I have faith in NEC - Higiro

KIGALI - THE LiberAL Party’s (PL) candidate in the forthcoming presidential election, Prosper Higiro, has said that he has full faith in the National Electoral Commission to conduct free and fair elections. He was speaking at the unveiling of the party’s manifesto at the party headquarters in Kicukiro District yesterday.“I will accept the results which will be released by NEC because it’s a competent commission,” Higiro said. He commended the Commission for the way it has conducted the run-up to the elections slated for August 09. PL kicks off its campaigns today in the districts of Kirehe and Ngoma in the Eastern Province. The party manifesto is contained in three language 132-page booklet and it tackles programmes like good governance, economic policies, human rights and justice and social affairs. Higiro, who was accompanied by party president Protais Mitali, and his campaign manager Francois Byabarumwanzi, observed that Rwanda has made significant economic strides and that PL will establish strategies and programmes that enable the country continue on the right path. On health, Higiro said there will be decentralization of health care with each hospital and health centres having a qualified doctor. He said that if elected he will overhaul the Public Service and Labour Commissions to check the loopholes in the tendering procedures. Mitali dismissed claims that PL is not independent.“We are an independent party which has its guidelines. We decided to compete for this post (President) because we want it. We have the capacity and will to lead this country,” Mitali noted. He said that PL decided to support the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) candidate in the 2003 Presidential elections because there was a need to join hands to rehabilitate the country. Mitali, who is also the Youth minister, observed that the party has, for the last 16 years, participated in various organs of the administration such as Parliament and Senate where it played a significant role. Ends