Budget announced The Finance and Economic Planning Minister, James Musoni, presented the annual budget to parliament this week. He announced a 24% percent budget increase against a projected economic growth rate of 5.6% in 2009/10. The highlight of the budget was the fact that this is the first time that financing from internal resources has surpassed external remittances according to press reports. Domestic revenue will account for 51% of the financing of this budget. The key areas in the budget are; infrastructure, the productive sector, the human development and social sector as well as the governance and sovereignty cluster. Sen. Mukabaramba is new PDC chief It was reported this week that, Senator Agnes Mukabaramba has taken over as the new chairperson of Partie Democrate Centriste (PDC), replacing former Speaker of Parliament Alfred Mukezamfura. The new party president is reported to have expressed no interest in contesting for Presidential elections, saying that she plans to concentrate on maintaining the party’s parliamentary seats. Sacked NUR don goes to court The sacked dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Rwanda (NUR) Dr. Herbert Nsanze has reportedly moved to sue the Minister of Education, Daphrose Gahakwa for what he calls ‘blatant violation of his legal and contractual rights”. Media reports indicated that there has been a long standing conflict between Nsanze and Prof. Silas Lwakabamba following the latter’s suspension of the former to pave way for investigations over allegations of gross insubordination were carried out. It was reported that Gahakwa wrote a contract termination letter to Dr. Nsanze, relieving him of his duties as the dean despite his contract which still had 15 more months to go. However the minister scoffed at Nsanze’s intention to sue saying that his allegations are baseless. Civil Servants’ wealth underprobe It was also reported that the Office of the Ombudsman is investigating a number of government employees from both public and private institutions, to establish the source of their wealth. Media reports indicated that those targeted for investigations are those who have wealth with value that is beyond their income. The investigations were reported to have kicked off recently. Kagame attends World Economic Forum President Paul Kagame traveled to Cape Town, South Africa for the 19th World Economic Forum on Africa. The President participated in key forum sessions including high level discussions on agriculture and the economy and a televised panel on leadership. The event was held under the theme “Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for Africa.” It brought together a host of African leaders including the host, South Africa’s new President Jacob Zuma. Amnesty International turns down Safari The international Human Rights organization Amnesty International has reportedly turned down former Senator Stanley Safari’s application for protection, in his asylum efforts saying that his claims are baseless. Safari escaped from the country days before he was convicted of multiple counts of Genocide by a Gacaca court in Huye. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. He is said to be hiding in Kampala, Uganda. Ends
