconceivable fashion. By 1945, when the camps were liberated, at least six million Jews had been killed.

were murdered, Bosnian and Serbs amongst others perished.

4. God gave us this land.

We have no other land. It must therefore never again be desecrated by the blood of our brethren. When war breaks out anywhere, foreign governments will always evacuate their citizens and leave us to either face the hostility or spill into neighbouring countries as pathetic refugees.

5. Media must never be

allowed to spew hatred among the populace. It can be a tool for peaceful living but also for propaganda. There will always be calls for press freedom but it must always be judged against a country’s needs. If what RTLM broadcasted is what is called freedom, then I don’t want it, especially because it cost us a precious million Rwandans.

Apr - Jun 2014

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cover story

Self reliance &resilience! Even the genocide did not deter her

By Anne Anjao

My name is Dimitrie Sissi Mukanyiligira. I was 22 years old when the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 broke out, which took the lives of my parents, siblings(we were seven) and many of my friends and relatives, mainly in my native village of Kibagabaga, Kimironko Sector in Kigali City. Because the genocide started during the Easter holidays, three of our cousins who were in our home to spend holidays with us were also unfortunately killed. Through the three months of struggle, I experienced many things in many different areas including Muhima Sector, CHUK, Sainte Famille Parish and finally in Kabuga. My people were killed on different days but the most unforgettable days are April 11, April 27 and May 17. Those days were long and horrible. April 11, 1994 was the first time I escaped death. The Interahamwe militia came to our house at around 10.00 am, and told us to lie down and prepare to die. They asked me to say the last prayer for the group. Thereafter, I was horribly beaten and I couldn’t walk after that; I needed support. The Interahamwe told us that they would come back to finish us in the afternoon. This was the beginning of a long period of sleepless nights in the bushes. That was the first time I saw someone killed in front of me, a young taxi operator by the name Justin.

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April 27, 1994 was again a very awful day for me. On that day, they killed my beloved, lovely young brother and I was tortured first before the Interahamwe forced me to spend hours among the fresh bodies in the mortuary of CHUK in Kigali. Perhaps they hoped I would die from lack of oxygen and shock. I will never forget that day for the rest of my life.

More deaths

May 17, 1994 was another terrible day. I barely escaped death in a local church where I was hiding and they killed many people that day while looking for me. They said they would come back later, but when they did, I was no longer there. I was really terrified.

Kibagabaga, Remera, Kimironko and Ndera in April 94. I survived because I was hiding in Muhima, and later in Kabuga. When the then Government of Rwanda and RPF were exchanging “impunzi,” I was lucky enough to be on that list and since Kabuga was in RPF hands, I survived! Just after the genocide ended, when everyone was devastated, hopeless and in deep sorrow, I simply decided to live again in order to make my parents, siblings and relatives proud.

Beauty from ashes

It wasn’t easy at all, especially because there wasn’t much to start with. People who could have supported me had all been killed. Houses lay in ruins and I was emotionally drained. I had many orphaned relatives to take care of. I had to start making strong friendships afresh to help

me deal with all these traumatic moments. From my earnings, I supported ten kids in school. Many of them are employed and have started their own families. Four of them are currently in different universities. The first tough choice I had to make was my decision not to immediately go back to school, despite the fact that I had a scholarship to the University of Rwanda. I decided to look for a job and start work. I started my first job on August 26, 1994, and up to this day I still have a meaningful job. It was only when I had the feeling that we had secured out basic needs that I decided to go back to school. I joined Kigali Institute of Science & Technology (KIST) on an evening program in January 2001 graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management. I also possess two

By the end of it all, my immediate family members lay dead except my two sisters, my brother and 1. They had been murdered in cold blood on different days and different places including Apr - Jun 2014

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customer care

cover story

Masters degrees: Master of Social Science in Gender and Development from KIE and an MBA in Project Management from Oklahoma Christian University.

A prosperous and fulfilling career

On the professional side, I have worked with different organizations such as the Belgian Red Cross, the Canadian Embassy, the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank Group and currently I work with Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. I have also been involved in civil society activities, in different capacities, especially with COOPEDU Ltd. I was among the founders of COOPEDU, a

microfinance institution created in 1997 with the aim of empowering women to achieve socioeconomic development in the aftermath of the Genocide. I then served in its different committees including the Loans and Credit Committee, and Board of Directors and as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. COPEDU has since last year become the Microfinance Society for Women and is no longer a cooperative. It has more than 25,000 members who are able to use its services and realize many of their dreams. I am also involved in real estate and was able to go back to my village and secure a plot where my own children will have a link to their grandparents’ and parents’ childhoods. In my personal life, I am happily married and the mother of five children. I think that hard work,

commitment and hope for a better future gave me the impetus to be self-reliant, and I am very thankful for that. I am sure my parents and relatives are so proud of every single one of my achievements during the last twenty years. I can attest to the fact that their absence made me stronger than ever to stand up and keep the flame of survival burning. I encourage other genocide survivors to still believe in the normal rhythm of life and with commitment and hard work, they will surely achieve their goals.

Forgiveness & Reconciliation

I personally think that reconciliation after the genocide against Tutsi in 1994 is imperative for us to talk about development. It was not easy but I think it was successfully done. I know the perpetrators but I have seen very few of them. I once went to a Gacaca but was not interested and not ready that time to fully participate. If it was today,

I am sure I would be there full time. On forgiveness, I know it’s good to forgive but to never forget. I didn’t forgive anyone because no one has come to ask me to forgive. At that point, I will consider his/her request accordingly. It has to be natural not something that you do for other reasons... otherwise it would be pretense.

What makes you smile?? I am naturally a ve ry happy person. I have many reasons to keep smiling but most importantly I sm ile because I am aliv e. I have a full, happy life with my family and my fr iends. I am happy becaus e I am safe and I know th at my children and gran dchildren will live in a happ y and prosperous coun try where they will never ag ain experience geno cide.

RDB launches new customer care campaign with a focus on business leaders By Athan Tashobya

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has embarked on a new strategy with special focus on Chief Executive Officers and business owners in different sectors to further improve service delivery. This is part of an on-going national campaign dubbed Na Yombi, which is meant to encourage service providers to give excellent customer service. During a consultative session with the private sector last week, business leaders were urged to take the lead in improving customer care in their respective institutions since that it is too costly for the economy to ignore. Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza, the CEO of RDB urged participants to be key drivers in fostering customer-focused standards and services to improve Rwanda’s competitiveness globally.” “Looking at some global indicators, the degree of customer orientation in

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initiative,” he said. Customer care is considered to be one of the key pillars and drivers of economic development and wealth creation. In the new strategy, Rwanda’s bid to foster excellent customer care will be addressed through four pillars namely; communication, training, compliance and monitoring.

