Tag: MainSlideNews

{Rwandans are today exercising their franchise in elections to choose a president from among three candidates.
}

The incumbent Paul Kagame leading the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), is facing two other contenders; Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and Philippe Mpanyimana, an independent candidate.

It is Rwanda’s third presidential election after the 1994 genocide. Kagame has won the previous polls (2003, 2010) with over 95%.

Over 6.8 million citizens are expected to participate in the elections. There are over 2,340 polling stations set up across the country. Voting started at 7 am and it will close at 3 p.m to pave way for the counting process with over 70% of the primary election results to be released by 11 p.m tomorrow.

Yesterday, Rwandans in the Diaspora cast their vote at 98 polling stations in different countries. Over 44,000 registered Diaspora are expected to have voted yesterday on August 3rd, 2017.

NEC officials said about 2000 observers will be closely following the election inside the country.

Kagame cast his vote from his home area, at APE-Rugunga polling station, in Kigali’s Nyarugenge District, while Mpayimana voted from Camp Kigali Primary School, also in Nyarugenge.

Habineza voted from Kimironko II Primary School polling station in Kigali’s Gasabo District.

{As Rwanda’s electorate go to polls on Friday to determine the next 7-year presidency, farmers have suggested the next President’s priorities in agriculture.
}

They want the next Head of State to upscale irrigation, set up special agriculture-related financial institution, ensure timely delivery of seeds and fertilisers, intensify research, fix fair prices for their production and tighten security of their farms against thieves, among others, to help improve farmers’ livelihoods.

Incumbent President and Rwanda Patriotic Front’s flag bearer, Paul Kagame, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda’s Frank Habineza and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, have all toured the country presenting their manifestos with different pledges towards agriculture.

Agriculture employs 70% of the labour force and accounts for about 30% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it an ideal sector of emphasis for anyone vying for the country’s top office.

Cléophas Habiyaremye, a farmer and carpentry innovator based in Kayonza District, said the office cannot be won out of the blue but a candidate with the best manifesto merits his vote.

Drawing on the last year’s droughts which caused food shortage in Eastern swathes especially Kayonza, Nyagatare and Kirehe districts, Habiyaremye says “Farming should be prioritised under anyone’s leadership as the largest economic activity nationwide. Farm irrigation should be given high priority to reach out to every corner of the country and we would see improved access to finance.”

Athanase Murenzi, the coordinator of rice growers’ cooperative in Ruramba marshland (CORIMARU), Bugesera District, lauds the progress in rice growing but cites challenges that he would see heeded in the next seven years.

“We target seven tons of rice per hectare, up from 5.2 tons currently. To hit the target, we would see timely delivery of fertilisers which are delaying for up to one month. We eye a rice price increase to at least Rwf300 per kilogram, up from current Rwf280 which does not benefit farmers,” he says.

Murenzi says research in agriculture should be put forward to identify more varieties of seeds, adding that three rice varieties they have currently are becoming incompatible with the soil in the area.

Fiacre Nzagirante, a coffee farmer in Gitambi Sector and coordinator of coffee growers’ cooperative in Rusizi District, finds the only way of providing farmers with access to finance in setting up their special financial institution because banks are giving little attention to farmers’ projects.

Phoibe Mukarwego, a mother of four and farmer in Kiramuruzi Sector of Gatsibo District, says she often grows poor quality maize seeds because the government delays to deliver better seeds to farmers.

“Theft especially in our farms is so high here. We grow a lot expecting good production but harvest little while a bigger portion goes to thieves. We often catch them but government releases them within no time and they continue their deeds. We want government to tighten security and penalties against evildoers,” she says.

{{Candidates’ pledges}}

Both Habineza and Mpayimana have vowed to bring reforms in agriculture policies by scrapping land consolidation and allow every farmer to grow the crop of their own choice.

Mpayimana says he will empower farmers with enough skills, let them sell their production to anyone they want and end government intervention in fixing market prices for farm production.

