Voters in 23 sectors in 13 districts across the country today headed to polling stations in elections to fill vacant positions on district councils following a recent spate of resignations of district mayors and their deputies. The mass exits saw up to 23 local government officials, including five mayors, quit their positions in what the Government attributed to failure to deliver on their responsibilities. The by-elections come on the back of a week-long campaign period that saw candidates traverse villages canvassing for support. Elections started at 7a.m. Election officials said the polls will close at 3p.m, followed by vote count at every station. No incident has been reported. Results are expected to be officially communicated later in the evening, according to officials from National Electoral Commission (NEC). The New Times visited Nyonirima polling station in Kinigi Sector, Musanze District Thursday morning and found long queues with voters casting their secret ballots in a peaceful and cheerful environment. “We are here to vote for our representative in the district council, I have already made up my mind on who to vote for,” Editha Twagirimana told this newspaper. She said she would elect someone who she believed was more likely to advocate for solutions to the needs of the community, including the issue of access to clean water. Today’s vote paves way for the election of district executive committees – where there are gaps – due tomorrow. Executive councils are comprised of mayors and both vice mayors (one in charge of economic development, and the other in charge of social affairs). For one to become a mayor or vice mayor they need to first be elected as counsellors and they are picked by their colleagues in the District Council. Councillors – including those who subsequently become mayors or vice mayors – serve for a term of five years in office. 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. NEC recently said it will spend Rwf30 million on the ongoing by-elections in all the 13 districts where the exercise is underway. The districts are Gicumbi, Burera, Musanze, Muhanga, Gisagara, Karongi, Rutsiro, Rubavu, Ngororero, Nyamasheke, Bugesera, Ngoma and Rwamagana. Rwanda has 30 districts in total.