Rwanda is still low and it’s our responsibility to change the trend,” she noted. The 2013/14 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index put Rwanda on position 103 out of 140 countries while WEF Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report ranks Rwanda 84th out of 140 countries. As such, this drive is meant to encourage CEOs to be actively engaged with their business and employees

so as to motivate them provide better customer service. According to Hannington Namara, the CEO of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), a drastic improvement in service delivery across all sectors will foster the achievement of development objectives in EDPRS II and Vision 2020. “Rwanda aims at becoming a middleincome country in the next 5 years and this can be achieved if we take the

If implemented, improved customer care is expected to increase the Nation’s GDP by at least US$40 million annually, among other benefits, according to a study carried out by the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR).

health

THE SKIN AS AN ECOSYSTEM Beware of the House Dust Mite

Skin is shed and replaced from within. By the time a human being is 70 years old, he/she will have shed approximately 70 pounds of skin. Below is a skin diagram indicating keratinocytes which is composed of dead keratin packed cells. By Dr Connie Mureithi

Skin supports a wide variety of microorganisms such as special bacteria and yeast. They inhabit the surface and protect people from more dangerous microbes of the skin. Below is a picture of one of the skin’s inhabitant known as house dust mite. It is important to note that we are all hosts of tiny dust mites that accumulate in pillows and cushions. The mite is a cosmopolitan guest in human habitation. They feed on organic detritus such as flakes of shed human skin and flourish in the stable environment of dwellings. House dust mites are a common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. The mite’s gut contains potent digestive enzymes (notably proteases) that persist in their feces and are major inducers of allergic reactions such as wheezing. The mite’s exoskeleton can also contribute to allergic reactions. House dust mites, due to their very small size and translucent bodies, are barely visible to the naked

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eyes. A typical house dust mite measures 0.25–0.3 millimetres (0.010–0.012 in) in length. For accurate identification, one needs at least 10× magnification. The body of the house dust mite has a striated cuticle. Like all acari, house dust mites have eight legs (except the first instar, which has six).

Life cycle The average life cycle for a male house dust mite is 10 to 19 days. A mated female house dust mite can last up to 70 days, laying 60 to 100 eggs in the last 5 weeks of her life. In a 10-week life span, a house dust mite will produce approximately 2,000 fecal particles and an even larger number of partially digested enzymecovered dust particles.

Habitat and food The house dust mite survives in all climates, even at high altitudes. They thrive in the indoor environment provided by homes, specifically in bedrooms and kitchens. However, they survive well in mattresses, carpets, furniture and bedding, with figures around 100–500 animals/g dust. Even in dry climates, house dust mites survive and reproduce easily in bedding (especially in pillows), which takes up moisture from body contact. House dust mites consume minute particles of organic

matter. They have a simple gut; they have no stomach but rather diverticulae, which are sacs or pouches that divert out of hollow organs. Like many decomposer animals, they select food that has been already partially decomposed by fungi.

Symptoms Typical symptoms of house dust mite allergies are itchiness; sneezing; inflamed or infected eczema skin; watering/ reddening eye; sneezing repeatedly and frequently, e.g. on waking up or sneezing 10 or more times; runny nose; and clogging in the lungs.

Treatment Dust mite immunotherapy is still not widespread. If allergic asthmatic children cannot get access to desensitisation, then the best form of treatment for dust mite allergies remains one of avoidance, although this requires a high level of commitment from patient/ parents. It is important however, to maintain use of medication such as antihistamines, corticosteroids or Salbutamol. The environment of bedding is optimal for most dust mites, and comparative studies have shown that the density of dust mites in mattresses is on average greater than 2500/gram of dust. Cleaning beds with most vacuum cleaners will not remove dust mite allergens, but instead throw them into the air

and increase their volatility. Some polyethylene bedding is beneficial as it makes the environment difficult for the dust mites. This bedding should also be breathable and be able to withstand frequent washing. A home allergen reduction plan has been recognized as being an essential part to the management of asthma symptoms, and therefore all aspects of the home environment should be considered (proper vacuuming, use of air cleaners, etc.).. Allergy and asthma sufferers are also often advised to avoid feather pillows due to the presumed increased presence of the house dust mite allergen.

Eradication House dust mites reproduce quickly enough that their effect on human health can be significant. Since dust mites depend on moisture to survive, they are most often found in bedding such as pillows and duvets. Dust mites numbers can be reduced by replacing carpets with flat surfaces that are easier to vacuum and maintaining relative humidity below 50%. Existing mites can be eradicated through ten minutes’ exposure to the lethal temperatures – near 105 °C (221 °F) – in a household clothes dryer or using disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) powder. A side-effect of DOT is irritation of eyes. Apr - Jun 2014

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health

1 Lavender:

Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender and will keep away from this smell. So having a lavender plant in your house or garden is good for keeping away mosquitoes. Rubbing the flowers or leaves of the plant does even a better job in protecting you from mosquito bites. If growing one is impossible, organic lavender oil will do.

Zodiac: This plant

it in the house when you place a pot at the window or anywhere in the house. The plant dies when exposed to direct sunlight. Though it needs some sunshine to thrive, it grows best in a pretty cool environment. The main ingredient in the plant that keeps away mosquitoes is Linalool, thus organic Linalool oil will come in handy if growing the plant isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a possibility.

from Papua is a very good strong repellent for mosquitoes. Rubbing the leaves of the plant on the skin keeps mosquitoes away so does

Lemon grass:

Alternative methods of keeping away

mosquitoes

Also known as mosquito grass, this wonder plant also used as a spice in some cooking, contains Citronella, a contact poison and strong repellent for mosquitoes due to its strong citrus odor. Hence using Citronella oil is an effective way as well.

5 Mint:

Below are some natural or less invasive methods of keeping away mosquitoes, that is, growing plants in your yard or in pots in the house. A number of healthy plants have effects of repelling mosquitoes and these include;

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Also a spice and well known for improving memory, rosemary has a scent that mosquitoes will keep away from. It works well when rubbed on the skin and also as a house plant.

Using Camphor tablets

Extracted from the wood of the Camphor Laurel tree, camphor is a very strong, effective mosquito repellent and has no health effects recorded. Many of you may know it as a good for skin ingredient but there is more to that. The major ingredient in camphor is sulphur.

To use camphor, the most effective way is to use the tablet form. 1 tablet of 50g can work up to a month, simply fill a bowel with water and add the tablet, place it in any corner of the house. Camphor does not dissolve in water but will evaporate to give off a scent that keeps mosquitoes away. After 2 days, you can replace the water and use the old

Neem: It is also a strong

Not only will mint make great flavor especially for juices, rubbing mint leaves on the skin keeps mosquitoes away. So you have all reasons to grow this plant.

By Stella Christ

Growing up in Africa, I know how useful this piece will be for people staying in Africa or planning to travel there. Mosquitoes are one of the biggest problems there as they carry vectors that are disease causing. One of the diseases caused by vectors carried by mosquitoes is malaria. Malaria is one of those diseases still giving Africa and scientists a hard time. It is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium which is transmitted through bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver and then infect the red blood cells. Symptoms include fever, headache and vomiting which appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite, according to the World Health Organization. Well, hopefully one day we shall come up with a vaccine or complete solution but for now let us focus on more preventive measures.

Rosemary:

mosquito repellent that is effective by rubbing on the skin. The oil from the plant can also be used either by use of a diffuser lamps for the house or directly on the skin.

water to mop the house. Also placing the plain tablets in the corner of rooms works quite well. Take care to place it in a place out of reach for children as it is not safe for ingestion especially by kids.

Garlic

Chewing raw garlic or even rubbing the cloves on the skin keeps mosquitoes

away. Just like you may not like the sharp pungent scent from this wonder bulb, neither do the mosquitoes. I know many wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be comfortable with this method but if you have no problem with the smell of garlic go for it. Important to note; pregnant women should first consult with their doctors before using essential oils especially in the first trimester. Apr - Jun 2014

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business

figures from Private sector federation.

