By 256News Reporter
October 31, 2009
The Leader of the Democratic Green party of Rwanda, (DGPR), Mr. Frank Habineza has been described by many as the “iron man” of Rwanda.
Habineza launched a new political party on 14th August 2009 in Kigali-Rwanda, in presence of Rwandans, the national and international media and representatives from different diplomatic missions in Rwanda.
DGPR main aim is to change the political and social economic history of Rwanda. DGPR is an organization that deeply values and strongly cherishes the noble values of democracy and the international green principles.
However, the fate of, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda seems to be hanging in balance as it seems there are forces lining up against it and would make it difficult for DGPR to reach achieve its objectives.
The sad day for Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) was on 02/10/09, when the Kigali authorities refused the party delegates to hold their congress which was attended by more than 900 people.
According to this reporter Green Party delegates moved hundreds of kilometers, some for the first time to the capital, Kigali, Others braved the trouble of having to move with babies. Some abandoned their jobs to be in Kigali for the event that did not happen.
The newly formed party was on Friday told it could not hold a scheduled delegates’ conference.
These delegates had come all the way to give their nomination signatures to the new party. It is these signatures which party officials hoped would form part of the registration dossier with the Ministry of Local Government.
Looking at the crowd, many were youths. Notable among the delegates were also a few older men and women. There are about a dozen mothers. Since all have now been informed the conference is taking place anymore, they all stand outside looking like people who have lost their jobs.
The genesis of the chaos that these people were witnessing first hand started at 8:30am when an official from Nyarugenge district arrived at the event venue with a letter from the Nyarugenge district mayor Rutayisire Origène.
The mayor writes in response to another letter sent September 29 from the Green party which had informed him of the intension to have their meeting on Friday. Party officials were letting him know that they already had a place booked.
“I here by first inform you that you write a letter requesting permission to hold this meeting on this date October 02”, writes mayor Rutayisire, in a four-sentence official letter.
However Green party officials had also informed him in their letter that since the Nyarugenge notary was not available; they would secure another notary – which they indeed effected.
The mayor’s response meant that the even with a new notary, the Green party would not be allowed to hold the meeting – only after seeking new permission. This will now be the forth time the conference has been forced to postpone. The party has had to incur expenses to transport the delegates.
“From what I have witnessed today, I do not think there is there democracy in Rwanda,” retorted some delegates. “To me, this means that the government is not yet ready for multiparty democracy. If they say parties do exist, then what is this?” one journalist, Kalisa said.
For interim party president Mr. Frank Habineza: “Someone is sabotaging us”.
“Imagine all the expenses we have incurred. I really cannot explain who is behind all this,” he furiously shouts as he speaks to reporters. “This really is a sad day for democracy in this country.”
Related Materials:
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New Green party cries fowl over possible sabotage
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