Today, we submitted a new letter to the Mayor of Gasabo District, clarifying matters concerning Mr.Mugisha Alexis and requesting a new permision to hold a the party s founding congress. H.W the Mayor Gasabo District KIGALI-RWANDA Dear Sir, Re: Clarifications on Mr.Mugisha Alexis and New Request to Hold Party Founding Congress Reference is made on your letter dated 3rd May 2013, regarding our request to hold the founding congress of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda on 10th May 2013 at Centre Christus-Remera. Your Worship, in that letter, it is stated that you received two applications to hold a similar event but on different locations and different dates. Whereas, ours was submitted on 22nd April, the second one from Mugisha Alexis was submitted on 24th April. You therefore, requested us to first sort out issues in our party before seeking permission to hold the party’s founding congress. We would therefore, like to officially inform you, that we have no issues to sort out because, Mr.Mugisha Alexis, voluntarily resigned from the party on 2nd July 2010. Please find his resignation letter attached. More to that, when we resumed our political activities on 13th September 2012, he was not among the new executive committee members introduced to the public and to members of the media, during our press conference at Hotel Umubano-Kigali. Please find below an official web-link published on 15th September 2012, confirming the new Executive Committee members who are steering the registration process of our party: http://www.rwandagreendemocrats.org/news/re-launching-party-activities-and-new-executive-committee. The rest of the members are not yet confirmed because they have not signed anywhere. Therefore, their names have not yet been made public. Due to those facts mentioned above, we are pleased to once again request you to grant us permission to hold the founding congress of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, on 21st May 2013 at Centre Christus-Remera. We would also like to request, the presence of the Public Notary of Gasabo District, to come and witness the official signing of the Party’s legal documents. We shall collaborate with the National Police on matters concerning our security. We are looking forward to getting a positive response from you soon. Yours Faithfully Dr.Frank HABINEZA Founding Party President C.C: Minister of Local Government (MINALOC) Inspector General of Police Mayor of Kigali City
The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has received a response from the Mayor of Gasabo District, Kigali City, regarding the request submitted on 22nd April, to hold its official founding congress on 10th May 2013. The Mayor, says that he received another letter from someone called Mugisha Alexis, requesting to hold a similar congress of the same party but on a different date and different venue. The Mayor, has therefore, requested us to sort out issues in our Party that are causing confusion before seeking permission to hold the founding congress! The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, wishes to clarify the following: Mugisha Alexis, claims fake representation. He is not a party member and does not hold any leadership position in the new executive committee, as published on the party website on 15th September 2012: http://www.rwandagreendemocrats.org/news/re-launching-party-activities-and-new-executive-committee . Mugisha Alexis, voluntarily resigned from the party on 2nd July 2010 and his resignation letter is attached. Formation of a political party with the same names of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, whose registration has been sought for since 14th August 2009, is un-acceptable. We have no issues to sort out in our party and will therefore, submit a new request to Gasabo District Mayor next week. Done at Kigali, 3rd May 2013 Dr.Frank Habineza Founding President Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, has today, 22nd April 2013, submitted an official letter requesting the Mayor of Gasabo District to grant it permision to hold the party s founding congress on 10th May 2013. The previous request was submitted in September 2012 but a response was not availed in time and the congress was called off, two days before the event.That Congress had been scheduled for 16th November 2012. The Mayor later informed party leaders that investigations in security concerns were still going on and that was the reason for the non-response. The Party has also requested the presence of the Public Notary of Gasabo District, who will be required to witness the official signing of the Party’s legal documents. The party will submit it s constitution and internal rules to the Public Notary, after receiving the requested permission. It will also request the presence of National Police both inside and outside the conference hall. This will be done after receiving the permission to hold the founding congress from the District. We hope the Mayor, will not delay to respond to our request this time. Dr.Frank Habineza Founding President
On 15th March 2013, Dr.Frank Habineza, Founding President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, recieved a Honorary Doctorate of Humanities, from Bethel College, Mishiwaka, Indiana, USA. The degree was presented in honor of his work in promoting democratic reforms and human rights in Rwanda and across Africa. Dr.Habineza, is also the President of the African Greens Federation- a coalition of green political parties and political movements across Africa, with headquaters in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Greens Coordination.
