Philippe Mpayimana, one of the three candidates in last year’s presidential campaigns, has announced that he will contest in the parliamentary elections slated for September. According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the general elections will take place on September 2 and 3 for Rwandans in the diaspora and those in the country, respectively. Speaking to The New Times from France on Monday, Mpayimana said he has already started preparations and will be in the country in time to submit his nomination papers with all the requirements. He will run as an independent candidate, and during the telephone interview, he said he was confident he would make it to the August House. Mpayimana had also contested as an independent during the presidential campaigns last year, where he garnered 49,117 votes (0.73 percent) of the national vote. He was in the race with Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) candidate Paul Kagame who won with 98.63 percent of the vote after 6,650,722 Rwandans cast their ballots in his favour. Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda trailed the rest with 31,633 votes (0.47 percent). “I am ready to vie for a seat in parliament and I have already started looking for all the required documents; we are preparing people who will help me in the campaign from cell to the district level. It will be done in this month and then I will submit my candidacy in NEC in next month (July),” said Mpayimana. Among the requirements, independent candidates are required to be endorsed by 600 voters from all districts of the country and their signatures must be submitted to the electoral body. “I am in high spirits and I am confident to win,” said Mpayimana, adding that he has mobilised people to canvass votes for him both in the country and in the diaspora. So far, he said he has held a meeting with his supporters in France and representatives were picked at the same meeting. Mpayimana said his campaign will be run on a manifesto to promote social progress and more political freedoms mainly for those who do not subscribe to political parties. He will also push for unity of the Rwandans by suppressing what he called traditionally institutionalised divisions that were imposed on Rwandans by colonialists. Independent candidates must garner five percent of the national vote to make it to parliament. Once elected MP, Mpayimana would be among fifty-three members of the Lower House to be voted through universal adult suffrage. There are 80 legislators in total constituting the Lower Chamber of Parliament. Others are 24 women who are elected to represent different provinces and the City of Kigali through the National Women Council. Of these, six women legislators are elected each from Southern, Western and Eastern provinces. Northern Province is represented by four women while the City of Kigali gets two. Other colleges are the youth, who, through the National Youth Council are represented by two candidates while the People with Disabilities through their council have one legislator representing them. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
