Former Premier Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi has been appointed Chairperson of the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honor (CHENO).

CHENO is headed by an Executive Secretary, a position currently held by Deo Nkusi.

According to minutes from the cabinet meeting held Friday, Habumuremyi replaces Dr. Augustin Iyamuremye who was named head of Rwanda Elders Advisory Council.

The Rwanda Elders Advisory Council, a key organ of the Rwanda Elders Advisory Forum (Reaf) mooted over two years ago, takes shape now that Cabinet has approved its leadership and composition.

Denis Polisi, Antoine Mugesera, Dr. Joseph Karemera, Sheikh Abdul Karim Harerimana, Mukantabana [also formerly in CHENO] and Agnes Mukabaranga are the other members of the Council.

Mugesera, Dr. Karemera and Mukabaranga are former Senators who left the Upper House in the recent past after serving out their eight year non-renewable term. Polisi is also a former member of the Lower House while Harelimana, former minister and one of the nine legislators representing Rwanda in the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala), resigned from the regional legislature, earlier this month.

The Council is, among others, supposed to advise government on numerous issues, including national political orientation and challenges of political, economic, social and cultural dimensions, among others.