Rwanda Gears Up for Parliamentary Elections

Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) confirmed that voting materials had been dispatched to polling stations across the country on Thursday, the last stage in preparations for parliamentary elections to be held on Monday.

Preparations have also included the registration of election observers and encouraging Rwandans to go out and vote.

NEC Chairman, Professor Kalisa Mbanda, said: “It’s good when the turnout for elections is high because it gives value to the poll. Every Rwandan is a stakeholder in these elections.”

Approximately 7.1 million Rwandans are expected to show up on Monday to cast their votes to elect 53 MPs who will take seats in the 80-member Lower House.

NEC officials say that nearly 2500 polling stations have been set up across the country and are expected to open for the poll at 7am and close at 3pm to allow for the tallying process.

This will be Rwanda’s fourth poll since the Tutsi genocide of 1994.