Election preparations on course - NEC

Preparations for Parliamentary elections due Monday are smoothly on course, the Executive Secretary National Electoral Commission, Charles Munyaneza has revealed.

Thursday, September 11, 2008
NEC Executive Secretary Charles Munyaneza. (File Photo)

Preparations for Parliamentary elections due Monday are smoothly on course, the Executive Secretary National Electoral Commission, Charles Munyaneza has revealed.

"We are prepared for the elections on Monday. We finished issuing cards, apart from some people who delayed to pick theirs and have a right to continue going for them up to the Election Day,” Munyaneza told The New Times yesterday by phone.

He asserted that they have trained staff and that NEC will meet election observers for further preparations.
Munyaneza also pointed out that NEC has finished distributing election material in Kigali and has started distributing them in other parts of the country.

He added that by Sunday all the places supposed to have the election material will have got them.

He noted that in Kigali, like other parts of the country, election sites have not yet been fully worked on. He, however, added that NEC, in collaboration with local leaders, will complete preparing the sites during the weekend and by Monday everything will be in place, he assured.

"There are some exceptions like some people who will be on official duty. For example medical doctors, people working under security bodies and those involved in election process, to mention but a few,” Munyaneza clarified.

Commenting on election preparations in her area, the Executive Secretary of Kibaza Cell, Consolée Uwizeye said that there is nothing to worry about since she has not seen anything that might hinder their smooth running.

She also said that all residents have been sensitized on the importance of voting and urged to vote on time.

Kibaza Cell in Kacyiru sector, Gasabo distrist has so far distributed over 95 percent of the voters’ cards.  Uwizeye also revealed that people are still collecting their cards and that the only challenge being faced was that of workers who keep shifting.

"People have shown a strong will in participating in the upcoming elections. They have taken their voters cards and have asked several questions about elections which we have satisfactorily answered,” explained Uwizeye.

The parliamentary election campaigns are expected to end on Saturday September 13.

Ends