Makuza elected as new Senate President

With a vast experience and leadership skills, Bernard Makuza, 53, has been elected as the new president of the Rwandan senate. Makuza replaces Jean Damascene Ntawukulilyayo.

Ntawukulilyayo resigned last month after being accused of not collaborating with the senate members in making crucial decision of that affect the country.

The constitutional provides 30 days duration to replace the senate president and a majority quorum.   It is now 27 days since the former senate president resigned.

Senate seat is vied for and members of senate are allowed to campaign to vie for the seat.

The voting exercise ghis morning, October 14, 2014, was presided over by President Paul Kagame and Senator ChrysologueKarangwaacted as the returning officer.  Bernard Makuza and Laurent Nkusi were among the proposed names.

Bernard Makuza was proposed because of his experience in top government leadership roles that he did as Prime Minister, ambassador (to German and Burundi) and senator among many other roles.

Makuza agreed when he was nominated saying if the team supports him, he will take up the job to fulfil the duties of the senate to Rwanda.

Laurent Nkusi, is a professor and has a long experience as a public administrator and legislator till todate.

Nkusi said that Makuza would be a better choice since he has worked under his leadership and passed his nomination in favor of Makuza.

26 senators voted for the new senate president and Makuzagot 25 votes out of the 26.

Apparently Makuza was the vice present of senate Vice President in charge of legal affairs and Government oversight meaning that the senate had to elect a new member to replace Makuza.

FatouHarerimana was elected as the replacement for Makuza, beating her counterpart Jean d’ Arc Mukakalisa with 21 votes out of 26 votes to become the new Senate Vice president.

Who is Makuza

Bernard Makuza (born 30 September 1961) is a Rwandan politician who was Prime Minister of Rwanda from 8 March 2000 to 6 October 2011.

Makuza was the Rwandan Ambassador to Burundi and then Ambassador to Germany before being appointed as Prime Minister.

His appointment to the latter post by President Pasteur Bizimungu in March 2000 followed the resignation of Prime Minister Pierre-CélestinRwigema, who had been heavily criticized in the Rwandan press and by some parliamentarians.

He remained as the head of a new government named on March 8, 2008, which was composed of 21 ministers and six secretaries of state.

On October 6, 2011, President Kagame appointed Pierre Habumuremyi to replace Makuza as Prime Minister. Makuza was then appointed to the Senate.