PARLIAMENT - The Prime Minister Bernard Makuza has unveiled government’s roadmap to be followed to ensure that the country is transformed into a middle income nation before 2017.

The Premier, who made the remarks while presenting the seven-year government programme before both chambers of Parliament, called for commitment and hard work so the country achieves its targets.

Makuza told the MPs and Senators that the government will emphasize consolidating national unity, identity and harmony.  He pointed out that more emphasis will be put in catalyzing capabilities to increase rapid production and development.

"We intend to have citizens’ service delivery satisfaction to increase to over 80% and encourage citizen to render national service of at least one year,” Makuza said.

He also highlighted that Rwanda’s reconciliation social cohesion barometer is expected to go up to over 95 % while the government intends to be among the top 10 countries in fighting injustice and corruption all over the world.

Still under the justice cluster, Makuza said that the government will ensure that the judiciary prosecutes all embezzlement cases and recovers all misappropriated funds.

"We want to see a massive reduction of 20% of the petitions filed in courts of law,” he announced.
In the sector of trade, industry and tourism, the Prime Minister told Parliament that the government will put in place an Industrial Master Plan leading to critical mass of Small and Medium Enterprises while five new tea factories will be constructed.

"We intend to construct 220 new Coffee washing stations to increase fully washed coffee to 80%,” said Makuza.

The Prime Minister also announced the government’s intention to increase access to electricity by 30 percent. This will happen as a result of construction of several hydropower plants across the country.

Currently, energy production in Rwanda is estimated at 85 megawatts and according to the Prime Minister, the government intends to increase the amount of megawatts produced to 1000 by 2017.

"We will also increase access to clean water and quality of sanitation to 100%,” said Makuza.

In his ambitious presentation, the Prime Minister announced that the government intends to keep unemployment rates below 5% and this will be achieved through several initiatives including aiding the creation of at least 350 new youth cooperatives.

Makuza also said that the GDP increase for financial services including banks and micro finances is projected to go up by 27%, to ensure that 80 percent of the population are beneficiaries of financial services.

Under the land, forests, environment and natural resources cluster, the government aims to curb soil erosion by 100% while reforestation will increase by 30 percent.

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