On July 20 last week, I was invited to engage members of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda on the delicate but important subject of electoral reform, the political and electoral systems, and how to strengthen democratic institutions in the country. Interestingly, during the question and answer session, the recurrent question asked and commented on by members is “why the Green party hasn’t yet been ‘given’ cabinet and other positions in government yet it’s a constitutional requirement”. The President of the party, Dr. Frank Habineza responded to his members by saying that he has raised the issue with concerned authorities─like the Senate and Rwanda Governance Board and the Speaker of the Lower Chamber of Deputies, without getting a response. Habineza added that that he will be writing to the President of the Republic as the custodian of the Constitution requesting him to do the needful. At a press conference with journalists after the training and meeting of his party’s politiburo, Habineza repeated his call for cabinet positions. In the September 2018 parliamentary election, the Green Party and PS-Imberakuri garnered the required constitutional threshold of 5 percent to join parliament and each secured two seats in the Lower Chamber of parliament. Legally, this milestone gives these parties a legal right to be represented in government. Article 62 of the 2003 Constitution stipulates that, in the spirit of power-sharing, cabinet positions will be distributed in proportion to seats held in parliament, and parties represented in parliament will also be represented in government. Paragraph One of Article 62 states: “Power sharing is respected in State institutions in accordance with the fundamental principles set out under Article 10 of this Constitution and the provisions of other laws”. While it must have been an oversight on the part of constitutional framers to suggest “power-sharing in state institutions”─which by definition “state institutions” would include the military, police, security agencies and prisons, we will take it that constitution framers meant the “government” NOT “state institutions”. For while a state is permanent and its members not elected or a result of “sharing” from different parties, government is elected for a specific period of time─currently seven years and five years in the revised constitution of 2015. What power-sharing in government would mean is, besides presence in cabinet, political parties represented in Parliament would also get positions in other institutions of government and ambassadorial positions. Specifically, Paragraph Three of the above article states: “Cabinet members are selected from political organisations on the basis of seats held by those political organisations in the Chamber of Deputies. However, a political organisation holding the majority of seats in the Chamber of Deputies cannot have more than fifty (50%) per cent of Cabinet members. It is not prohibited for other competent persons to be appointed to Cabinet”. The Green Party members have been consistent in demanding that this provision of the constitution be implemented. The reasons why no member of the Green Party or PS-Imberakuri has been appointed either to cabinet or any other position in government, have only remained a matter of speculation. Some assert that, perhaps, these parties haven’t yet gained the confidence of the appointing authority, to be entrusted with weighty responsibilities. Others claim that since these parties are still “small” and nascent, they don’t have enough qualified and experienced members to serve in high positions while others say that, perhaps, the President hasn’t found time to scrutinize and decide who to appoint to what position in government. Whatever the reasons however, appointing some members of the Green-Party and PS-Imberakuri would advance constitutional rule and consolidate “consensual-powering” political settlement. Remember, this political settlement has origins in our violent and exclusionist politics that the post-genocide leadership decided to abandon in favour of inclusive and consensual politics to undermine violent contestations for power. This also means that, despite some individuals who claim that the demand made by the Green Party for position in government is only an individual plea for positions motivated by self-aggrandizement on the part of its leaders, is superfluous. This demand is, instead, a call for a higher cause: