Parliament ends first ordinary session

Parliament approved at least 80 per cent of draft laws in this year’s first ordinary session.This was disclosed by Speaker Rose Mukantabana, in a news conference held at the Senate, yesterday, to highlight achievements while closing the year’s first ordinary session – February 5 to April 4.The Chamber of Deputies’ mandate ends in September.“With respect to approving the basis of draft laws, I would say we accomplished 80 per cent. What was not achieved was not due to our own making. There are bills we did not approve because they had challenges and this necessitated that people discuss issues, and share views on different matters so that we, later on, do a good job,” said the Speaker.Between February 5 and April 4, the MPs passed 23 Bills including two draft laws ratifying crucial East African Community (EAC) protocols on foreign policy coordination and on cooperation in defence affairs.The Senate also approved several other bills. Another achievement, according to the Speaker is the tour the Political Affairs and Gender committee made countrywide, to gather views, and inform the population, about proposed changes in the law governing persons and family which would slash the marriage age to 18 if passed.“This was also good since it is important that bills are passed when Rwandans have played a part in their formulation,” the Speaker said.MPs traversed selected 19 districts and the City of Kigali to consult the population.The Speaker appreciated the fact that the House has continuously received visitors. Shortly before her statement, over 30 students from the Rubavu based School of Tourism and Hotel management had spent some time in the plenary to get acquainted with parliament business.One thing that is pleasing about the visitors, she said, is that the youth have shown more interest. Youth from secondary schools and institutions of higher learning are showing a growing eagerness to be acquainted with their country’s policies and parliament business, unlike before, and we appreciate this, she added, appealing to the youth to follow what parliament does.”Leadership RetreatMeanwhile, on Thursday, Mukantabana appealed to lawmakers to help execute the resolutions of the recently concluded leadership retreat.“We shall distribute them to everyone, as agreed, within a month. Our main mission is on how we [leaders] put emphasis on improving coordination and communication at all levels in the current development agenda and the second phase of the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS). The target is to at least attain 11.5 per cent annual growth rate.” Genocide commemoration messageThe Senate president Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo stressed that as the nation heads into the 19th Genocide commemoration period, what is mainly important is to comfort and console survivors as “we are heading to very difficult times.” “Survivors should be strong because they are living and we stand with them and will always be. We also appeal to all Rwandans to reject and confront all sorts of aspects that could lead to the reoccurrence of the Genocide,” he said.He added that Genocide denial should not be left to leaders alone to deal with. “Genocide ideology is a very terrible thing and it only brought us dreadful results. Everyone, wherever they are, must contribute to fighting it. We must take care not to allow our children and grand children to face the challenges we are going through.”

National

Parliament ends first ordinary session