Candidates vying for the two seats reserved for the youth in Parliament on Wednesday, July 10, took their campaign to Karongi District in Western Province, marking their fourth stop after Musanze District in Northern Province on July 8. The 31 youth candidates, eight females and 23 males, are seeking votes in the July elections in order to represent the Rwandans in the Chamber of Deputies. They have been to City of Kigali and Eastern Province, presenting their manifestos before electoral colleges. Their campaign will be concluded in Muhanga District, Southern Province on July 12. ALSO READ: Here's how youth MPs will be elected ALSO READ: What Rwandan youth expect from the next MPs The electors in Western Province expressed expectations before the campaigning youth candidates, stressing the need for inclusive development. According to Benithe Isingizwe, a member of the youth council in Karongi District, young people in rural areas need to be facilitated to have access to technology. “Whoever makes it to Parliament should focus on enhancing technological access in rural areas, building knowledge capacity, and providing digital tools, especially for high school graduates,” said Isingizwe, stressing that skills development initiatives would result in jobs for more young people. “Most young people fail to apply for jobs because they lack the necessary skills. This is a general problem, and we highly recommend that efforts be directed towards it by whoever secures the seat.” Isingizwe said that youth should also be educated about environmental conservation, specifically climate change and climate action. ALSO READ: Youth comprise 42% of final voters Janvier Umuhoza, a member of the youth council in Rubavu District, noted common promises among the candidates, including pledges to establish initiatives, which address drug abuse among young people, and reduce the unemployment rate. He said those who will be elected into Parliament should stick to their campaign manifestos. “We request that whoever secures the seat goes back to the ground and interacts with young people to understand the common issues that need urgent resolution,” Umuhoza said. “They should recognize their responsibility to the youth and seek positive opinions where possible. Whoever can do that appropriately will undoubtedly achieve general gains,” he said. ALSO READ: Where do soldiers, medics, the sick cast their ballot? The lower house has 80 seats, with 27 reserved for special interest groups, that is, 24 for women, two for youth representatives, and one for the representative of people with disabilities. Youth representatives will be elected by an electoral college composed of members from the National Youth Council (NYC). This college includes nine representatives from each of the 30 districts across the country, totaling 270 electors at the final stage.
