SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE — District Mayor, Aimable Twagiramutara, and his deputy in charge of Economic Affairs, Ildefonse Gasana, have resigned from their posts.

The pair tendered in their resignations to the District Advisory Council (DAC), on Thursday, according to council President, Charles Ndagije.

The DAC President, in an interview with The New Times, said that the top officials cited ‘personal’ reasons for their resignation.

He said, "the Council is yet to meet to discuss the resignation of the district officials. We hope to get detailed information from them concerning their resignations.”

Last March the DAC sub-committee on Economic Affairs, produced a damning report which revealed that the district owes its creditors over Rwf300million, with no capacity of meeting its recurrent debts. The resignations have  sparked speculation.

While the district generated about Rwf20million from internal revenue collections, it needed about Rwf40million to pay workers’ monthly salaries, according to the report.

Asked for a comment, the Provincial Governor, Fidele Ndayisaba, in a telephone interview with The New Times welcomed the resignation, saying it was an honourable decision.

He said, "If one realises that he or she cannot deliver what is expected of him or her? The honourable thing to do is to resign and this is what these officials have done.”

"Their resignations should be seen in a positive light because it gives an opportunity for other Rwandans to show their leadership skills. These officials can still serve the country in different capacities.”

The Governor said that there is need for ‘new blood’ to revitalise the leadership of the district which has underperformed over the years.

In a related development, the Nyanza District Vice- Mayor in charge of Economic Affairs, Charles Munyaneza, also threw in the towel on the same day.

In an interview with The New Times, Munyaneza confirmed the development also citing ‘personal’ reasons for his resignation.

"I have written to the DAC informing them about my resignation due to personal reasons,” he said on the phone.

In the same Province early last month, the two Vice-Mayors in charge of Economic Affairs and Social Affairs, in Ruhango District, also resigned from their posts.

The Huye District resignations still need the endorsement of the DAC and the Provincial Governor before fresh elections are organised.

Ends