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Was Ntawukuriryayo’s rising confidence his undoing?

Saturday September 20 2014
eaJean

Growth in confidence and stature could have contributed to the downfall of Jean Damascène Ntawukuriryayo, and cost him the president of Rwanda Senate job. PHOTO | FILE

In July, while on an official visit in Kenya, then president of the Rwanda Senate Jean Damascène Ntawukuriryayo warned members of Kenya’s opposition that Rwanda, as a member of the East African Community, was concerned about their activities which, he said, were likely to threaten peace in the region.

Dr Ntawukuriryayo made a commitment that Rwanda was ready to support Kenya in addressing any security concerns.

The remarks triggered mixed reactions, with sections of Kenyans who support the opposition taking to social networks to rebuke the visiting official, while back in Rwanda many wondered where Dr Ntawukuriryayo had got the authority to comment on matters considered a preserve of President Paul Kagame or the Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo.

This growth in stature and confidence by Dr Ntawukuriryayo, who in hierarchy was second to the Head of State, could have contributed to his downfall last week when he threw in the towel ahead of a censure motion.

Looking withdrawn and resigned to his fate, Dr Ntawukuriryayo took the microphone for the last time as president and said that he had resigned due to “personal reasons.” The House, which had convened to censure him, was seemingly caught offguard.

“As you might have seen in a letter that has just been distributed to you, I would like to inform the House of my wish to resign from the position of the president of the Senate. If you permit me, I will sit in my senatorial seat and allow the vice president to take over,” Dr Ntawukuriryayo said.

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Soon after, the vice president, Bernard Makuza, took over the temporary presidency as stipulated by the Constitution, and read out the letter signed by 15 senators. Among other things, the senators wanted the house to convene and assess the conduct of the 53-year old politician. It was supposed to be a gruelling session which is a rare occurrence in the Rwandan legislature, but Dr Ntawukuriryayo went down easily.

However, Senator Tito Rutaremara, who is in charge of discipline in the House, said that it was important for the issues raised by the members of the House to be revealed to the public.

“I would like to thank Dr Ntawukuriryayo for accepting to step down without letting the House go through the rigorous process of moving a vote of no confidence. It is a brave decision which should be commended,” said Mr Rutaremara.

But this was no ordinary development in the House. The senators who led the move — Mr Rutaremara and Prof Chrysologue Karangwa — are experienced and respected statesmen whose mission was well spelt out.

“There are several concerns we needed to address but the most worrying of all was the fact that the senate bureau was no longer functioning as a single unit. The laid down processes of how the bureau conducts its work had broken down,” said Mr Rutaremara.

“Also we found out that the supreme body of the House (the committee of presidents) was no longer working in tandem. There were concerns of the president acting with an iron hand.”

Prof Karangwa said that Dr Ntawukuriryayo abused his office and that he disregarded advice from the top leadership of the country to amend his ways.

“He was given enough time to atone his conduct but to no avail. He failed to work with the rest of senate leadership, putting the house in disrepute,” Prof Karangwa said.

The senate’s second vice president Jean de Arc Gakuba said that Dr Ntawukuriryayo failed to co-ordinate work at the Senate with fellow leaders, making decisions unilaterally including commissioning an audit whose report was never discussed by the House but which he signed.

Another key issue of concern was Ntawukuriryayo’s “closed door” meetings with diplomatic corps and visiting foreign delegations.

“There were fears that what he discussed or revealed to visiting delegations would put the country in a compromising position,” an official in the senate told The EastAfrican.

While he is considered a member of the opposition, Dr Ntawukuriryayo is not known to have opposed government programmes. However, his outspoken nature was a concern for the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front.

READ: RPF partners want piece of the pie

In the 2010 elections, Dr Ntawukuriryayo, who is a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) stood against President Kagame and, while he did not pose a major threat to the incumbent, the manner in which he confidently sold his party ideals did not go unnoticed.

In fact, his party PSD lays claim to some of the ideas that led to successful programmes which are attributed to the government. It is not clear if he intends to stand again in 2017. He could not be reached for an interview. The PSD also declined to comment on the issue.

READ: How will divided opposition fare against RPF in 2017?

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