Swiss government officials yesterday completed a five-day study tour and commended commending Rwanda’s development strategies.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Local Government, the visitors were interested in getting information about the functioning and role of the Local Defence Force in the Rwandan post Genocide era and peace building context.

The delegation was led by the Minister of Security, Police and Environment, Isabel Rochat, who was accompanied by both the Director General for Human Rights, Fabienne Bugnon and the Director General for Prisons Services, Georges Lapraz.

Addressing local government officials, Rochat noted that Geneva aims to reorganise and reinforce its police force for better service delivery, adding that they had come to seek more experience from Rwanda.

According to Ladislas Ngendahimana, the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Local Government, the Swiss government has always provided support in good governance, decentralisation, capacity building and financially supported the concluded leadership development of local leaders.

The Ministry of Local Government highlighted the role played by the voluntary Local Defence Forces, and that of the current community policing committees in maintaining security at grassroots level.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Cyrille Turatsinze, noted that Rwandans today perceive security as a development factor.

"Now that Rwanda is secure and stable, our security forces, both the army and police, have embarked on the struggle for economic development,” Turatsinze told the delegation.

He added that this is highlighted by various initiatives such as the annual army and police week, respectively, where each force engages in social and economic activities countrywide.

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