Sep 24, 2004

Batwa: Rwandan President to appoint Minorities in Senate


Rwandan President Paul Kagame said he would fill the remaining six Senate vacancies with candidates from minority Batwa ethnic Group and Women early next year to involve them in the historically ethnic-charged Country's mainstream Politics
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Rwandan President Paul Kagame said Thursday he would fill the remaining six Senate vacancies with candidates from minority Batwa ethnic group and women early next year to involve them in the historically ethnic-charged country's mainstream politics.

Kagame was reacting to a question on whether he personally believes that there are historically marginalized communities envisaged in new Rwandan constitution, and would therefore consider appointing the Senators from among the "historically marginalized."

"That is obvious. I personally participated in the constitutional making process and ensured that the emancipation of the marginalized was constitutionally provided for," he said.

Rwandan constitution gives the president power to appoint eight of the 26 member of the Senate "from among the historically marginalized Rwandan communities."

The Communities are not, however, specified in the clause but Kagame said that the Batwa ethnic group have historically borne the brunt of political discrimination than any other category of the Rwandan population.

"As you are aware, Rwanda has experienced a long period of bad governance and the women and Batwa have been the main victims of this unhappy history. So very soon I will execute my constitutional obligation in their favor," he said.

The President did not clearly indicate whether he would equally divide the vacancies between the two bona fide beneficiaries, but political pundits believe Rwandan women have comfortably been elevated to very high decision-making positions in all three arms of the state and other statutory institutions that they cannot grumble if they are not considered for post.

The constitution provides at least 30 percent of the elective leadership and decision-making positions be left to women, but Kagame was once quoted as saying "I wish they (women) were vigilant enough to rise to even more than 50 percent

Source: Xinhuanet