Officials from both the central government and at the grassroots should strengthen management of government’s programmes meant to improve lives for the poorest members of society if the country’s Vision 2020 is to be achieved, Parliament has said.

The lawmakers made the call yesterday while presenting their report on how the country’s policies to fight malnutrition, improve public hygiene, and fight poverty among other programmes are being implemented.Among others, the Lower House asked the government to ensure better monitoring of the One-Cow-per-Family programme (Girinka) given its potential to reduce poverty.

They also asked the Ministry of Agriculture to increase farmers’ access to fertilisers and seeds, called for extensive anti-malnutrition campaigns, and more investments in building feeder roads as well as the provision of water and electricity.

The legislators’ report is based on discussions they held with citizens and their leaders in all the country’s 30 districts during a tour in January.

"Our recommendations will be forwarded to relevant institutions so that they can be implemented,” said Speaker Donatille Mukabalisa.

Grouped into two- to three-member teams that were dispatched in all the country’s 30 districts, the lawmakers inquired about how different programmes introduced by the government to improve livelihood have been performing.

Many of the programmes, such as Girinka, have improved livelihood of citizens, but they need further monitoring if they are to help more people.

Issues in Girinka

On Girinka, the legislators called for better monitoring of the programme to fight any attempts at corruption where the poor are being asked by some local officials to pay a bribe before they can receive cows.

It also remains hard for the poor who received cows as part of Girinka to access veterinary services and the livestock end up dying or being unproductive.

"It’s still not clear who is in charge of managing Girinka. We need to find a way of coordinating and following up this programme,” said MP Henriette Mukamurangwa Sebera.

The MPs also urged government to do more to sensitise both farmers and investors on how to handle the milk production and processing industry to reverse issues of milk that is being lost because it can’t be used by the country’s limited milk processing plants.

"The entire milk handling industry has issues. We need a strategy to exploit the sector from milk production to processing to ensure value addition by making more products with our milk,” argued MP Adolphe Bazatoha.

The MPs noted malnutrition, limited access to fertilisers and seeds by farmers, the growing cases of malaria, lack of enough markets for milk and maize produces, livestock theft, and lack of clean water among some of the issues dogging many communities.

The tour was part of routine outreach that MPs make twice a year to get a clearer idea of the population’s welfare and how to improve programmes aimed at improving their lives.

Under the country’s Vision 2020, Rwanda aspires to be a middle income economy where the poverty rate will have been significantly reduced to no more than 30 per cent by 2020.

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