Electrogaz merger bill tossed out of parliament

PARLIAMENT - A bill proposing the incorporation of Rwanda Electricity Corporation (RECO) and the Rwanda Water and Sanitation Corporation (RWASCO) into Energy and Water Development Board flopped yesterday in parliament amid a heated debate. The law establishing the two bodies replacing the existing energy and water production and distribution body, Electrogaz was passed recently. However the two bodies have never gone operational, according to parliamentarians. As a way of reducing bureaucracy and duplication of duties to foster development through quality service delivery, the government embarked on merging several institutions that serve similar purposes. It is in this context that the bill merging RECO and RWASCO was tabled by lawmaker Evariste Kalisa and State Minister for Energy Albert Butare was in the House to defend the proposal. However, as parliamentarians approached the final approval of the bill, MP Juliana Kantengwa intervened and warned the House about possible disarrays that may arise if the bill is passed. “A law was passed establishing RECO and RWASCO, which meant that Electrogaz had to be dismantled and the two bodies set up, this was not done and here we are pushing a bill merging these two that are non-extent, I request that we take a break and revisit the law,” Kantengwa said. She was immediately backed by Desire Nyandwi who claimed that if the bill is passed, the parliament would have violated its obligations. He also requested that the parliament takes a break as members consult. However, vocal MP Juvenal Nkusi questioned his colleagues about the consultations. “If we can’t make a decision from here right now, who are you going to consult?” questioned Nkusi who is a former Speaker in the Transitional National Assembly. Yesterday’s parliamentary proceedings were led by Deputy Speaker Denis Polisi who requested MPS to vote on whether the parliament should take a break for consultations. Out of the 60 MPs who had turned up yesterday, 47 voted for the break while eight voted against the break and three abstained. Polisi immediately declared a break after the voting.Twenty minutes after heated debates within the house, the break was called off and Polisi requested Kalisa to announce his stand. “The Commission has decided to withdraw the bill until all necessary measures are in place,” Kalisa said. Meanwhile, Butare had initially told MPs that the law setting up RECO and RWASCO was published in the official gazette at a time when the cabinet was deliberating on merging several institutions. “We then decided to hold it since we were planning a merger of RECO and RWASCO,” said Butare. MPs expressed their worries saying that electrogaz is not supposed to be operational and that whatever it does at the moment is illegal since it is operating under the already nullified law. Minister Butare will have to first set up RECO and RWASCO as requested by MPs before the merger bill is brought back in parliament. Ends