strengthening constitutional rule through implementing constitutional provisions. Remember, Article 98, Paragraph Two of the Constitution states that: “The President of the Republic is the defender of the Constitution and the guarantor of national unity”. And Article 112 empowers the president to enact presidential orders, including orders appointing and dismissing ministers and various other senior officials in government. Clearly, it’s a constitutional responsibility for the President, as the custodian of our constitution to do the needful, and it’s appropriate for aggrieved parties to request him to fulfil this important constitutional requirement. Doing so would also greatly strengthen what the preamble to our constitution says; which is that, Rwandans “COMMITTED to building a State governed by the rule of law” and “building a State based on consensual and pluralistic democracy founded on power sharing”. Dr.Chritopher KAYUMBA Source:https://www.chronicles.rw/2019/07/23/giving-green-party-and-ps-imberakuri-govt-positions-would-advance-constitutional-rule/
On Saturday, 20th July 2019, the Democratic Green Party s political bureau (second highest organ) was in Kigali for a forum on electoral reforms. In exclusive interview, Dr Habineza revealed to The Chronicles’ Protais Mbarushimana his latest project: engaging directly with President Paul Kagame as Head of State and Chairman of the dominant ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) party. Below are excepts: The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Executive Committee is convened here, why? Firstly, we are attending a lecture and training on elections reform conducted by Dr Kayumba Christopher. At the same time, we will have our Politburo meeting afterwards. You have been agitating for elections reforms for sometime, what is wrong with our electoral system? We have had to keep talking about elections because it is a key first step in any democratic dispensation whether in Rwanda or elsewhere. What reforms have you suggested be brought on board? As we have pointed out, the Green Party is supposed to have representatives on the National Electoral Commission across all levels including national, provincial, district and other local instances of government such that we are involved in decision making. This is to ensure that we are involved in the collection and tallying of votes. Otherwise, how can we be sure it was done in transparency? Further from that, as we have repeatedly discussed in previous meetings, the regulations on local government elections should be revised to make them more clear. For example, if an individual seeks office as an independent at [the] district level, they should not be obliged to join any political party after they win. If an independent candidate wins an election without a political party, you can’t automatically make him or her a member of a political party. Can’t anyone become a district mayor without being endorsed by a political party? We believe this needs to be reviewed. In the meeting today you highlighted using technology for our elections, what exactly are suggesting is done? Deploying finger print technology will minimize any doubts that votes may not have been well tallied. However, using paper ballots leaves us unsure whether our votes were recorded. It is not secure. The possibility of cheating is greater. Rwanda is being recognized for the advancement of technology, why not bring that into elections as well. I would also like to raise the issue of involvement of the media in the polls… Go on, how should it? Another reform we are advancing is that the media should be allowed to publish results of polling stations where they are located. Why should journalists be required to wait until the end of an election. It makes no sense! If results of a particular polling station can be tallied by the Returning Officer of that site, why shouldn’t the media also be allowed to do the same? The government needs to look into the issue and review it otherwise it leaves Rwandans wondering. A cross section of the delegates at the Green Party training forum In your session today you also raised financial challenges experienced by the party, what is happening? The law says that the party will get state financing after elections and scoring over 5 percent. The Democratic Green Party believes this law should be amended as it leads to [the] death of small parties that do not have sufficient budgets. The funding should come