A new member of the Senate, Gertrude Kazarwa, was yesterday sworn in by President Paul Kagame at the Parliamentary Buildings in Kimihurura.

Kazarwa replaces Donatille Mukabalisa, who last year resigned from the Senate to contest in the parliamentary elections, and was later picked by her colleagues as the Speaker.

Kazarwa was recently elected Eastern Province senator in a senatorial by-election where she polled 80.4 per cent of the votes cast.

"I am grateful to those who voted for me and all Rwandans. I will serve them all diligently,” she said.

According to the Constitution, a member of the Senate has to be highly skilled in the fields of science, law, economics, politics, sociology, culture or be a person who has held senior positions in the public or private sectors.

Married with three children, Kazarwa, 50, holds a Masters Degree in accounting from Maastricht School of Management in The Netherlands. She previously worked as World Vision Rwanda accountant for the Eastern Province.

She has conducted research on rural poverty, with case studies in Southern Province.

The Senate has 26 members who serve an eight year, non-renewable term. Kazarwa will now serve out the remaining five years.