Chief Operating Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, Emmanuel Hategeka[/caption] Chief Operating Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, Emmanuel Hategeka, has touted the successes of the country’s National Decentralization Policy which has ensured equitable political, economic, and social development throughout the country. In an interview with TV3’s Alfred Ocansey on the sidelines of the Africa Transformation Forum, Emmanuel Hategeka indicated the success story of Rwanda’s development is as a result of a conscious and an effective local governance system. He explains the policy creates a platform for the decentralized units in the country to account for what they have done and either get awarded or punished for it. “In that National Dialogue Council, all the districts bring out what they did best, then there is also the variation report that is released and you don’t want to be the last district being presented”, he explained. He said the policy has worked so well that some heads of decentralized units, like mayors have had reasons to give up their posts for not being able to live up to expectation, while others also receive accolades from the President. “We have seen mayors go back and resign because they were the last on the list but of course the top three are rewarded and the President gives them an award, the President recognizes them and they show that they have delivered”, he said. He added that aside the fact that citizens hold appointees responsible, appointees are also held to delivered on their contractual obligations, bearing in mind the consequences if they fail to deliver. “The citizens keep holding us to account so even at the central level the performance contracts are effective because if you don’t deliver on your target, there is a stick that you get so there is a carrot and stick in this case”. Emmanuel Hategeka said, the bottom line of the policy is to reduce mere rhetoric and encourage action in governance, especially at the local level. “We keep trying to narrow the gap between good intentions and actual implementations”. By 3news.com|Ghana]]>
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