Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KIGALI281
2006-03-23 16:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT KAGAME RESHUFFLES CABINET

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM PINR RW 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHLGB #0281/01 0821626
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231626Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2567
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS KIGALI 000281 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C
EUCOM FOR POLAD

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PINR RW
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KAGAME RESHUFFLES CABINET

REF: A. KIGALI 18


B. KIGALI 221

UNCLAS KIGALI 000281

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C
EUCOM FOR POLAD

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PINR RW
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KAGAME RESHUFFLES CABINET

REF: A. KIGALI 18


B. KIGALI 221


1. Summary: On March 11 President Kagame announced a
cabinet reshuffle, replacing the Finance Minister, dropping
three ministers, and creating a new ministerial post in the
Office of the President for scientific research and
technology. Despite rumors for several weeks of an
impending shake-up, the weekend announcement came as a
surprise to some. While the GOR did not publicly explain
the reasons for the reshuffle, media reports attributed it
to the poor performance of certain ministers. End summary.


2. For the second time in barely seven months, President
Kagame reshuffled his cabinet on March 11, removing three
ministers, appointing the Finance Minister as the new
Minister of Public Service and Labor, and promoting two
state ministers to full ministerial status under the
presidential prerogatives of Article 116 of the
Constitution. He also created a new ministerial post for
scientific research and technology under the President's
Office, bringing the total number of ministers under his
direct supervision to two. The latest change increased the
number of full ministers from 17 to 18 and decreased the
number of state ministers from 12 back to 11.


3. Ambassador Stanislas Kamanzi, former Ambassador to the
UN, was appointed Minister of Infrastructure, replacing
Evariste Bizimana, who was dropped from the cabinet. State
Minister of Commerce James Musoni replaced Prof. Manasseh
Nshuti as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, while
Nshuti replaced Andre Bumaya as Minister of Public Service
and Labor. Bumaya was dismissed. Sheikh Moussa Fazil
Harerimana, who had been appointed Governor of the Western
Province in the government restructuring just two months ago
(ref A),was appointed Minister of Internal Security,
replacing Christophe Bazivamo, while Bazivamo replaced
Drocella Mugorewera as Minister of Lands and Environment.
Mugorewera was removed after five years in the cabinet.


4. Vincent Karega, Secretary General of the Ministry of
Public Service, was appointed Minister of State in Charge of
Industry and Investment Promotion. Protais Mitali, former
2003 MDR parliamentary commission spokesman and Minister of

State in Charge of Cooperation in the Ministry of Commerce,
was promoted to Minister of Commerce, replacing James
Musoni. Dr. Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of State in
Charge of Higher Education, was promoted to Minister of
Education, replacing Prof. Romain Murenzi, who was appointed
to a new ministerial post in the Office of the President in
charge of scientific research and technology.


5. When asked about his priorities for the Finance
Ministry, Musoni told press that he would focus on pushing
forward the ongoing Economic Development and Poverty
Reduction Strategies, mobilizing revenues internally and
externally, developing a macroeconomic framework, and
advising the government on finance-related issues. He also
promised to work closely with development partners.


6. Although the GOR did not publicly state the reasons for
the reshuffle, media reports attributed it to poor
performance by ministers. According to the pro-government
"The New Times," the President had expressed reservations
over the performance of certain ministers. During a recent
government retreat, Andre Bumaya and Prof. Murenzi
reportedly were singled out for the poor performance of
their ministries. Some observers of Rwanda's education
system speculated that Murenzi lost his post because he had
increasingly failed to address pertinent problems such as an
ongoing controversy surrounding the new salary structure for
lecturers. Others suggested that the President specifically
created a separate ministry for science and technology and
placed it under his direct control to ensure that the GOR
does not fall short of its goal of turning Rwanda into a
regional ICT hub.


7. Pro-government media criticized outgoing Minister of
Infrastructure Bizimana for possible embezzlement of public
funds from an ongoing public auction of government vehicles.
According to "The New Times," the Auditor General had
expressed concern over the low revenues generated by the
sale of more than 3,000 government vehicles. Political
analysts also suggested that Bizimana's dismissal could be
linked to the ongoing dispute between the Rwanda Civil
Aviation Authority and SN Brussels (ref B).


8. Outgoing Minister of Public Service and Labor Bumaya,
president of a Muslim-dominated political organization
(PDI),was dismissed amid investigation for alleged
irregularities that have long marred his ministry.
According to local media, Bumaya, among others, had been
accused by lawmakers, trade unions, and civil rights groups
of implementing the massive retrenchment of public servants
prior to the creation of the constitutional Public Service
Commission, failing to create a national labor policy, and
committing irregularities in the hiring and firing process.
Bumaya was recently summoned by parliament to explain his
failure to successfully implement civil service reforms.
Media reports cited Bumaya's failure to properly coordinate
the GOR's ongoing reduction-in-force, which resulted in the
recruitment of terminated public servants as private
consultants. Bumaya reportedly also made unrealistic
promises regarding civil service salaries.


9. According to local media, outgoing Minister of Lands and
Environment Mugorewera will be remembered as an aggressive
environmentalist who improved the country's vegetation,
planted millions of trees, and implemented unpopular bans on
materials hazardous to the environment, including plastic
bags. She also implemented bans on cattle grazing and tree
cutting, which made life difficult for brick and charcoal
dealers with no viable alternatives. TVR News recently
reported that she had threatened to bring to justice local
residents of the famine-ravaged Bugesera district who had
cut down trees in search of arable land. Others argued that
Mugorewera failed to successfully implement sustainable
environment-friendly policies.


10. Some analysts suggested that Nshuti, who was Finance
Minister for just seven months, was transferred to a less
prestigious position due to his poor performance compared to
that of his predecessor Donald Kaberuka. (Note: Nshuti was
appointed Finance Minister in the last cabinet reshuffle in
August 2005 after Kaberuka was elected president of the
African Development Bank. End note.) Additionally, while
not mentioned by name, Nshuti was among government officials
criticized for their poor relations with, and lack of
accessibility to, donors at the expense of government
projects. He was also criticized for attempting to build
his own team, firing many of Kaberuka's staff, which
triggered resentment among the staff.


11. Comment: Ten (previously 11) of the 29 Cabinet seats
are occupied by women, which meets the constitutionally
recommended guideline that women be "granted at least 30
percent of posts in decision-making organs." The reshuffle
comes on the heels of a government retreat held last month
and sweeping administrative and territorial reforms. It put
to rest speculations that the Cabinet would be downsized
from 11 ministries to eight, although some observers predict
another reshuffle. While it is not clear that the President
dropped the ministers for their poor performance as widely
reported or appointed new ministers for their superior
skills, the reshuffle appears aimed at matching the best
people at his disposal to the pressing problems unresolved
by the outgoing ministers. Whether the shake-up will
ultimately result in improved delivery of services remains
to be seen, but it may be a whiff of a results-oriented
president impatient with slow deliverers.

ARIETTI