Mauritius Investors

pledge strong business ties with Rwanda By our correspondent

Trade volumes between Rwanda and Mauritius could increase as investors from Mauritius pledge strong business partnerships with their counter parts in Rwanda. This was during the Rwanda Mauritius trade bridge that took place in Kigali last month organized by Glassy media ltd and Rwanda development Board. Investors from Mauritius re affirmed their commitment to invest in the country’s 20

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Apr - Jun 2014

Textile, Bio fertilizer, construction and agro processing sectors. Rwanda’s textile, paper bay and bio fertilizer sectors could be boosted further as investors from Mauritius show their interest to invest in the sector.

The construction industry, agro processing, transport and logistics were also sighted as sectors with great business opportunities with high rate of return. Mauritius investors from construction, textile, manufacturing, Leather,

agro processing and Bio fertilizers are in the country for a two day business to business meeting. Currently, trade between the two countries is worth USD500, 000 about Rwf400million according to statistics according to

Michael Nehaldas, Chairman Enterprise Mauritius and Head of the delegation, said that there are still virgin business opportunities in the textile industry, construction and manufacturing the two countries can tap into and take their economies to another level. “Its time for boss countries to put in practice what World Bank doing business report has been telling the world; let us show the world how important it is to do business amongst ourselves. It should not stop at doing business reports but rather take full advantage of what these reports say,” Nehaldas said during the opening ceremony of the two

day work shop between Mauritius and Rwanda in Kigali. He further stressed the need for Rwandan entrepreneurs to embrace business diversification so as to be to meet Mauritius market demand. “You will not be able to full supply international market demand if you don’t diversify your export sector and work towards attracting direct foreign investments and joint partnerships.” Pierre Yeung, Managing director, Paper Plus Ltd, a paper bag manufacturing plant said that he is ready to set up a manufacturing plant once he identifies a potential local investor. “We are here to explore and take advantage of

what World Bank doing business report has been telling us, we want to be part of Rwanda’s successful business story,” Yeung told Business Times. Diane Sayinzoga, Trade Development Division Manager at Rwanda Development Board, said called upon Rwandan entrepreneurs to not only use the meeting as a platform to market their products, but also learn and share experiences with their Mauritius business comrades. “Government is ready and willing to continue reforming the business environment for both

local and international investors so as to cut the cost of doing business and increase productivity in the country.” Mauritius was ranked the best country to do business in Africa by the World Bank Doing Business report 2014, followed by Rwanda. Geoffrey Kamanzi, the head of trade negotiations and facilitation at Private sector Federation said that the meeting is part of the Rwanda and Mauritius memorandum of understanding signed last year in a bid to strengthen ties and promote trade between the two countries. Apr - Jun 2014

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business

business Rwanda’s economic environment received an enormous boost when in the year 2006, the government initiated Special Economic Zones (SEZ), a program designed to deal with private sector constraints such as availability of industrial and commercial land, the cost of energy, limited transport linkages, market access, bureaucracy and availability of skills. By initiating the SEZ, the government pledges to make available land for small and large scale industrial development, as well as reliable, value infrastructure, competitive fiscal and non-fiscal regulations and streamlined administrative procedures. SEZs were also to provide the opportunity to cluster anchor tenants with suppliers and other service providers, eventually creating jobs in skilled sectors and encouraging knowledge transfer and acceleration of Rwanda’s economic activities in general thus improving standards of living for the population. John Bosco Sendahangarwa, the Head of Special Economic Zones Authority of Rwanda (SEZAR), talks to The Diva Magazine about the progress of the Program since its inception.

What is Special Economic Zones?

Creating Investment opportunities through transforming Rwanda’s economy Rwanda’s Special Economic Zones

This is a geographically specified and physically secured area administered by a single body, offering certain incentives including more liberal and simplified economic regulations for businesses to physically locate and operate within it. Special Economic Zones are generally implemented to meet fiscal, social, and infrastructure policy rationales. The most important fiscal goal of an SEZ is to facilitate economic growth through the use of reduced tariffs and more efficient customs controls.

Why the idea was born The idea of establishing Special Economic Zones in Rwanda was essentially to streamline business regulations and provide incentives to investors and businesses as a way of transforming the country’s economy. SEZs have the ability to promote private investment, industry and export growth as they offer quality infrastructure, which is a huge challenge to investors. By ensuring success in implementing the Special Economic Zones program, the country will significantly contribute to Rwanda’s development goals while ensuring that investors find a conducive business climate to operate in. Sendahangarwa says the country’s SEZ has been developed to match international standards and accelerate the economic development of the country, eventually providing job opportunities for Rwandans, especially for the youth. It is worth noting that in Kigali Special Economic Zones(KSEZ), some companies that have started operating have employed a sizeable number of the youth. An impressive six companies have

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started operating and most of these are manufacturing businesses. The attraction of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) comes with so many other advantages; bringing in foreign exchange and promotion of exports. Everything produced in the SEZ is considered as exports even when it is sold in Rwanda’s customs territory because it attracts the application of local duty thereby giving the investors an opportunity to access local market as well. The availability of commodities for local consumption will as well be realized and the creation of competition will translate into affordable prices for products and services. The Kigali Agriculture Park, which was launched by H.E, President Paul Kagame in August 2013 in the first phase of the Kigali Special Economic zone is among the big projects already operating in the KSEZ. It was established to provide efficiency and cost effective handling solutions for grain, seeds and fertilizers in the country, mechanization centres and fish processing plants. For the Special Economic Zones of Rwanda(SEZAR) to live up to their promise to the various SEZ users (investors), developers and operators, it enters into service level agreements with all government institutions such as the Rwanda Revenue Authority, Rwanda Environment Management Authority, EWSA, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the Emigration and Immigration Department, Rwanda Housing Authority among others.

Apr - Jun 2014

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business

These service level agreements will also enable some of these institutions to provide relevant staff to beef up the SEZ one stop shop. After the policy and regulatory framework were in place, the KSEZ was earmarked and investors started buying the plots. It is the only SEZ in the region and plans are underway to have more across the country. For a business to benefit from the SEZ incentives, it has to be credible and bound to contribute to accelerated economic development with no negative effects on the economy. The Kigali SEZ has been developed in two phases. The first phase is built on 98 hectares of land whose plots are fully booked by 61 investors, with all infrastructure developed—roads, water, electricity, communication networks among others. It should however be noted that construction by individual investors in phase one is approximately at 50%but progressing well.

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Fourteen industries are also relocating from the former Gikondo Industrial Park to the Kigali Special Economic Zone. The first group of nine factories are expected to relocate in this year while the remaining big five industries will wait until construction of their premises is completed.

Management

The relocation plan is part of efforts to help existing industries fit into the national industrial policy aimed at creating a conducive environment for industrial development. The second phase is still being developed with infrastructure standing at about 40 with the booking at 60%. From the perspective of SEZAR, the regulatory body, all work is progressing well.

The regulatory authority is an independent agency responsible for planning the national SEZ regime, designation of land as individual SEZs, coordinating with public agencies, licensing and permitting SEZ enterprises (developers, operators and users), monitoring performance and ensuring compliance with SEZ rules and legislations. The current SEZ regulator in Rwanda is the Special Economic Zones Authority of Rwanda (SEZAR).

