President Paul Kagame yesterday dropped three senior cabinet ministers and four state ministers in what is his biggest cabinet reshuffle in recent years.

In a communiqué released last night, the Head of State introduced three new full ministries, scrapped five state ministries and brought into cabinet five new faces, four of them women.

Several ministers have also been transferred to other portfolios, while the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports has been split into two.

The changes saw the number of full cabinet portfolios increase to 22 (including the premier’s position), up from 19; while the number of state ministers has been slashed from eleven down to six.

While retaining Bernard Makuza as Prime Minister, the President sacked the Minister of Public Service and Labour Prof. Manasseh Nshuti, replacing him with Anastase Murekezi, who was until yesterday the Minister for Agriculture.

And Rwandans today celebrate the International Women’s Day with a new Gender and Family Promotion minister in the person of Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, succeeding Valerie Nyirahabineza who has been dropped. Mujawamariya has been Education minister.

Also fired is the Minister of Information in the Office of the Prime Minister Prof. Laurent Nkusi, who has been replaced by Louise Mushikiwabo, one of the new blood in the new-look cabinet.

The state ministers that lost their portfolios include Joseph Murekeraho (Primary and Secondary Education), whose position has been given to Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, who was until yesterday the Governor of the Eastern Province.

State Ministers Dr Innocent Nyaruhirira (HIV/Aids and other Infectious Diseases), Patricia Hajabakiga (Land and Environment) and Angelina Muganza (Skills Development and Labour) have all been thrown out of cabinet after their portfolios were scrapped.

Dr Charles Murigande, who has been the minister of foreign affairs and cooperation for many years, has become the Minister for the new post of Cabinet Affairs, while another new ministerial positions, that of East African Community, has been handed to new entrant Monique Mukaruliza.

Another new face is Linda Bihire, who takes over the Ministry of Infrastructure, succeeding Ambassador Stanislas Kamanzi, who has been transferred to the Ministry of Lands, Environment, Water, Mines and Forestry.

Also new in the Cabinet is Agnes Kalibata, who becomes the State Minister for Agriculture, replacing Daphrose Gahakwa, who was elevated to become the Education minister. Kalibata has been the Secretary General in the Agriculture ministry.

Kamanzi replaces Christophe Bazivamo, a long-serving cabinet minister, who has succeeded Murekezi at the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources.

President Kagame also transferred Protais Mitali from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Cooperatives to the Ministry of Youth, a position peeled off from the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports. Joseph Habineza retained the position of Sports and Culture minister.

Notable among the elevations is Rosemary Museminari, who replaces Dr Murigande as the minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

Museminari’s former portfolio (state minister for cooperation) has been scrapped.

Monique Nsanzabaganwa, who was until yesterday the State Minister for Economic Planning, has replaced Mitali at the helm of Commerce ministry. Nsanzabaganwa’s former ministerial position has also been scrapped.

Ministers who remain unchanged in their positions are Protais Musoni (Local Government, Good Governance, Community Development and Social Affairs), Moussa Fazil Harerimana (Internal Security), James Musoni (Finance and Economic Planning), Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi (Defence), Tharcisse Karugarama, who remains the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General.

Others are Soline Nyirahabimana (Minister in the Office of the President), Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo (Health) and Prof. Romain Murenzi, who remains the Minister in the Office of the President in charge of ICT, Science, Technology and Communication.

State Ministers that retained their jobs are Christine Nyatanyi (Community Development and Social Affairs), Eng. Albert Butare (Energy), Prof. Bikoro Munyanganizi (Water, Mines and environment) and Vincent Karega in charge of Industry and Investment Promotion.

The shakeup has not come as a complete surprise as speculation about it had lingered for sometime especially after several ministers were rocked by incompetence allegations.

The reshuffle cuts the number of cabinet members from 30 down to 28, while it increases women representation from 30 percent to 36 percent. The constitution requires women to have at least 30 percent seats at all leadership levels. President Kagame had last reshuffled his cabinet in March 2006.

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