Prime Minister receives Tony Blair

KIGALI - The Prime Minister, Bernard Makuza, yesterday received British former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at his office in Kimihurura where they discussed the progress of capacity building in the country. Blair arrived in the country on Tuesday for a three-day visit. According to Makuza, the discussions mainly focused on the support offered to the Office of the Prime Minister and how it has been utilized in boosting capacity. “We are very happy with the collaboration we have with Tony Blair and his team because they assist us to achieve good results. The best kind of funding is that which allows beneficiaries to train and acquire skills to do their work better,” Makuza said. “It is therefore up to us to utilize what has been taught during the trainings. This has in turn helped our officials to perform better and we are grateful.” The Prime Minister also commended Blair and his team for not only embarking on capacity building but also playing a key role in follow-up and evaluation of achievements in various sectors such as education, agriculture and health, among others. Makuza noted that a lot more still needs to be done, but affirmed that with such support and good collaboration, there will be greater achievements in the near future. Blair decided to take on an unpaid role as adviser to the Rwandan government in 2008. Since then, his team has undertaken the initiative to build capacities in various institutions with the reasoning that government capacity, coupled with good governance and fighting corruption, are vital for development. Ends

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Prime Minister receives Tony Blair