The KSEZ is managed as a “mixed use” zone and has been designed to accommodate the investments in heavy and light manufacturing industries, large scale industrial plants, commercial wholesalers, chemical, pharmacy and plastics, warehousing, tourism and service industry, ICT and logistics.

Globally, for the SEZ to operate well, the best management practices have to be put in the employ, with the key players being the regulator, developer, operator and user.

Regulator

Developer The developer is generally a private sector entity under a contractual agreement with SEZ and holding the responsibility as the owner to bear the risk and financing of constructing all the necessary SEZ infrastructure

and facilities. The developer also owns this land and is therefore responsible for entering into sale agreements with the various users.

The Operator This is generally a private sector entity under a contractual arrangement with the owner or developer and responsible for the day–to-day management of SEZs and provision of specialized support facilities and services. The developer can also be the operator.

User A private entity engaged in commercial activities in the SEZ and is compliant with the prevailing rules and regulations regarding SEZ. The SEZ user must be a holder of the SEZ status in form of the license provided by the authority.

Networking SEZAR needs team work and cooperation from all stakeholders to fulfill the mandate of accelerating Apr - Jun 2014

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business

inspiration

economic development. It is expected that by the year 2020, significant contribution to Rwanda’s GDP will be generated from the SEZs and its affiliated activities.

In each tear

there is a lesson

To achieve this, all the stakeholders and institutions have to give full support to SEZAR in its efforts to implement the program. This support comes from the cooperation of all government institutions in availing different inputs ranging from approving attractive investment packages, supporting flexible and efficient immigration procedures, environmental management concerns and availability of required utilities. These together with support to the SEZ one stop shops will indeed lead to easing and streamlining procedures thereby reducing bureaucracy and positively accelerating economic development and indeed achieving economic development and poverty reduction.

By Nicole Kayihura

“No pain, No gain”, they say. However much I hate to be hurt or to hurt someone, I have come to agree with what our forefathers said. Indeed not all pain will sink us into the ground forever. Each one of us has had their own share of pain; those moments you never wish to remember. They may be caused by a relationship break up, loss of a beloved one, being fired from work when that job meant everything in life….. the list is endless. Such down moments happen to everyone unless you are immortal. But one thing I have learnt is that these valleys happen to bring out the best in us. All the pains we experience regularly (if not on a daily basis) are destined to make us better people, stronger and wiser. Two years ago, my friend Philip had the worst moment of his life; I should say that he had been fooled. He had met this lady who had everything a real man would wish to find in his dream partner. He had known Liza (not her real name) since high school who had taken his breath away when he

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had proposed to her and she had accepted without hesitation. In a span of one year, Philip was sure that he and Liza were headed for the vows. You don’t want to hear what happened after two months. Well, Philip was shocked to receive an invitation letter to Liza’s wedding with another man he even had no idea about. The whole thing left him puzzled. Imagine dating someone for a year (a best friend if I can assert!) and all the reward you get for loyalty and honesty is an invitation to their wedding. Prior to Liza’s wedding, Philip had kept receiving messages to attend her wedding meetings. So one day he decided to play it cool and attended her last wedding meeting and guess what? The chairperson asked him to take charge of the high table and make sure the

bride and the groom did not lack anything! For some minutes, he thought the chairperson wanted to get down to his nerves but he managed to keep his frustration inside and accepted the task assigned to him. To cut the long story short, neither the bride nor my friend heard what the speeches were about. He could not help giving his ex a ‘why-eye’ and she could not hide the guilt written on her face. Probably one of the most hurting things one can ever feel. However, through it all, one thing remained for Philip for sure, hope. Philip was strong enough to let go. He kept his old friends close and started drowning himself into work in order to forget Liza and all the pain she had caused. Time passed by and Philip’s work paid at last. He

got a job promotion and soon acquired so much experience that gave him the best job as head of marketing at the World Bank. He opened a shop that sold African attires to a bunch of tourists. That is how he met his heaven-sent, a Portuguese kind-hearted young lady, Tamara. Yes, they are happily married and are expecting a girl in midMay. Like Philip, I am sure none of us wants to hurt… but at some point you will realize that such heartbreaks are meant to bring us closer to our dreams or help us wait for what is actually designed to belong to us for life eternal. Mary J Bridge sang; “IN EACH TEAR THERE IS A LESSON.” Indeed in each pain there is most probably a better end; no mistakes or heartbreaks can take away what we are meant to be. Apr - Jun 2014

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family law

Do girls have

equal succession rights as boys?

In the past, the right of succession was governed by traditional culture, which exclusively conferred on boys the right of succession. Although the principle of equality between a girl and a boy was well established in the repealed Constitution of Rwanda and international conventions Rwanda ratified, the equal right of succession between a girl and a boy never featured in any Rwandan legislation. By Fred Nkusi

In 1999, Rwanda enacted a new law of 12/11/1999 law n° 22/99 to supplement book I of the Civil Code and to institute part five regarding matrimonial regimes, liberalities and successions (Official Gazette nº22 of 15/11/1999) enunciating the equal succession right between a girl and a boy, which was a landmark achievement. Prior to discussing further this law, let’s turn briefly on the definition of succession. What is the right of Succession? 28

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According to law n° 22/99 to supplement book I of the Civil Code and to institute part five regarding matrimonial regimes, liberalities and successions in its Article 49, defines succession as an act by which the rights and obligations on the patrimony(property) of the de cujus (the deceased) are transferred to the heir. The provision further prescribes that succession goes through probate at the death of the deceased at his/her domicile or residence. The term “succession” refers to the transmission of the property of a person because of his/ her death. It refers to different concepts. It either indicates a mode of acquisition of rights by which a person or more people replace the deceased person called de cujus or refers to the transferred patrimony, considered as such, i.e. like a universality transmitted with all its active and passive elements. The succession is a legal or voluntary mode of acquiring rights. The transmission of patrimony/ property by succession is either based on the law or on the individual will. When the succession is based on the law, it is called legal or intestate succession (in the absence

of the will). The successors are called heirs. When the succession is based on the individual will, it is a testamentary succession and the successors are called legatees. The unilateral act by which a person states that another will succeed him/her is the testament. Being an act mortis causa (a gift in prospect of death or a deed made in contemplation of death), the effects of the testament occur only at the death of the testator; before the death, the successor does not have any right on the property of the deceased person. The testament is described as the act of the last will because it contains the desires of the deceased person at the moment of death. Turning back to the fundamental question: does a girl have equal succession rights as a boy? As already noted, the equal right of succession is spelt out in Article 50 of the law n° 22/99 to supplement Book I of the Civil Code and to institute part five regarding matrimonial regimes, liberalities and successions, which provides that “all legitimate children of the de cujus, in accordance with civil laws, inherit in equal parts without any discrimination; between male and female children”.

