NORTHERN PROVINCE MUSANZE — As we welcome the New Year 2008, last year should be taken as a year when much effort was put on Gacaca jurisdictions. The Gacaca judges were asked to expedite the trials and all courts country-wide were expected to wind down their work; especially those cases under the second and third categories. The National Executive Secretary of the Gacaca jurisdiction, Domitila Mukantaganzwa, praised the courts for having successfully handled atleast 99% of the Genocide cases. However, as threats on Genocide survivors including killing especially in the southern province were rampant, it remains to be seen whether, as projected, the courts will restore unity and reconciliation in 2008.The courts leave a legacy of justice to those who lost their loved ones during the Genocide but also offer a sunbeam of reconciliation and unity among Rwandans.On New Years day, Christians thronged churches and sounded loud hallelujah; to celebrate the end of the year and welcome 2008 and probably renew their faith in God and get-together to praise the lord for completing the year. There are numerous grounds for praising God, according to the great British preacher Charles Haddon in his book ‘The Practice of Praise.’ Praise is practiced as we remember what we have seen, as we look around us, people should not easily let great things which have happened slip from their minds but the lessons should leave a lasting legacy.To the Christians, hope is restored during the Christmas celebrations that precede the New Year; hope is generated from the birth and the death of the messiah despite all the odds throughout the year. Through experience, there times of keen disappointment, utter discouragement or times of fixing the potholes and development plans taking root.2nd year of performance contracts In leadership, the spectrum through which formulation and implementation of performance contracts has impacted on the welfare of the locals and general development has been felt over the past year especially on the four parameters of good governance, justice, economic development and welfare .While closing last year’s last evaluation of performance, the Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, appreciated the steps taken and called for resilience by the leaders if a big impact is to be realized in future. The impact of the achievements in terms of performance contracts has caused a change in the lives of the local people. Ends
