7/9/08

Rwanda out to prove sceptics wrong by holding free and fair polls

By KEZIO-MUSOKE DAVID, Nation Correspondent in KIGALI
 

Despite scepticism that Rwanda's political opposition is almost non-existent, the most senior parliamentary official has dispelled any fears that opposing political parties would remain dormant in parliamentary elections later this year.

Dr Vincent Biruta the President of Rwanda's Senate which is Parliament's Upper Chamber has said opposition politics is very much active in Rwanda and that political parties which don't win are still allowed to contribute in the building of the nation in many different ways.

Dr Biruta who is also the President of Social Democratic Party (PSD)one of the opposition political parties preparing to participate in the elections said the electoral process in Rwanda cannot transcend into a crisis like that currently being witnessed in Zimbabwe and in Kenya early this year.

He said: "Political parties participate in drafting of policies. In Africa the problem is that of copying what is done in the Western countries. For us here we believe in power-sharing, dialogue and consensus building. These principals mean we accept differences. We build consensus on how we should work."

''Opposition doesn't have to be radical. We used to have violent politics but after 1994, the post genocide era, we decided to build our country on multi-party democracy based on dialogue consensus.

Political space is of course open to political parties," he added.

Estimated to cost

Meanwhile, ahead of the polls which are estimated to cost about $10.7 million (Sh695 million) a few opposition political parties are holding replicas of 'primaries' while others are toying around the idea forging a coalition to have representation in parliament.  National Electoral Commission (NEC) boss Prof Chrysologwe Karangwa said that elections for the Lower Chamber, one of the two sections of Rwanda's bicameral parliament, will begin on September 15.

The legislators of this Chamber are referred to as Deputies while those of the Upper Chamber are called Senators.The Lower Chamber of Deputies was created under a Constitution adopted by the 2003 referendum.

Despite its theoretical position the Lower Chamber which is made up of 80 MPs somehow wields unprecedented powers.

Ahead of the poll, the election commission is involved in a countrywide sensitisation process.

As part of its preparations, NEC officials in Kigali say they have placed a number of provisions that will ensure that Rwandans in the Diaspora also vote.

These elections according to Prof Karangwa are part of a series of elections Rwanda will hold within the next four years. The next being the 2010 presidential elections and then the senatorial and local government polls slated for 2011.

The Rwanda Parliament last month approved a series of amendments in the constitution some of which are meant to pave way for a smooth election in September.
These amendments, according to the Senate President Dr Biruta won't affect the electoral process and will not create any fundamental changes. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Tharcisse Karugarama, while presenting the amendments said the MPs' elections will be conducted during the normal parliamentary recess that is set by the law. This implies that there will be no period of transition.

In the September poll, 53 of the 80 MPs are going to be elected or re-elected for a five year term by proportional representation.

Twenty four will be elected by provincial councils. The remaining two will be appointed by the National Youth Council and one will be elected by the Federation of the Associations of the Disabled.

Women also have seats assigned to them in the Chamber of Deputies. Officials in Kigali have also sought financial support to see a smooth transition of the elections.

Just months ago donors under an umbrella body called the Joint International Basket Fund Partners Group committed themselves to a $10.2m grant to support the up-coming electoral activities. This group includes the European Union (EU) among other partners. According to Mr David MacRae, the Head of the European Commission in Rwanda, 40 per  cent of that money would finance the September elections. NEC has already secured $8.5m from the State's 2008 budget

"In 2003, the electoral commission wasn't as ready as it is today to engage with us. We are now impressed with the situation and I think the country has democratic essentials," Mr MacRae said. Rwanda has seven active political parties including the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF). Others include the Islamic Democratic Party, the Rwandan Socialist Party, the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) and the Democratic Union of the Rwandan People (UDPR).

The official opposition parties include the, Social Democratic Party (PSD), 'Parti Libéral' (PL) and the Party for Progress and Concord (PPC).







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