Rwanda: Rare Green Party-Gov't meeting over stalled registration

By Rwanda News Agency
Wednesday, 24 March 2010

Kigali: Following a petition to the Local Government Minister accusing Gasabo district and the Police of conniving to block its registration, Green Party officials were on Wednesday treated to a rare meeting, RNA reveals.

Two senior officials from the Local Government Ministry held a close-door encounter with Green Party leaders including interim party chief Mr. Frank Habineza and founding partner Mr. Charles Kabanda, the Secretary General.

The Ministry of Local Government was represented by Mr. Fred Mufuruki, Director of Good Governance with political parties on his portfolio, and Mr. Oswald Burasanzwe, the Legal Affairs Director.

The yet-to-be registered Green Party has unsuccessfully tried to hold a delegates conference since last August at which it is planned to notify party nomination signatures. These would form part of a larger dossier to be submitted to the same ministry for eventual registration.

However, after failing to convene in Nyarugenge district here in Kigali, the group moved to neighbouring Gasabo district – whose administrators demanded a Police clearance indicating the chaos of October 30 will not happen again.

In what became like a ball-game of letters, the Police Commissioner General, Brig Gen. Emmanuel Gasana said the force does not avail any such clearance certificates.

The Green Party group petitioned the Local Government Minister Mr. James Musoni accusing the two sides, as closure of party registration got near ahead of the August 08 elections.

During the two-hour meeting today, officials from the Green Party and the Ministry “brainstormed on how all obstacles hindering the registration process”.

“It was agreed that during the next consultative meeting both parties will lay down strategies which will ensure an organized and peaceful Party founding Congress,” the Green Party said in a statement.

“The Interim Leadership of the Democratic Green party of Rwanda would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the leadership of MINALOC for having organized such a wonderful meeting.”

It added: “We would like to further emphasize that such an approach of seeking solution to problems through amicable means such as discussions should always characterize our dealings so that together we can build a stronger and better Rwanda.”

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