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As the country gets set with the 9th National Dialogue (Umushyikirano) scheduled for December 15-16, Igihe.Com team takes you back at the resolutions adopted at the last 8th National Dialogue.

After two days of deliberations at the Parliamentary building, development process and assessing the performance in 2010, the house set targets for 2011.

President Paul Kagame chaired the event during which the former Prime Minister Bernard Makuza presented a report on the implementation of the 2009 resolutions.

Last year’s edition attracted representatives of the central and local government, legislators, the private sector, civil society, religious leaders, development partners, Rwandan Diaspora as well as Diplomatic corps.

The dialogue was also broadcast live on national radio and television and close to 100, 000 people followed the proceedings online. The public was able to participate through text messages and phone-in interventions.

The Resolutions

Following the lengthy discussions, the house adopted a number of resolutions to be implemented in the next one year on the economy, good governance and social welfare.

Economy

Umurenge SACCO generated a lot of debate regarding it performance and progress. It was cited that the cooperative was yet to attract a large membership base. It was therefore resolved that leaders, at all levels, mobilise people to join the programme which is aimed at encouraging the saving culture.

It was agreed that the masses be encouraged to “own” the SACCOs and also understand that they are for their own benefit.

Also agreed was the need to increase the capacity of microfinance institutions to increase savings and lending especially in rural areas, as a way of supporting investment in rural projects like agriculture.

The house agreed on new measures of water harvesting to increase irrigation in marshlands and on hillsides in a bid to support agriculture especially at the time when rain is increasingly becoming unpredictable.

During the National Dialogue, the private sector was called upon to take part in the plan to see at least 100, 000 hectares of land put under irrigation over the next seven years.

It was also agreed that the youth savings scheme COOJAD be merged with Umurenge SACCO to make it more effective and also boost Umurenge SACCO membership and financial resources.

Among other things, government moved to claim all marshlands with a resolution that all people settling in marshlands be moved to upland areas with immediate effect. The decision was based on the need to reserve marshland areas for strictly agricultural purposes.

Also dominating the dialogue were high fuel and food prices particularly in the City yet rural farmers were failing to get market for their surplus produce, hence the need to create immediate supply chains by all the parties involved.

Good Governance

On good governance, it was noted that there was a need to streamline and strengthen measures to fight genocide and the genocide ideology as well as the need to urgently look into welfare of genocide survivors.

The immediate need to look into the state of genocide memorial sites was highlighted, with a call to all district authorities to take up the responsibility.

On decentralisation, it was resolved that all levels of governance and with in the private sector, leadership should be brought closer to the people through good customer care initiatives aimed at developing all Rwandans in general. Bad service was condemned.

Following the participation of over 30 members of the Rwandan Diaspora, it was agreed that all Rwandans still in exile be encouraged to return home and “see” with their own eyes the “new Rwanda” and thereafter consider returning home.

Social Welfare

It was resolved that Kinyarwanda language be allocated enough time on the curriculum to allow Rwandan children time to know their culture and language.

A need to make sports compulsory on the curriculum for healthier children was highlighted.

The government and its partners set themselves a goal to eradicate poor housing, particularly grass-thatched houses, atleast by the end of 2011.

Major among other recommendations was the need to involve parents, through their associations, to work hand in hand with teachers to monitor the education progress of their children as part of the plan to have parents pray a key role in the education of their children.

Special attention was also put on the need to increase the numbers and capacity of Vocational Training Schools (TVET) to encourage hands-on skilled training.

The Ministry of Sports and Culture was tasked to establish the “Kinyarwanda Parliament” to be established by the Ministry of Sports and Culture by 2011 while the urgent need to fast track the 12 Year Based Education was identified among other recommendations.

Details will be posted on both of our English and Kinyarwanda versions keep loged in to Igihe.Com for information about the 9th National Dialogue.

ENDS

This Thursday 15th December, all roads will lead to the Parliamentary buildings as the nation once again comes together for the annual national dialogue commonly known as Umushyikirano.

The 9th of its kind, the 2011 National Dialogue is to bring together central and local government leaders, the civil society, diplomatic corps, the private sector as well ordinary citizens and Rwandans from Diaspora.

According to the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Protais Musoni, this year’s national dialogue will act as a platform to assess the country’s progress as well as lay new strategies that will guide the country towards a fast-tracked development path.

“This year’s National Dialogue will take place between 15th and 16th December and it will be an opportunity for us to handle issues which are of importance to the well being of Rwandans,”

“We will also use this opportunity to evaluate the progress in the implementation of the recommendations from last year’s dialogue and the goals we set for ourselves. The President of the Republic is expected to guide the discussion,” Musoni said in an interview with IGIHE.com.

Minister Musoni said that the full programme to cover the two-days is yet to be released but noted that it is expected to be highly interactive will Rwandans and non-Rwandans participating on phones and online.

“It is going to be highly interactive. Rwandans will participate through phone calls, text messages and online forums where the dialogues will be streaming live. It will also be live on the National TV and on several radio stations and websites,” Musoni said.

It should be noted that last year over 100, 000 Rwandans participated by calling in on a live call-in telephone line and a direct SMS line as well as on internet. The dialogue was also streamed live, especially for Rwandans in the Diaspora on http://www.umushyikirano.gov.rw/ and www.orinfor.gov.rw.

Musoni said that this year the number is expected to increase as more and more Rwandans gain access to internet and mobile phones.

The Cabinet Affairs Minister noted that the Prime Minister is expected to present a report on the implementations of the resolutions adopted during the 8th dialogue in the areas of the economy, good governance and social welfare.

Pertinent among the issues raised last year was the implementation of the anti-Nyakatsi programme, a government initiative to eliminate grass-thatched houses which had raised eye brows over the procedure used and the mismanagement of the resources set aside for the programme.

Also major among the issues raised was the performance and progress of Umurenge SACCO programme which was yet to attract a large membership base.

It was resolved that leaders, at all levels, mobilise people to join the programme which is aimed at encouraging the saving culture. Also touched were issues affecting the agriculture sector as well as 12 Year Basic Education.

The National Dialogue is mandated by the 2003 Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda. It is convened by the Head of State, bringing together all major stakeholders in nation building. The first was held in 2003.

Igihe.Com is committed to be your number one source of news and information on the forthcoming 9th National Dialogue. We will update you on the progress made so far and what you should look forward to as we approach the d-day.