December 2015

Thursday, 31 December 2015

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, takes on this moment to thank all party members, supporters, the media fraternity, Government of Rwanda, the International community, the Global Greens Family and the general public for the different support accorded to the party during 2015. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda consolidated its gains from 2014 and achieved key milestones during 2015. We are hopeful that 2016 will be a year of greater achievements. DGPR has established party structures in 15 districts and in all provinces in the country. Our Goal in 2016 will be to finalise the establishment of party structures in the remaining 15 districts. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda successfully conducted a training on Gender Mainstreaming in politics and environment for members of the political bureau on 14th March 2015. This training focused on: the role of women in decision making towards economic development, the role of women and girls in environmental protection and the role of women in public administration. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, submitted a petition to the Rwandan Parliament against the proposed amendment of lifting the presidential term limits from the Constitution on 13th May 2015. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda on 3rd June 2015, filed a lawsuit to the Supreme Court demanding it to stop the plans of changing the constitution specifically the non- lifting of presidential term limits, whose final judgement was pronounced on 8th October 2015. Having not received a favourable judgement from the Supreme Court, the party petitioned the President of the Republic on the same matter on 14th October 2015. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda on 17th October 2015, successfully trained its political bureau members on participatory democracy, human rights and elections. The party leaders were trained on their role in the promotion of free and fair elections, promotion of human rights in Rwanda and their active involvement in participatory democracy. The Party also awarded certificates to 24 graduates of the Youth Political Leadership Academy organised by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations in Rwanda on 17th October 2015. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, appealed to the National Public Prosecution Authority on 20th October 2015, to take over from the National Police the dossier of the Party’s Ex-National Organising Secretary, Jean Damascene MUNYESHYAKA, who went missing on 27th June 2014 in Nyamata town, Bugesera District. The National Public Prosecution authority has been requested to finalise those investigations, and let the public know whether, Mr. Jean Damascene Munyeshyaka is still alive or already dead. DGPR will continue to pursue this case in 2016. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda was able to participate in its first national election, which was the 2015 constitutional referendum held on 18th and 19th December 2015. The party called upon its members and Rwandans in general to cast a NO VOTE during the referendum, although, it was not able to conduct its planned nationwide NO-CHANGE Campaign. Looking ahead to 2016, the party will continue to work towards achieving a peaceful transfer of power in Rwanda and will start preparing for the upcoming Presidential elections in 2017, Parliamentary elections in 2018 and the Senators’ elections in 2019. On behalf of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, we wish to thank you all for supporting the democracy cause in Rwanda. Please accept our best wishes to you and your families for a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year 2016. -DGPR, 31st December 2015 -

Friday, 18 December 2015

Rwandans have casted their votes in a national referendum aimed at maintaining the incumbent President to be elected for three more presidential terms. The National Electoral commission has announced victory for that constitutional change. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda takes note of the referendum results. However, the manner in which the election was held did not guarantee a level playing field, since the cabinet issued a one-week short notice for the referendum to be conducted, this would not be enough time for a meaningful campaign. The National Electoral Commission also confirmed that campaigns were not permitted, meaning that the Party’s NO CHANGE campaign would be illegal. However, members of parliament were able to campaign for a YES vote during their national sensitization program. The Democratic Green Party will continue the democratic struggle and ensure that Rwanda will have sustainable peace, security and development. The Party’s official message has been clear since 22nd November 2014, when the Party’s political Bureau confirmed that it would not support any change in the constitution, especially the lifting of presidential term limits but demanded the reduction of the term duration from seven to five years. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda conducted a number of activities against the change of the constitution: Petitioning the Parliament on 13th May 2015, requesting the non- lifting of presidential term limits from the constitution. Filing the law-suit to the Supreme Court on 3rd June 2015, against the change of the constitution especially on Presidential term limits, whose full hearing was on 23rd September 2015 and final verdict was pronounced on 8th October 2015. Petitioning the President of the Republic after the supreme court ruling on 14th October 2015. Holding several public talk-shows on different radios and televisions, media interviews and other activities against the change of the constitution. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda will not give up on the struggle to make Rwanda a vibrant democracy. We will continue to work towards achieving a peaceful transfer of power in Rwanda. Done on 18th December 2015 Dr.Frank Habineza President, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda

