Parliament swears in today

KIGALI - This morning at the Parliamentary Buildings in Kimihurura, candidates who were recently elected to represent Rwandans in Parliament are expected to take oath before President Paul Kagame. The development was confirmed by the Office of the President last evening. According to the constitution, MPs-elect are supposed to be sworn in not more than 15 days after the National Electoral Commission (NEC) announces the final results. NEC President Prof. Chrysologue Karangwa on September 26 announced the final official results of the elections that were held for four subsequent days from September 15. The elections which were applauded by thousands of local and international observers were conducted both directly and indirectly. Through the direct elections, 53 MPs were elected from political parties that included a coalition that was led by the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) which won 78 percent of the seats, the Socio-Democratic Party (PSD) which got 13 percent and the Liberal Party (PL) with seven percent. In the subsequent computation that was conducted by NEC, the RPF coalition took 42 seats; PSD got seven while PL’s percentage allotted them four parliamentary seats out of the 53. During the indirect polls, representatives of interest groups included women (24 seats), youths (two seats) and persons with disabilities who elected one representative to the 80-man House. The function will, according to the parliamentary Director of Communication, Augustin Habimana, be coupled with the election of the Parliamentary Bureau that is made up of the Speaker and two Deputy Speakers. The elections saw three serving cabinet ministers elected. While one, Protais Mitali of PL, has given up the seat he won, others say they have relinquished their ministerial jobs to become parliamentarians. “I have already written to the President who is the appointing authority giving up my cabinet post to become a member of parliament,” said Dr Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo who has been the Minister of Health. Ntawukuriryayo will be joining Parliament after topping the list of MPs-elect from PSD. “Despite the fact that I have not yet received a reply, I am optimistic that I will be among those who will take oath because there was no objection to my request,” he said by telephone yesterday. Prof. Bikoro Munyanganizi (RPF) is another cabinet minister who was elected MP and he has said that he also tendered in his resignation from cabinet. “I chose to become an MP and I will be taking the oath tomorrow. I have resigned as a minister,” he confirmed.Munyanganizi was State Minister in charge of Water and Mines. Another cabinet minister who was elected into Parliament was the Youth Minister Protais Mitali. He has, however, declined this post, opting to remain in cabinet. Charles Kamanda who was also on the list of candidates submitted by PL took over his Party president’s seat and swears in tomorrow. Ends