KIGALI - Despite Friday’s celebrations to mark Liberation Day, residents across the country showed no fatigue in waking up early to elect mediators to arbitrate conflicts at Umudugudu (the smallest administrative unit) level.

The mediators resolve conflicts amongst residents that do not need to be referred to the police.

By 7 am, many residents in Kimironko Sector were lined up ready to vote. "Sunday Times also visited Rwimbogo cell in Nyarugunga Sector in Kicukiro District, to find residents, including top government officials, gathered to vote. 

Agriculture Minister Christopher Bazivamo and Gender and Family Promotion Minister Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya were among the crowd.

Rwimbogo Cell Executive Secretary, Innocent Rutagenwa, said the elections were welcomed by residents. "Many cases have been delaying at police stations or in courts but these people will be solving most of them,” he added.

Three mediators were elected in each Umudugudu. They then elected twelve mediators and a three member supplementary committee to act at cell level.

"You can even see with your eyes how we have come in big numbers to elect our mediators. We completed Liberation Day celebrations very late and tired yesterday, but this could not stop us from waking up to vote our mediators,” Rumanyika said.

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