Local celebrities cast their votes

It is not uncommon for entertainment personalities to pay little or no attention whatsoever to different civic obligations, such as participating in an election. In the Rwandan context, this is different, because right from the campaigns and other engagements, musicians, comedians, models, and sportsmen and women have been active. Election Day yesterday was no different as many of these entertainers were among the first citizens to head to their respective polling stations to take part in the presidential elections that pitted incumbent Paul Kagame, of RPF-Inkotanyi; Frank Habineza, of Democratic Green Party of Rwanda; and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent. By 7:50am, Miss Rwanda Elsa Iradukunda had finished casting her vote. It was her first time voting. The 19-year-old beauty queen arrived at Ecole Primaire Gikondo polling station at 7:30am where she was ushered into a well-decorated room to cast her vote. “It’s so exciting to vote for the first time. I remember back in Primary Six when people went to polling stations and I asked myself when I will qualify to vote. It has finally happened,” Iradukunda told Saturday Times shortly after casting her vote. Miss Rwanda Elsa Iradukunda casts her vote for the first time at Ecole Primaire Gikondo. Nadege Imbabazi. The beauty queen said that she thinks the decision she made on her ballot paper will impact her future as a young Rwandan. “The decision I made while choosing my preferred candidate is the decision that I think will shape my future. The leader that I voted for is the person that I strongly believe will continue giving us a platform as young people and continue spearheading gender balance,” she said. Iradukunda’s immediate predecessor Jolly Mutesi, who voted at around 8:40am, said she was also extremely overjoyed for having exercised her constitutional right. “I just feel overwhelmed the fact that I am excising my civic right especially for the first time. I think what I voted reflects the future that I want for myself and the country in general. It’s a wise decision,” said Mutesi, who voted from Remera Catholique in Gasabo district. Mutesi is cleared after voting from Remera Catholique. Nadege Imbabazi. Platini Nemeye, one of the members of popular boyband, Dream Boys, also woke up early to go to the polls. He exercised his right from College George Fox Kagarama in Kagarama Sector, Kicukiro District. Nemeye said the current leadership has already done a lot in changing the face of Rwanda and that his vote went for the person he thinks will continue sustaining what has been achieved. “We need someone who will sustain what we have achieved and also take us forward, someone who will continue showcasing Rwanda as the model for other countries. My vote went to that person that I think will do all this,” he said. Rhythm and Blues singer Bruce Melodie voted from Nyarugunga Sector in Kigali. He said he voted to “further development” and that he envisions the future for the music industry with good leadership. For singer Tom Close, who turned up with his wife and daughter, there was nothing to hide: Him and his family voted for continuity. “I entered into the voting room with my daughter and as I was trying to put my thumb into the ink, my daughter told me to vote the person that I was exactly going to vote,” he jokingly said. The singer, who was one of the artistes that backed the RPF candidate during the campaigns, said the vote he made reflects the political stability and continuity in the country. Tom Close poses with his daughter after casting his vote at La Colombiere School in Kacyiru Sector. Nadege K. Imbabazi. He cast his vote from La Colombiere polling site where more than 12,000 people voted from. Traditional singer Massamba Intore exercised his civic duty from Kacyiru Primary School. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Local celebrities cast their votes