C ommo nwe a l t h memb e r c o u n t r i e s 40 of the 53 directly elected seats and 74 per cent of votes. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) took seven seats and the Liberal Party six; turnout was nearly 100 per cent. Former president Bizimungu received a 15-year jail sentence for embezzlement and inciting violence in June 2004; he was released in April 2007 when he received a presidential pardon. When in November 2006 a French judge issued an international arrest warrant for Kagame, alleging that the RPF was responsible for shooting down the plane carrying former President Juvénal Habyarimana in April 1994, Rwanda broke off diplomatic relations with France. In October 2007 the Rwandan Government set up an inquiry into the plane crash that had sparked the genocide, which concluded in late 2009 that Habyarimana’s own army had been responsible. In August 2008 Rwanda released a report naming more than 30 senior French officials alleged to have been involved in the 1994 genocide. Rwanda and France resumed diplomatic relations in November 2009. In the presidential election of August 2010, when 98 per cent of the electorate voted, Kagame won a resounding victory, receiving 93.1 per cent of the votes cast. His main rival, Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo of the SDP, secured 5.1 per cent. The RPF was returned with a strong mandate in the parliamentary elections of 16 September 2013, gaining 41 elective seats in the Chamber of Deputies, with 76 per cent of votes cast. The SDP took seven seats and the Liberal Party five. Turnout was again close to 100 per cent. Local government Ministry: Local Government Local government is provided for by the Organic Law 2005, and it is enshrined in Chapter 1 of the constitution. The Ministry of Local Government is responsible for local government, which is in four tiers, comprising 30 districts (akarere); 416 sectors (imerenge); 2,148 cells (utugari); and 14,837 villages (imudungu). Local elections are held every five years. The local authorities have revenue-raising powers, and derive income from property taxes and licence fees, as well as receiving regular and one-off transfers from national government. They provide public services in partnership with other agencies, which include primary health care; environmental management; water supply; waste disposal; rural electrification; promoting local economic development; town planning; and local transport. National development plan Vision 2020 expresses the aspiration of Rwandans to be a united, democratic and inclusive nation. The aim of the Vision is to transform Rwanda into a middle-income country in which people are healthier, better educated, more prosperous and united, and that the country’s economy is competitive both regionally and globally. The Vision came out of a national consultative process conducted between 1997 and 2000. These discussions and debates involved Rwandans from all walks of life and all sectors. Policy The Vision embodies the following goals: • Reconstruction of the nation and its social capital • Transformation of agriculture into a productive, highvalue and market-oriented sector • Development of a competitive private sector • Comprehensive human resources development, encompassing education, health and ICT skills • Infrastructural development • Promotion of regional economic integration and cooperation These will be affected by the cross-cutting issues of gender equality; sustainable environmental and natural resource management; and ICT. Governance People’s participation at the grassroots level will be promoted through decentralisation, so that local communities will be empowered to make the decisions on the issues that affect them most. Further information Government of Rwanda: www.gov.rw Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Commonwealth Governance: www.commonwealthgovernance.org Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 248 Governance institutions National Electoral Commission: www.nec.gov.rw Parliament of Rwanda: www.parliament.gov.rw Judiciary: www.judiciary.gov.rw Ombudsman: www.ombudsman.gov.rw Governance Board: www.rgb.rw Office of the Auditor-General: www.oag.gov.rw Office of the President: www.presidency.gov.rw Ministry of Justice: www.minijust.gov.rw Ministry of Local Government: www.minaloc.gov.rw Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning: www.minecofin.gov.rw Ministry of Trade and Industry: www.minicom.gov.rw National Bank of Rwanda: www.bnr.rw Bureau of Standards: www.rwanda-standards.org Media High Council: www.mhc.gov.rw Utilities Regulatory Authority: www.rura.gov.rw
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