Mutsindashyaka dropped from cabinet

KIGALI - The State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Théoneste Mutsindashyaka, relieved his duties as a minister in a surprise move announced late last evening. A brief statement signed by Prime Minister, Bernard Makuza said President Paul Kagame basing on powers bestowed upon him by the constitution had relieved Mutsindashyaka of his duties with immediate effect. By Press time, no elaborate reasons had been given for the sudden axing of the now former State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education. Mutsindashyaka has only served for one year and four months having been appointed a State Minister in-charge of Primary and Secondary Education since March 2008. Prior to his appointment to the Ministry, Mutsindashyaka, 46, had served as the Governor of the Eastern Province for two years, following a 5 year spell as a Mayor of Kigali. He replaced Joseph Murekeraho who was dropped from cabinet but has since been appointed as the Director General of the Teachers’ Saving Cooperative (Umwalimu-SACCO). Prominent for his reforms initiated in Eastern Province, Mutsindashyaka is equally remembered for his iron hand in implementing some reforms within Kigali city. However in a recent article published in Rwanda Focus, a weekly newspaper, Mutsindashyaka was accused of abuse of office by illegally obtaining land from an elderly man within Kigali City. Mustindashyaka graduated with a degree in physics from the National University of Rwanda. He served in various capacities in different ministries. He worked as Director of Cabinet in the Ministry of Youth and Culture as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, before he became the Secretary General in the Ministry of Public Service and Labour. Ends