National

The Ministry of Local Government and Social Affairs (MINALOC) has moved in to mediate the ongoing leadership wrangles at the Rwandese Association for the Promotion of Family Welfare (ARBEF).

Fred Mufuruke, the Director of Territorial Administration and Governance at MINALOC, yesterday, said that a meeting was scheduled today between both parties to enable them come to an amicable understanding.

“We will bring them together to discuss any possible ways of solving their problem. If they refuse we shall take administrative measures,” he said.

Mufuruke explained that the full list of the association’s members and its internal regulations would be screened to establish whether any decisions were made without following stipulated guidelines.

The development comes amid heated chaos over who should be in office as the board chair following last Saturday’s General Assembly in which, Dr Osee Sebatunzi was ousted and subsequently replaced.

The General Assembly, called by the Executive Director, Dr. Laurien Nyabyenda, subsequently elected Emmanuel Shamakokera as the new board chair alongside a new team.

However, Sebatunzi is reluctant to accept the decision arguing that an Executive Director who had already been fired convened the General Assembly that replaced him.

“The Executive Director was sacked way before he called for the General Assembly which forcefully replaced me. It was, therefore, done under unclear circumstances which I am not going to accept,” Sebatunzi said.

When contacted, Nyabyenda maintained a tough stance about the decision to elect a new Board of Directors saying the majority of members unanimously made the decision.

The assembly that ousted Sebatunzi was attended by 52 members out of the 60 that constitute the general assembly.

Contact email: sam.nkurunziza[at]newtimes.co.rw