Elections free and fair– EAC observers

KIGALI - THE East African Community (EAC) election observers have said that Monday’s presidential elections were democratic, peaceful and met international standards. While briefing the press in Kigali, yesterday, Dr. Sabine Ntakarutimana, the head of the observer mission, said that the elections provided freedom of association, expression, assembly, movement and the equal right to vote. “The August 9, 2010 Presidential election in Rwanda was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere; polling stations were clearly marked and well distributed within an average distance of two to three kilometers radius,” Ntakarutimana, who is also a member of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) from Burundi, said. She commended the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for its strong technical capacity which enabled the delivery of election materials and commencement of polling on time. Ntakarutimana observed that voters were free to express their will through a secret ballot and that there was early and big voter turnout and counting at polling stations was done openly in the presence of party agents and election observers. Security, she said was maintained at all polling stations visited and that it did not interfere with the voting process. Sarafina Kwekwe (Kenya) commended the respect Rwandans have for elderly in giving them priority to vote. “In general, the August 9 presidential elections were peaceful, well organised and free and fair,” she said. A six-member team which arrived in the country on August 5 and attended final rallies of RPF in Gasabo and PSD in Nyamirambo, Nyarugenge District, comprised members of EALA and staff of the community. Ends