Musanze and Huye districts residents have said they are ready to vote in the referendum on constitutional amendments scheduled for this week.

They expressed their readiness  on Saturday during an awareness meeting with parliamentarians and area local leaders.

In separate interviews, the residents, who commended the MPs for amending the constitution, said as the referendum date draws closer, it will help close the term limits debate.

They pledged to actively participate in the voting.

"There is no reason to vote against the revised constitution. We appreciate the work done during the amendment of the Constitution as parliamentarians understood our request. I will wake up very early to go and cast my vote,” said Idris Safari, a resident of Muhoza Sector, Musanze.

Safari explained that he would vote ‘yes’ owing to achievements of the current government.

 "All my children have access to free education and the government has introduced projects to help uplift the vulnerable. I was also given a goat and iron sheets through Ubudehe programme. Nothing can prevent me from voting, ‘Yes’,” Safari added.

Immaculee Uwimana, another resident, said she is committed to voting” Yes” as the current leadership of the country has helped her improve her welfare.

Uwimana challenged other women to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum as a way of recognising women empowerment and emancipation.

"I was among the needy but now I have my own company due to entrepreneurship trainings. Women have been empowered and their rights are respected; we have all it takes to translate our dreams into reality.

‘‘We know where we came from and where we are today, we are ready to vote ‘Yes’ in order not to hinder our progress,” she said.

Fatuma Harerimana, a vice president of the Senate, said lawmakers are explaining to the masses about the revised Constitution and encourage them to vote in the referendum.

"We are explaining how we responded to their request about amending article 101 and other articles of the 2003 Constitution. They have understood and will participate effectively in the upcoming referendum,” Harerimana said.

The governor of the Northern Province, Aime Bosenibamwe, encouraged residents to prepare for elections and carry their identifications cards on election day.

Huye residents ready

Meanwhile, residents of Maraba Sector in Huye District also said they were ready to go to the poll.

 "We will vote ‘yes’, early in the morning and go to the gardens after casting our votes. We demanded constitutional amendment so that President Paul Kagame can continue to lead us to prosperity. Having article 101 amended is one of the means to achieve our aim,” said Faisi Niyitegeka, the president of ‘Twiyubake Bahinzi ba Gasumba’, a farming cooperative in Mwogo Marshland, Maraba Sector.

Jean Bosco Bazimaziki said he was one of the people who went to parliament with petitions from Huye residents.

"We are happy that parliament honoured our appeal by amending the Constitution. We will go to the polling station as early as 5:30 am, to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum,” he said.

In her remarks, the vice president of the Senate, Jeanne d’Arc Gakuba, told Huye residents on Saturday that citizens’ petitions to amend the constitution epitomised their power in governance of the country.

Meeting Maraba Sector residents Gakuba said the work done by lawmakers had been initiated by Rwandans.

"It is good, complete and refined exercise; it is something that’s going going to shape our good governance programmes,” she added.

"This shows that we have made progress in terms of governance as Rwandans, democracy and choosing the way we are led, choosing what is convenient for us; that is a good lesson we learnt from you the people.”

Over 3.7 million people petitioned parliament agitating for Constitutional amendment.

 "We did the task you assigned us to do and now it is your turn,” Gakuba told the residents.