Rwanda : Governor cautions leaders on responsibility

The Governor of the Western Province, Celestin Kabahizi, has cautioned local government leaders to take the responsibilities seriously so as to provide better services to citizens.

The governor said that this negligence has affected the performance of the province in the national performance contracts and the leaders should wake up and start working as required.

Kabahizi made the remarks while addressing local leaders from the cell and sector levels in the western province.

Some of the highlighted issues that local leaders have not been addressing in the areas, and have impacted on the province include: poor hygiene and settlements in the town outskirts, soil erosion and insecurity, illegal brick making activities done in residential areas, construction of illegal structure without permits which has resulted to demolitions, drunkenness and prostitutions that has been on the rise in bars; among many others.

The governor says that such issues have affected the level of good governance, services provided to residents and subsequently reflected in the poor performance of the province in meeting the set development goals.

On the issue of security, local leaders were asked to address it by gathering information on all residents, and especially the visitors. This comes after reports some residents were seen dressed in Congolese army uniforms possessing arms- who allegedly attempted to loot a resident in Busasamana sector, but was rescued.

Security officials also stated that the business community should be on the alert of the Congolese FDLR rebels who are allegedly infiltrating the community with black market goods from The Congo.

Residents participating in the meeting responded to some of the issues. On the security matters, they sighted the issue of criminals who are arrested by residents and later released by the police, on hygiene- they said that more work needs to be done in Gisenyi town but the poor road network was a major cause of the lack of hygiene. On the issue of resettlements-they said that residents relocated from the Gishwati forest reserve have not been compensated and this affects the program of resettlement.

Governor Kabahizi asked residents, local leaders and opinion leaders to work together to ensure that these issues are streamlined so as to show some positive progress in the province.