The D-day is here. The national electoral commission has, so far, successfully taken the country through a peaceful campaign season with a lot of public sensitization and reminders to almost all citizens.

Parties have done their best to woe the masses to vote for their competent leader. Now, the time has come for us to give the mandate to our next leader.

Elections are a sign of democratic maturity in any state in the world. Rwanda being a model state in the region has to expose its level of democratic rule through elections.

Today, August 9, 2010, the power lies in the hands of the voter who will decide who leads the country. Voting is the ultimate right for all citizens in the country, and it is of great importance that Rwandans have owned these elections, as demonstrated during the campaigns.

Being the 2nd time that the country is taking to the polls, after the 2003 Presidential elections, there has been a commendable difference this year, judging from the previous campaigns.

Any doubts that have been shown by negative critics of the new Rwanda, will be put to rest.

Today, is proof enough that Rwanda is a sovereign state that has the right to make its own decisions and a state that has the ability to decide its destiny no matter what.

Besides ensuring the ultimate right for the masses to decide, it is also the responsibility of all constituencies to maintain security at the polling station and during the voting period.

Time is, as well, a key factor in the voting process. The polling stations will be opened from 6 a.m. and all legible voters should endeavor to cast their vote early and sit back and wait for the National Electoral Commission to announce the results.

May the best candidate win.

Ends