Polisi speaks out on Mporanyi’s woes

In his first reaction to the woes of lawmaker, Theobald Mporanyi,the Vice Speaker of Parliament, Polisi Dennis has said that he will respect whatever decision the courts of law take on his colleague. In an exclusive interview with The New Times yesterday, Polisi said that he views Mporanyi’s issues the same way he would view any Rwandan’s problems. “To me, besides the fact that he is an MP, I view him in the same light I would view any Rwandan who has any justice issues. First of all, if the jusice authorities have issues, no one should say it should have been like this or it should end like that, it’s the job of the justice system to solve the problem. I feel no one should involve themselves, that’s why we call it justice,” he said Mporanyi first appeared before Gacaca courts in Ngoma Sector where he was charged with committing crimes at the National University of Rwanda during the period leading to the Genocide and inciting people to kill through a radio announcement aired on the National radio. The Gacaca Court last week placed Mporanyi in Category 1 before his case was transferred to ordinary courts. Category 1 puts together the planners, organisers, instigators, supervisors of the Genocide. Polisi said that as a leader, he will not allow his judgement to be overshadowed by personal sentiments and emotions and was viewing the whole issue from all angles. “Whether Honourable Mporanyi appeared before Gacaca courts or whether it’s the way the courts make their final decisions, I respect them because I have a lot of respect for the justice system. I cant let emotions and sentiments overshadow my thinking because when you start saying that this is an MP or it’s a relative and you take sides, that’s when you stop being a leader,” he said Mporanyi is the second lawmaker to face Gacaca courts. His case follows in the footsteps of former MP Beatrice Nirere who was sentenced to genocide crimes and later lost her seat after being sentenced to life in prison. Ends