Profile : MP Connie Bwiza says Love and Peace are core values in a family

Connie Bwiza Sekamana sits in the Chamber of Deputies in the Rwandan Parliament. She is also a family woman who willingly describes how people can balance their career and family life. Born in Uganda on August 2, 1968, she attended Rwera Primary School in Ntungamo district before she enrolled for her O’ and A’ Level education at St. Mary’s College Rushoroza in Kabale district, Uganda. She then joined Uganda College of Commerce Nakawa for a two-year course but did not get her results because she had to leave immediately after her final paper and join the Rwandan struggle for liberation. Bwiza said: “I was one of the youth involved in the mobilization of the struggle for the Rwanda Patriotic Army thus I was torn in between the struggle and my studies.”“When the struggle begun in 1990, I was not able to continue with the military cause because I had injured both my legs on the 12th night of the attack therefore I had to keep on the political side of mobilization even while in hospital,” Bwiza said. She returned to Rwanda after the Rwanda Patriotic Army took over power in 1994 and worked in several ministries such as; the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Lands before she joined the parliament. Irrespective of her status in the Political arena, Bwiza is friendly, polite, open-minded, and easy to associate with because she has time for everyone who approaches her. She is happily married to Jean Marie Sekamana and they are blessed with two sons: Ian Manzi, the first born who is followed by Brian Mucyo and finally their daughter—Allen Micyo. When asked how someone like her who is at the peak of her career could have embraced the marriage institution she said: “It was not easy because I got married in 1995 and had my first born Ian Manzi in 1996. Due to the history of our country, and that my husband was from Burundi—we met while he was working in the General Secretariat of FPR (Rwanda Patriotic Force)—we somehow got time to work together.” “I engaged him into heated debates and arguments and this was our point of attraction,” she said adding that, “While other people were judging me, saying I’m aggressive and argumentative, these were the qualities he liked about me. In fact it was hard for him to get me into courtship but when he discovered what I truly wanted, it’s what he used to win me over.” Bwiza badly wanted to go back to school and so she told her would-be husband that she was not ready to get married. She believed that the marriage commitment comes with a high price. The response was fantastic. “He promised me that he would definitely support and facilitate my studies. The maturity in his approach and arguing on principle is what made me believe in his promise,” Bwiza explained. Bwiza’s dream came true. She attained a Second Class Upper Bachelors Degree in the field of Business Administration and Finance at the School of Finance and Banking (SFB). Regarding matters of balancing her work and family, the men in her life—husband and son—had something important to say. Bwiza’s husband said: “She is a very responsible person because even when she is not around, she keeps calling us to see how we are doing. She fully utilizes her time. In fact, the moment she steps in the house, it’s time for the family and her job ends at the work premises. She is a good mother and a wonderful wife.” Ian Manzi, Bwiza’s eldest son, adores his mother’s guts had this to say: “Besides being a hardworking mother, she is time conscious, honest and above all loving. We take time and exchange different ideas while at home and that is why we cherish every moment we spend with her,” Manzi said. Bwiza gave her recipe of how to balance work and family. “Just as the saying goes ‘behind every successful man there is a strong woman’ to me the saying is the other way round.” “I asked God that if I was to fulfill the marriage institution, I needed a partner who would understand, empower but not to depower me because I’m an independent and peaceful person and by His grace, I was granted the husband who suits my desires. “Peace and love are the key factors for a happy family. The outside world exhausts you but the only place you can feel calm and relaxed is with your family. These are the core of competency and it’s what energizes me. “Sometimes with our limited resources we find time as a family and spend a day or two away from home to renew our family bond. “Communication is also another aspect that is required to balance work and family. One should get time to tell his or her family what goes on in their lives if they want to live in harmony.” MP Bwiza also addresses transparency as a prerequisite for trust. “My husband and children know how much I earn because we sit together and add up our monthly earnings, budget and set priorities. With this kind of set up the children are not left out,” she said. She recalls a time when her mandate was renewed and of how her children wisely advised her on setting priorities for acquiring a new car. “My sons asked what I was going to do with the old car, and I told them that I was going to sell it so that we could pay off the house loan. But one of them advised me not to sell it for a less value because I was under pressure of paying off the loan,” she said in a chuckle. On the issue of ‘women empowerment’ and what to do in a situation where women earn more than their husbands, Bwiza said that it was not ground enough for women to play the role of a man in the home. She views it as immoral. “There is no need of harassing others because you have more money. This is not the cornerstone of a family,” Bwiza said. “While the men were the ‘bread winners’ they would mistreat their wives to the extent that whatever they earned was spent on drinking while they criticized their women. Why should women lead that road as well? Respect for one another is required,” she argued. “Communication flow, instilling into children valuable cultural traits and settling peace will prevail while love will conquer,” she said. Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk Her favorites Dish: Vegetables and fruits Music: Gospel songs Colour: Blue Car: Toyota RAV4 Quote: It’s all possible in Christ