The 27-year old party puts forward the citizen-based development.
PL has been in Rwanda’s politics in different capacities including having seats in parliament and holding other senior positions in the government.
PL President Donatille Mukabalisa was the Speaker of the Lower House dissolved early this month.
Mukabalisa has told IGIHE in an exclusive interview that PL has confidence and abilities to do well in parliament.
It has selected 80 politically skilled candidates. Most of them are degree holders, two with PhD and eight with master’s degree in different disciplines.
Mukabalisa says PL MPs will strive to have in place good policies that consider citizens’ views.
She said PL will encourage MPs outreach to consult the public during law-making process. Getting closer to citizens and responding to their concerns is enshrined in PL’s principles.
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Categorisation of citizens basing on their financial means, locally known as Ubudehe, is one of the policies that has often ignited public outcry. Some claim to be denied services and opportunities due to their categories which do not match with their means.
Mukabalisa says PL intends to harmonise the categorisation to make everyone be in their right category and ensure that all the needy receive support to help them graduate from one category to the better.
“This has been an issue of debate for long. We shall have this corrected…if we want to build a knowledge-based economy, we need to support the education of the vulnerable students,” she remarks.
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PL is concerned that skills and research are highly needed in farming activities. This will lead to increased production.
Mukabalisa observes that research is paramount to optimise the country’s small land by identifying crops that are suitable for every area.
PL will strive to develop agro-processing and exportation of farm production in order to reduce trade deficit.
Mukabalisa says the party will ensure the government puts in place a bank for farmers to increase access to finances. PL will also advocate for an insurance scheme for farming activities.
It will also seek to empower Rwandans with industrial competences in order to develop this sector in the country. PL will ensure every district makes profit of the opportunities within its boundaries. This will be done by making sure the district has the funding to implement its projects.
Mukabalisa says PL will strive to set right what went wrong in the past. The party will ensure the 80-seat Lower House fulfils its duties of legislation and overseeing the government’s activities.
PL won six parliamentary seats in 2003, four in 2008 and five in 2013.
Basing on citizens attendance to PL campaigns, good manifesto and skilled candidates, Mukabalisa has confidence that the party will secure more seats this time than ever before.
Parliamentary general elections are slated for September 2-3 to decide on 53 seats. The 53 are sought by an RPF-lead coalition of seven parties, four other parties apart including PL and four independent candidates.
Other 27 seats for women, youth and people with disabilities will be decided on September 4.
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