Constitution review team promises fairness

Members of the Constitutional Review Commission appointed last week have promised to exercise independence in executing their duties. The seven commissioners were approved last Friday by the Senate to technically assist Parliament in redrafting the supreme law in a bid to cater for requests by millions of Rwandans calling for amendment of the Constitution on presidential term limits. After vetting by the senatorial committee on political affairs and good governance, the law experts, headed by a veteran politician Dr Augustin Iyamuremye, promised to review the Constitution ‘in context of today’s realities’. Dr Iyamuremye believes his core role will be to coordinate efforts and activities of his team and ensure citizens’ views are heard, captured and incorporated in the amended Constitution. “While expediting our duties, we will make sure people’s views are captured. But if it is necessary, more research and views can as well be gathered as provided by the law,” he told lawmakers last Friday. “We will also try to work within our timeline, which is four months.” Iyamuremye is a veterinary medicine doctor with a PhD from Liege University in Belgium; he has also specialised in Microbiology and Immunology studies. He has previously worked as a lecturer; deputy governor; Intelligence chief and minister for agriculture; information and foreign affairs as well as a lawmaker at the Pan-African Parliament. Dr Usta Kayitesi. Dr Usta Kayitesi, the commission’s vice chairperson, told the senators that the team will avail to Parliament a preliminary Constitutional Bill that is based on research and expertise. “Revising the 2003 Constitution is timely to help Rwandans reevaluate the guiding principles reflecting today’s reality and entrench them within the law,” she said. “The technical support will be informed by research, which will also help in the redrafting of Article 101 and other clauses in the law that might be subject to amendments.” Dr Kaitesi is the current principal of University of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Sciences. She holds a PhD in law economics and governance from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She has previously worked as a consultant at UNICEF and UNIFEM; has served at the National Human Rights Commission; been a project coordinator at UNDP, and is currently a board member of the Rwanda Governance Board. John Mirenge, another legal expert who has been working in the airline business for a while told senators that the assigned duties will be accomplished accordingly with the support. John Mirenge. “I have been closely following the debate on the review of the Constitution and I can as well contribute using my knowledge in the field of law. “But then, I believe greater steps were made mainly through public views gathering and written petitions,” he said. Mirenge is the current CEO of the RwandAir and holds a post-graduate diploma in legal practice. He is an alumnus of Makerere University School of Law. He was once executive chairman of Crystal Venture Limited; managing director of the former Electrogas and the chief operating officer of MTN Rwanda. He has also been a legal adviser at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. Loyce Bamwine, another member of the commission, said the task ahead will revolve around offering technical support to the Parliament after thoroughly engaging all responsible parties. “There is a need to reexamine the current Constitution deeply. But despite the urgency and the amount of the work, more efforts will need to be done by the team to deliver accordingly,” she said. Bamwine is currently a commissioner at the Law Reform Commission and is a lawyer by profession. She holds a master’s degree in international law of criminal justice and human rights with a special mention from the Utrecht University in Netherlands. Evode Uwizeyimana, another commissioner, is a pro-constitutional change who has been campaigning for an overhaul of the amendment of the supreme law. According to Uwizeyimana, the outcome of the review should have clauses that are crystal clear. “The law should be beyond reproach; it should be an irreproachable text that connects easily with other laws, and it will address a number of issues currently not being addressed at the Supreme Court level,” he said. Evode Uwizeyimana. Uwizeyimana is a law graduate of Montreal University in Canada with specialisation in public international law, where he is currently pursuing his doctorate. He was a judge in Rwanda prior to commencing graduate studies in Canada. Commissioner Aimable Havugiyaremye, who is the current acting rector at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development in Nyanza District, said the law will need changes in format and context. “As someone who teaches legislative drafting and having been principal state attorney in legislation service, I believe my contributions will be positive,” he said. Commissioner Beata Mukeshimana, currently the head of the department of law research, reform and revision at the Rwanda Law Reform Commission, believes the team is qualified enough to make relevant changes. “Some of the clauses are outdated and need to be modified vis-a-vis the current realities,” she said. Mukeshimana holds a master degree in advanced legal study from the University of London. She previously worked at Parliament as a legislative drafter and advisor in the office of deputy clerk in charge of legislation at Parliament. All commissioners are expected to take oath before the Chief Justice before they embark on their duties. They will be based at Parliament. They are also supposed to briefly surrender their ordinary duties. They will be entitled commissioners’ remunerations for a four months renewable tenure. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Constitution review team promises fairness