Involving people in decision making vital in decentralisation

WESTERN PROVINCE RUBAVU — Residents should get more involved in issues of decision making during the second phase of decentralisation, an official of the Ministry of Local Government said. Addressing a meeting of Rubavu district leaders last week, Paul Kayira, in charge of evaluating service delivery said involving people in decision making is the key to service delivery. Residents should be given the chance to participate in decision making on issues of general interest. While local leaders at sector and cell levels should also be empowered to handle most of the issues at the grass roots; because they interact more with their people and know most of their needs, he said. The meeting was meant to lay strategies for the five-year second phase of the decentralisation programme, coming weeks after winding up the first phase that started in 2000. Earlier, Ministry of Local Government officials had visited the district to find out the requirements and necessities needed for the implementation of the second phase. During the meeting, district leaders committed continuous financing of sectors to fulfill their contracts, empowering people to directly participate in the implementation of government policies, and training local leaders on the country’s laws and constitution. They also committed to organise regular meetings with residents to discuss their most pressing needs. According to the district officer in charge of good governance, Martin Habimana, the district achieved a lot in the previous phase in areas of agriculture and soil conservation through Ubudehe. Habimana said Ubudehe programme enhanced the fight against poverty through solid partnership between the district and residents. He noted that the district also achieved a lot in other sectors such health, clean water projects where residents were given responsibility to protect the water sources. Another area where they reportedly registered tremendous achievements include justice for all- through Gacaca courts and arbitrators—Abunzi.Ends