Emmy Namurinda
2 November 2006
Byumba — The Mayor of Gicumbi District in Northern Province, Bonane Nyangezi, has advised local leaders to develop leadership skills. Nyangezi said this will will enable them win the trust of the people they lead. Nyangezi made the appeal on October 30, during a meeting with executive secretaries and village (imidugudu) leaders from the sectors of Kageyo, Byumba, Mutete, Miyove and Nyankenke at the district conference hall.
At the meeting aimed at discussing the role of 'a leader in development and security maintenance', Nyangezi said that unless leaders develop a character that enables them win the trust and respect of the people, they will never succeed and its better to resign than go on forcing themselves on people.
"It's important that the people you lead trust and respect you, but this cannot come automatically. It's by character and leading an exemplary life that brings all this. Adding that, "I have received reports of a mudugudu leader from Mutete Sector who has impregnated an 8 year old girl. Can you imagine what this leader has brought them in this short period? This leader whom people trusted and voted for. This is due to lack of character and it's reasonable enough for him to resign. But i am glad he is in police custody." Nyangezi said.
Nyangezi further warned the local leaders against corruption, saying it destroys the confidence that the people have in them.
He noted that a leader loses the confidence of the people when he /she begins to extort money from them.
He cited a recent example of a local leader from Giti Sector who sold a portion of forest land belonging to government, "actually the people who give him the bribes are the very ones who reported him".
Commenting on the role of a leader in maintaining sustainable security, the mayor said, "As leaders, you need to be quick in passing on information. You should also have books with you to record the people that come in your village (umudugudu), where they (visitors) are coming from, whom they have to see and when they are to leave."
He explained that such measures will help in tracing wrong elements coming in the area and will check insecurity.
The executive secretary of Mutete Sector, Damien Sharangabo, blamed the police for frustrating their efforts in combating crime in society. "When we arrest some wrong elements and take them to police, the next the day you find them walking freely. This frustrates us and puts us at great security risk," he alleged.
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