NORTHERN PROVINCE GICUMBI — Seven senior employees at Gicumbi district were last week interdicted over alleged incompetence. Those fired include the district director of Finance, Harriette Furaha, the head of Infrastructure, Albert Kubwimana, the Chief Accountant, Francois Hitayezu and the head of ICT, Hellen Mukanzabandora. Others include the Sector Executive Secretaries of Mutete, Fred Bayingana, that of Nyankenke, Diogene Rugira and the secretary for Rushaki, Cam Harindintwari. The decision to send these officials packing was reached at a retreat of the district executive council held in Musanze district last week, according to our sources. The two day retreat, according to organisers, was meant to among other things assess service delivery among the entire district staff in order to rid the council of incompetent and non performing staff. It was attended by the District Councillors and the district executive. The decision comes days after the District Executive Secretary Maximillien Niyonzima resigned his post citing personal reasons. The District Advisory Council (DAC), chairperson, Cecile Nyirantwari confirmed the development and said the resignation of Niyonzima, and the final fate of all those who were sacked will be officially announced at another meeting of the DAC, scheduled to take place this Friday at the district Headquarters. ‘The final decision on the fate of the sacked employees and the resignation of Niyonzima will be communicated to the public after Friday’s meeting of the District Advisory Council’, she said. Meanwhile, members of Gicumbi district Private Sector Federation who were interviewed by The New Times over the resignation of the district executive secretary over the sacking of other district senior employees, sounded optimistic about the decision of the council. Faustine Twahirwa, a proprietor of Twahira Enterprises, one of the area contractors said Niyonzima’s departure was a relief to contractors because he had always blocked their payments even after completing certain construction works for the district. ‘Gicumbi district authorities owe my company over Rwf.12 million for painting and installing signposts at Gicumbi Stadium in May last year. The district Executive Secretary, who has just resigned always, told me to be patient without giving further reasons, yet I have to pay employees and buy materials used during the work’, said Twahirwa. Another contractor - Entreprise de construction et Hydrologie pour la vision 2020 (E.C.H.V 2020), Alexander Nemeyimana, said his company has been demanding a balance of over Rwf.2 million for the construction of Kigogo Health Centre since September last year. ‘Niyonzima and his team in the Finance department have not been paying for work done by contractors and were never in office whenever one could seek to meet them over payments’,said Nemeyimana. Ends
