THE COMMON Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has dispatched an election observing delegation to different parts of the country to monitor legislative elections that are set to start on Monday. “One of our primary objectives is to promote democratic governance and observation of the rule of law to enable social and economic development in member states,” said the delegation leader Hon. Betty Bigombe, the Vice Chairperson of the COMESA committee of elders. For 11 days, the 15-people mission will cover the capital Kigali and all the country’s four provinces to assess preparations for the elections, the polling process, as well as draw a report on the overall electoral situation. “Our team is expected to look out for the ideal electoral conduct that could be mirrored in the region and generally to broaden cooperation between the member states in socio-economic and political affairs,” Bigombe said. She also praised the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for ensuring sustained cooperation with all political parties involved and the Rwandan government for solely funding its own elections, more so at a comparatively in-expensive cost unlike in most other member states. “Our mission is to maintain high standards in as far as impartiality, comprehensiveness ,and transparency are concerned but also respect national and electoral commission laws,” said Elizabeth Mugunga who is in charge of Governance , Peace and Security within COMESA.