In addition, Article 51 of the foregoing law states that “….when all children have reached the age of majority, they shall equally share the rest of the patrimony initially earmarked for raising the minors.” The above provisions precisely assert the equality of rights of succession between girls and boys, and indeed this equality stems fundamentally from Articles 11 and 16 of the Rwandan Constitution, which guarantee the equality in rights and duties and equal protection before the law without any discrimination whatsoever. Besides, Article 66 of the aforesaid law enumerates the hierarchy of right of succession, which likewise accommodates the equality of succession rights between a girl and a boy: the children of the de cujus (the deceased), the father and mother of the deceased, the full brothers and full sisters of the deceased, the halfbrothers and half-sisters of the deceased, and the uncles and aunts paternal as well as maternal of the deceased. Clearly, the provision reflects the equal right of succession of both girls and boys. So, the

discrimination against girls that characterized Rwandan society came to a full stop as a result of adopting the current succession law. At the international level, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), respectively, recognise the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of civil rights, among others. The Preamble of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women also prohibits any forms of discrimination against women. African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights equally forbids any forms of discrimination against woman and child and also guarantees equal protection and enjoyment of the same rights. Rwanda, as a signatory to the foregoing international agreements, is bound by its international obligations. Likewise, it has a bounden duty to ensure the effective implementation of the equal enjoyment of right of succession without any forms of discrimination against girls. Author: Lecturer, Fred Kennedy NKUSI, LLM,LLB

Apr - Jun 2014

THE DIVA

interior design

Focal

Points

A Practical & affordable way to give your home a facelift By Efua Hagan

If you are looking for a practical and affordable way to give your home a facelift, creating a focal point is your solution. A well designed room should have an eye catching focal point. A focal point is the place that will draw your attention the most upon entering a room; it is the heart of a roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s composition and should be the main focus. Creating a stunning focal point in a room can be an effective way to reenergize a space.

Identifying and Creating a Focal Point Focal Points vary and depending on your personality and taste, they can either be dramatic or simple. In some cases, a room will have a strong architectural feature. For example, an exposed brick wall or beautiful

staircase that can serve as an excellent focal point. If there is no strong architectural feature to act as a focal point, one can always be created. The first step to creating a focal point is to identify an area of a room that oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye will naturally gravitate towards upon entry. For example, a wall that faces the main

entrance or a large window with a stunning outside view. The next step is to accentuate it into something eye catching. Read on for insightful tips on creating focal points and how to transform a room in simple and effective ways.

Outdoor views A large window or group of windows together makes a fantastic focal point. Our eyes are always drawn to natural light and the movement created by landscape, a skyline or other outdoor elements. If you have a decent view or a good source of natural light, this may be your focal point in a space. Where this is the case, organize the furniture in a way which allows you face the beautiful scenery and take full advantage of it.

Furniture Creating a focal point by using furniture can also work well. In a room with no distinguishing architectural features, consider the largest piece of furniture, for example a bed, a sofa, or a dining table, and make it into your focal point. Develop this focal point by accessorizing on it or around it. For example in the case of a bed, the wall directly behind it can be accessorized to draw more emphasis to the bed. A wall hanging or a large mirror with a uniquely carved wooden frame can be hung on this wall for a complete look.

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Apr - Jun 2014

Small rooms should be kept tidy to maintain an airy feel

Walls Since walls cover a large surface area they can be used to create a desired mood and an attractive point for the eyes. A large empty wall can be transformed into a focal point especially if it is the wall facing the main entrance. Paint the wall that will act as a focal point in a different colour from the other walls and consider accessorizing it with artworks or shelves which will display a unique array of decorations and/or picture frames. This is an effective way to create an instant and stunning focal point in a room.

Integrating a TV set Treating the TV set on its own as a focal point is tempting. However, a TV is not a

desirable focal point. In a living room, integrate the TV set into a focal point; however be careful that it does not become the main focus but rather an addition. Re-arrange the furniture so that they face the focal point. Creating a focal point in a room can be simple and less tedious than you may think. It is important to keep in mind that there should be only one main focal point in a room. All other items in the room should complement and enhance a focal point rather than compete with it for visual attention.

1-2. Here, colourful wall hangings and cushions all contribute to drawing attention to the main point of focus, the sofa. 3. Use colour to create a desired mood 4. A bedroom where pillows and wall art have been used to enhance the bed- which is the main point of focus. 5. Shelving is a simple and quick way to fill up a blank wall.

Apr - Jun 2014

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career

2. When Setting Expectations for Employees, Establish the Right Outcomes

What

Great

Managers Do Differently By Claire Aduvuka

As a Human Resource professional, I have had the privilege of interviewing many candidates for various jobs. When I ask the candidates where they see themselves 5 years from now, most of them happily say they envision themselves as great managers in their respective fields. Most of us aspire to be great managers but may not necessarily know how. Great managers go above and beyond and break every rule perceived as “conventional wisdom,” when dealing with the selection, motivation, and development of employees. Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman wrote the book, First, Break All The Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently, which presents the findings of the Gallup organization’s interviews with over 80,000 successful managers. One of the most powerful findings in their study about successful management is that each “great” manager was identified based upon the performance results he produced in his organization. Buckingham and Coffman identify four twists on By our correspondent

conventional approaches which further define the differences in tactics espoused by great managers:

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1. Select People Based on Talent During the Gallup interviews, great managers stated that they selected staff members based on talent, rather than experience, education, or intelligence. Gallup defined “talents” by studying the talents needed to achieve in 150 distinct roles. Human Resource professionals can support line managers more effectively by recommending methods for identifying talents such as realistic testing and behavioural interviewing. When checking employee background, look for patterns of talent application. For example, did the candidate develop every new position she ever obtained from scratch?

According to this book, great managers assist each individual to establish goals and objectives that are congruent with the needs of the organization. They help each employee define the expected outcomes, what success will look like upon completion. Then, they get out of the way.

Compensate for staff weaknesses. For example, you can find the employee a peer coaching partner who brings strengths he may lack to an assignment or initiative. Human Resources professionals can assist by problem solving with managers who seek ideas for managing around weaknesses. You can make certain individual strengths are nurtured by designing reward, recognition, compensation, and performance development systems that promote a work environment in which people feel motivated to contribute.

In my experience, most work is performed by people 4. Find the Right Job Fit for Each who are not under the constant supervision of a Person manager. Given this fact, it makes sense to let the employee determine the right path to walk to A manager’s job is not to help every individual accomplish his or her objectives. The manager he employs grow. His job is improving will want to establish the critical path performance. To do this, he has to and the check points for feedback, but identify whether each employee is Traditionally, to micromanage the employee is a in the right role. Additionally, he people felt the only big mistake. The manager will drive needs to work with each person growth in the work himself crazy and lose good people to determine what “growing in place was “up” the who feel she doesn’t trust them. his role,” and thus his ability to promotional ladder. contribute to performance within This is no longer true, Human Resource professionals can the organization, means. and I doubt if it was support this approach to management ever best practice by coaching managers in more For some people, this may mean thinking. participative styles. You can establish reaching for a promotion; for others, reward systems that recognize managers it means expanding the current job. who develop the abilities of others to perform and Traditionally, people felt the only growth in the produce stated outcomes. work place was “up” the promotional ladder. This is no longer true, and I doubt if it was ever best practice thinking. Buckingham and Coffman state, “create heroes 3. When Motivating an Individual, in every role.” Focus on Strengths Great managers appreciate the diversity of the people in their work group, state Buckingham and Coffman. They recognize that “helping people become more of who they already are,” since each person has unique strengths, will best support their success. They focus on an individual’s strengths and manage around his weaknesses. They find out what motivates each staff member and try to provide more of it in his work environment. As an example, if challenge is what your staff member craves, make sure he always has one tough, challenging assignment. If your staff member prefers routine, send more repetitive work in his direction. If he enjoys solving problems for people, he may excel in front-line service.

