New RPF committee in Kigali pledges inclusive devt
Sunday, June 16, 2019
RPF members from City of Kigali during elections of women, youth and committee representatives on Saturday. / Sam Ngendahimana

Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) Inkotanyi in the City of Kigali has got a new leadership headed by Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, the current City Mayor.

The committee was elected for a five-year term in which it promised to strive for the development of all Rwandans through building capacities of citizens starting from local villages.

Rwakazina was re-elected chairperson of RPF in the City with 626 votes, representing 82.8 percent of the 756 electorate which participated in the vote held in Remera Sector of Gasabo District on Saturday.

Three people, namely Rwakazina, Bladock Le Sage Rwagasani and Monique Umubyeyi were vying for the position, whereby Rwagasani got 92 votes out 756 electorate, while Umubyeyi received 36 votes.

After winning, Rwakazina said that she will work with the entire committee composed of 20 members including those in the overall committee, as well as youth and women councils, to further the progress of the party and all Rwandans starting from strengthening the grassroots.

"We want RPF members to reach out to Rwandans in their communities so that those who are already members be more supported, but also those who have not yet joined it be encouraged to embrace it. We should get closethem in their villages by interacting with them to understand their living conditions, help them to think and support them to improve their lives,” the Mayor observed.

"I don’t doubt that once we have achieved that, we can count many more members”.

Regarding the National Strategy for Transformation, a seven-year government programme running from 2017 through 2024, to create 1.5 million decent jobs, she said the target was to attain it soonerwithout necessarily waiting for the next seven years.

"And, such jobs should be sustainable and enable people develop, not those which employ people for say, three months, and later decline,” she said.

"When employment is available, lives change for the better. When youth are employed the country becomes secure”.

Sabbato Iradukunda, 26, was elected chairperson of youth council, said she will work to combat drug abuse, early pregnancies, and tackle unemployment.

"I will advocate for young entrepreneurs so that they get linked to major investors in a bid to scale up their businesses and be able to offer employment to jobless youth,” she pledged, adding that they will teach them how to start with little money and invest it in profitable businesses.

Other members of the RPF executive committee in Kigali include Zulfat Mukarubega, who was elected the committee chairperson, while Jean de Dieu Niyonsenga became its secretary. Committees are headed by one, or two people each, in case one is from the youth.

Janat Uzayisenga and Irene Niyitanga head the economic committee. The Social Affairs committee is led by Benjamin Musuhuke and Yvette Ishimwe.

Prof. Cyprien Niyomugabo, and Philbert Niyonkuru were elected to the good governance committee; while Beatrice Uwumukiza heads the justice committee.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com