Parties forum calls for peaceful elections

As Rwanda gears up for the parliamentary elections come September 16, the National Consultative Forum for Political Organisations (NFPO) has called on various political parties and the general public to ensure peaceful elections. “Our country is promoting democratic governance, so political parties should play a key role in responsible and mature politics for the general good of the country,” Anicet Kayigema, the Executive Secretary of the forum, said on a local radio talk-show on Friday evening. He also said voters needed to express themselves freely without any fear. The September elections will see the ruling party Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) take on PS Imberakuri, Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party – who have indicated intentions not to join any coalition –in the race for 53 openly contested parliamentary seats. A coalition led by the RPF won the 2008 parliamentary polls. The other members of the coalition were the Centrist Democratic Party (PDC), Parti du Progrès et la Concorde (PPC), Union Démocratique du Peuple Rwandais (UDPR), Parti de la Solidarité et du Progrès (PSP), Parti Socialiste Rwandais (PSR) and the Ideal Democratic Party (PDI). Most of these parties have said they are mulling a coalition with the RPF in this year’s poll. About six million Rwandans are expected to vote in the upcoming elections, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). About 4.8 million voters took part in the 2008 parliamentary elections. The Government of Rwanda has allocated Rwf5 billion to the elections, Rwf4 million short of what was used in the previous poll. Electoral officials have attributed the difference to improved experience in the electoral process. Kayigema said that the NFPO, established 10 years ago, has laid a strong ground for political parties in the country to conduct themselves in a mature way. According to Agnès Mukabaranga, the forum’s Spokesperson, said citizen participation in every aspect of development is what Rwanda needs. “Political parties may have different agenda and views but they should all lead to good governance, democracy, and development of the country,” she said. “We have come a long way, and should remain committed to responsible politics,” she said. As is the norm, each political party is expected to draw the list of its candidates and the number of their legislators in Parliament will be proportional to the votes garnered in the national polls. This category concerns 53 Members of Parliament out of 80 members. The rest of the MPs will come from electoral colleges of special interest groups namely; women (24), the youth (2) and people living with disabilities (1).