before the election to help the candidates to organize campaigns. Additionally, the Government of Rwanda receives external funding from different sources including the World Bank and has successfully handled it, there is no reason political parties shouldn’t receive funding from international partners. As long as they will use the funding to participate in the development of the country. Just as there are no limitations to a government from soliciting foreign funding, the same should apply to political parties. What could be done is that the parties are obliged to report any such funding and how it was utilized. Such rules will eliminate the myth that political parties are likely to use that funding for terrorist activities. You have also been constantly agitating for power sharing, what exactly do you want? The national Constitution stipulates that power sharing should be the norm across all sectors of the country. It does not only refer to cabinet. What we are doing is reminding those concerned that multipartism is a strategic decision taken in Urugwiro [President’s Office] and there was a reason for that. Multipartism was adopted in order to fight against genocide ideology and build together a democratic country. But you are demanding for cabinet positions, were you promised the positions before the election? What other things were you promised? We have written letters, but they have not responded till now. When and what exactly is in the letters? I wrote the first letter to the Speaker of [the] Chamber of Deputies on February 20, 2016. I have not received any response till now. I wrote another letter to the Prime Minister on April 19, 2016. All the letters which I wrote were about requesting revision of electoral and political parties act. However nothing has been done up to now. Was there any response from the Prime Minister? The only response I received was from [Rwanda Governance Board] on August 31, 2016 notifying me that what I was asking for was not feasible. Why don’t you seek a meeting with the President of the Republic since he is chairman of RPF the dominant ruling party, to discuss with him instead of complaining from the outside? The Democratic Green Party intends to write a letter to the President of the Republic [reminding him to implement Art 62 of the constitution on power-sharing]. I suppose it is the only remaining instance we didn’t engage. However, we have spoken to some officials from his office and we are sure there is a 95% chance he got the message. As we finalise this conversation, anything else you would like Rwandans to know? I urge everyone to respect the rule of law not only by words but in actions as well. Source: https://www.chronicles.rw/2019/07/21/habinezas-green-party-seeks-talks-with-president-kagame-over-cabinet-positions/
Mu nama y’abahagarariye Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no Kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda (Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, DGPR) ku nzego zitandukanye (abagize Biro Politiki), abayitabiriye bahurije ku bikwiye kunozwa kugirango ibiva mu matora mu Rwanda birusheho kwizerwa. Abarwanashyaka ba DGPR basaba ko mu mategeko agenga amatora y’inzego z’ibanze hari ibikwiye gusubirwamo bigasobanuka niba abantu biyamamaza ku giti cyabo cyangwa bahagarariye amashyaka. Umuyobozi w’ishyaka DGPR, Hon. Dr. Frank Habineza, agira ati Usanga umuntu yiyamamaje ku giti cye ariko yamara kuzaba Meya, agahinduka Perezida w’Ishyaka runaka ku rwego rw’Akarere, ibyo bintu tubona bibangamiye demokarasi kuko umuntu aba yatowe n’abantu bose atagaragaje ishyaka arimo . Akomeza agira ati, Ntabwo bibujijwe ko umuntu aba mu ishyaka runaka, ariko niba uririmo ntugomba kurihagararira ku rwego rw’AKarere, cyangwa urw’umurenge, cyangwa Akagali cyangwa umudugudu kubera ko watowe mu nzego z’ubutegetsi bwite bwa Leta, icyo turifuza ko itegeko rizasubirwamo rigasobanuka neza . Umuyobozi w’Ishyaka DGPR, Depite Dr. Frank Habineza DGPR kandi isaba ko mu matora y’abagize Inteko Ishingamategeko naho abadepite bakwiye kujya batorwa bahagarariye akarere runaka kuko umudepite yarushaho kwita kuri abo bamutumye bamufiteho n’ijambo kurushaho. Barifuza kandi ko hashyirwaho amatora yifashisha ikoranabuhanga aho gukomeza gukoresha impapuro. Iki ngo ni kimwe mu byakongera icyizere cy’ibiyavamo. Mu gihe itangazamakuru ritegereza imibare rusange ya Komisiyo y’Amatora, abarwanashyaka ba DGPR basanga bidakwiye, bagasaba ko itangazamakuru ryahabwa