Rwanda Democratic Green Party leader Frank Habineza at the National
Electoral Commission on June 12, 2017. The party had proposed that
political parties get campaign funding in advance, but the suggestion
was not adopted. PHOTO | CYRIL NDEGEYA | NMG
A recently tabled Bill on political parties and politicians has
elicited mixed reactions, with the opposition terming provisions on
funding for political parties as “not favourable for a vibrant
democracy.”
The proposed law leaves out reforms
requested by the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, which the party
believed would create a level playing field for all political parties.
The
Democratic Green Party of Rwanda had requested that the election law be
revised for political parties to receive, in advance, campaign funding
from the state, instead of being reimbursed after getting five per cent
of the national vote after the elections.
“This fund
only helps the winners, yet it should support competing parties to run a
good campaign instead of appreciating parties after the elections,”
said Frank Habineza the president of the Democratic Green Party of
Rwanda.
Donations
The
proposed law also keeps the provision that states it is illegal for
political organisations to receive donations from foreigners, foreign
states, non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations,
foreign companies or industries and organisations where foreigners are
shareholders.
This provision was well received by politicians, including
Théobald Mporanyi, a member of parliament from the ruling Rwanda
Patriotic Front.
“If you look at what is happening
worldwide, there are many political parties that target foreign
donations, whether from organisations or individuals.
These
donors tend to influence the activities of the political organisations
and derail them from their political agendas,” he said when the Bill was
tabled in parliament.
Judith Uwizeye the Minister in
the Office of the President, who tabled the Bill on behalf of the
government, said “foreign organisations” whose donations are prohibited
include foreign political parties.
“There is irony in
the state receiving foreign funding, but finding it inappropriate for
political parties to do the same,” said Decried Habineza, the former
presidential candidate who has been championing for political and
electoral reforms for the past three years.
Suspension
A political party that receives funding from foreign entities would be liable to suspension of its activities for two years.
“In
case this violation occurs during elections, the political party could
have its activities suspended for five years and the government would
seize the donation,” the Bill reads.
However, the Bill
provides for budget allocation from the government to political parties.
The funds will be channelled through the Rwanda Governance Board.
“Each
financial year the government will give registered political parties
grants, according to the state’s financial resources,” the Bill reads.
The
state usually provides a budget to parties through the National
Consultative Forum of Political Organisations, and the forum manages the
funds.
The government grants are subject to strict
annual reporting to the office of the Ombudsman, failure to which the
parties risk suspension of funding and other administrative sanctions.
The
proposed reforms by the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda were termed
“individual opinions without substantive evidence” by several government
agencies.
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