{The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the government spokesperson, Louise Mushikiwabo has promised Rwandans in Diaspora to have increased polling stations during next year’s presidential elections. }
He made the promise yesterday during the first day of 14th National Dialogue held at Kigali Convention Center attended by 2000 participants following concerns raided by Diaspora members that they face complications during elections.
John Kijuli, one of Rwandans living in West Canada asked facilities during elections because they didn’t have chance to vote in the last year’s referendum elections.
“As Rwandans living far from the embassy, we didn’t have chance to vote last year (constitution reform). We would participate in elections at the embassy in Ottawa but the distance from our residence to the embassy is as big as that from Kigali to Johannesburg,” he said.
Mushikiwabo said the matter is common in large countries especially where Rwanda has few representatives and promised the Diaspora that they are trying by all means to facilitate their participation in next year’s presidential polls.
“ I would like to inform more Rwandans living in the Diaspora that we have embarked on the matter in collaboration with the National Electoral Commission to increase polling stations. We are doing everything possible so that every Rwandan living abroad willing to vote will do so without too much complications,” she said.
Next year’s presidential elections are scheduled for 3rd August for Rwandans in Diaspora while polls inside the country will be held on 4th August 2016.
Leave a Reply