Rubavu District officials faulted over poor performance

Rubavu District Council has warned district authorities over lagging behind in delivering on performance contracts for the fiscal year 2014-2015. This was during a meeting that brought together members of the district council and the district executive committee on Friday. The meeting aimed at discussing the implementation of this year’s performance contracts. Following the presentation of the district’s performance so far, members of the district council accused the executive of being sluggish and showing no signs of beating the set targets in the remaining few months to end the fiscal year. The district council learnt that with only three months left to end this fiscal year, execution of imihigo is at 54 per cent and yet it ought to be at 75 per cent considering the remaining period. The delayed projects include distribution of clean water and electricity, road construction in model villages and other rural areas, construction of Nyundo memorial centre which is at 30 per cent, construction of schools and houses for vulnerable people, among others. Others are implementation of Vision Umurenge Programme (VUP) which is at 16 per cent and failure to to collect premiums for health insurance commonly known as Mutuelle de Santé as well as broadening the district’s tax base. However Nelson Mbarushimana, the district advisory council president, said there is no hope the district will implement the signed performance contracts by the end of the year. The Rubavu District mayor, Hassan Bahame, said one of the factors that derailed their activities were delays in disbursement of funds by the executive secretary, Christopher Kalisa, who is the chief budget manager. The latter, however, dismissed this saying officials flouted procedures in requisitioning for funds. Other factors, according to the district advisory council, include lack of teamwork spirit and individual initiative by leaders. They also cited procurement procedures where tenders are given to incompetent people leading to failure of projects. The council tasked district officials to work hard to ensure the district does not trail in this year’s Imihigo rankings. Last year, the district emerged the 25th among 30 districts. “The tender committee should conduct research before offering tenders to bidders,” said Mbarushimana. District officials said they are ready to work hard to ensure they implement the delayed performance contracts during the remaining period. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Rubavu District officials faulted over poor performance