Political parties align statutes to new law

Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) has cleared all the 11 political parties operating in the country, after they reviewed their statutes to comply with the new organic law governing political parties. This was revealed by Anastase Shyaka, the CEO of RGB on Tuesday. Complying with the new legislation mainly affected the 10 parties that were in existence before the new law was passed. The recently registered Democratic Green Party of Rwanda had to comply with the new law prior to its registration. In respect to article 55 of the new law, already registered political organisations were supposed to align their statutes with the new law within 30 days from the publication date of the same law. “Congratulations to all of you, you fulfilled all registration requirements within the stipulated time. As a result, you are allowed to operate in Rwanda,” Shyaka told representatives of political parties. He used the occasion to remind the parties of the most important articles in the new law. One of them is Article 24 regarding donations to political organisations. This article allows political organisations to get donations, but stipulates that, if they are worth Rwf1,000,000 and above, the political organisation shall inform RGB in writing, within 30 days from the day of receipt. The letter will indicate the donor, the type and value of donation, with a copy to the office of the Ombudsman. This article, however prohibits donations from foreigners and foreign business companies and organisations with foreign shareholders. Government institutions and faith based organisations are not authorised to give donations to political organisations. “We were consulted in the forum and we agreed with the new law, even this article,” said Agnes Mukabaranga, the chairperson of Democratic Centrist Party (PDC), also spokeswoman of the consultative forum of political parties in Rwanda. “We do not have any problem with the article; the article aims at promoting transparency and we (political parties) should take a lead,” said Fatou Harelimana, the executive secretary of the Ideal Democratic Party. The operating political organisations in Rwanda include; Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) which is the ruling party, Liberal Party (PL), the Democratic Union of the People of Rwanda (UDPR), Ideal Democratic Party(PDI), Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Party for Progress and Concord (PPC), Centrist Democratic Party (PDC), Rwanda Socialist Party (PSR), Party for Solidarity and Progress (PSP), PS-Imberakuli and the recent registered Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR).

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Political parties align statutes to new law