Delaying to execute public-funded project is criminal

Editor, Refer to the article, “Low budget execution in local government worries legislators” (The New Times, April 10). There are just a handful of officials in Rwanda who want or have the will to solve a problem brought before them on the spot. Procrastination is a norm except in fire extinguishing. I have observed this habit for the past 20 years and found it is here to stay. Some of the officials want to get something from the person who brings to them a problem and if there is nothing to offer, all the reason to postpone and forget. I learnt it the hard way when I was getting discharged from the army. It took me three days and five trips to get a national identity card from Nyarugenge Commune (as the administrative system was called then) until a certain girl who was very insolent contemptuously asked me, “Did your father and mother have a civil marriage?” to which I sarcastically replied that I was not present so could not vouch for what happened in 1955. She wrote on my file that I am “illegitimate”, meaning I was a bastard. I signed the form and went home with the ID card. The public administration needs overhaul and to introduce formula SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable Realistic and Time-bound. To keep money meant to be used and wait for prices of goods to rise is criminal. Ruhambanacyuma

Opinions

Delaying to execute public-funded project is criminal