Presidential polls still US$1.2m short - NEC

GASABO - The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has revealed that it is still facing a financial shortfall of $1.2 million in the run up to next year’s presidential elections. The NEC Executive Secretary, Charles Munyaneza, made the disclosure yesterday during an interactive meeting with heads of diplomatic missions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters. He said that although there has been a financial allocation from government of Rwf 3.5 billion and funds from development partners, there is a gap which still needs to be filled. “This amount received from government covers July 2009 to June 2010 meaning we shall be requesting more funds to cover the remaining two months before elections; July and August 2010,” the NEC boss said. NEC estimates the budget for elections in 2010 to total to Rwf 6.5 billion, which Munyaneza said is based on the previous presidential elections in 2003 and parliamentary elections in 2008. “We encourage those outside the joint basket fund to join the process of helping Rwanda to consolidate its democracy through running effective elections,” Munyaneza told the diplomats. He cautioned that more needs might keep emerging with time.“But as of now, we are talking of that US$1.2 m gap which we hope shall be covered by both the government and willing development partners.” Donor partners in the basket fund arrangement that have committed to give funds for 2010 are; European Commission (Euros 1 million), Netherlands (Euros 250,000) UK (1 million pounds) and Sweden will contribute Euros 290,000 The diplomats requested the National Electoral Commission to also include English and Swahili languages in the Election sensitization campaign in the media for the purpose of wide coverage in the East African Community (EAC). Ends