The Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) party has probably been the first party to clinch its districts party primaries ahead of the September parliamentary polls. In the district elections held on Sunday, at least four aspirants were elected from each of the 8 districts covered by our reporters. The successful candidates will still await other national primaries to secure victory to campaign as candidates on RPF ticket. The RPF National Technical Team (NTT) President Francois Nshunguyinka said that those who won are not automatically granted chance to campaign on the party ticket straight away. However observers described the elections as free and fair. “It is written nowhere that you are the party candidates who will run on the party ticket. You therefore have to wait until you are endorsed at the national level,” he said. He warned them against starting campaigns before they are told to do so. The electorate is comprised of the District Administrative Committee, District Youth Council, Women representatives at district, district representative of disabled persons, RPF representatives at Sector and Cell level and representatives of the Private Sector among others. MuhangaIn Muhanga district, in the Southern Province, the campaign was reportedly hot. A total of 11 aspirants including two men and a record nine women campaigned in the primaries held at Muhanga stadium. At least 421 members voted out of 471. The women who secured victory included Spéciose Nyirabahire, and Beatrice Uwamariya. The former polled 267 while the latter got 146 votes. Alfred Gasana 40 and Revocat Nkusi Kabare 45 emerged with 353 and 232 votes respectively. They campaigned on a range of issues including the fight against genocide ideology, economic transformation through teamwork and advocacy. “The women contest was hot…. this is commendable. It is a sign that women have a good sense of leadership and are eager to compete,” Aloysia Inyumba, the RPF commissioner said. NyagatareIn Nyagatare district the four who secured nomination included Connie Bwiza Sekamana, Immaculee Mukamuhizi, Peter Claver Karasira and Justin Gatsinzi. Seven contenders participated in the elections. Commenting on the exercise, Angelina Muganza, the Executive Secretary of the Public Service Commission (PSC) said the elections were conducted in a transparent manner. She urged them to exhibit the same transparency in the September polls. “I am so happy with your elections. I’m sure no one will complain about election rigging. However, I am calling upon the candidates who have not passed through to join hands with those elected to defeat opposition parties in the forthcoming elections,” Muganza said. “You should not be enemies because you have lost in elections. These are your party members so you have to assist and advice them where necessary to enhance our country’s development,” Muganza added. Musanze In Musanze district the campaign was also seemingly hot. It attracted 12 candidates. About 493 out of 535 members of the party committees from the cell, sector and district levels participated in the voting exercise. Among the four candidates elected included the District Executive Secretary, Oswald Habiyaremye, who scooped over 400 votes out of 493 and Member of Parliament (MP), Gideon Kayinamura. Two women emerged winners out of the six contenders. They include Agnes Kabanda and Virgine Nikobahoze. Speaking after the elections, the party Regional chairperson, Boniface Rucagu urged party faithful to use elections to promote unity among all Rwandans. Rucagu, who is also the Governor of the Northern Province, said that the elections were another step towards strengthening the party and a sign of democracy. Unlike in other neighboring districts, the elections in Gakenke and Musanze attracted a bigger number of contenders with 16 and 12 respectively, all with convincing résumés and the required experience. Notable among the losing contenders in the Musanze elections was current MP Bajeni Mpumuro. Meanwhile, in Burera district, out of six contenders, four who were elected included Dr Semasaka Gabriel, Aimable Nibishaka Fortunate Nyiramadirida and Beatrice Nyirabasuku. The names of successful candidates from Gakenke were not readily available by press time. Gicumbi/RulindoIn Rulindo district, incumbent legislator, Pellagie Mukantaganzwa secured the victory, while legislator Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi won in Gicumbi district. The elections in Gicumbi were overseen by among others Domitila Mukantaganzwa a Commissioner of RPF National Executive Committee (NEC) and Executive Secretary of Gacaca jurisdictions. The number of voters in Gicumbi was 733, while 535 people voted in Rulindo. Out of 14 contenders in Gicumbi, two women secured more votes than their male counterparts. Gicumbi district Advisory council chairperson, Beatrice Nirere scooped 480 votes followed by the in charge of Social Affairs at Rutare Sector, Jolly Beatrice who won 465 votes. Other male winners included the head of the district cultural institution locally referred to as “Itorero” John Nkunzurwanda with 349 votes, while Gatabazi got 225 votes. The rest of the 10 losing candidates got less than 200 votes each. Unlike Gicumbi, in Rulindo the male contenders scooped more votes, compared to their female counterparts out of 11 candidates. Ferdinand Karake, Rulindo Director of Good Governance won 379 votes followed by the district Director of Education Diogene Bitunguramye who won 354 votes. The fourth candidate was the district Vice Mayor for social Affairs Emilliene Niwemwiza who won 278 votes. The Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Charles Murigande led the National team of observers during the elections in Rulindo, while Ambassador Zephyr Mutanguha led the observers in Gicumbi. NgomaIn Ngoma district, the elections attracted eight contenders. The victorious candidates were Tharcisse Shemakokera and Nathanael Mugenzi on the side of men while Liberata Kayitesi and Chantal Mukaruriza managed to beat their two opponents to be crowned the winners on the women side. Julius Kansime the district party chairman announced the results at the district headquarters. Kansime is also the district vice Mayor in charge of finance and economic development. Shamakokera the deputy secretary General in the prime minister’s office polled 456 votes out of 518 votes cast, while Mugenzi who is contesting again to retain his seat in the parliament came the second with 347 votes. At least 535 members were supposed to vote and one of the cast votes was declared invalid. Kayitesi and Mukaruriza got 358 and 320 votes respectively. The former is struggling to retain her seat in the parliament while the latter is a business lady in Kibungo and doubles as the RPF vice chairperson in Ngoma district. Reported by Daniel Sabiiti, Frank Namara, Bonny Mukombozi, Ambrose Gahene and Bosco Asiimwe.
