On this Tuesday January 23, 2007, the Senate met in a plenary session and adopted the following two laws:

• The law relating to expropriation;
• The law establishing and determining responsibilities, organization and functioning of Rwanda Geology and Mines Authority (OGMR);

With regard to the law relating to expropriation, some of the articles which were voted for provide that only the Government has the prerogative to expropriate. Expropriation is acceptable only for general interests and after payment of appropriate compensation. No person shall be invoking their personal interest in order for them to block the expropriation program.

Concerning the law establishing and determining responsibilities, organization and functioning of Rwanda Geology and Mines Authority (OGMR), the latter provides for the following responsibilities of the authority:

• To conduct survey in geology and mining basing on the major national priorities;
• To promote appropriate technologies aimed at development of geology and mining;
• To establish value of mining products and quarries;
• To supervise and monitor private and public mining, trade and value added and mining.

After the adoption of the bills the plenary session approved the appointment of Mr. NZINDUKIYIMANA Augustin and Mrs. MUKARURANGWA Immaculée to the post of Deputy Ombudsman.

The plenary session also adopted the recommendations made by the Commission on Social Affairs, Human Rights and Petitions about education issues, and which are to be submitted to the Government. The Commission had made them after it visited nursery, primary and secondary schools as well as higher learning institutions. Here follow the Commission s recommendations as adopted by the Senate:

• A Curriculum for nursery teaching should be devised and developed as soon as possible and those meant for teaching it be trained;
• Local government should get more involved ensuring students and pupils welfare as well as their learning process because it appears not decent for pupils to study while sitting on the ground or on stones;
• The Government should make sure issues related with civic education, human rights and morals are incorporated in teaching programs in order to slowly by slowly eradicate genocide ideology;
• Dormitories for some secondary schools are facing with the problem of being highly populated and with the problem of insanity, which impact on students health and welfare, which entails that all relevant authorities should see to it that all these problems are followed-up and solved;
• Specific curriculum for handicapped people should be designed and developed
• Those meant for teaching the curriculum for handicapped people should particular be trained and helped to get acquainted with ;
• Etc.