By-elections: Ten districts vote for new mayors, deputies

Ten districts that lost their mayors or vice mayors in a recent wave of resignations and sackings that rocked local government are in the process to replace the former leaders. District councillors in the affected regions are currently choosing from among themselves officials that will occupy vacant slots on their respective district committees. In total, councillors are picking four district mayors (Karongi, Musanze, Muhanga, and Nyamasheke), as well as 12 vice mayors for different districts (Musanze, Burera, Ngoma, Gisagara, Rubavu, Ngororero, Karongi and Rutsiro). Executive committees are comprised of mayors and both vice mayors (one in charge of economic development, and the other social affairs). They are picked from members of the Council through an indirect poll in which all the councillors take part. Councillors – including those who subsequently become mayors or vice mayors – serve for a term of five years in office renewable once. The District Council is comprised of one councillor from each sector in the district, three members of the Bureau of the National Youth Council at the district level, and the coordinator of the National Council of Women at the district level. Youth and women councillors are picked through their respective electoral colleges. Members of the Councils in the 13 district were elected on Thursday. Charles Munyaneza, Executive Secretary, National Electoral Commission, told The New Times Friday that results from today’s elections will be announced later today. The commission said it would use some Rwf30 million to conduct both sets of local elections. The Government largely blamed recent mayoral exits on incompetence and accountability issues. editor@newtimesrwanda.com

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By-elections: Ten districts vote for new mayors, deputies