“There were no intimidations over Rukarara investigation” — Speaker

Rose Mukantabana, speaker of Lower Chamber. (file photo)

During a press brief closing the second semester of Rwanda’s Parliament (both chambers), Rose Mukantabana, the speaker of chamber of deputies, stressed that the circulating rumors that the Parliament was intimidated to reinvestigate the Rukarara hydropower plant mismanagement are categorically false.

“There was no pressure to the Parliament over the Rukarara investigation. We only decided to reinvestigate the matter because we had realized that the ad hoc committee’s report was based on incomplete information, it was a plenary session’s decision; we did not do it because we were threatened by so and so,” stressed Mukantabana.

She further said that the accused claimed to have not been consulted and that raised the Parliament’s interest, which led to reinvestigation.

“We based on PAC recommendations and facts-supported resolutions, and cleared those whom we had put the blame on.” She added that there will be nothing like apologizing to individuals. “Having cleared them is enough for now.”

Concerning the questioning over Parliament’s competence, the speaker said that “accepting one’s mistakes and redressing them is a strength — that’s what we did.”

Now the ball is in the camp of the Rukarara ad hoc committee members, to explain to the disciplinary committee the misleading facts in their report that had led the house to taking bias decision.

“They owe us an explanation as to what made them stop their investigation halfway, without asking those concerned.”

Mukantabana explained that alleged missing documents were at the ministry of finance, but the committee didn’t go to there to find them, but when PAC did, they got them. “Otherwise there is nothing behind clearing the alleged officials other than the truth itself.”

Apart from the ad hoc committee which is to give explanations, more officials still have to do some work on Rukarara project management. The auditor general was requested to carry another audit for further clarifications on compensation of people who had properties on the actual area covered by the hydropower plant.

Posted by Jean-Christophe Nsanzimana on Aug 8 2012. Filed under Daily News, National. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.