Although mediation committees have played a significant role in reducing the backlog of court cases, some local leaders continue to undermine their role, subsequently blocking their potential to be more productive, a report by the Senatorial Committee on Governance and Political Affairs has revealed.
Mediation committees, reintroduced in 2004, mostly motivated in part by the desire to reduce the backlog of court cases, as well as to decentralize justice and make it more affordable and accessible for citizens seeking to resolve conflict without the cost of going to court.
They are also mandated with mediating cases regarding breach of agreements between individuals if the dispute does not exceed Rwf3 million, family problems with the exception
The report, a copy of which The New Times has seen indicates that for instance, priority is not given to mediation committee sittings with some local leaders asking them to postpone their work often.
The Senators also found out that there was an issue of mediators who take long periods of time without working because the committee members are fewer than they should be, the issue of members of the committee who have difficulties getting permission from work to attend sessions among others.
The Executive Secretary of the Legal Aid Forum (LAF); Andrews Kananga told The New Times in an interview, that just as it was done for 'People With Integrity' committees on the now-dissolved Gacaca Courts, mediation committees need motivation and incentives.