The Human Resource professional must maintain a thorough understanding of positions and needs across the organization, to help each individual experience the right job fit. Familiarize yourself with the talents and capabilities of each person in your organization. Keep excellent documentation of testing, job applications, performance appraisals, and performance development plans. Develop a promotion and hiring process which supports placing people in positions that “fit.” As a Human Resources professional, if you can assist the managers and supervisors in your organization to understand and apply these concepts, you will help create a successful organization of strong, talented contributing people. And, isn’t that the type of workplace you’d like for yourself as well?

Apr - Jun 2014

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lifestyle

lifestyle 1. Have a clear goal.

Living

by the right principles Your life is the most important enterprise for you. And guess what, YOU are the manager of this enterprise! As a manager you should carry out the following duties: planning, making decisions, organizing, controlling, and motivating. You cannot delegate these roles. You cannot expect others to manage your life for you. By Judith achieng

The large picture of the goal of your life must be visual, and the specific objectives drawn from the goal must be SMART! (S- specific; M- measureable; A- achievable; R- reasonable; T- have a time scope.) Keep the complete picture within the range of your daily vision, where you can look at it to keep you focused. Your goal is to be healthy and fit? One of your specific objectives could be ‘lose 2kg in a month’. Is that specific? Yes it is. You know exactly how much to lose. Is it measurable? Yes it is. You can weigh yourself to determine the amount you have lost. Is it achievable? Yes it is. You have given yourself ample time to work on it. Is it reasonable? Yes it is. The amount you look to shed is not way too much. Is it within a specified time? Yes it is. You have a month to work on it.

2. Be willing to ignore certain things

• Determine to down-play your weaknesses instead of glorifying them. Learn from your mistakes, but by all means get up and move on. Instead raise your dominant strength. Do not punish yourself, learn to forgive yourself. Motivate yourself by focusing on your strengths rather than your weaknesses. • Ignore the offences of others. It is not possible or wise to try to correct everyone’s mistake. Rise above others’ offences. Use the pain as a reminder to avoid a similar situation. Identify quickly what you cannot change and let it be. You can decide to stop meditating on all the hurt others have inflicted on you. • Ignore focus disruptors. Many times when you think you have your goal in place, you get bombarded with other seemingly lucrative ideas. If you are not steadfastly focused on your goal, you will be derailed through confusion. Like one chasing the wind, you will catch nothing.

3. Pay close attention to your decisions.

Decision making is one of the most important tasks of any manager. You can never delegate this to anyone. Whatever you decide to do is important because it determines your success. When you fail or stagnate, look closely, you will see that you can trace it back to the decision(s) that you made. Your decision will determine your success, your peace, your joy, even your health. • When you decide not to react angrily to the provocations thrown at you, then you will be at 34

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• • • • •

peace. When you decide to look for the positive in all situations, you will be joyful. When you decide to eat healthy and exercise, you will be healthy. When you make the right financial decisions, you will prosper. When you decide to keep the right company, you will be positioned for wholesome relationships. When you decide to trust in God, you will find His favor.

4. Be single minded

Identify your strength and emphasize that. Pursue that concept/idea. Do not cram too many ideas as these will rob you of focus. Ever heard of the expression ‘working smart’? It’s not the amount of physical work you do that yields success, rather it’s the decisions that you make, right from the beginning, that put you on the right plane.

5. Do unto others what you would like God to do unto you.

Many communities and religions round the globe long discovered this as a valuable principle. The Asians know the benefit of this and are great with charitable work. Point to note: it is not the favor you extend to someone motivated by the knowledge that they will return the favor to you. This would simply be lending. Rather, it is freely extending favor not expecting from that person, but from God himself. There is indeed joy in helping especially when you do it for one who really needed it. So, determine to look out for such opportunities around you.

5. Keep your house in order

Organize your resources. Your resources include the ideas that you conceive in your mind. You need to manage these by organizing them. Prioritize them. Consolidate those that are connected and lead to your one main goal. Map out the specific objectives from these ideas and see how they fit into the large picture. Do not discard the rest. Keep them safe- jot them down and store them for the future.

6. Execute your belief

Roll out the plan. Step out and dare to put your plan to action.

7. Keep focused to the end

Always finish what you begin. Many times we give up too soon, or just before a break-through. Determine to have the power of stay. Apr - Jun 2014

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mantalk

mantalk I have always wondered how to answer my lady pals each time they asked me what gift to get a guy. My position has always been that it depends on the guy and what he likes since all men are not the same. There is never an out of the box answer to a gift that you can get a man. It all boils down to what kind of guy he is and what he likes or loves. Therefore by the time you get him a gift, you should take some time and get to understand what kind of person he is and what he loves to do as that may give you a hint on what to get him especially for Valentine, his birthday or any other occasion.

Gadget Guys This type of guy loves his gadgets very much and even owns them all from high end phones, home

electronics, pads, laptops, cameras and the like. He cannot do without gadgets and always feels naked without them. He is thus very easy to read so an upgrade of any of his gadgets or a gadget that he has been eyeing would definitely make an excellent gift and you would not go wrong with any of those. This can however be costly but if you have the budget for it, they are a great buy.

Gamers

By Jesse Kimani

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Apr - Jun 2014

This one has never outgrown games and despite his day job and family, he will always unwind with games either at home or at the office. Many of these either end up as techies or designers

and are therefore able to still play with their day jobs. This guy is always excited with each new conquest just as much as games are always being churned out. It is therefore also easy to get him a gift which can simply be a new version of the game he loves or an upgrade of his current game like a PS3 up from a PS2.

jumping, white water rafting, hiking, rock climbing, scuba diving, the list is endless. This guy will try it all and does not limit himself to one activity and will appreciate the consideration and see that you understand him and would not mind your company in some of those activities that you can manage.

Outdoor/ Adventure Seekers

Car Guys

This type of guy loves the outdoors and is an adrenaline junkie and will rarely be found indoors whenever he has free time. He is always seeking for activities that will give him an adrenaline rush and that

arouse the sense of adventure as well as danger. He is also easy to get a gift, which may vary from gear depending on what he loves or a paid pass to some of the outdoor activities like the king swing, bungee

They are the majority of all guys but among these are those who sleep, dream and live cars. This type of guy is always building his cars in his mind and will always attend different car events both day and night. He loves his car(s) and will always be

seen caring for it as if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a baby. His choice of gifts would be anything from a set of tools, car magazines and series like Top Gear and 5th Gear or even an opportunity to attend a car event or even a rally.

Art Guys

This type of guy normally varies from designer to artist whether digital or traditional. He is highly creative and thus needs proper understanding before you get him a gift since each art guy feels he is very different. He actually likes unique stuff. When you buy a gift for any of them, you should take into consideration what they aspire for and what they use on their day to day craft. Gifts may include customized gifts i.e drawing books, paint brushes, canvas sets and an artwork from an artist who inspires them or they look up to.

