Outspoken former lawmaker and a well known personality within the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), Connie Bwiza, finally broke her silence on why she stepped down from her seat in parliament last week.

The development follows last weekend’s RPF retreat where the party Secretary General, Francois Ngarambe, disclosed what triggered Bwiza’s resignation.

In an interview with The New Times yesterday, Bwiza refuted claims in some sections of the media that linked her stepping down to the current debate on the constitutional amendment.

"This is an opportunity to clarify that what is being said out there, about my resignation, my conduct and my mistakes and disciplinary issues in my political party, totally have nothing to do with the current debate on constitutional amendments,” Connie Bwiza told The New Times.

"I own the mistakes that I am held accountable for as a cadre of the RPF. In the RPF, were are governed and ideologically oriented on the discipline and conduct. In any case, when a member is out of the disciplinary line, we are held accountable,” she said, without divulging the exact details which she preferred to call a family matter "Actually if you can be fair to me, leave alone the family matter. As of now, leave it out. It is internal. "

" My resignation was not about political matters, it is all domestic, all about family. But of course as a political leader I am held accountable to whatever course that might be taken. It is unfortunate that the media can go out of line because of some sentiments and excitement,” the former parliamentarian said.

"I have my own mistakes; my party is handling the issue as they do to all cadres of the movement. I am neither the first nor the last; we are all human beings. I am bound to make mistakes and I am bound to be corrected.”

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