PHOTOS: RPF parliamentary hopefuls campaign in Musanze

Parliamentary hopefuls of the ruling RPF-Inkotanyi and its allied parties on Friday, June 28, called on thousands of voters in Musanze District to vote for the party and its coalition in the upcoming general elections, citing the need for sustained development in the area and the entire country. Musanze District is the fourth stop of the RPF-led coalition parliamentary campaign trail. The area is one of the swing regions where residents have in the past elections backed the RPF with large crowds rallying behind the party’s candidates. ALSO READ: Musanze welcomes Kagame as RPF-led coalition launches campaign On Friday, the campaign trail was hosted at Ubworoherane Stadium, attracting thousands of party supporters dressed in blue, black, and red t-shirts, baseball caps, and waving flags. “We are happy to be with you this afternoon and we thank you for the massive attendance as we call all of you to vote for RPF and its allied parties so that we can continue the unity and development trajectory,” said parliamentary hopeful Winfrida Mpembyemungo. Mpembyemungo is part of a total of 80 RPF candidates who are campaigning for seats in Rwanda’s next legislature. Theogene Bugingobwimana is another candidate from Musanze District. “We can only pledge too much. The bar has been set high in the last 30 years since the RPA put an end to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. A lot has been achieved, particularly in Musanze which is among Rwanda’s secondary cities for development,” Mpembyemungo said. She added; “We urge you to vote for RPF Chairman and flagbearer Paul Kagame and parliamentary candidates, so that we can help him execute the RPF mandate.” At Ubworoherane Stadium, local artists including Tom Close and Kenny Sol thrilled area residents and RPF supporters, singing and dancing party songs throughout the trail. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has set July 14-15 as voting dates for all Rwandans to pick the next Head of State and members of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of parliament. Six coalition parties submitted their candidates for the 80 parliamentary seats, the majority of whom are RPF members. Kagame is competing with two challengers; Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate. Speaking to The New Times, Jean De Dieu Ntezimana, a resident of Musanze, said that RPF built a house for him and gave him a cow after he was left stranded due to his incapacity. Today, he said, he is able to provide for his family and runs a small retail business in addition to being a teacher.

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PHOTOS: RPF parliamentary hopefuls campaign in Musanze