It is social welfare, as PSD unveils manifesto

As political parties began campaigns for parliamentary elections yesterday, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) unveiled its campaign manifesto, which mainly focuses on development and social welfare. PSD is among the eight political parties that are vying for the 53 seats that will be contested through universal adult suffrage.The party launched its campaigns in Gicumbi District yesterday afternoon.“Our manifesto is mainly about social development and reducing poverty in all social categories of citizens as well as reducing economic inequality and increasing production to an extent that the impact is felt at the family level,” PSD’s Juvenal Nkusi, who tops the list of PSD parliamentary candidates, told The New Times yesterday.Nkusi added; “This implies that, if we say the economy has grown at a rate of 10 per cent, it should not just be statistical, it should be felt in every family in terms of their income and production.” In the 2008 parliamentary campaign, PSD emerged second after an RPF-led coalition, with 13 per cent of the vote, subsequently securing seven seats in the House.Nkusi, who has been a legislator since 1994, and a one-time Speaker of the Transitional National Assembly, is among those that entered parliament on the PSD ticket.“In our manifesto, we put much emphasis on people’s welfare. We want to improve the education system by strengthening skills development and adult literacy. Under the adult education we want a population that can read and write, if we achieve that, it will be easier offering skills to the people,” Nkusi added. He pointed out that, under the labour section in the manifesto, the party would push for the establishment of a labour market analysis unit. “This unit would ensure that there is periodical analysis of the labour market to know which jobs are available and what skills we need to equip Rwandans with so that they can get employment,” said Nkusi. PSD’s campaign launch was scheduled to be led by the party national chairperson Dr Vincent Biruta.Other parties that launched their campaigns include, the RPF-led coalition which include Ideal Democratic Party (PDI), Parti Socialiste Rwandais (PSR), Parti du Progrès et la Concorde (PPC) and Centrist Democratic Party (PDC).Others are PS-Imberakuri and Liberal Party (PL) who held their rallies in the city of Kigali and Rusizi District, respectively.According to the electoral calendar, campaigns are expected to run for three weeks ending on September 15 while elections will be held from Sept 16-18. The adult suffrage polls will be held on September 15 while the elections for special interest group will follow on September 17 (youth and persons with disabilities) and on September 18 women representatives.