Gov’t seeks to give PM more powers

Several articles of the constitution are set to be amended by the Parliament. Among them will be one that seeks to increase the powers of the Prime Minister and the Senate. The government is seeking to increase the powers of the Prime Minister where he or she will be granted the powers to appoint Directors and other senior officials. The President will appoint heads of government institutions and Commissions. Though the Senate usually receives two names for the position of Judge in the high court, the government seeks to amend the constitution to provide for the Senate to receive only one name for each post, and if turned down, receive another name until it is satisfied. The amendment will also seek to provide the Senate with more time to carry out their day-to-day business by slashing down the type of laws that are adopted by the Senate. On coordination between lawmakers and government, the constitution seeks to introduce a State of the Nation address by the President once a year. The constitution, if amended, will also see the Prime Minister appear before Parliament every term to update the lawmakers on government issues. One term is usually two months. Parliament will begin the process of amending the articles on Monday. The Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama, is expected to appear in Parliament to defend the government’s request to amend the constitution for the fourth time since it came into place in 2003. Among the changes in the last amendment in August 2008 sought to harmonize the presentation of the national budget with other East African Community (EAC) counterparts to which Rwanda became a fully fledged member 2007. According to their calendars, EAC member states present their budgets in June while Rwanda’s annual budget was initially read at the beginning of the year. Ends

National

Gov’t seeks to give PM more powers