The outgoing district mayors of Musanze, Rusizi, Rutsiro and Ngororero did not make it among the general councillors during the elections that took place on Tuesday November 16. At least 17 mayors had run during the current elections seeking a second term. Those who failed to make it back are; Jeannine Niwemuremyi in Musanze district, Rusizi’s Ephreim Kayumba, Godefroid Ndayambaje who was in Ngororero district and Emerance Ayinkamiye from Rutsiro District. Being at the head of Musanze district, Niwumuremyi was among the shortest serving mayors in the previous mandate, but was beaten in yesterday’s local elections with 82 votes though her both deputies managed to be re-elected. Reports indicate that she started campaigning late, but she was also considered as ‘media unfriendly’ by some local journalists. She replaced Jean-Damascène Habyarimana, who had been shown the exit door by the advisory council with his two deputies. Habyarimana had been facing a litany of issues, including suspected criminal offences during a mayoral exit in early 2019, nicknamed. Ephreim Kayumba who lost in Rusizi district had been at the head of the district for the last three years. He replaced Frédéric Harerimana who had started the leadership term in 2016. During the elections on Tuesday, he only managed to garner 50 votes out of 391 members of the Electoral College. Two mayors who had been able to serve their full term in Western Province, were not successful in these elections. They are Rutsiro’s Emérence Ayinkamiye and Godefroid Ndayambaje of Ngororero District. During this year’s elections at the councillors’ level, both of them got 41 votes from their respective districts.
