Participatory decision making is the way to go

Editor, RE: “City of Kigali is better off consulting on new policies” (The New Times, May 26). I fully concur with the views expressed in this op-ed. More importantly our City authorities have to learn to carry their constituents with them by involving them in decision-making about issues that concern their welfare, but which also impose certain countervailing costs. They should, on any case, learn to avoid believing that their role is to design policies—devoid of citizen input—and then issue orders from on high that the public is then required to obey. Remember that African saying, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. Trust your citizens, bring us on board the decision-making regarding measures intended for our own welfare; dont ram them down our throats. Mwene Kalinda ************************** The trend the world over is that development, urbanization, and implementation of ideas happen much faster than the planning process. The gap highlighted here and many more are likely scenarios of a contest between “the cheetah” and “the chameleon.” I would hate to speak for the City of Kigali but most likely they will have evidence to table for public consultation, a participatory approach in their policy processes... CoK may never talk to the 1.3 million dwellers, but appropriate sampling, ensuring correct representation in opinion—when combined with the “how”—comes back to the question of “methodology”. Josephine Malonza ************************** As one of the citizens of Kigali, I used to blame the City of Kigali but I now congratulate them. This decision of car-free day was fully communicated. Baguma

Opinions

Participatory decision making is the way to go