Habineza, who calls himself ‘Kimaranzara” (loosely translated as one who will end hunger), promises new policies to end food insecurity in the country once he is elected.

Incumbent President Kagame who is seeking re-election promises to build on the existing policies and take the sector to the next step. Each of the three candidates has confidence to win the elections because of different reasons.
Kagame draws confidence in hundreds of thousands of people who have been attending his rallies with many lauding his performance since he ascended into the top office in 2000, but above all, he confided into the wishes of over 98% of the electorate who uplifted term limit for him through the referendum of December 2015. He expressed his confidence on the first day of his campaign by telling mammoth crowds that the results of the elections are known before even going into polls.

Habineza says he will win the elections despite a small number of people he has seen at his rallies because casting a vote is done secretly. Mpayimana, whose rallies’ attendance has been the least, also confides into his manifesto which, he says, is convincing and the best of all, adding that Rwandans have got it right. Mpayimana, who came to Rwanda this year after spending many years in France, also expects the highest votes in the Diaspora.

According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), over 6.8 million registered voters are expected to cast their votes during the 2017 Rwandan presidential elections. NEC has set up 2,340 polling centres countrywide and 98 polling centres in the Diaspora where 44,362 people are registered to cast their votes at embassies or consulates.

The entire election process has been organized at the tune of Rwf6.2 billion. The number of voters has increased by 1.7 million, up from 5.1 million that voted in the last elections in 2010. 54 per cent of voters are female. Over 1780 observers are set to monitor the elections this year.

{It is mid-winter, August 3, New Zealand and in Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city there are political billboards on street corners, the sides of buildings, corners of parks.
The New Zealand general election will be held on 23 September 2017 that is what is on people’s minds, but a small group of Aucklanders, originally from Rwanda, are already voting in another election. }

It is their first chance to vote from New Zealand in the Rwandan presidential elections and the interest is strong.

There are 43 registered Rwandan voters in New Zealand, eligible to take part in this year’s presidential elections.

Alan Hakizimana who is in Auckland has told IGIHE; “The polling station is a room in a community center, that has a team of people headed by the Consul General Clare de Lore, Lady McKinnon,” He goes to say that there are other community leaders including Raymond Serwakira and Ph.D. student Egide Kalisa.

The ballot papers have three candidates listed in order and all is set.

Due to the international dateline, Rwandans in New Zealand’s have been the first to cast their votes, and the first voters are said to have arrived shortly after the polls officially opened at 11:00 am Thursday (which is 2:00 pm Wednesday afternoon back in Rwanda.)

Alan Hakizimana is happy to hold the distinction of being the first Rwandan in the diaspora to mark his ballot paper and then deliver it into the secure ballot box.

Over the course of the next ten hours, Hakizimana says that voters turned up in ones or twos.

Once it was 6:00 pm and work was over for most of the day, some voters were reported to have arrived with their children, and there is laughter as well as serious intent.

As the clock ticked towards 9:00 pm, the last voters trickled in, to make their choice, before the ballot box was secured.

{As elections campaigns come to a climax on Thursday, Rwandan diaspora began casting their votes in an effort to elect the president.}

Diaspora in Asia were the first to cast their votes that kicked-off August 3rd, 2017, according to the National Electoral Commission.

Rwandans eligible to vote who are based overseas descended to different polling stations located at embassies and consulates to vote the next president who will lead the country for the next seven years.

Because of global time zone differences, Rwandan in Japan and China were the first to cast their votes while it was night in Kigali.

RPF-Inkontanyi candidate President Paul Kagame is in the race with Democratic Green Party Candidate Dr. Frank Habineza and independent candidate Phillippe Mpayimana.

Over 6.8 Rwandans will participate in the poll, 25 per cent of whom are first-time voters. Women constitute 54 per cent of the electorate, while 45 per cent are youth.

NEC mapped 2,323 polling stations across the country and diaspora ahead of the August 4 presidential polls, the Commission has said the election material and equipment is already moved to polling stations. In the Diaspora’s there over 93 polling stations.

