The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has announced three new Members of Parliament to fill vacant positions in the House following the appointment of two MPs in other positions and the recent passing on of Desire Nyandwi.

The new legislators are Diogene Bitunguremye, who served as the director in charge of education in Rulindo District. He holds a Master’s degree in education.

Balthelemy Kalinijabo, who has been working with local insurance company SORAS Vie in Muhanga District, where he is also a member of the district advisory council, joins Bitunguremye as lawmakers from Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF).

The third new MP is Elisabeth Mukamana, a member of the Party for Progress and Concord, a party that joined an RPF-lead coalition during the 2013 parliamentary elections.

They replace Esperance Nyirasafari, the new Minister for Gender and Family Promotion; Marie Rose Mureshyankwano, posted to Southern Province as governor, and the late Nyandwi.

According to a statement signed by Prof. Kalisa Mbanda, NEC president, the nomination was based on a request by the Speaker of Parliament.

The nomination, which was seconded by the RPF Secretary-General, was based on a list of an RPF-led coalition of candidates during the September 2013 parliamentary election.

New MPs speak out

Bitunguremye told Saturday Times that he was thankful for being named as a lawmaker, saying he would use the position to work t with his colleagues to ensure they better represent the citizens and work to promote the latter’s interests.

"I am ready to serve the country working hard with my colleagues to ensure that citizens are well represented, reached and advocated for whenever necessary,” said the father of three.

"An MP is a citizens’ representative and their interests should come first, I will be driven by that sprit to ensure that, together with my colleagues, we work toward citizen centred socio-economic development,” said Kalinijabo, a 43-year-old father of two.

All the new nominees will have to serve the remaining two years on the current mandate.

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