Conflict Mediation Committees Spurring Development of Communities in Rwanda

Abstract

Conflict Mediation Committees (Abunzi) commonly viewed as agencies for peace and reconciliation in Rwanda. Besides, they have been observed to be contributing a great deal towards all-round developmental activities and programmes being executed among various communities in the country. However, despite the development initiatives they have facilitated, there information about them is scant for local, national and even international consumption, understanding and recognition. It is now a fact that sustainable solutions to the community conflicts can only be mainly achieved through holistic and comprehensive approach as have been employed by Abunzi in terms of harnessing home-grown solutions for local problems bearing in mind the geographical, psychological and ideological dimensions of the local communities. Hence, as consequence, the aforesaid would notonly help expand the committees’ capacities, capabilities and abilities but also help to provide more integrated and sustainable conflict resolutions and peace for the sake of development of communities living in Kanombe Sector. Hence, it is against this backdrop the researcher chose conduct the present study entitled: “Conflict Mediation Committees Spurring Development of Communities Development in Rwanda”, taking Kanombe Sector of Kicukiro District as case study. Its main objective was understand the contributions the committees have directly or indirectly made towards the general development of communities in the sector through the identification of the causes of conflicts in the communities; assessment of role played by the mediation committees in the sector and to seek and to seek communities’ perception on role of the mediators in development agenda of Kanombe Sector. The researcher adopted case research study design cum descriptive research design. The target population was 352 that included conflict mediated households, mediation committee leaders and local authorities in charge of the mediation programme with a representative sample size of 92 respondents (76 conflict mediated parties and 16 mediators) was chosen through the use of simple random sampling technique to get the right information on mediated cases. Data collections were collected through interview method and questionnaire method as well. Both quantitative data and qualitative were generated and entered into SPSS 22 for analysis. Data was then presented in the form of tables, percentages, graphs, figures, pie charts and it was analysed by using SPSS 22 as a statistical package. To ensure validity and reliability the pre-testing of the tools used for data collection was done accordingly. The study revealed that the majority (78.95%) of the respondents identified property inheritance and related issues as one of the main cause of conflicts in Kanombe Sector. Violation of agreed terms and conditions of contracts between two or more entities were found to be a contributor towards the rise conflicts amongst members of the communities in the sector as reflected by claims on the same by the majority (68.44%) of the respondents. Indebtness among members in the sector was another main cause of conflicts experienced as demonstrated by the majority (64.47%) of the respondents. The majority (73.69%) of the respondents claimed that the conflict mediation committee in the area has helped decrease the number of corruption incidents among members of communities in the area. As regards to respondents’ own perception on working of conflict mediation committee in the area, it was noted that sixty seven per cent (67%) of the respondents claimed that mediation committee conducted its mediation activities in a fair and unbiased manner. Local Government and National Government should double their efforts towards raising awarenes among populations on the existence of mediation committees and on their role as well as the requirements for the population to get services from the Abunzi. Hence, it can conclusively be stated that conflict mediation committes have been in existence in Rwanda for long a period of time and have played essential role towards the psycho-socio and economic development of communities in the country.