VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLGB #1063 3110819
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070819Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3416
UNCLAS KIGALI 001063
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV ECON RW
SUBJECT: MAYOR PRESENTS HER VISION FOR KIGALI
REF: A. KIGALI 18
B. KIGALI 220
1. (U) Summary. On 3 November Kigali City Mayor, Dr. Aisa
Kirabo Kacyira, briefed diplomatic corps and a small group of
stakeholders on her strategic vision for the city. Kacyira
presented her municipal government's mission, to make Kigali
"a safer, cleaner, more competitive modern city with
expanding opportunity for sustainable development of its
citizens and the country at large," and engaged the audience
in a discussion on the issues of the day for Kigali. End
summary.
2. (U) Background. On 1 January 2006 the government
implemented a decentralization plan designed to make all
levels of government more efficient (ref A). Part of the
plan was the consolidation of Kigali City into three
districts- Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyrugenge- administered by
district mayors in conjunction with the Kigali City Council,
headed by the Kigali Mayor. Kacyrira, a member of the ruling
Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and former parliamentarian was
elected mayor on 4 March 2006 (ref B). End background.
3. (U) In her well delivered power point presentation Kacyira
gave the city high marks for its security, cleanliness and
good governance. She identified the significant challenges
for Kigali City as high unemployment, large numbers of
vulnerable groups (e.g. street children and widows),
infrastructure capacity (e.g. water and power capacity),
unplanned and uncontrolled settlement and an inadequate level
of skilled human resources to drive economic development.
4. (SBU) Comment. Kaycyira was very much the practiced
politician hitting the key issues while avoiding detailed
plans to address them. She continually emphasized "service
delivery" while deftly deflecting complaints about lack of
water and poor trash collection. While the challenges are
significant, Kacyira has at least demonstrated a solid grasp
of the positives and negatives of the current situation and a
willingness to openly discuss her vision with a select
audience. She also has a strong background as both a
politician and manager and post believes she has the full
backing of President Kagame and the RPF. End comment.
ARIETTI