Members of both chambers of Parliament today begin a countrywide tour to collect public views on the proposed amendment of Article 101 of the Constitution, following demands by millions of Rwandans that all obstacles be removed to ensure President Paul Kagame continues leadership after 2017.

For about three weeks from today, both senators and deputies will traverse all the country’s 416 sectors.

They will be talking to Rwandans of all walks of life, from local farmers and business leaders to teachers and university lecturers, as well as members of the civil society such as religious leaders, women leaders, people living with disabilities, and youth leaders.

The legislators are also scheduled to meet opinion leaders in the country, such as leaders of farmers’ cooperatives and trade unions, Private Sector Federation, political parties and religious groups, as well as leaders of professions such as doctors and operators of financial institutions.

"We need to meet as many people as possible. We want to confirm what is in people’s petitions by physically meeting people and broadening the debate,” Senate vice-president Jeanne d’Arc Gakuba told The New Times.

Some 3,784,586 Rwandans from different backgrounds wrote to both the Lower House and the Senate, asking for the initiation of the process to amend article 101 of the Constitution.

They want the law amended to allow President Kagame to continue with stewardship of the country beyond the expiry of current term in 2017, citing his exceptional leadership, unity and reconciliation among Rwandans and improved economy.

Members of both chambers of Parliament last week supported the petitions to amend Article 101 of the Constitution and allow the President lead the country beyond 2017.

From House to referendum

In a move that constitutes the first technical step toward a national referendum on scrapping the presidential term limits, the legislators agreed to initiate countrywide consultations as soon as possible to have more people have their say on the amendment of the Constitution.

According to both Senator Gakuba and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Donatille Mukabalisa, after collecting people’s views on scrapping presidential term limits, the legislators will make reports that will again be tabled in Parliament for consideration.

After the reports are tabled in Parliament, the legislators will be asked to vote on whether they approve the idea to change Article 101 of the Constitution, which, if approved, will require the electoral commission to organise a referendum for Rwandans to vote on it as stipulated in Article 193 of the Constitution.

However, it was not immediately clear when a referendum would be scheduled if the decision is arrived at.

"When you start reviewing a law you don’t know for sure how long it will take to complete the process. But we know that we have to give this priority; we will try to fast-track the process,” Mukabalisa said.

Legislators have also proposed to update the Constitution by looking at any other articles that may be outdated.

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