uburenganzira bwo gutangaza ibyavuye mu matora ku biro by’itora runaka umunyamakuru yaba ariho, nyuma y’uko uhagarariye ibyo biro abitangaza. Ibi ngo byakongera ubushake abanyarwanda bagira bwo gukurikirana amatora kandi bigatanga icyizere kirenzeho ku biyavamo. Ikindi bifuza ni uko amafaranga ahabwa amashyaka yatanze umukandida mu matora, yazajya atangwa mbere agafasha abakandida mu bikorwa byo kwiyamamaza aho gutangwa nyuma y’amatora nabwo agahabwa abagize nibura 5% by’amajwi. Bakumva iyi ngingo nayo iri mu zikwiye kuvugururwa. Basaba kandi ko muri Komisiyo y’Igihugu y’Amatora, ishyaka ryabo rikwiye kugiramo urihagarariye ku rwego rw’igihugu ndetse no mu zindi nzego nk’uturere n’intara, bityo bakaba mu babara amajwi. Bavuga ko ari byiza gutora ariko ko no kuba mu babara amajwi byabafasha kumenya neza ibyavuye mu matora kuko baba babigizemo uruhare. DGPR irasaba Perezida wa Repubulika indi myanya mu buyobozi Uretse imyanya ibiri iri shyaka ryatsindiye mu matora y’Abagize inteko Ishingamategeko mu mwaka wa 2018 ndetse rikanayihabwa, rirasaba ko Perezida wa Repubulika ariha n’indi myanya mu buyobozi nk’uko biteganywa n’Itegeko Nshinga mu rwego rwo gusaranganya ubutegetsi. Hon. Dr. Frank Habineza agira ati, Kubahiriza Itegeko Nshinga ko imitwe ya Politiki yose ihagarariwe mu nteko Ishinga Amategeko, biba no mu zindi nzego za Leta. Ntibivuze kuba muri Guverinoma gusa, bivuze inzego za Leta zose nk’uko muzizi, hari ubucamanza, igipolisi, igisirikare n’izindi . Ingingo ya 62 y’Itegeko Nshinga igira iti, “Abagize Guverinoma batoranywa mu mitwe ya politiki hakurikijwe imyanya yayo mu Mutwe w‟Abadepite. Icyakora, Umutwe wa Politiki wabonye amajwi menshi mu matora y‟Abadepite ntushobora kurenza mirongo itanu ku ijana (50%) by’abagize Guverinoma. Ntibibujijwe ko n’abandi bantu bafite ubushobozi bashobora gushyirwa muri Guverinoma.” Ubuyobozi bw’Ishyaka bwagaragaje ko bwakoresheje inzira nyinshi zirimo izo ibiganiro n’inzego zitandukanye, itangazamakuru, n’izindi ngo icyifuzo cyabo kigere kuri Perezida wa Repubulika ariko ko batizeye neza ko cyamugezeho, ikaba ariyo mpamvu bemeje ko bagiye kumwandikira. Source: http://nonaha.com/ishyaka-dgpr-rirasaba-impinduka-mu-mategeko-n-amabwiriza-bigenga-amatora
Umuyobozi mukuru w’Ishyaka Riharanira Demokarasi no kurengera Ibidukikije mu Rwanda ( The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda), ryemewe mu gihugu ariko rikaba ritavuga rumwe na Leta y’u Rwanda kuri gahunda zimwe na zimwe, Dr Habineza Frank avuga ko hamwe n’abarwanashyaka be bafite inyota yo kwinjira muri Guverinoma bakagiramo ababahagarariye . Dr Habineza Frank yinjiye mu Nteko Nshingamategeko y’u Rwanda umwaka ushize nyuma y’aho ishyaka rye ritsindiye imyanya ibiri, mu matora y’abadepite yabaye muri Kanama 2018. Kuri ubu akaba ashimangira ko urugendo barukomeje kugira ngo binjire muri Guverinoma. Mu kiganiro yagiranye na Bwiza Tv kuri uyu wa Kabiri tariki ya 4 Kamena 2019, Habineza yavuze ko icyifuzo cyo kujya muri Guverinoma agisangiye n’abarwanashyaka be ndetse ko n’itegeko Nshinga rya Repubulika y’u Rwanda ribibemerera. Agira ati “Nibyo koko ishyaka ryacu rya Green Party rinyotewe kujya muri Guverinoma kubera ko mu byo twaharaniye nabyo birimo igihe twiyamamarizaga kuyobora igihugu cy’u Rwanda, twashakaga kuyobora Guverinoma, kuba itegeko ribitwemerera, turabinyotewe cyane kandi turabyifuza, kandi ariko […]. Yakomeje avuga ko biro Politiki y’ishyaka rya Green party yateranye mu kwezi kwa Gatatu muri uyu mwaka, abarwanashyaka babigarutseho cyane, babisaba ndetse baranabidutuma. Ati “Bifuje ko twazajya kubabariza muri Sena ya Repubulika y’u Rwanda kuko niyo ibishinzwe kubyubahiriza, biri mu nzira ariko biri mu bushobozi bwa Perezida wa Repubulika mu bushishozi bwe kandi turabona ko nta rirarenga y’uko azubahiriza iby’amategeko n’ubundi nk’uko asanzwe ayubahiriza”. Agendeye mu bikubiye mu itegeko Nshinga, Habineza avuga ko abagize Guverinoma batoranywa mu mashyaka ahagarariwe mu Nteko Nshingamategeko, bikongeraho kandi ko ishyaka rifite ubwiganze ritemerewe ko ryarenza 50% by’abagize Guverinoma, ikindi kandi itegeko Nshinga riteganya ni uko n’undi muntu ufite ubushobozi kabone nubwo yaba atari muri ayo mashyaka ashobora kwinjira muri Guverinoma. Ati “Icyo twavuga ubu, natwe ishyaka ryacu tubifitiye uburenganzira, turabikwiye kuba muri Guverinoma kuko natwe twatsinze amatora, tukaba turi mu nteko Nshingamategeko[…] ni inshingano za Perezida wa Repubulika, ni we ushyiraho abagize Guverinoma ariko Guverinoma ntabwo