Rwabuhihi Takes Charge of Probe Task


The New Times (Kigali)

December 2, 2005
Posted to the web December 2, 2005

James Munyaneza
Kigali

Dr Ezechias Rwabuhihi was on Wednesday endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies as the chairman of a select probe committee set up to investigate the malpractices reported in the country's public service and labour sub-sectors.

The reluctant Rwabuhihi, a former minister of health, was confirmed by the plenary after his name was proposed by the Chamber Bureau composed of Speaker Alfred Mukezamfura and his two deputies--Denis Polisi and Penelope Kantarama.

Rwabuhihi had expressed concern that the Social Affairs Committee, where he is vice president, would be sapped by his inclusion on the probe team. He argued that the move would leave only about half the members of the standing committee to handle a backlog of their daily chores as others undertook different probe tasks.

"Already, the president of our standing committee (Hamidou Omar) is chairing another probe committee, and two others have also been put on probe assignments. That means that if I am also approved here, our (standing) committee which normally has nine members will not have four of them for a long time," he pleaded with the plenary, to no avail.

However, the Speaker noted that his standing committee would not be badly affected because the House was about to go on recess, meaning that most of the probe work will be carried out during that period.

The Social Affairs Committee boss, Omar, is the chairman of another parliamentary ad hoc commission set up early November to investigate reports of irregularities into the government-sponsored Fund for the Assistance of Genocide Survivors (FARG).

Meanwhile, Rwabuhihi also expressed concern that 'people have a tendency of associating a probe commission after its chairman'.

"We have had cases where such commissions have been called after their chairpersons. For instance, the one they called Munyurangabo until today and yet it no longer existsâ-oe.this is risky to the chairperson of the probe committee," he cautioned. Francois Munyurangabo headed the commission of inquiry into the genocide ideology in the country last year.

However, Mukezamfura calmed him and observed that the practice is common the world over.

"That is normal. It happens everywhere even in Europe. When an MP leads a committee specially-formed for something, then it is named after him/her. The same case with ministers; the public normally names a Bill after the minister who presented and defended it."

Mukezamfura also assured him of security. "You should certainly be safe. However, even though we (MPs) have immunity, this is just like a (traffic) priority."

"We also think you are in a better position to lead the team because it was your committee that initiated the idea to scrutinize the government actions in that area (public service and labour)," added the Speaker.

A heated debate however ensued with some MPs suggesting that he should not be forced.

"Already the (ad hoc) commission is discouraged. I wonder what type of report they will compile if we insist; it (the report) could be unsatisfactory," Elie Ngirabakunzi, said.

'Politics are gymnastics'

The six-man probe committee will have MP Athanasia Gahondogo as its vice chairperson, while other members are Alfred Gasana, Medard Rutijanwa, Athanase Semuhungu and Eugene Kabajeni.

The commission was announced following two weeks of stalemate after the first attempt to institute it flopped partly due to the withdrawal of Asterie Nyirabenda from the proposed list, and a protest by several MPs that the people proposed by the bureau were 'political cowards' who would not compile an unbiased report. In the first proposed list, Gahondogo was proposed as the chairperson and Rwasa her vice chairman.

Julienne Kantengwa reminded the House of the stalemate encountered in choosing members of the probe commissions.

"Initially, you had said you did not include presidents of standing committees on the probe committees. Today, we are looking at a different thing. Journalists even reported that we (MPs) had rejected the team you proposed. All those are unnecessary; everything has become gymnastics," said a charged Kantengwa.

However, the Speaker responded that 'politics was gymnastics'. "When we proposed Gahondogo to head the probe committee, you (MPs) rejected her and yet we had chosen her because of her vast experience in research as an academician; you cannot avoid gymnastics in politics; politics is gymnastics," Mukezamfura said. Gahondogo is also a part-time lecturer at the Butare-based National University of Rwanda (UNR).

Later, however, Rwabuhihi told The New Times, "I am ready to take up the task."

The date of commencement of the inquiry is yet to be determined.



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