MPs begin last ordinary session of mandate

With elections set for September to usher in a new Assembly, the Chamber of Deputies today goes into its last Ordinary session of its now ending five-year mandate. Ordinary sessions in both chambers start this afternoon but it will be the last one for the Chamber of Deputies after the last election in 2008. On May 27, the Chamber of Deputies gave its final approval to several Bills, including the revised Electoral Code, a Bill that will guide the polls. According to Augustin Habimana, the director-general of Communication and Outreach in Parliament, it is the final ordinary session since elections are scheduled for September “and Parliament is dissolved, at least, two months in advance so that campaigns begin.” If a provisional order paper for the lower House seen by The New Times is not altered, lawmakers return from recess this afternoon to receive a report by the standing committee on economy and trade which traversed districts in Kigali city, from January 20 to 30, inspecting energy projects. The House could also receive a report from the standing committee on foreign affairs, cooperation and security which toured some country districts, last October, in a bid to examine how aid is put to use, and how the population benefits from development projects. Tomorrow, lawmakers are likely to consider two Bills–one on refugees’ affairs, and another on disaster management. “That programme is provisional, because it is actually approved on the first day of the sitting, and it could be changed but it gives an idea on what is likely to be examined,” said Habimana. Recently, lawmakers also approved the draft law that seeks to transform the state-owned Orinfor into a public broadcaster called the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency and the Bill establishing the Rwandan Elders’ Advisory Forum. In the meantime, committees continue to debate several other critical Bills, including the Persons and Family Bill, in the committee on Political Affairs and Gender. The Bill governing land use is currently being scrutinised by the Senate’s standing committee on economic development and finance.

National

MPs begin last ordinary session of mandate