The Senate has given the green light to the independent seven-member Constitutional Review Commission that was requested by Parliament. Parliament sought the support of the Commission after close to 4 million Rwandans (70 percent of the electorate) petitioned the August House demanding amendments to the Constitution. The constitutional amendment process can be complex and confusing to some people and it is through continued efforts to sensitise the public that the confusion will be straightened out. Some sections of the media and so called ‘experts’ have taken advantage of the confusion to mislead people. While the ongoing process to amend the Constitution has been Citizen-led and transparent, it is still important that Parliament goes the extra mile and labours to enlighten the people of the entire process and the different stages and requirements. The citizens know what they want and have made it clear. It is up to the lawmakers to follow up while also explaining what was going on at each stage of the process. It is important to note that the whole exercise of amending the Constitution is not just about lifting term limits; it is also about amending other sections of the constitution that are not in line with the current situation. And, this is one of the areas the review commission has to study extensively. The Rwanda of today is not the same as when the existing Constitution was drafted. The review commission should consult with all stakeholders and advise Parliament on a constitution that is in line with what Rwanda aspires according to the Rwandan people. Through communicating more efficiently, the process will be a lot smoother. This, however, will not rule out the detractors who will attempt to shun anything Rwandan.
