Bill scraps housing loans for Premier, House chiefs

THE Prime Minister, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies will no longer be facilitated to acquire loans to build personal homes once a new proposal tabled in parliament is enacted into law. The holders of the three positions constitute the second category of the country’s State High Political Leaders.Tabling the bill in the Chamber of Deputies last week, the Minister of Public Service and Labour, Anastase Murekezi, said the proposed amendment was based on the conclusion that the leaders in question are in position to acquire private residences on their own.But the concerned leaders shall continue to be entitled to an official residence, complete with all the necessary facilities, besides other fringe benefits, as provided for by the 2003 organic law determining allowances and benefits for high political leaders.“We believe the political leaders in the second category have the ability to acquire houses on their own,” Murekezi told the MPs.Meanwhile, the Government wants to include provincial governors and the Mayor of the City of Kigali in the third category of state high political leaders “considering the nature and significance of their responsibilities”.“Because of the nature and weight of their responsibilities in the political sphere, it is reasonable that Governors and Kigali City Mayor are included on the list of high political leaders,” Murekezi said as he tabled the bill, which the government has asked MPs to expedite.Currently, there are four categories of high state political leaders, based on the weight of their jobs, with the President placed in the first category.The list places the Prime Minister; the President of Senate and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies under the second category.Cabinet Ministers, Vice Presidents of the Senate, Deputy Speakers, as well as State Ministers are placed in the third category. The fourth category comprises of Senators and Deputies.The law also determines the allowances and fringe benefits for high state political leaders to cater for the changing legal regime, the minister explained.Chapter three of the bill highlights the benefits of top political leaders at the end of their term of office.Under the conditions provided for by Article 18, former Heads of State shall continue to receive 80 percent of allowances awarded to the incumbent.Serving State High Political Leaders of the second category shall each be entitled to an official residence; transport facilitation; entertainment allowance; communication allowance; residence allowance; a monthly salary, among other perks.Leaders in the third category shall each be entitled to State contribution for accommodation; entertainment allowance; communication allowance; and State contribution for the purchase of their own vehicle; a monthly salary; among other things.Senators and Deputies, who constitute the fourth category, shall each be entitled to a State contribution for accommodation; communication allowance; State contribution to the beneficiary for the purchase of their own vehicle; a monthly salary; among others.The benefits will be determined by an Order of the President of the Republic.Articles 19 and 20, respectively, highlight the allowances and fringe benefits for former State political leaders in the second, third and fourth categories.

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Bill scraps housing loans for Premier, House chiefs