Several new faces are likely to come on board after the February district mayoral elections.

As of yesterday, the National Electoral Commission was yet to publish the final list of candidates running for election, but all mayors who were re-elected after 2011 are not running again after serving more than 5 years.

This means that while some mayors might have only served out the first term of their predecessors before they were re-elected in 2011 for another 5 years, they cannot seek re-election.

However, a mayor who has served less than one year has chances to seek re-election for two upcoming consecutive terms.

The 30 incumbents are required to step down on January 29, ahead of the February 27 election.

Polls will begin on February 8 with the election of cell executive committees through adult suffrage; this will be followed by election of the district executive committee members through electoral colleges.

Former mayors are entitled to termination benefits as stipulated by the law determining the organisation and functioning of decentralised administrative entities.

Article 69 of the law determining allowances for a member of the Executive Committee states that a member whose term of office comes to an end without professional misconduct shall continue to receive his salary for a period of six months, except for allowances allocated to facilitate the discharge of duties.

"In case the member is appointed to another post before the end of the period of six months, he/she shall not receive that salary from the time they started earning a new salary. The number of years served by members of the Executive Committee shall be taken into consideration when it comes to promotion when they are re-instated,” reads part of the law.

Local Government minister Francis Kaboneka recently reminded outgoing leaders that responsibility towards national development should remain priority.

But political experts say the experience of the incumbents will be missed.

Dr Eugene Ndabaga, a senior lecturer at the University of Rwanda, cautioned that new faces in local government could initially struggle.

"They will be having an uphill task maintaining what their predecessors have achieved, they will need to sustain progress, enforcing stability and continuity,” he told The New Times on Monday.

Dr Ndabaga advised the electorate to vote for leaders who will maintain the current growth pace.

"Members of electoral colleges who will be casting their vote on behalf of the people are tasked as well to scrutinise the dedication, courage, resilience, capacity and competence of candidates with all sincerity and transparency,” he said.

"Shortly after they assume office, the new leaders will need to look beyond their personal goals.”

According to Justus Kangwagye, the outgoing mayor of Rulindo District and chairperson of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), only him and his Gisagara counterpart Leandre Karekezi have served out two five-year terms.

Kangwagye stated, however, that those not eligible for mayoral jobs can submit their candidates in district council committees which have no term limits.

The same law determining the organisation and functioning of decentralised administrative entities provides for a five-years term for members of the councils which can be renewed several times.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw