PM urges all Rwandans of voting age to take part in August election

Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi has called on Rwandans of voting age who have not yet registered to do so in order to put their right to vote to good use. He was speaking yesterday in Jali sector, Gasabo District in Kigali after the monthly community service (Umuganda) where he joined residents to dig a water drainage trench to prevent soil erosion.

Saturday, March 25, 2017
Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi participates in the monthly Umuganda community service in Jali Sector, Gasabo District in Kigali. / Timothy Kisambira

Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi has called on Rwandans of voting age who have not yet registered to do so in order to put their right to vote to good use.

He was speaking yesterday in Jali sector, Gasabo District in Kigali after the monthly community service (Umuganda) where he joined residents to dig a water drainage trench to prevent soil erosion.

Residents of Jali sector, in Gasabo District participate in the monthly Umuganda community service . / Timothy Kisambira
Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi arrives at Jali sector to participate in Umuganda. / Timothy Kisambira

"The presidential elections will be held in august. We have made a decision of the kind of destiny we want to have,” he said.

"People that need to register should do it quickly. Those who have not yet received their national identity cards yet should go and get them so that we all use our rights as Rwandans to vote.”

Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi arrives to speak to the residents of Jali sector after participating in Umuganda. / Timothy Kisambira
Jali residents applaud as Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi gives his remarks. / Timothy Kisambira

He called on local grassroots leaders, the electoral commission, National Identification Agency, among other stakeholders, to work together to make sure that the whole electoral process is smooth.

The presidential elections which will take place on August 4 and over 6.6 million Rwandans are expected to take part. The process to update the voters’ register is ongoing under the commission’s supervision until May 2017.

Some of the tools that were used during Umuganda. / Timothy Kisambira

Among other things the Prime minister also urged the residents of Jali to conserve nature by planting trees, digging terraces and trenches to fight soil erosion and landslides, making good use of water as well as using gas to cook.

"Let us look around and see what we need to do and we do it to preserve nature. Trees are important on all humans and other living things,” he said.

Residents of Jali sector, Gasabo District in Kigali arrive for the monthly Umuganda community service. / Timothy Kisambira
Gasabo District Mayor Stephen Rwamulangwa speaks to the residents of Jali sector after Umuganda. / Timothy Kisambira
Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi (C) chats with Gasabo District Mayor Stephen Rwamulangwa (L) after participating in Umuganda. / Timothy Kisambira

He also took time to remind people of the importance of the forthcoming commemoration period of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

He referred to it as "a responsibility for all Rwandans” to remember the dark history of the poor leadership of the 1994 government that prepared the Genocide that killed over a million people.He noted that it was a time to thank the former RPF soldiers who stopped the Genocide and pledge to protect and continue building what has been achieved so far.

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