Premier promises democratisation programme

Prime Minister Pierre-Celestin Rwigema on Thursday said that, after local elections held early this year, the government would, over the next four years, embark on the organisation of elections at communal, prefectural, parliamentary and, later, presidential level to assure the democratisation of the country. He said that for meaningful democracy to take root, the economy must also be improved, and the government particularly intended to boost food production and promote the tourism industry, Radio Rwanda reported. In the next four years - an extension of the interim period of the government of national unity - other priorities would be health and education, national security, unity and reconciliation, settlement of people in rural and urban areas, the eradication of poverty and thorough reform of all administrative structures, Rwigema told the National Assembly.