The Chamber of Deputies’ virtual plenary sitting on Friday, October 1 passed laws dissolving four public entities whose missions converge to unity and reconciliation, decent citizens as well as tackling the genocide and its effects.
The move implies that they will soon lose their legal personality and cease to exist once the laws dissolving them have been published in the Official Gazette.
Such entities include the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), the Fund for Support and Assistance to the neediest survivors of the Genocide against Tutsi (FARG), the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), and the National Itorero Commission (NIC).
The changes follow the establishment of the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, which will assume the responsibilities of the above-mentioned entities.
CNLG’s mission is to prevent and fight against Genocide, its ideology and overcoming its consequences, while FARG’s mission is to promote the social welfare of the neediest survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
For NURC, its mission is to promote unity, reconciliation, and social cohesion among Rwandans and build a country in which everyone has equal rights and contributing to good governance.
Talking about NIC’s mission, it consists of, among others, making Rwandans understand their shared values and taboos in their coexistence, be patriots and contribute to national development; have the culture of volunteerism through national service.
Some MPs expressed concern that the responsibilities of those entities might not be carried adequately when they are moved to the newly created Ministry, calling for caution to ensure that gains made in terms of unity and reconciliation, fight against genocide, and welfare of neediest survivors, are not lost.
For MP Frank Habineza the entities should be maintained so that they help the Ministry to carry out the intended tasks effectively.
"Normally, ministries are in charge of policymaking, but have technical entities in charge of helping them implement policies,” he said, pointing out that CNLG and the other bodies would help the Ministry execute its plans.
But, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, Minister of Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement reassured lawmakers that the new ministry will give an impetus to the fulfilment of the responsibilities towards achieving a united, stronger society.
He said that there is no law prohibiting a ministry from developing a policy and at the same time, discharge the responsibilities to implement it if need be.
He said that the Ministry, in its structure, will have departments that will be discharging responsibilities that were under the mandate of the entities in question.
"It was realised through an assessment made that the work of these four entities has a connection to [dealing with] the Genocide committed against Tutsi and its effects …, and there was a need to put in place a single bigger institution that brings together their responsibilities which have something in common,” he said.
"For instance, you realised that the task to fight against the genocide and its ideology was done by CNLG alone, it also requires teaching people about culture, being noble-hearted, and basing on Rwandan cultural values for that to be achieved. It is understandable that the Ministry will better fulfill this than it was done by one entity alone,” he said.
On the aspect of the fate of the dissolved entities’ workers, lawmakers said that there should be a way to ensure their welfare.
MP Theoneste Safari Begumisa said that it seems some of the many workers of those entities will not be taken on by the new Ministry as a result of restructuring.
"There should be careful consideration to ensure that those public servants who will not get the chance to be employed by the new Ministry are supported,” he said.
Bizimana said that the rights of the employees of those entities will be placed in the Ministry and be granted their rights in compliance with the law establishing the general statute governing public servants, indicating that the Ministry wishes to have competent staff to help it achieve the intended outcome.
Catering for Genocide survivors’ needs
MP Euthalie Nyirabega said that there are neediest Genocide survivors who are old and those who suffer from chronic diseases and trauma and needed various tailored supports including direct cash transfers.
She wanted to know whether the budget that the Government has been allocating to FARG to help meet the survivors’ needs will be channeled through the Ministry and be invested in the interventions to support the beneficiaries.
Bizimana replied that activities to support the needy Genocide survivors will continue uninterrupted under the Ministry, noting that the budget allocation is done by the Government which remains the same despite the dissolution of FARG.
"They will continue to enjoy the benefits they are entitled to in compliance with the law in the sectors of education, welfare, health, housing, among others,” he said.