General Gifts

In as much as the list may not be exhaustive of the type of guys that are there, there are always gifts that can fit a variety of men and are always safe bets for any occasion and are things that any guy will always appreciate. These include an original designer watch, a customized notebook, a great novel if the guy is a reader, shoes, a tweed/corduroy jacket, a belt, a wallet, movies and electronics i.e a phone, a camera, accessories and the like. Apr - Jun 2014

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gender

Who says

girls can’t do math? By Claire Aduvuka

People say all sorts of things. The tragedy is that the more they say them, the more you actually consider and believe them! This is what happened to me as far as Math was concerned. I was those ‘dumb’ kids in Math class, to the extent I switched off and started reading novels. Until my final secondary examinations which required me to pass Math to gain admission to the next level. I got a friend in the last two weeks who tried his best to tutor me and mercifully, I managed to scrape by with a D. 38

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Apr - Jun 2014

59 per cent of women do. Thinking I had put Math Their confidence has no behind me, I went to doubt been dented during university to study a course unrelated to Math. I their own childhoods by the makers of Barbie would however get a rude shock when I saw statistics dolls – who produced a “Teen Talk Barbie” which on the timetable and announced, straight there I was sitting after “I love in another shopping” Math class, For once in my that “math listening life, I resolved to class is but never conquer the world tough”, and getting of Math. I would by retailers anywhere. wake up at 4.30am The and engage in Math who continue to assignment problems for 2 adorn pink was easy hours! girlie T-shirts enough because with the words I just got some clever “Allergic to Algebra”. mathematician to do it for me. The Continuous Elizabeth Truss, Education Assessment Tests and Minister said that in the exams were another past, girls have been ball game altogether. For let down by outdated once in my life, I resolved assumptions about what to conquer the world of they are good at. Surveys Math. I would wake up gathered alongside the at 4.30am and engage in Math problems for 2 hours! Pisa tests (The Programme I struggled. I fought. Finally, for International Student Assessment) show that I began to understand it, girls are much more and yes, I even started likely than boys to have a enjoying it. I would now perception of themselves occupy the front seat in as being bad at Math. the lecture hall and follow each and everything the I believe these stereotypes lecturer said. That A at the are historical and cultural end of the semester came where what is heavy to as no surprise. digest is attributed to boys who are said to be According to www. more muscular than girls. telegraph.co.uk, the Separation of duties in the stereotype that Math is days of yore automatically a “boy subject” is deepassigned hunting duties rooted and enduring. to men while women A survey for the newly tended to their babies and launched campaigning prepared food. Thus, these group, National Numeracy, habits are handed down to showed that, while 71 generations and the belief per cent of men describe continues where women themselves as “good or are even said not to be excellent” at Math, only

good enough to change a tire! We need to look no further than our national exams. When results are released, we are usually fed with news of the many boys’ schools that excelled in Math, Physics and Chemistry while girls schools led in English, History, Social Studies etc. It is this divide that slowly works its way into a girl’s mind to think she just can’t do Math.

‘We found that boys — as well as girls — tend to do better in Math when raised in countries where females have better equality, and that’s new and important,’ says Janet Mertz, senior author of the study and a professor of oncology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

This warped myth of the girl being too weak to have a clear look at mere numbers must be debunked. A mother to a This notion was however friend of mine did actually dispelled in 2013 in debunk this myth. England when She was girls’ schools a Math dominated teacher Separation of the top of in a duties in the days of the league girls’ yore automatically tables for assigned hunting duties GCSE in to men while women Math, with tended to their babies three out national and prepared food. of the four school top spots taken where her by selective state subject always girls’ schools according to came first with over data from the Department 90% of the girls scoring for Education, as reported grade A. A principal of in The Guardian of 23rd another school moved January,2013. heaven and earth to have According to the Daily Mail my friend’s mother posted of 13th December, 2011, to her school. The same scientists have previously ‘miracle’ was repeated. believed that the relatively Here was a woman low numbers of women teaching Math and turning in high-level mathematics things around. Today, those could be due to biological girls are giving boys a run differences between men for their money in Math. and women. But a new, international study at the Who says girls can’t do University of WisconsinMath? Madison has cast doubt on the idea that the differences are biological at all. Apr - Jun 2014

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relationships

relationships school where I studied and she always kept tabs on me. If I hadn’t done my homework the previous night, she would know about it by 10am that day. In high school, her high hopes for me never diminished either; the first time I was expelled from school she offered her prayers and counseling and the second time she re-assured me of my intelligence. I am now at the university and even though I pay my own tuition, her concern has never faded. I couldn’t ask for more.

My Mother, My Very Own Diva

By Kustom

I really hate funerals and contrary to what you are thinking, it has nothing to do with the deceased. What I don’t like is the hypocrisy behind it all. It’s annoying how everyone always has something nice to say about you but never anything negative as if you were a perfect being. I’ll have to stop you there before you get the wrong idea; Mama has neither passed away nor will she anytime soon. She is still going strong but I am writing this in the hope that when she reads it, tears of joy will roll down her eyes because she will realize I have tried to reciprocate a fraction of the love she has shown me over the years while she is still alive. I have never really been a fan of education so I don’t take it as seriously as I should or as most people would wish me to. I guess I am more of a practical person and prefer to do rather than think. So today I am going to swallow my pride and admit that I wouldn’t be on the track to graduation without my biggest believer: my mother. Mother always stood by me through my journey in school. When I was in primary school, she taught at the

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Apr - Jun 2014

However the biggest inspiration she ever offered was when she practiced what she preached and abandoned a career of over 10 years in her 50’s and picked up her pen and paper to pursue a Diploma in counseling. It is her graduation that challenged me to do better than her. Today she is a practicing counselor while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Counseling and still promising to embark on her masters in future! However, I am still not all for theory and am not yet in love with the education process. I guess you could say I like doing things differently. But I am very proud of her regardless. I look up to her in more ways than one. She has the kindest of hearts and she will always be my very own Diva.

My Father, My Hero, My Inspiration As a child I had so many fantasies and dreams of what and who I wanted to be when I grew up. Of course they always fluctuated depending on what cartoons I was watching. Some days I was the Superman of tomorrow. On others, it was Batman, Spiderman and sometimes even the great hulk. Months later I was more focused on becoming the Zinedine Zidane of my generation. Unfortunately, I never grew to become any good at football or any other sport for that matter. I guess you could say God’s gift to me wasn’t sports related. Years later I have moved on and gotten myself a more permanent and realistic living hero to live up to. This man will not die because his ratings have gone down; he will forever live within me for as long as I am breathing. He doesn’t fly, run through buildings or perform miracles but what an impact he makes to the lives of those around him. He has the heart of

that I am now a fully an angel, the patience grown adult. However, the of a tortoise and the feeling or assurance that I intelligence of Einstein himself. I can’t explain how can always count on him at any time is more than he does it but he fills a comforting. In many ways certain void in my life and he is more powerful than never fails to put a smile all my childhood fictional on my face no matter the heroes; he isn’t crippled occasion or situation. by kryptonite, his powers He’s been there from aren’t triggered by rage the beginning, never or anger and they weren’t fighting for my attention developed by a mad but always giving me scientist in his lab. His his instead. He has seen power is God given and its it all; my smiles and my love. tears and he He is my best is always friend. Every cheering time I think me It is nature that about him, on or I realize I brings men and women together and want to grow to be the power of nature just like my is immense. father and the closer I get the happier I feel. You are probably comforting wondering what business me depending on the an anonymous writer has moment. He made praising his mentor in an decisions for me when I article but somewhere wasn’t capable of making right now my old man is them myself and advised me about the right choices reading this and knows how much he means to in life. me. Can you say the same It still puzzles me that about yours? he still looks over my shoulder despite the fact Apr - Jun 2014

THE DIVA

Talk to

Aunt Umulisa ways are causing us agony.

