KIGALI - The new Minister Education, Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, and his colleague Stanislas Kamanzi, who was appointed to head the new Ministry of Natural Resources yesterday assumed their duties.

The handover from their predecessors Charles Murigande (Education) and Christophe Bazivamo, who was Minister of Mines and Forestry, took place at the respective ministries yesterday.

Murigande was in last week’s cabinet reshuffle, appointed Ambassador to Japan while Bazivamo did not feature on the new line up.

Habumuremyi commended the outgoing minister saying that he had learnt much from him that would help to develop the ministry.

"It’s always difficult to fill the shoes of a person who has been very hardworking, he has done much in developing this ministry and I am sure if we continue working together with him and the staff, we shall achieve our goals,” Habumuremyi noted.

Murigande thanked the  employees for the work they had accomplished together and urged them to cooperate effectively with the new minister to ensure the achievement of more goals.

He pledged to extend assistance and cooperation to the new minister to develop the sector.

Sharon Haba, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, welcomed the new minister and assured him of maximum cooperation.

Meanwhile, Kamanzi disclosed to The New Times that he would overcome all the challenges under the merged ministry.

"There is nothing much that I don’t understand in this field; the ministries have been almost the same but if we work together as a team with my colleagues, I am sure we shall achieve our targets,” he said

He pointed out that the responsibility of developing the ministry lies in the hands of every employee, adding that there was need to combine efforts.

"It’s not only the minister or permanent secretary who is responsible for the development of the ministry; it’s you the workers and I am ready to work with you to ensure success”, he told the employees.

In his speech, Bazivamo committed himself to support the new minister to achieve his objectives.

"I am ready to assist you at any time. My phone will be available and you can use email to consult me in case there is any problem,” he said .

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