CURRENT NEWS OF THE COMMISSION

SECOND DEBATE ON THE ACTIVITIES AND BEHAVIOUR OF POLITICAL LEADERS AFTER TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

(23rd June 2002)

For the second time the Commission in charge of drafting the Constitution and reviewing other Laws organized a discussion programme on the activities and general behavior of the political leaders after the transitional period.

This discussion programme was conducted in the Cultural Centre of Gitarama and lead by the Executive Secretary of the Commission Dr. MUTSINZI Jean. The eight Political parties that attended the discussion are those which are registered in Rwanda that include RPF Inkotanyi , MDR , PSD, PL, PDC, UDPR and PSR.

In the opening ceremony the Prefect of Gtirarama Province Mr. NSENGIYUMVA Fulgence welcomed the participants and emphasized on the decentralization programme and asked the people of Gitarama to support the Commission to achieve its objectives.

On the part of the Commission the Executive Secretary of the Commission explained that the political parties have an important role in the management of the country, he continued to explain that the role they have may be bad or good as it had been noticed in the history of our country. As an example, he said that our commission has been conducting programmes with different categories of people on the process of drafting the Constitution, and citizens criticized and showed the negative attitude towards political parties basing on their background.

In the programme that was broadcasted on the radio, the political heads of different parties accepted the negative views of citizens about the political parties but political heads didn't suggest that there shouldn't be political parties and when we understand that political parties leads to democracy in Rwanda. Some political heads noticed that political parties are not bad but the political leaders are the ones with bad Behavior aiming to promote their own interests. They narrated that some of the political parties together with RPF Inkotanyi fought dictatorial regime which led to Genocide whereby about 1 million people died.
The Government of National unity made a long term plan of enhancing the process of unity and reconciliation among the Rwandans and aiming to eradicate the habit of impunity.

The political heads agreed with the citizens that political activities before were not good but since the Government of National unity was installed the political parties have been working together in Forum in order to rebuild and reconstruct the country.

In order to accept the political parties to work the citizens asked if they had been given the working conditions so that there should be great difference between the former parties and the present.

The political heads accepted the views of the citizens and agreed to work together in Forum as they have been doing avoiding to interfere with the citizens . They agreed to certain penalties to any political head who will not follow the conditions put in place.

In conclusion the representatives of the political heads thanked the Commission that has continued to assist in answering questions to Rwandans who still have negative attitudes towards political parties so that Rwanda would not go back in a havoc situation as before and promised to continue contributing views aiming to achieve a better constitution that suits all Rwandans.