{The RPF-Inkontanyi candidate President Paul Kagame has said that the people of Rwanda are making their choices and are ready to face their consequences.
}

Kagame said this on Wednesday during his final rally of the 2017 Presidential campaigns that saw him traverse the country to all districts, twice in some, selling the RPF Inkotanyi manifesto as its flag bearer in the 4th August elections due on Friday.

The final rally was held at an expansive field in Bumbogo Sector, Gasabo District, bringing together over half a million supporters.

“We are making our own choices. We will face their consequences the same way we faced and overcame the tragedy they caused,” the Chairman said.

To the critics, he said that they ask if without Kagame Rwanda would still have peace, “my question is did we have peace before Kagame?”

He queried: “How can you teach us democracy when you are contesting your own and blaming election fraud for what it has given you. We have surmounted many challenges and we will not waste any lessons.”

According to the Chairman, by now the critics should know that Rwandans are a people who do not get dictated to, people that choose their own path.

“Some call our clean cities the result of dictatorship. This shows the disdain they have for Africans. They believe Africans and Rwandans deserve to live in dirty cities. It is this mentality they apply to our politics,” he said.

The campaign season, which was largely characterized by celebrations of achievements under the leadership of RPF Inkotanyi, officially ended yesterday and the elections will be held Thursday for Rwandans living in the Diaspora, while those in the country will cast their ballot on Friday.

{The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, yesterday received a team of African Union observers whom he reassured that the elections will be conducted in a peaceful, safe and smooth manner. }

The IGP briefed the African Union observer delegation, led by the former President of Mali, Dioncounda Traore, on the security situation in the country and reassured to them of peaceful, safe, and smooth elections.

The IGP underscored that the police established a security campaign plan for the entire electoral period – before, during, and after the elections.

He informed the observers that thus far the campaign period was incident free and reassured them that the elections will be conducted in a secure environment.

“We drew a whole security plan at the national level to ensure that the whole process is not disrupted,” IGP Gasana said.

Further, the IGP informed the delegation that the mission of the police during the elections is to secure polling centers and to provide the escort of electoral materials; security to officials of the electoral commission, election observers, and the general public.

“We have successfully secured all campaign venues, ensured the security of candidates and their entourage, and safety on roads as part of overall mission of homeland security,” the IGP emphasized, adding that this is ensuring overall security is a collaborative effort with other security entities and the public.

His Excellency Traore, on his part, observed that the AU observer mission in Rwanda is a duty that is informed by African solidarity.

He acknowledged that the prevailing security situation was satisfactory pointing out that Rwanda offers a great example to other African countries in terms of election preparedness.

“We know, and the world knows, that Rwanda is safe; Africa has a lot to learn from Rwanda …We all know Rwanda’s past and where you are today” he said.

Mr. Traore concluded by wishing Rwandans “successful” elections and laid emphasis on the need for other African countries to “emulate this model of preparing and conducting elections” which he said is “proof that Africa can do things on its own.”

{Construction of the first phase of the New Bugesera International Airport in the Eastern Province has got underway.}

The preliminary works started in January 2016, whereas real construction started 30th June 2017, and is expected to be completed by December 2018.

Our reporter who visited the site says that the expansive site is awash with engineering works, clearing and executing different activities that will see the facility as one of the most modern airport in the region. Upon completion, the airport will have capacity of receiving over one million and seven hundred thousand passengers annually. The total cost is estimated to be U$ 418 million (Approximately Rwf 351billion).

{With less than three days to the 2017 Presidential elections, RPF-flag bearer President Paul Kagame on Monday campaigned in Burera District in the Northern Province of Rwanda.
}

At a rally held at Ndago at Kirambi cell, Kagame who addressed over 100,000 supporters who came from as far as Rwerere Cyanika and Cyeru said; “We have everything within our hands to succeed, we will not fail ourselves.

“The reason we are able to move forward is that each of you, coming together, we fought and won battles here in Burera, we are now working to build this country. Voting means the freedom to choose: choose good politics, education, health, prosperity”
Burera was Kagame’s first stop of the day, where hundreds of residents spilled at the camp venue very early in the morning, carrying flags, banners, drumming and chanting Kagame’s name.