Frank Habineza, founder and president of the Opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda will receive an honorary Doctoral Degree from Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana, USA, during a campus ceremony at 10:00 am Friday, March 15, 2013. The degree is presented in honor of Mr. Habineza’s work in promoting democratic reforms and human rights in Rwanda and across Africa. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda was officially launched in August 2009 as an alternative to President Paul Kagame’s Ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front, where most of its founding members had belonged. However, they found it very difficult to get the Opposition Party registered and during the 2010 presidential elections, the party faced so many challenges that it was not able to field a candidate. It had confirmed Frank Habineza as its presidential candidate. However, given the difficult circumstances at the time, Habineza had to leave the country for Sweden, where he stayed for two years. He was finally able to return in September 2012, in order to re-establish the party and enable it participate in parliamentary elections due this September. In addition to forming the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, Habineza was elected president of the African Greens Federation, a coalition of 30 political parties and movements from 29 African countries in April of 2010. In 2012 the Africa Greens Federation, with Frank Habineza as president, was able to assist in the democratic programs of at least ten Green Parties in different sub-regions of Africa, including the registration of the Federation with the government in Burkina Faso. Frank Habineza worked in the government of Rwanda as a personal assistant to the Minister of Lands, Environment, Forestry, Water and Mines in 2005 and 2006. He was National Coordinator for the Nile Basin Discourse Forum of Rwanda, from 2006-2009 and was also founder chairman of Rwanda’s NGO’s Forum on Water, Sanitation and Environment. He is a graduate of the National University of Rwanda, earning a degree in Political and Administrative Sciences with a major in Public Administration. He received a Democracy Prize in Swedish Parliament in April 2011 and an African Leader in Innovation and Sustainability Award in August 2011 from Pilot International-Uganda. In his Christian ministry, he has worked very closely with World Partners, the overseas agency of the Missionary Church, an evangelical denomination with headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Missionary Church has over 500 U.S. churches and thousands of churches worldwide. World Partners employs a staff of 100 people serving in over 20 international locations who work with a growing network of nationals in various countries to develop disciple-making movements around the world. As part of its ministry, World Partners participates in programs such as community development, medicine, agriculture, education, Bible translation, literacy and leadership training. Bethel College is affiliated with the Missionary Church. Bethel (www.bethelcollege.edu) is uniquely qualified to provide educational opportunities for all students, traditional and non-traditional, who are interested in a liberal arts program of studies with career and personal growth orientations. It offers studies including master s, baccalaureate and associate degrees for the broad spectrum of students and in a variety of settings. Contact Information: Michael Reynolds World Partners, USA info@wpartners.org +1 260 747 9439 cell: +1 260 413-2445 March 13, 2013 -END-
The consultative meeting of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda held both on 1st and 2nd February 2013, resolved to relieve Mr.Omar Leo, from his duties as the party’s communication secretary, due to his irresponsible behaviour largely displayed in his oral and written communications, especially in the social media. As a member of the party and a citizen aspiring for a public office, integrity must be unquestionable and credentials unimpeachable. Matters relating to his disappearance have been reported to the police and investigations have been opened. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact Police on: 0788311161. Done at Kigali, 2nd February 2013 Frank Habineza Founding President Democratic Green Party of Rwanda
The African Greens Federation (AGF) registered a lot of success during 2012. This was a year where most of the African Greens dreams were able to come true. During 2012, AGF in collaboration with the Global Greens Coordination and other partners were able to hold the Third Global Greens Congress in Dakar, Senegal between March and April 2012. This congress was a turning point for the Greens of the world. AGF was also able to successfully hold its second Congress in Dakar, between 28th and 29th March 2012. This congress consolidated past achievements and laid a strong ground for the future. AGF was also able to sign a three years’ Democracy Building Program with Green Forum-Sweden on 24th May 2012. This was a great milestone. This democracy program has helped in building capacity of at least ten parties in the different sub-regions of Africa. Other countries will also be assisted during 2013 and 2014. AGF was finally officially registered on 29th June by the Government of Burkina Faso. This gave legal personality to the organisation and paved way for greater activities ahead. The African Greens Federation was able to establish and launch its Secretariat/Headquarters in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in July 2012. AGF stopped being an internet based organisation. The Secretariat was later inaugurated in October. AGF was also able to support the extra-ordinary congress for the West African Greens, in Niamey, Niger during October 2012. The Federation’s president, Frank Habineza, was also finally able to return to his home country-Rwanda, in September 2012, after having been exiled in Sweden for two years. