ELECTIONS: What to expect

According to the constitution as contained in article 77, of the 80 MPs in the Chamber of Deputies, 53 are elected by Rwandans over 18 for a five year term. The voting is by secret ballot and the allocation of seats depends on proportional representation. On September 15, Rwandans will choose one political party at polling stations around the country. According to Electoral Commission, tentative results will be announced on the same day. Also in September, 24 women will be elected as special representatives. The women will be elected by a joint assembly composed of members of the respective District, Municipality, Town or Kigali City Councils and members of the Executive Committees of women’s organisations at the Province, Kigali City, District, Municipalities, Towns and Sector levels. Women parliamentarians like Connie Bwiza are articulate representatives in the House. It remains to be seen whether many of them will be returned to the house or if new faces will emerge. Two members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected by the National Youth Council, while one member is elected by the federation of the association of the disabled. In the outgoing chamber of deputies, the youth were represented by Francis Kaboneka and Giovanni Renzaho. Ends