Senate to probe officials over quake victims’ funds

KIGALI - The Senate has appointed an adhoc select committee to investigate allegations that resources meant to assist earthquake victims in the districts of Rusizi and Nyamasheke were mismanaged. The Senate was discussing a report that was tabled after a field assessment of the devastated districts by its Foreign Affairs Standing Committee, by last year’s earthquake in the Western Province. The committee, chaired by Valens Munyabagisha and deputised by Henriette Mulisa, concluded in the report that the Rwf 6.5bn that was provided to help the victims could have been misused. Other members include; Seth Kamanzi, Alvera Mukabaramba and Wellars Gasamagera. The terms of reference for the committee include; to determine the number of projects accomplished so far, what has not been completed and why, what is yet to be done. The committee will report its findings to a plenary session in three months, time. Meanwhile, the same session that was chaired by Senate President, Vincent Biruta, also discussed a bill to establish a law reform commission. The commission will harmonise and draft requisite laws as per the constitution. The Chairperson of the Political Affairs Committee, Joseph Karemera, presented the bill to the session yesterday. He told the Senate that the commission will analyse national laws with a view of providing recommendations to competent authorities for improvement, modernisation and reform. “The commission will abrogate obsolete or incompatible provisions of laws,” he said. According to the draft of the bill, the commission will conduct a study aimed at evaluating existing laws with a view to determine those that are not properly implemented. It will be supervised by Ministry of Justice and will have a Council of Commissioners as its highest organ. The plenary approved only 21 articles of 36 of the bill and referred the rest back to the political affairs committee for amendment. Ends

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Senate to probe officials over quake victims’ funds