Kagame also elaborated on the issue of working hard to improve personal lives, saying that what is ahead is hard work to ensure there is nothing standing in the way of every Rwanda improving their lives.

He added, “After we make the right choice on 4th August, we have to continue with the hard work needed to achieve prosperity.”

{President Paul Kagame on Saturday promised residents in Western Province that investments will be made in Nyamasheke tourism to continue transforming the district and livelihoods. }

Kagame was addressing his final rally of Western Province in Nyamasheke, an event that brought together over 100,000 supporters at rally venue at St Joseph ground in Kigabiro.

“We will invest in Nyamasheke tourism potential to create more opportunities for you all,” he said, attracting cheers from the crowd.

He said that with the achievements registered over the past 23 years, the rest of the journey will be smooth.

“Let’s build security, unity, and development of Rwandans and ensure that our rights are promoted so we can work together and partner with other countries to develop ourselves ,” he said.

He also took time to expound on the choices that the Rwandan people have made especially in the way they want to be governed.

“Democracy is when we may differ on ways to go about building our country but still work together. One of the many benefits of unity is that together there is no fight we cannot win.”

Regarding the August 4th Presidential polls, the RPF Chairman affirmed that this the opportunity for Rwandans to choose the kind of leadership they want.

{CNLG and Ibuka have castigated the decision by the UK Supreme Court of declining to extradite to Rwanda a number of people suspected of having committed genocide crimes during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
}

The court decision has halted the transfer of Emmanuel Nteziryayo Vincent Brown(Bajinya), Charles Munyaneza, Celestin Mutabaruka and Celestin Ugirashebuja, on a pretext that there is no justice in Rwanda.

The Executive Secretary of CNLG, Dr. Jean-Damascène Bizimana, told the Press that such court decision was taken basing on falsehoods , because the justice system in Rwanda is independent and impartial.

He said, “It is a decision which is not in line with an International Criminal Tribunal (ICTR) which was established for Rwanda; most countries including Canada, Norway, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United States of America sent the perpetrators back to Rwanda, people who were suspected to have committed Genocide, where their cases were heard from, and now they can see that justice is on international standards.”

He reminded that Canada sent back Dr Léon Mugesera, currently serving a life sentence, for having committed Genocide crimes; Jean Baptiste Mugimba and Jean Bosco Iyamuremye. He also pointed out that U.S.A sent back Prof. Leopold Munyakazi, while

ICTR sent to Rwanda Jean Uwinkindi, Ladislas Ntaganzwa, and Bernard Munyagishari.

He said that if impunity is to be done away with, UK should adhere to international guidelines for hearing Genocide cases, thus extraditing the them to where they committed crimes.

The Executive Secretary of Ibuka, Naphtal Ahishakiye, said that 23 years after the Genocide which was committed against Tutsi, Rwanda has built its institutions, including justice. He said that the UK decision should be taken as a hindrance to justice, and supporting genocidaires.

Celestin Ugirashebuja, born in 1953, is a former Bourgmestre in Kigoma Commune, Gitarama Prefecture, is accused of preparing and implementing Genocide plans.

It is alleged that he issued an order to kill Tutsi, who had been taken to his office at the commune, as well as giving directives to go and hunt Tutsi wherever they could be hiding, thus killing them.

During the second week of April 1994, Ugirashebuja directed an attack to kill Tutsi and raping women. After arriving in exile, he continued hate speech which ferments hatred among Rwandans.

Emmanuel Nteziryayo the former Bourgmestre of Mudasomwa Commune in Gikongoro, is accused of having a role in the preparation and implementation of Genocide.

He lived in the UK, while hiding, using Emmanuel Ndikumana as a pseudo name.
From 2011 until June 2016, through the branch of prosecution responsible for tracking Genocide fugitives, Rwanda prepared and submitted a dossier of 493 genocide suspects in different countries requesting for their extradition and face justice in Rwanda.