Constitutional review process an exciting sovereign right, says Justice Minister

The Minister for Justice, Johnstone Busingye, has described the ongoing constitutional review process as an exciting time for Rwanda as citizens exercise their rights and freedom to choose how they are governed. Busingye made the remarks on Tuesday evening at an event to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in Kigali. The International Human Rights Day, which is commemorated on December 10, annually, serves to celebrate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. Busingye, who is also the Attorney General, said the process was an unprecedented citizen engagement and participation in a deliberation on the country’s future. “What you are witnessing, ladies and gentlemen, is unprecedented citizen engagement and participation of writers, researchers, political parties, academics, media, professional organisations and ordinary citizens in a debate about our future,” he said. The process, he said, is characterised by participation not only of citizens but also of non-Rwandans, including media, regional organisations, politicians, development partners who bear varied opinions. He added that citizens would listen to varied opinions but maintain their right to make choices about their future. “This process is not just constitutional; it is an exercise that is a fundamental human right which cannot be outsourced and which no individual country or group of countries, however able or friendly can exercise, guarantee and assume responsibility on our behalf. Rwandans are happy and proud participants and determinants in this process because it entitles them to secure for and by themselves a democratic, stable and socio-economically progressing nation for now and for the future,” he said. President Paul Kagame on Tuesday called for a referendum on the revised Constitution with the poll due on December 17 for Rwandans in the Diaspora, and on December 18 for Rwandans in the country. This follows the recent revision of the 2003 Constitution by both chambers of Parliament after the lawmakers received petitions from more than 3.7 million adult Rwandans – about 60 per cent of voters – imploring them to initiate a constitutional amendment process to waive presidential term limits from the supreme law. This, the petitioners said, would make President Kagame eligible to stand for elections come 2017 when his second term comes to an end. The current Constitution limits presidents to a maximum of two seven-year terms.

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Constitutional review process an exciting sovereign right, says Justice Minister