Local government leaders in the provinces have been challenged to ensure better collaboration with development partners in order to ensure improved service delivery.

The CEO, Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), Prof. Anastase Shyaka, made the remarks while meeting local leaders in Eastern Province.In attendance were mayors and members of district executive committees, and district councils, district corporate service division managers, and directors of one-stop centres, governance and social protection.The Tuesday meeting was also attended by the Auditor General Obadiah Biraro and the Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Ombudsman Xavier Mbarubukeye. Shyaka presented the Citizens Report Card 2016 in which Gatsibo District in Eastern Province emerged first among the thirty districts of the country in aspects of good governance, justice, economy and social welfare.However, he observed that there is a general weakness in the collaboration of district authorities with partners in development, and pledged to give four motorcycles to best Joint Action Development Forum (JADF) officers in districts."We believe when we engage together with our partners we can do better. District JADF officers should be equipped to perform highly in coordinating district partners and the district development strategies,” said Shyaka.The Auditor General urged districts on all always securing and recording supporting documents for every transaction."In the last few years, there has been an improvement in documentation of district expenditures. We hope you will continue to do better and help bring to justice people who intend to manipulate budgets for their own interests,” said Biraro.Mbarubukeye, meanwhile,  commended the progress made in the fight against corruption."We should reach an extent where everyone flees corruption for fear of what it can bring to them,” said Mbarubukeye.The provincial governor, Judith Kazayire, called upon local authorities to better engage citizens in development projects to ensure ownership. "Don’t conceal what you do. Listen to citizens and create awareness of what you do for them so that they can be fully engaged,” said Kazayire.editorial@newtimes.co.rw