MPs undergo induction course

The Speaker of Parliament, Donatille Mukabalisa, has urged Members of Parliament to devote more time to their work as people’s representatives.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Parliamentarians during the voting exercise recently. The New Times/ J. Mbanda.

The Speaker of Parliament, Donatille Mukabalisa, has urged Members of Parliament to devote more time to their work as people’s representatives.The Speaker was speaking at the closure of a two-day retreat for lawmakers convened in Musanze District to discuss ways of improving service delivery at Parliament.The retreat was also an opportunity for MPs to discuss their code of conduct, parliamentary diplomacy, legal drafting, public relations and communication and working relations with other institutions.Mukabalisa urged them to work as a team to successfully implement their tasks."I think we have discussed a lot and it will help us fulfill our tasks to serve the people we represent,” she said."It is the role of everyone to implement the resolutions taken from this retreat,” she added.Mukabalisa said the Parliament Bureau she heads will ensure MPs achieve their targets. "We will need each one’s advice to achieve our goals. Our target is to build a vibrant Parliament that will propel the nation forward,” she said. New lawmakers said it was a great opportunity to learn more about parliamentary business." I learnt a lot about Parliament as a new member. The retreat boosted my understanding of Parliament business,” MP Saleh Habimana, said, adding that the retreat also offered him an opportunity to interact freely with other MPs and share experience.