KARONGI – Three months ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections, President Paul Kagame has overwhelmingly won the Presidential primaries  in the Western Province for his political party.

The elections held in Karongi district yesterday excited members of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) who voted him in to beat the other four candidates who had been nominated against him.

Kagame got an overwhelming majority of 371 votes of the 377 which were cast, representing 98.4% while his closest rival, Education Minister Dr Charles Murigande, received 1.1% that was represented by only four votes.

Ibrahim Kanyambo, the only candidate present stunned everyone when he got just two votes.  Ombudsman Tito Rutaremara’s representative pulled out at the last moment.
Christophe Bazivamo was among the nominated candidates but got no vote.

Provincial party president Jean Nepo Nkurikiyinka thanked the voters and called for even better results come August during the presidential elections.

"We need to work more closely at the grassroots level and try to strengthen our party by wooing more members.”
He urged all the members to target various groups, including retired soldiers, clergymen, the youth and women groups.

Most of the voters who talked to The Sunday Times argued that they unanimously voted for President Kagame because of his hard work, integrity and good leadership skills.

At the same occasion three officials were elected to occupy party posts that had fallen vacant for various reasons.

They are Emerance Niwezina, the Vice President of the forum for women, Antoinette Nyirazaninka, commissioner in charge of social affairs in the same forum and Samuel Uwihanganye, who becomes the secretary of the disciplinary committee.

Ends