Monday, 14 December 2015

Ishyaka Democratic Green Party of Rwanda rirahamagarira abayoboke baryo ndetse n’abanyarwanda muri rusange kuzatora OYA mu matora ya Referendum azaba kuwa 17-18/12/2015. Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda, ntabwo ryabonye umwanya uhagije wo kuzenguruka igihugu rihamagarira abanyarwanda gutora OYA, kubera uburyo Referendum yemejwe igitaraganya, ariko rikaba risaba abayoboke baryo ndetse n abanyarwanda muri rusange, kuzatora OYA. Ishyaka Green Party ryasuye komisiyo y amatora kugirango ryumve niba hazabaho ibikorwa byo kwamamaza Referendum maze ribwirwa ko ntabyateguwe, icyakora ngo ko hazabaho gushishikariza abaturage kuzatora Referendum. Kuva abanyarwanda batandukanye batangira urugendo rwo gusaba ko itegeko nshinga ryavugururwa cyane cyane mu ngingo ya 101, yagenaga umubare wa manda z umukuru w igihugu, Ishyaka Democratic Green Party ntiryahwemye kugaragaza ko ritabishyigikiye. Mu bikorwa ryakoze byamagana ivugururwa ry itegeko nshinga harimo kuba mu kwezi kwa Gicurasi uyu mwaka ryarandikiye Inteko Ishinga Amategeko riyisaba ko itegeko nshinga ritavugururwa, ariko cyane cyane risaba ko ingingo ya 101 itakorwaho. Ishyaka DGPR kandi ryanatanze ikirego mu rukiko rw ikirenga mu kwezi kwa Kamena uyu mwaka, nabwo risaba ko itegeko nshinga ritakorwaho cyane cyane mu ngingo yaryo ya 101. Democratic Green Party of Rwanda kandi yanandikiye Perezida wa Repubulika ubwe, nabwo imusaba ko itegeko nshinga ritakorwaho. Mu itangazamakuru ryo mu Rwanda ndetse no hanze, abayobozi ba DGPR bagaragaje ko badashyigikiye ko itegeko nshinga rihinduka. Ishyaka DGPR rishyigikiye ko habaho ihererekanya ry ubutegetsi mu mahoro, kubera iyo mpamvu abanyarwanda bose bazatore OYA. Dr.Frank Habineza Perezida wa DGPR 14/12/2015

Wednesday, 9 December 2015

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, wishes to inform members of the media and the general public, that its planned constitutional referendum no-change campaign will not be carried out, due to the one-week short notice given for the referendum to be conducted. The Referendum was confirmed yesterday, 8th December 2015, by the cabinet meeting and will be held next week on Friday, the 18th December 2015. Today, the party consulted the National Electoral Commission, on the possibility of having the referendum campaigns and was informed that campaigns have not been programed that rather the commission will sensitize the voters on the conduct of the referendum. Cognisant of all the sensitization efforts the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda conducted against the change of the constitution: Petitioning the Parliament in May 2015, requesting the non- lifting of presidential term limits from the constitution. Filing the law-suit to the Supreme Court in June 2015, against the change of the constitution especially on Presidential term limits, whose final verdict was pronounced in October 2015. Petitioning the President of the Republic after the supreme court ruling. Holding several public talk shows on different radios and televisions, media interviews and other activities. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda calls upon its members and all Rwandans to cast a NO VOTE during the upcoming referendum and consider all the arguments given against the change of the constitution, especially on presidential term limits. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, will continue with its sensitization efforts against the change of the constitution and will continue to call for a peaceful transfer of power. 9th December 2015 Dr. Frank Habineza President, DGPR

Friday, 4 December 2015

The Chairman of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, Dr.Frank Habineza, had an Interview on the BBC HARDtalk program on 2nd December 2015.The Interview was conducted by Ms.Zeinab Badawi, it covered a wide range of issues in Rwanda and one of the main messages was the respect of term limits, which will ensure peaceful transifer of power, which has not been witnesed in the last 100 years. The program can be followed from the following links: BBC HARDtalk full vedeo Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5cdlHfkdi4 feature=youtu.be BBC Video clip on the need of peaceful transifer of power in Rwanda: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03b0dv4 BBC Podcast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0392fpd Downlaods also available on: http://yourlisten.com/habinef/bbc-hardtalk-with-rwanda-democratic-green-party-leader