The National Electoral Commission has set December 23 for the holding of by-elections to fill vacancies in different districts in the country.

Speaking to The New Times yesterday, the commission’s executive secretary, Charles Munyaneza, said the by-elections to replace district leaders in Gasabo, Nyarugenge and Kirehe will be preceded by polls to replace the former leaders as councillors from their respective sectors.

"The campaigns for sector representatives to the District Advisory Council started on Sunday and elections will be held on December 20. After district councils are filled, the elections for the district executives will be held on December 23,” Munyaneza said.

The district executive comprises the mayor and two vice mayors.

In Gasabo, a new district mayor and the two vice-mayors will be elected following last month’s resignation of Willy Ndizeye and his deputies Jean Claude Munara (finance and economic development) and Marie Louise Uwimana who was in charge of social affairs.

In Kirehe, the mayor’s seat remains vacant following the resignation of Protais Murayire in October, while in Nyarugenge, the vice-mayor for social affairs seat remains vacant following the death of Jean Pierre Kalisa the same month.

On Sunday, in Gasabo, campaigns began in Rutunga Sector where Raymond Mberabahizi stood unopposed. In Kimironko, Stephen Rwamulangwa, Joy Kemirembe, Merard Mpabwanamaguru, Mary Saba and Antoine Bisizi are campaigning to replace Munara.

In Kimihurura, Bernadette Benimana, Rangwida Nyirabahire and Delyse Niwemutoni are tussling for the post left by Uwimana.

In a bid to replace the late Kalisa, campaigns are underway in different cells of Nyamirambo Sector where Jean Marie Vianney Ndayisenga, Idrissa Nkurunziza and Alexis Semitari are vying for the post.

During the rallies covered by The New Times, different candidates pledged to deliver on the four pillars of national development as set out by government namely; economic development, justice, social welfare and good governance.

Others, mainly in Gasabo, vowed to streamline issuance of land titles which they said had become problematic leading to numerous land-related disputes. Others vowed to focus on advocating for the development of more planned settlements and infrastructure development.

District leaders are by law supposed to be replaced within not later than three months from the day they have vacated office. These will serve until 2016 when the next elections for local governments are due.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw