Development Partners of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) have commended the commission for its outstanding work and promised more support to enable the body effectively execute its mandate.

Elizabeth Carriere, the head of the Department for International Development (DFID), said this during an evaluation meeting on the recently concluded senatorial elections. The meeting that was organised by NEC brought together all its partners.

"NEC has built itself into a strong and democratic institution. Democracy does not happen during elections only; it’s an ongoing process of which NEC has maintained,” Carriere, who represented all partners said.

James Musoni, the Minister of Local Government, noted that NEC "rose from an institution that started with inexperienced staff to a solid institution that is crucial to Rwanda’s democratisation process.”

Musoni, commended the support offered by partners, noting that Rwanda is satisfied with the quality of services and professionalism offered by NEC.

"The government is willing to give the commission its full support to ensure further quality outcome; whatever we do is done in the interests of the citizens,” explained Musoni.

Charles Munyaneza, the Executive Secretary of the commission, noted that partners have been crucial in helping NEC to meet its financial and human capacity obligations to fulfill its mandate, since its establishment in 2000.

The commission, he added, is formalising a strategic plan which will cover future elections, including the Presidential and senatorial elections set for 2017 and 2019, respectively.

"We have been registering over 90 percent voter turn up on average, and some people wondered how we managed to register such a big number; it’s all because of the civic education programme we conduct,” Munyaneza stated.

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