We reported, yesterday, that close to 800 Rwandans living in Southern Africa have registered to vote in the upcoming elections. And, according to the National Electoral Commission, more than 20,000 voters from the Diaspora have, so far, confirmed their participation in the forthcoming Presidential elections slated for August 9.

Rwanda is a democracy, meaning that every citizen gets a say in who runs their country, and by way of this privilege one also gets a say about how their country is run. It is very easy for someone to be unconcerned about their right to vote and carry the "who cares” attitude about voting.

However, this is an honor that should be taken advantage of. There are some countries where people are literally dying to get the opportunity to cast their vote and have a say in who or how their country is run.

In Rwanda, the situation is totally different. The National Electoral Commission has embarked on a sensitization drive, both in the country and abroad, to educate Rwandans about the value of their vote. For the Diaspora, the Commission has gone the extra mile and set August 8, a Sunday, as the voting date to enable more Rwandans, who would have otherwise not gotten time off work, to participate in the election.

With all the necessary infrastructure in place, those who haven’t yet registered to vote should do so before the deadline, June 31.

Ends