According to the security body’s spokesperson Commissioner of Police (CP) Theos Badege, “Rwandans are accustomed to peaceful elections and this should not be any different.”
Pre-election campaigns started yesterday ahead of the polls slated for September 2nd and 3rd. Police have affirmed that it will continue to exercise its mandate of ensuring sustainable security before, during and after the forthcoming parliamentary polls.
“The Rwanda National Police has committed more personnel and material resources to ensure smooth and incident-free elections,” CP Badege said
“Candidates, the general public and voters in particular have in previous elections exhibited high level of integrity and operating within the limits of the law; in partnership with other security organs, we have designed a security plan to ensure that this remains the same for peaceful and incident-free parliamentary elections,” CP Badege explained.
The partnership, he said, also involves local leaders under the overall coordination of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
He also urged aspirants to desist from defamatory statements against their opponents and called for patience especially in campaign site areas that are likely to experience heavy traffic flow.
“Election-related excitement can often be a challenge. Cases of overloading, using vehicles that are in poor mechanical condition to transport people or using trucks meant for goods to transport people should be avoided to prevent accidents and fatalities; we appeal to everyone to act responsibly,” he said.
He also cited overworking drivers as another aspect that can cause accidents adding that drivers should have enough time to rest and avoid driving while drunk or using a phone.
About 7.1 million Rwandans are expected turn-up for the country’s fourth democratically elected House since 1994.
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