Civil Society Observer group chief speaks out ahead of elections

KIGALI - As the nation prepares to go to parliamentary elections tomorrow, the head of the umbrella platform that brings together civil society organizations observing the elections Eugène Rwibasira, has spoken out about the election process. Speaking in an interview with Sunday Times at the platform offices in Kacyiru earlier this week, Rwibasira said that the platform will deploy observers throughout the country on Election Day, to see whether the elections are free and fair. He explained: “We are committed to impartiality as a guiding principle during the parliamentary elections and we are also non-partisan”. Rwibasira stated that on Election Day, the platform will also be interested in seeing whether the process is free and fair. “We will also be seeing whether there is security at the polling stations and issues like intimidation or rigging”. The platform observers will work at the sector, district, province and national levels during the process. At the lower levels the platform will only have a sample of the polling stations. The platform which has had a number of observers on a long-term basis during the campaigns, will release a preliminary statement about the elections two days after the voting. He explained that “this will be an over view of what transpired from the beginning up to the end” adding that “after two weeks, we will release a final report to the public and also submit it to the National Electoral Commission”. Rwibasira further said that civil society found it necessary to get involved in observing elections to ensure that peoples’ rights are respected. The civil society platform is one of the many local and international observers that have been deployed during this round of parliamentary elections. It is the largest local group observing the elections. Ends