House Speaker, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, has urged Liberians to avoid tribalism and be nationalistic like Rwandan citizens. The Speaker made the statement on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 on Capitol Hill when he briefed the media on the outcome of their recent official visit to the Rwandan Parliament.
Speaker Chambers recently led a four-man legislative delegation to the Rwandan Parliament in order to strengthen relations between the National Legislature and Rwandan Parliament. The delegation included Representatives Moses Acarous Gray, Montserrado County’s district #8, Chairman on Executive; Dr. Johnson N. Gwaikolo, Nimba County’s district #9, Chairman on Rules, Order and Administrations; and Matthew Zarzar, Sinoe County’s district #3, Co. Chair on Ways, Means and Finance.
Dr. Chambers said he observed that the Rwandan economy is fast growing and the country has developed in infrastructure because its citizens do not recognize tribalism and ethnicity. “There is no tribe in Rwanda,” Speaker Chambers stated. According to him, the Rwandans’ style of living was a take-home lesson for him, and hoped that Liberians will follow same in the near future.
The delegation, according Dr. Chambers, had its first official engagement with the Rwandan Parliament Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mukabalisa Donatille, before touring the Parliament and other places.
Also sharing the Rwandan experience, Representative Gwaikolo averred that during their visit they met with the Agriculture Minister and, through their meeting, it was established that the people of Rwanda eat what they grow. He further disclosed that the country is very small but its resources and land space are wisely used. He revealed that the people of Rwanda are also involved in fisheries as a means of generating revenue.
The Nimba lawmaker explained further that the delegation also met the National Investment Board of Rwanda, and how investors enter into agreement with the government of Rwanda for the betterment of its citizens was shared. He emphasized that the Rwanda experienced is one of the best, and hoped that it will be impactful in the governance system of Liberia.
For his part, Representative Zarzar said his experience from Rwanda involved its electoral process. According to him, the Parliament of Rwanda is called NP, and it has a very powerful working Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The Sinoe County lawmaker moreover explained that the governance system of Rwanda is completely different from the system of government in Liberia. According to him, some Parliament members are appointed by the President, while some are elected. With formation of the Parliament, Representative Zarzar said youth and women are represented at the Parliament.
The Liberian delegation later visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the graves of those who lost their lives during the Rwandan civil war.