above fits the description of a

He needs to be told that

My husband lost his very

teenager struggling to find his

after the sessions, he needs

I am 35 and married with

expensive phone and tablet

footing. It is understandable

to pull himself together, go

3 children. My husband

at home under mysterious

that a teenager hasn’t fully

back to school, get a job or

and I are happily married

circumstances. Money also

understood himself and is

do business and move out of

and it’s now 10 years since

disappears once in a while.

grappling with the challenges

your house.

our wedding. There is one

We smell a whiff of cannabis

of puberty. But a 30 year old

major challenge however:

sativa often enough. Now my

exhibiting the behavior of a

Should he refuse all these,

my brother (Joseph). He is

husband has insisted he goes

teenager is unacceptable.

then with a heavy heart, let

30 years old and lives with

but I disagree. My brother

us. Sadly, his presence is

has a problem and needs

The negative effects are

There is a Kiswahili saying,

beginning to cause a strain in

help. What do I do?

already there: loss of

Asiyefunzwa na mamaye

property and evidence of

hufunzwa na ulimwengu,

drugs. Who knows if it will

loosely translated, he who

not eventually run you in

refuses his mother’s counsel

with the police?

will be taught by the world.

Dear Aunt Umulisa,

my marriage. Joseph is what we call a troubled person.

Clarisse

He has never settled. Many

him go back to the jungle.

are the times our parents

Dear Clarisse,

would be called to his school

30 years old, and not settled?

for this or that reason

Yes, your brother has a very

You need to have a serious

out. You will be pained, you

such as fighting with other

big problem. Unfortunately

talk with him. You can do it

will be worried, but you will

students or teachers, stealing

for you, I do agree with

yourself or seek the help of

survive. If he must go to

someone’s phone or simply

your husband. Not because

an elder. The first thing your

jail, so be it. Sometimes we

playing truant. Consequently,

we want to abandon your

brother needs to do is seek

interfere with God’s plans.

he never finished Senior 4.

brother but because he does

the services of a counselor.

Who knows what lessons God

My dad was hard on him-he

not need to be handled with

There are countless drug

has for him inside that jail

gave Joseph an ultimatum:

kid gloves any longer. Your

centres he can visit and a

cell that will change your

either go back to school or

brother has simply refused to

programme will be drawn up

brother forever?

leave. My brother chose to

grow up. He can’t be allowed

for him. If not, he can simply

leave but had nowhere to

to go on this way because he

have therapy sessions, but

Your brother is not your

go. All he did was roam

will only be your source of

away from home.

responsibility. He is your

the streets and commit

frustration every day of your

criminal acts. I would get

life. The other possibility is

Another option your brother

they have released him to the

phone calls that he had been

that he is hooked on drugs

has is be hooked up with a

wild, who are you to stand in

arrested and would rush to

and needs help.

pastor with counseling skills

the way? Let go, Clarisse.

bail him out. I sympathized

He must shape up or ship

parents’ responsibility. If

where he will be put through A person in his 30’s is either

him to come live with us. It

married or planning to.

them to auntumulisa@gmail.

has been 3 months but his

What you have described

com

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Apr - Jun 2014

It is a great work, good content selection, great paper quality, nice font selection, great picture and color. I would wish however that you add two or three pages for men. We too love the magazine. Emmy Aine, Kampala-Uganda. I have not come across The Diva magazine in a long time. But it is surely a very nice magazine, a hope for Rwanda’s print media. Ivan Ngoboka, Journalist I think The Diva is the best platform for women to communicate their successes as well as the challenges they are faced with in the developing world. I wish many Rwandans had access to the magazine to appreciate and be inspired by what our women are achieving in different sectors. Richard Ndayambaje, Kacyiru. People surely need to read and get informed. And in this regard, The Diva is informative enough, leave alone being inspirational and creative. Wait a minute, how often is it published? We need a monthly copy, please! Sandrah Umutoni, Kicukiro. Dear Diva, can’t you just come up with a men’s column? I am sure we (men) would be interested to have a say on some of the articles published in the magazine. I hope my sincere request shall be put into immediate consideration, thanks. Ndungutse, Kimironko. The first page is so attractive; it is very appealing to readers. I must confess that it drew my attention to read the inside pages, which were also interesting. That’s the kind of print-out a reader would wish to encounter. Something that is so attractive. I like the colors too, and the stories are really good. Rachael Levy, Nairobi-Kenya

Do you have queries? Send

with him and requested

a regiment.

Your Feedback!

The Diva magazine, we need to see more inspirational stories, especially life stories from people who have been exemplary in various specialities. Just to inspire all levels of reading audiences, let’s say the youth. We all have dreams but we need people to inspire us so we can put our dreams to reality. Otherwise the Diva magazine is such a blessing to our nation. Anna Akaliza, Kimironko.

Compiled by, ATHAN TASHOBYA. Apr - Jun 2014

THE DIVA

food

Baked chicken breasts for two

By Judith Achieng MAKES: 2 SERVINGS TOTAL PREP TIME: 35 NUTRITION PROFILE: DIABETES APPROPRIATE / LOW CALORIE / LOW SODIUM / HEALTY WEIGHT

Method:

Ingredients: •

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts , trim off fat

•

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

•

1/8 teaspoon salt

•

3 tablespoons shredded Swiss cheese

•

1 tablespoon reduced-fat cream cheese

•

2 tablespoons coarse dry whole-wheat bread crumbs

•

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley or thyme or any

other herb of your choice

•

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil/ cholesterol free oil

•

2 tablespoons chopped ham

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Apr - Jun 2014

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 2. Sprinkle chicken with 1/8 teaspoon pepper and salt. Combine cheese and cream cheese in a bowl. Combine the remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper with bread crumbs, parsley (or thyme) and 1 teaspoon oil in another bowl. 3. Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a medium, ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Move the chicken to the center so the pieces are touching. Spread with the cheese mixture, sprinkle with ham, and then top with the bread crumb mixture. Bake until the chicken is no longer pink in the center.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE

Smoothie If you are anything like me, you probably desire to be fit, trim and healthy, but lack the stamina to sustain a physical regime. How many times have we paid up at a gym, start off with vigor only to give up soon enough? Dieting is an option, but the diet programs are either too boring or too expensive to maintain. A child once lamented to the mother, “Mom, why is everything healthy so yucky?” Well, a friend shared with me the secret of the fruit and vegetable smoothie, and I am happy to share it with you. It is filling, it is invigorating, it is tasty, and most importantly, it is healthy. A glass before every meal will ensure that the portions you take of the main meal will be controlled. The beauty of it is that you can throw in the combination of fruits and vegetables of your taste. I will suggest a few combinations: 1. 1-2 banana, 1 green apple, a slice of pineapple chopped, ½ avocado, 1 stick of celery, 300 ml of yoghourt 2. 1 Mango, small beetroot, 1-2 lemon, stick of celery, 300ml of yoghourt 3. 2 leaves of Kale/spinach, 4 passion fruits de-stoned, a slice of pineapple, bunch grapes, 3ml of skimmed milk • you may use honey to taste or a bit of sugar • drink freshly made Apr - Jun 2014

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pictorial

pictorial CEO’s Breakfast - RDb /NA YOMBI

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Apr - Jun 2014

MAURITIUS - RWANda BUSINESS

Apr - Jun 2014

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