Kamonyi, Rubavu districts get new mayors

Alice Kayitesi and Gilbert Habyarimana were elected as new mayors for the districts of Kamonyi and Rubavu, respectively. This was a part of the local government by-elections conducted countrywide that started October 28 to fill a total of 15,014 positions whose occupants resigned or fell vacant for other reasons. Alice Kayitesi who was a councilor from Musambira sector elected with 191 votes beating her counterparts Prosper Harelimana and Josiane Niyonshima while Gilbert Habyarimana who was the Cooperative Inspection Division Manager at the Rwanda Co-operative Agency was elected with 91 votes per cent beating his counterpart Jeanne d’Arc Usabinema. In her acceptance speech, Kayitesi said she would strive to bring positive change in the district especially in agriculture where banana, cassava and rice have great potential to thrive. “I thank you for this opportunity to serve. I hope to cooperate with you in bringing significant change in all sectors especially agriculture, the dominant occupation for most of the people of Kamonyi,” Kayitesi said. She also hinted at the dismal performance by the district during last year’s performance contract where it emerged 19th saying that she will require cooperation with all organs in the district to increase its performance. The mayors are elected by a district council made up of representatives of all the sectors in the district, representatives of youth and women in the district, a representative of the private sector in the district, as well as those representing people with disabilities in the district. According to the National Electoral Commission, there were no serious incidents to interrupt elections except the heavy downpour on October 28 which led to some villages and cells to postpone the activity to the next day. Immacullee Mukarurangwa, the NEC vice-executive secretary, told The New Times that citizens’ participation was above 70 per cent, and that the candidates campaigned in a peaceful and orderly. Burera and Nyagatare districts elected the presidents of district councils while Gicumbi elected the vice president of the council. Other positions that were filled during the by-elections included cell executive committees and councils, councilors at sectors and districts, as well as representatives of women, youth, and people with disabilities. The elections followed of local leaders held in February and March 2016.

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Kamonyi, Rubavu districts get new mayors