ari abaminisitiri gusa, hari indi myanya, nka ba Ambasaderi, abanyamabanga bihariye, bahoraho ba za Minisiteri, ba Guverineri,… Ariko icya mbere ni ba Minisitiri, Cabinet. Ibyo natwe turabitegereje”. Mu mwaka wa 2009 nibwo Ishyaka riharanira demokarasi no kurengera Ibidukikije ryashinzwe ryemerwa gukorera mu Rwanda mu 2013. Guhera ubwo, mu bihe bitandukanye ugereranyije n’andi mashyaka, ryagiye rirangwa n’imyitwarire yihariye mu gihe cy’amatora mu Rwanda, irimo no kunenga imigendekere yayo. Mu mwaka wa 2017, Habineza Frank ari na we Perezida w’iri shyaka yatanzwe nk’umukandida urihagarariye mu matora y’umukuru w’igihugu ariko atsindwa amatora, Paul Kagame wari uhagarariye Umuryango FPR/inkotanyi n’andi mashyaka yishyize hamwe niwe wegukanye intsinzi. Mu matora y’Abadepite yabaye mu mwaka wa 2018, Ishyaka Green Party ryariyamamaje ribasha gutsinda amatora, rihabwa imyanya ibiri mu Nteko Nshingamategeko. Ikigairo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og4oWEh4sAs Source: https://bwiza.com/2019/06/04/tunyotewe-no-kugira-minisitiri-muri-guverinoma-depite-frank-habineza/
This week, Parliament voted for the ratification of the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, a 1963 treaty that governs issues of liability in cases of nuclear accident. Opposition Members of Parliament from the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda voted against the ratification because, it had been made clear that the ratification of this treaty will pave way for the establishment of a Nuclear Power Plant, since Rwanda signed a Nuclear deal with Russia on 6th December 2018. We are very concerned with the safety and environmental-social impacts of a nuclear power plant in Rwanda because the area size of the country is too small to accommodate the risks in case of a nuclear accident as half or the whole population could be affected. The danger could extend to neighbouring countries. It would be a total disaster for Rwanda to be drawn into this nuclear industry. The industry is dying, which is why the countries stuck with this legacy technology are desperate to push it into new markets. The applications listed (agriculture, health etc) are used as bait to try and get countries hooked on the modernising potential of the technology, with a view to eventually using it for electricity generation. Rwanda has a small dispersed electricity grid serving decentralised regional communities. This is the worst possible network configuration for a nuclear plant, which are overwhelmingly very large and inflexible (in the 1000MW range) and totally unsuited to our situation. They are also, by far, the most expensive form of electricity generation except for perhaps just shoving piles of money into a furnace, and they consume and contaminate very large amounts of water for cooling. Recent accidents like Fukushima in Japan, have proved the desperate trouble the industry is in, on grounds of safety, unresolved waste management, decommissioning, and most of all, cost. It will cost over 365 billion dollars to deal with the effects of Fukushima, that kind of budget Rwanda cannot afford to spend. The way the Vienna treaty which we voted against works, the operator (of the reactor or research facility or whatever) is strictly liable for an accident up to $5 million. In the case of accidents involving nuclear technology, which can involve evacuations of tens of thousands of people, $5 million would be used up in the first few minutes. The convention thus compels operators to seek third party insurers. Quite famously, no insurer anywhere in the world will insure against the total liability of a nuclear accident, because the risks are simply open ended and impossible to calculate. Thus, insurers will only take on a small amount of risk. The taxpayers of Rwanda will own the rest of the risk of permanent radioactive contamination. This Vienna Convention is silent on the costs of decommissioning nuclear facilities, which can be more expensive than setting them up. Reports on accident frequency globally, completely destroy the industry s claims to be a safe technology, as we were informed by the Minister of Infrastructure. 17th March 2019 Dr.Frank Habineza (MP)
