All Press Releases for August 02, 2015
Behind The Plan To Walk Cows Into Rwandan Parliament, a KT Press Report
On July 28, Alphonsine Mugorewera 53, a resident of Ngoma district, Eastern province, learned that legislators would visit her village for consultations on constitution amendment.
KIGALI, RWANDA, August 02, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On July 28, Alphonsine Mugorewera 53, a resident of Ngoma district, Eastern province, learned that legislators would visit her village for consultations on constitution amendment.
She marched with a cow to meet hundreds of other residents gathered to meet the legislators.
"I came with my children to show everyone how healthy we are. We consider Kagame the sole source of our well-being," she said amidst applause from the audience.
Legislators are on a three-week consultation tour of the country seeking concrete views from citizens on amendment of Article 101.
About 4 million Rwandans have signed petitions seeking amendment of article 101 that limits presidential terms to only two 7-year long terms.
Once amended, President Paul Kagame will have leeway to run for a third term.
Mugorewera said milk from the cows received through Kagame has prevented her three children from malnutrition and increased her income.
"We want Kagame to keep saving more poor Rwandans," she pleaded.
Mugorewera is not the only one do so. At many venues, locals arrive with cows, some carrying cans of milk or produce from their farms - hoping lawmakers will be convinced.
In Rwandan culture, the bridegroom offers cattle as dowry. Residents present lawmakers with cows as bride price for their bride "Kagame", a clear signal communities are determined to do whatever it takes to make their case heard and understood.
The act has put lawmakers in a dilemma.
"Kagame has performed duties beyond being a president...he puts himself in our shoes," said Olivier Nkera, from Gisagara district in southern Rwanda, showing off a gestating cow.
In 2006, government mooted the idea of giving a heifer to every poor Rwandan--hoping it would curb malnutrition and improve household incomes.
Senator Joseph Karemera was one of Kagame's cabinet ministers then. He recalls the resistance, but Kagame stood his ground and the program was implemented.
Over 300,000 families have been given cows, transforming rural livelihoods and addressing poverty.
Andrew Kagabo the program's coordinator says a cow brings nutrition and provides stable income for a family and is a source of manure, scaling crop productivity.
The program has created a strong bond between Kagame and ordinary Rwandans.
Read the full article here: http://ktpress.rw/rwandans-might-walk-cows-into-parliament-2732/
For Media Enquiries
Dan Ngabonziza
KT Press
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