PM swears-in new prosecutors

Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has urged prosecutors and judges across the country to be exemplary, fight against corruption and provide quality services to the public to spur the country’s development.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi (L) congratulates the sworn in prosecutors yesterday The New Times / J. Mbanda

Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has urged prosecutors and judges across the country to be exemplary, fight against corruption and provide quality services to the public to spur the country’s development.

The Premier made the remarks while officiating at the swearing-in ceremony of prosecutors of both the military tribunal and intermediate courts.

The ceremony that was held at his offices in Kimihurura, saw three prosecutors from the intermediate court and a judge from military tribunal take oath of office.

"When someone accepts to take an oath, it means he or she has committed him or herself to provide quality services. However, as new prosecutors, you should be exemplary, work hard, be cooperative and heed the ideas of other people to develop your country,” he advised.

The head of government appealed to the new prosecutors to avoid corrupt tendencies and instead be responsible for eliminating it to maintain the good image of the country, and to enable the world learn from Rwanda.

"Whoever tries to be corrupt among you here, bear in mind that you will be arrested. Therefore, let’s work together for our country to be ranked number one in the world in the fight against graft,” he cautioned.

He noted that for effective justice to prevail in the country, corruption must be purged by all concerned.

A recent report by global corruption watchdog, Transparency International, ranked Rwanda as the fourth least corrupt country in Africa and amongst the cleanest countries globally.

The Deputy Prosecutor General, Alphonse Hitiyaremye, welcomed the new prosecutors saying that the country had been facing a shortage of prosecutors, adding that he was optimistic the new appointees would have a positive impact on the judiciary.

The swearing in ceremony was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga, and the Army Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Caesar Kayizari.

eric.kabeera@newtimes.co.rw