Despite government assurances, opposition lawmakers in Parliament yesterday March 14 put up fierce resistance to plans for a nuclear treaty – some saying Rwanda is “too small” for a nuclear plant. Parliament was convening for the final session to vote on a nuclear energy bill brought by Infrastructure Minister Claver Gatete last year. A parliamentary committee assigned to review the bill, recommended in the session yesterday – but with some reservations, that it was OK to put the bill to the House for a vote. Gatete’s bill also seeks to put Rwanda in compliance with the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage. A nuclear energy disaster affects not only the country in which it is located but the surrounding states as well. Hence, national laws have been required to comply with the Vienna Convention which the international community believed, is needed to defend the cross-border impact of such disasters. But even before the vote could be held, the parliamentary team of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda including its leader Dr Frank Habineza, had plenty of questions for Minister Gatete and the committee which looked at the bill. Where is the budget for a nuclear plant? Where is the environment impact assessment? Where will it be located on the territory of Rwanda anyway? Do we even have the skilled people needed to start nuclear energy development? Dr Habineza, citing the example of the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan in March 2011 that followed a massive Tsunami, said Rwanda cannot afford to go nuclear. There is an exclusion zone of 20km – meaning no people and plant life can thrive due to deadly radiation. In another disaster, the Chernobyl one of 1986 in Ukraine, was much worse. Since then, no life can survive in area stretching 30 kilometers in all directions from the blast zone. Comparing to Rwanda, it means for example if there was an explosion at a plant in Kigali, the entire city plus Kamonyi district, Rwamagana and Shyorongi sector to the north, would have to be evacuated for good. “First of all the area size of Rwanda is too small in case of a nuclear accident since the whole population could be affected,” said Habineza, adding, “It will cost over $365 billion to deal with the effects of Fukushima and Rwanda cannot manage to afford that kind of Budget.” His party colleague, MP Jean Claude Ntezimana said Rwanda’s grid was obsolete for nuclear energy. “[Nuclear plants] are also, by far, the most expensive form of electricity generation except for perhaps just shoving piles of money into a furnace, and they consume and contaminate very large amounts of water for cooling,” Ntezimana Said. Minister Gatete said government was aware of all the risks, but that nuclear energy would provide a lot of power for years. On where such a plant would be located, Gatete said Rwanda has Lake Kivu that has abundant water, and many other lakes dotted around the country. In December last year, Rwanda signed a nuclear deal with Russia. The document establishes legal basis for interaction between the two countries in a wide range of areas, including elaboration of the project for the construction of a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology and of a Nuclear Power Plant in Rwanda. Aleksey Likhachev, director general of Russia’s ROSATOM, the world’s biggest nuclear energy firm, signed the agreement on behalf of Russia and Gatete signed on behalf of Rwanda. According to the parliamentary committee which scrutinized the bill brought by government, there are currently 200 Rwandans undertaking nuclear energy studies in Russia and other places. Others have been going for the studies since 2013 and are waiting for nuclear projects to start. “It is a safe form of technology,” said Gatete in parliament. When the House Speaker Mukabalisa Donatille finally put the bill to a vote, only the two Green Party lawmakers voted against. Source:https://www.chronicles.rw/2019/03/15/plan-for-nuclear-plant-meets-spirited-opposition-in-parliament/
The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) condemns in the strongest terms possible the murder of Anselme MUTUYIMANA (RIP), Ex-Spokesperson of FDU Inkingi, which took place on 8th March 2019. We appreciate the steps taken so far by Rwanda Investigation Bureau but still call for in-depth and speedy investigations so that the culprits would be brought to justice. We also request that trials in this murder be conducted in the area where the crime was committed, in order to deter similar occurrences in the future. We wish to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Anselme MUTUYIMANA, may his soul rest in eternal peace. Done at Kigali, 14th March 2019 Dr.Frank HABINEZA (MP) President, DGPR