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has been re-established and has resumed the registration process. The federation is registering a lot of progress as its members are increasingly becoming more politically mature, concentrating more on issues that could help uplift their countries and the African continent from poverty, dictatorships and misery. During 2012, Mr.Didace Pembe, Leader of the Ecological Party of Congo, became an elected Member of Parliament, Dr.Mohamed Awad, Leader of the Egyptian Green Party got appointed to the Egyptian Parliament and Mr.Ali Haidar, Leader of Greens in Senegal got appointed as the Country’s Minister of Environment. Greens from other countries also registered several successes. After having struggled for 5 years to get registered and managed after the fall of Ben Ali, the Green in Tunisia, finally were able to participate in national elections during 2012 and are recording a lot progress. We are hopeful that 2013 will be a great year of greater achievements. We wish you all a happy and prosperous new year. AGF Executive
The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda wishes to inform all Rwandans, members of the media and the international community, that it has cancelled it’s planned founding congress of 16th November 2012. We had submitted an official request to Gasabo District, Kigali, City, on 25th September 2012 to have the congress on 16th November. We shall submit a new request early next year. Done at Kigali, 12th November 2012 Frank Habineza Founding President
On 13th September 2012, at Hotel Umubano ( Ex-Novotel), we had a press conference and re-launched the activities of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda. We presented our political program and the new interim executive committee. We plan to have our founding congress in November. We also stated that our immediate plan will be to request the registration of our party and prepare for the September 2013 parliamentary elections. New Interim Executive Committee: Democratic Green Party of Rwanda President, Frank Habineza First Vice President, Carine Maombi Second Vice President, Gashugi Leonard Secretary General, Jean Claude Ntezimana Deputy Secretary General, Seraphine Mukamana Treasurer, Jeanine Uwineza Organising Secretary, Deo Tuyishime Communication Secretary, Omar Leo
Media Release: Third Anniversary–Resuming Political Activities Inside the Country. On the occasion of the third anniversary of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, we take on the opportunity to inform all party members, well-wishers and the general public that we have re-committed ourselves to resume political activities inside the country. The party leader, Frank Habineza, who has been away in Sweden, since August 2010 will be back early September to spearhead the process of registering the party and preparing for the September 2013 parliamentary elections. During 2011, we were able to launch the Friends of Rwandan Greens, in Australia and participated in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, in Perth, Australia. CHOGM proved to be of great importance. In May 2012, we were also able to participate in the Commonwealth Workshop for Government and Opposition in East Africa, which was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The workshop discussed the importance of the Opposition Parties complying with all relevant laws and playing a constructive role in the National debate. It also highlighted the Government’s duty to recognize that in a multi-party democracy sometimes it is right for the Opposition to say how a particular law or policy can be improved or modified. We have no doubt that The Commonwealth is a serious partner in this noble cause of having a vibrant democracy in our country. In June 2012, the Government of Burkina Faso, officially registered the African Greens Federation (a coalition of over 30 Political Parties and movements on the African continent), which DGPR’s President, Frank Habineza, chairs. The Secretariat of this federation was launched in July 2012 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In March 2012, the African Greens Federation was able to host the 3rd Global Greens Congress in Dakar, Senegal. The gathering brought together parties from over 70 countries. BRIEF BACKGROUND The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda was launched on 14 August 2009 as an opposition and alternative party to the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front-RPF. However, it became impossible for the party to register before the August 2010 presidential elections. Then, on the 14 July 2010, its First Vice President, Andre Kagwa RWISEREKA was found decapitated. Tuesday, 14th August 2012 For further details, please contact: Email: info@rwandagreendemocrats.org Tel: +46 73 75 88 927
