KIGALI - An official at the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has called upon women leaders to sensitize their compatriots countrywide to compete in the upcoming local authorities’ elections.

The elections are scheduled to take place in February and March 2011.

Speaking at a meeting that brought together women parliamentarians and their Partners, the commissioner in charge of Electoral Operations, Protais Rumanzi challenged women to own the forthcoming elections and vie for the highest offices in local government.

He said that women have got a lot to offer in the national exercise which determines the path of the nation.

"The Local authorities are the foundation of leadership that is why these elections are, equally, very important,” said Rumanzi.

Rumanzi, however, blamed women organizations for not doing enough to encourage women to vie for leadership positions and asked the Forum for Rwanda Women Parliamentarians to take the lead in calling on women to stand.

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