We have chanced a report from Rwanda which indicated that Rwanda‘s parliament has passed a new law abolishing over 1,000 laws considered colonial and outdated.
Per the reports, this has been a debate for months in the country as they discussed plans to scrap all the country’s colonial-era laws.
It was reported that some of these laws were put in place by colonial countries like German (1900-1916), and Belgium between 1916-1962.
Some of the laws abolished include a decree of July 22, 1930, that prohibited transfer on credit or for free of all alcoholic beverages.
One of the laws also made it possible for massive land grab by the Catholic Church. That decree was passed on January 24, 1943.
Speaking to the parliamentarians, Rwanda’s State Minister for Constitutional and Legal affairs, Evode Uwizeyimana said that it was a ‘shame’ that Rwanda was being governed by colonial laws which were put place in the interests of colonizers.
“There are no legal loopholes that can emerge as a result of repealing them. These are not laws that we should be proud of keeping. We don’t see a problem in repealing them,” he said.
Also, Rwanda’s Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye told reporters that Rwandans can now be fully governed by the laws that they have made themselves.
“Colonial laws were made for the colonial metropole, not for colonies. They were brought to the colonies to be the legal framework to service the colonial state. This step finally means that we are and will be governed by laws made by us for us,” he said.
All the laws being abolished were put in place between 1885 and 1962 when Rwanda obtained independence from Belgium.
Source: ghgossip.com
