In a bid to unite party members and move beyond infighting and bickering within the party, Parti Social (PS) Imberakuri together with the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) called on members to unite and be part of nation building process.

The party, yesterday, conducted a one-day awareness workshop for its committee members from the district to the national level as well as district and provincial representatives on how to live in harmony.

During the one-day event that brought together over 130 delegates countrywide, a representative of NURC, Sarah Bawaya, called on the members of the party to desist from politics that pit Rwandans against each other and instead forge a united front.

Speaking to reporters, the president of PS Imberakuri, Christine Mukabunani, said that the party has managed to move beyond internal wrangles that characterised it last year and set up grassroot committees to carry out its activities.

"During this meeting, we will also talk about the status of the party and also endorse some of the changes we have made in the party statute and also endorse the new party leadership.

"At the same time, party members will affirm the decision made to punish and expel some of the party members who were involved in acts misconduct and breached the party rules,” Mukabunani said.

Some of the members to be expelled include Theobard Mutarambira, the former Secretary General and Alex Bakunzibake, who was in charge of youth and gender. The two rebelled and remained loyal to Bernard Ntaganda, the leader of a breakaway faction of the party.

Also expelled were Noel Hakinzimfura and Augustine Niyitegeka who are accused of demolishing the party offices in Nyamirambo last year.

Mukabunani said that the expelled committee members failed to meet their obligations of attending party meetings and respecting party rules.

She said that the party had a statute which discriminated members, considering some as founding members while new members were perceived as outsiders and inferior, something that needed to be corrected.

The party also reduced the number of political bureau members from 175 to 116, which included party presidents at district and provincial members, Mukabunani said.

Among others, Mukabunani said that the party conducts activities to support national programs such as the Nine Year Basic Education and empowering rural women.

"As NURC, we expect parties to work in harmony. Infighting and personal wrangles, playing the ethnic card within party members does not affect the way politics are done but they also have a direct impact on Rwandans,” Bawaya from NURC said.

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