NYANZA – The newly appointed Governor of the Southern Province, Alphonse Munyantwari, on Thursday, officially assumed office, vowing to speed up the development of the province.

At the provincial office, Munyantwari promised to accomplish the activities initiated by his predecessor, Fidèle Ndayisaba.

"There are a lot of tasks awaiting us and we have a vision. We need not to delay to initiate projects but it calls for hard work,” he said. "We will continue to build a secure province, geared at developing rural as well as urban areas.

We will also maintain good governance as the cornerstone of development,” he added.

Vowing to strive for good services, the former mayor of Nyamagabe District noted that leadership determines success and development.

Former Governor Fidèle Ndayisaba highlighted his past achievements and appealed to his successor to work hard.

He named the Maraba coffee intensification project, tea intensification project and the extension of horticulture in Huye, Nyamagabe and Kamonyi districts, respectively, among the major projects that the new governor will need to follow up closely until they are completed.

Ndayisaba warned that the new governor’s ‘task will not be easy’ and encouraged him to ensure team work to succeed.

"Today, while it can be said that  I have handed over to you the office of Governor,  I hereby reiterate that , I will always offer you my support and my hands will be ready to assist you to continue the development of the province,” he promised.

The Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, who attended the ceremony, hailed the outgoing governor for ‘work well done during his tenure.’

He described Ndayisaba as a ‘hardworking leader whose leadership greatly contributed to the development of the province.’

Musoni urged the newly appointed Governor to follow the example of his predecessor.
He counselled him: "Your conduct will determine the future of this province.

If you prefer good governance and all its attributes, you will shape it.”

"But, if your leadership becomes corrupt and distort the power conferred upon you, you will be held responsible.”
Munyantwari was appointed Governor on February 1, 2011. He was, since 2006, the Mayor of Nyamagabe District.

During his leadership, Nyamagabe District prospered considerably and became the best performing district in the performance contracts over the last three years.

His appointment is attributed to the hard work that saw Nyamagabe transform from a hunger-stricken district to one that is food secure as well as a model for other districts in terms of development.

Ndayisaba, who is equally hailed for his good services and team work spirit in the Southern Province, assumed the provincial chair in 2007, replacing Eraste Kabera. He is set to contest in the upcoming Kigali City Mayoral elections.

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