7/21/08

Rwanda: Political Parties Prefer More Controls - New Study


 

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Kigali

The fragile nature of Rwandan society should never become an excuse to maintain unnecessary controls on political party activities as this makes them irrelevant in the long run, the Institute of Research for Dialogue and Peace says in a new report.

Based on questionnaire responses from political parties, the study says internal problems within the parties as well as the country's historical background characterized by ethnic conflict seem to have captured the attention of most of the respondents.

"One wonders how both requirements can be reconciled: the need to ensure minimum control over the activities of political parties so as to avoid possible conflicts or violence and the need to have political parties with strong programs which can contribute to the political stability of our country", the study notes.

Indeed, as the research body says, "some opportunistic politicians do take advantage of such a situation and create political parties with the only aim being accessing high government positions".

There are nine political parties, including the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), which leads a coalition that includes the Centrist Democratic Party (PDC), the Rwandan Socialist Party (PSR), the Ideal [formerly Islamic] Democratic Party (PDI), and the Democratic Popular Union (UPDR).

Other parties include the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Liberal Party (PL), the Concord Progressive Party (PPC), and the Prosperity and Solidarity Party (PSP).

However, there has been concern raised on various public fora as to whether the other smaller parties are up to the job to counter the dominant RPF. The parties themselves have maintained that open confrontation is not the only form of opposition arguing that a political parties' forum has been established where compromises are made.

From the same arrangement, heads of political parties are serving as Cabinent ministers or lawmakers. Interior Minister Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana heads PDI and Youth Minister Protais Mitali heads PL.

As for Parliament, Senate President Dr Vicent Biruta tops the PDC hierarchy and Lower Chamber boss Mukezamfura Alfred reigns over PSD.

"The idea of sharing government positions which obliges the other political parties to sit aside and passively be spectators as the political programmes of the ruling party is implemented destroys any hope for succession and democracy", notes the research presented last week at a stakeholders workshop in Kigali.

Under normal circumstances, power sharing should imply choosing people from varying political parties and experiences. In Rwanda, ministerial portfolios are shared among political parties but candidates are not chosen by the authorized party organs. The Institute wants this changed.

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"While this practice is quite common in Rwanda it is also abnormal because you can't be both the judge and the judged", says the study. "This is harmful to the autonomy and credibility of the political parties concerned."






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