Three women and two men have started campaigns to take a senatorial seat left vacant by the late Senator Jean de Dieu Mucyo who passed on early last month.The five launched their campaign yesterday in the Southern Province.

The candidates are; Dr Francois Masabo, Monique Mukakarera, Dr Richard Sezibera, Veneranda Mukamuganga and Félicité Muhimakazi.According to Charles Munyaneza, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) executive secretary, the five candidates were nominated last week and briefed on how the campaign should be conducted.

Senator Mucyo passed on last month after he slipped and fell from the staircase while on duty.

There are 26 senators, 12 elected from four provinces of the country and City of Kigali. Some come from groups such as the academia, while eight are nominated by the President.

The Southern Province should have three senators, but one position fell vacant following Mucyo’s demise.

"The one to be elected will replace late Mucyo. The campaign started today (yesterday) and all candidates are meeting voters in eight districts making up the Province,” he said.

"The voters include all members of district advisory councils and three members from each sector’s bureau of councils namely president, vice president and secretary of the sector council,” he added.

According to Munyaneza, each district will have a polling station.

The campaign started from Nyamagabe District and will go on to other seven districts until the end of this month, according to NEC.

The elections are scheduled for December 1 and provisional results will be announced on December 6. By December 13, the final results will have been announced, according to the officials.

Eligible candidates for the senate should be above 40 years and hold either, at least a bachelor’s degree, or having served in high ranking positions either in public or private institutions.

The winner will serve until 2019 when the next senate elections will take place, according to Munyaneza.

All the candidates are campaigning together but one can campaign separately so long as they can rally the voters. Who are the candidates?

The contestants are; Dr Francois Masabo, 57, who holds a PhD in social sciences with specialisation in sociology of change and conflict.

Currently, Masabo is the acting director for Centre of Conflict Management (CCM) at the University of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS).

Another candidate is Monique Mukakarera, 55, a bachelor’s degree holder in education. She is currently headmistress at Mahembe Primary School in Muhanga District. She is also the vice president of Muhanga District advisory council.

The third candidate is Dr Richard Sezibera, 52. Sezibera served as the secretary general of the East African Community until last year when his term expired. He also served as the minister for health and as a Member of Parliament, among other positions.

Another candidate is Veneranda Mukamuganga. The 55-year-old mother holds a masters degree in Social Sciences specialising in gender and development. She is a gender expert currently working as a private consultant.

Also in the race is Félicité Muhimakazi, 53. She holds a bachelors degree in technical development and currently is self employed. Voters say ready to vote

Some voters said they are ready to vote.

"We are ready to vote for the new senator. Some of us have done it before but there are others who are new; we are hopeful that the elections will go on well and new members of the council will also be briefed on how the elections will be conducted. I also hope the new senator will help in the provincial development,” said Immaculée Kayitesi, the vice chairperson of Nyanza District advisory council.

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