PM Anastase Murekezi swearing-in
Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi has been sworn in as the new Prime Minister pledging hard work and dedication to serving the people of Rwanda. Murekezi will take office at a hand-over ceremony later today from his predecessor Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi.
After taking oath, Murekezi was received by the President to take his rightful place in the parliament seating arrangement.
On his tweeter handle Murekezi said that it is a great honour for him to have been appointed Prime Minister by H.E Paul Kagame, President of The Republic of Rwanda.
“My new appointment gives me a unique opportunity to keep serving my Country “Rwanda” and Rwandans all of us working hard together” he said.
Judith Tuyizere replaces Murekezi as Minister for Public Service- she is a new entrant whose profile is little known in the mainstream media.
New faces on the block include Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza who has been serving as Chief Executive Officer; Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has been transferred to take over from Jacqueline Muhongayire as Minister of East African Community.
Francis Gatare takes over as the new Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board. He was once the CEO of Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency, before it was merged into RDB.
The new Cabinet 2014
Prof Silas Lwakabamba shifts from the infrastructure ministry back to education as the Education Minister, replacing Dr. Vincent Biruta who was also transferred to the ministry of Natural Resources, replacing Stanislas Kamanzi.
Francis Kaboneka was appointed the Local Government Ministry replacing James Musoni- who went to the Ministry of Infrastructure, where Prof Lwakabamba has served for the last two years.
In a major twist, Joseph Habineza returns from Nigeria where he has been Ambassador to become Minister of Sports and Culture replacing Protais Mitali-who has been dropped. Habineza who aroused excitement on social media was previously in the ministry before going to Nigeria.
Dr. Agnes Kalibata who was the Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources has been dropped was replaced by a new face, Geraldine Mukeshimana.
Those who retained their ministries include Louise Mushikiwabo(Foreign Affairs), Gen. James Kabarebe(defense), jean Philbert Nsengiyumva(Youth and ICT), Dr. Agnes Binagwaho (Health), Sheikh Fazil Harerimana (Internal Security), Stella Ford Mugabo(Cabinet Affairs), Johnston Busingye (justice and Attroorny General), and Amb. Claver Gatete (Finance) and Seraphine Mukantabana (disaster management)
The fate of the dropped officials is not known yet, but president Kagame in his speech said that the changes were aimed at making the government stronger.
“This new cabinet is about building on the progress achieved to date. Let us build on our achievements and continue to strive to achieve even more” Kagame said.
President Kagame thanked former premier Habumuremyi and the previous cabinet for the hard work on which the new cabinet will build.