The Ministry of Local Government has warned two political parties in the country against breaching the law by not having the requisite 30 percent women representation in their party structures. According to Protais Musoni the Minister of Local Government, the political parties warned are the Union for Democratic Peoples of Rwanda (UDPR) and the Labour Party (PSR) who are requested to abide by the amended Organic Law governing political organisations in the country. The amendments which were made in 2003 compel parties to be represented up to the Sector level across the country. It also obliges parties to have the 30 percent women representation in their ranks just as other institutions in the country. “We have written warning these parties to amend their status to conform to the law governing political parties in the country and abide by the principle of 30 percent of women in the leadership. We gave them a deadline to have done this by April 07, 2009,” Musoni observed. According to a report from the Senate, these parties are among those that have been accused of not having a budget, a detailed plan of action and have been marred by irregularities in their monthly reports to the Ministry of Local Government. “We will make an in-depth analysis to ensure whether no offence was intended which may result into being taken to court. However, this is not our objective, the Executive has to warn them over the breach of law,” Dr. Vincent Biruta told journalists during a press conference on Wednesday. He called upon all political parties to take their responsibility to abide by the law. Meanwhile, an official in the Ministry of Local Government has revealed that the two parties have written to the ministry seeking to postpone the deadline of having redesigned their constitutions pending their National Congresses. “PSR has asked for 60 days to have met all the requirements while UDPR said that their congress would convene on April 04,” the official who is conversant with the case said on condition of anonymity. UDPR and PSR are among the nine political organisations that are represented in the Government of National Unity. Ends
