They expressed concern particularly on the fate of those senators and deputies that came into parliament during the 2003 parliamentary elections representing the current provinces and Kigali city. It was an apparent reference to twelve senators, each representing a province, one from Kigali city, and twenty six women in the Chamber of Deputies, each of the present eleven provinces and Kigali city having two.
"I am wondering what would be the fate of those MPs who represent different constituencies once these areas are re-demarcated," Senator Dr Odette Nyiramirimo (PL) queried. Senator Chrysologue Kubwimana (Gisenyi) and others voiced the same concerns.

However in response, Minister Musoni could not satisfactorily put to rest the MPs' anxiety as he said no definite agreement had been reached yet on most of the looming impacts of the reforms. But he told MPs that his suggestion would be that they retain their seats only during the current mandate and then the Constitution be reviewed and adjusted accordingly.
"For instance where the Constitution says 'each province shall have two (women) MPs' provision can be modified say on the number of representations to reflect the new arrangement," Musoni said. He said this would however be debated on and a final decision taken.

"It is thereafter, that elections would be organised in accordance with the new demarcations," he added.
Should the executive and legislature accommodate Musoni's proposal, then the reforms would most likely hurt the 24 women MPs representing the Constituencies than the affected senators. This is because deputies would remain uncertain whether to vie for a second term in 2007 when their five-year mandate ends, while senators are to serve an eight-year non renewable term.
But it remains to be seen what would befall these legislators should Musoni's proposals sail through.

Some political pundits however say that even with the second possibility, the affected legislators could still retain their posts by virtue of Article 64 (A) in the Constitution. It reads, "Every Member of Parliament represents the whole nation and not just those who elected or nominated him or her or the political organisation on whose ticket he or she stood for election."

Senators looked slightly excited at the new public and territorial administrative redesigns, but the uncertainty over the fate of the seats saw an apprehensive atmosphere marring the plenary session.
They also expressed anxiety over the impending loss of jobs by thousands of civil servants at local government levels as a result of the reforms. They also questioned the names to be given to the new areas. On this, Musoni said most of the areas would be named after their respective present towns to avoid the difficulties that were encountered during the previous naming of areas which almost split the then Transitional National Assembly into two.

The minister said the proposed setup establishes districts widely on the model of the past arrangement of Sous Prefectures, and said the new district authorities will have full powers to use infrastructures that formerly belonged to the Sous-Prefectures.

Reforms

Under the new arrangement, provinces have been condensed from eleven down to four. Kigali City has also been stretched to several areas currently belonging to Kigali-Ngali Province.

The proposed districts are 30, a remarkable fall from 106 today, while sectors would be cut from the current 1,545 to about 450.
Kigali city is planned to have four districts down from eight. The proposed districts, each a merger of several districts, are Nyarugenge, Gisozi, Kicukiro and Gasabo. This means that under the new proposal, the districts of Kacyiru, Kanombe, Gikondo, Nyamirambo and Butamwa would cease to exist.

The rest of the country will be divided into four larger provinces: Eastern, Northern, Western and Southern. The Eastern province will cover today's provinces of Umutara,  Kibungo and some parts of Byumba and Kigali-Ngali provinces; while several districts of Byumba, Kigali-Ngali and Ruhengeri will be merged to form the Northern region.
The Western region will comprise of the present-day provinces of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu and parts of Ruhengeri province; while the Southern region would merge the provinces of Gitarama, Butare, Gikongoro, Kibuye and some areas of Kigali Ngali province.

Proposed provincial districts and Capitals:
East- Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kayonza, Kibungo, Kirehe, Rwamagana (capital) and Nyagatare.
North-Burera, Byumba (capital), Gakenke, Ruhengeri and Rulindo.
West-Cyangugu, Gasiza, Gisenyi, Kibuye (capital), Ngororero, Nyamasheke and Rutsiro.
South-Butare, Gikongoro, Gisagara, Gitarama, Kamonyi, Nyanza (Capital) and Nyaruguru.