Row over Miss Rwanda 2017 rights resolved

The longstanding dispute over the rights to organise Miss Rwanda 2017 has been resolved after a company to organise the pageant was selected. Rwanda Inspiration Backup Ltd, a local company, which previously organised the national beauty contest, will rightfully organise next year’s pageant following a decision by the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture (RALC). According to reports, one of the two companies in the disputed tender bid pulled out when RALC considered reassessing the bidding companies to see if they met the requirements. The dispute involving two companies, General Logistics Services and Rwanda Inspiration Backup, was put before Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA) after the former felt that their bid had been unfairly sidelined. These new developments were confirmed by the Executive Secretary of RALC Dr James Vuningoma, on November 18, in an interview with Ikirori Hot Friday, an entertainment talkshow of Rubavu Community Radio. There had been reports that Miss Rwanda 2017 had been called off due to the dispute but RALC dismissed the rumours. Following the intervention of RPPA, the decisions from the earlier tendering process were declared null and void. On October 31, RALC asked companies which had earlier submitted their bids to resubmit their credentials. General Logistics Services, which had earlier won the rights, claims that it was given ‘impossible terms’ forcing it to withdraw. The company wrote to RALC, pulling out of the process, citing concerns of unfair competition and favouritism, living Rwanda Inspiration Backup in the contention alone. Since there were no other bids, RALC went ahead to assess the single bid and RIB scored more than 60 percent, which under the law gave it the right to win the tender. As a result, RIB took back the rights to organise Miss Rwanda, and according to reports, a contract has already been signed and work has started to ensure that the contest takes place in February 2017 as scheduled. According to Dr Vuningoma, the procedure to select the organiser abided by the law and there was nothing unusual, because after the dispute was resolved, RALC had the duty to recall the submission of bids. “The bid winner was not selected twice. If Rwanda Inspiration Backup hadn’t appealed, General Logistic Services would have retained the rights but when the appeal was lodged successfully, we had to restart the whole process,” “Everything was done in a lawful manner. When we asked the companies to submit their bids again, the other party pulled out, living the remaining party unchallenged and they were awarded the rights,” General Logistic Services claimed that the new terms favoured Rwanda Inspiration Backup, hence the decision to withdraw. Dieudonne Ishimwe of Rwanda Inspiration Backup confirmed to The New Times that his company will organise the pageant next year. A press conference to clarify the current developments and announce plans is set for November 24. RALC is a government institution affiliated to the Ministry of Sports and Culture to support the implementation of policies related to the mandate of the ministry, concerning the promotion of culture. Founded in 2009, Miss Rwanda ensures that the winner adheres to the set rules and behaves in a manner acceptable of beauty queens, to make certain that the institution of Miss Rwanda is respected. The current holder is Jolly Mutesi. The 20-year-old will travel to Washington, United States, this Friday, for the Miss World beauty pageant scheduled for December 20, 2016. She will be the first Miss Rwanda to take part in the prestigious global beauty pageant. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Row over Miss Rwanda 2017 rights resolved