Call for accountability

Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi yesterday said the government will ensure that new roads are constructed to last at least 20 years before any repairs can be done, as a way of curbing wastage of taxpayers’ money.The Prime Minister highlighted this during the Government Accountability Day at his offices in Kimihurura, Gasabo district.Responding to a question on the constant road repairs, the Premier explained that there were realistic reasons for this – including available expertise and funds, but pointed out that government intends to ensure that starting with the Kigali-Gatuna highway, strict standards observed followed to the letter.The standards, Habumuremyi said, include having to be at least seven metres in width in addition to lasting 20 years before any repairs can be done. The Kigali-Gatuna road is part of the country’s 600km road network to be rehabilitated and constructed over a period of seven years.In the very near future, the Prime Minister stressed, the government would put in place a transport policy that will clearly outline all these parameters. The transport system in Kigali City will be overhauled too, besides other measures that will see private investors participating in the sector.Habumuremyi, who was flanked by Cabinet Affairs Minister, Protais Musoni, and other senior officials assured the nation that government is working unwaveringly to curb the wastage of scarce resources, increase electric power access, and improve housing and food production in terms of quantity and quality so as to ensure that Rwandans enjoy better living. He said focus in the next few months will be on issues including: better service delivery, ICT demystification and access by all, good agricultural harvest in the next planting season, and streamlining the mining sector.“People wrongly assume that we do not have minerals yet we have very many of them that might not even be found elsewhere, and the government is putting in a lot of efforts so that Rwandans benefit from that natural wealth,” Habumuremyi said. He highlighted the introduction of the Agaciro Development Fund as a positive move that all Rwandans should be proud of. “Looking at the contributions Rwandans from all walks of life have made to the Agaciro Fund so far, it is very clear that we can achieve much more if we put our hearts in it.”“But let me use this opportunity to emphasise that every Rwandan must understand that no person should be forced to contribute. This is a voluntary effort and people will only make contributions willingly and according to their capacity.” The annual Government Accountability Day is an occasion meant for the Premier to account to Rwandans on various government affairs and it also serves as an occasion to field their questions, through telephone and social media like facebook and twitter.

National

Call for accountability