Minister Protais Musoni has one of the toughest jobs among his colleagues in Cabinet. His ministry has to oversee government decentralisation reforms which have been taking place for the last seven years. Add on championing good governance and improving the living conditions of the local population and it is surely not difficult to see that his work is not cut out for him. Even though he does not admit it, he must be one of the few members of Cabinet who enters Urugwiro every Wednesday with a wide smile of satisfaction. The winds of change have reached even the smallest and most remote hamlet where the barefooted peasant suddenly realises that he actually counts. Perhaps the one thing that must have cost Musoni and his staff sleepless nights was how to instil the culture of accountability in local leaders. How does one change the status quo and overturn the age old custom of local leaders reigning over their ‘little kingdoms’ as they saw fit, their subjects shut out in the backroom of oblivion? How does one empower a society riddled with many ignorant brothers and sisters without raising the worst nightmares? They did not have to go far to look for a solution. Empowerment breeds confidence to confront the world. Add that with making resources accessible to the people, and you have a sure-fire formula for seeking and attaining knowledge. It is easy to see that the mushrooming of schools and training centres and Amahugurwa (training seminars) are a result of wanting to better oneself. The dividends have paid off. Seven years down the road and suddenly the skies are very clear in the villages. The population can now find the courage to confront their backyard despots who suddenly find their wings clipped for measure. That is democracy.Ends
