Rwandans Go to the Polls

By George Kalisa
Millions of Rwandans living in Rwanda cast their votes today to determine the next President and Parliament in the fourth democratic election. Over 9 million registered to vote, two of them are first-time voters. There are 2,600 polling stations according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
President Paul Kagame, the Chairman and flagbearer of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) and Allied Political parties and the First Lady Jeannette Kagame voted according to the President’s Office.
“Today at Gacuriro Technical Secondary School in Gacuriro Cell, Kinyinya Sector, President Kagame, who is also RPF Presidential candidate and First Lady Jeannette Kagame joined other Rwandans to cast their votes in the Presidential and Parliamentary elections,” said the Presidency through its official Twitter account.
Dr. Frank Habineza, the President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) and Independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana are also vying for President.
In the last Presidential election, Kagame won with over 98% of the vote while Dr. Habineza got less than one per cent. Kagame has been President since 2000.
Political pundits in the region predict that President Kagame will win the polls with a landslide.
Kagame is popular locally and globally for stopping 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and uniting the previously polarized society mainly along Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groupings. Over one million Tutsi were killed in the genocide.
He is, also, credited for presiding over social and economic transformation alongside implementing homegrown solutions to address a backlog of systemic problems left behind by the genocide regimes.
At least 1.9 genocide perpetrators were tried successfully by the Gacaca jurisdictions. Gacaca are traditional courts in Rwanda justice system.
Other landmark gains include security and political stability, improved health and education, social protection, presence of conducive investment climate and women emancipation.
The rise in life expectancy of Rwandans to over 69 years in 2022 up from 14 years in 1994 is a positive indicator of transformation, which the ministry of Health (MINISANTE) has seen in the last 30 years.
Kagame’s highly anticipated victory, according to political analysts, will ride on the back of a track record of gains in the social, political and economic spheres.
Provisional results of today’s polls will be announced as soon as vote count reaches between 60-70% while the final results will be announced by NEC on July 27.
Meanwhile, Rwandans are also voting the Parliament and there are 589 parliamentary candidates. Results will be announced on July 16.