Parties’ Forum asked to run civic education

The chairperson of the National Electoral Commission, Kalisa Mbanda, has urged political parties to facilitate preparations for the forth coming legislative elections in September. The call was made during a consultative meeting between officials from the consultative forum of political parties and the National Electoral Commission (NEC), on Thursday at Kacyiru in Kigali. Prof. Mbanda asked parties’ representatives to rally the electorate to understand the importance of voting.“We’ve reports that some voters are not mindful of the exercise. They only fill the ballot paper without thinking of the implications of the vote to the nation,” Prof. Mbanda said, challenging representatives of parties to help the commission in civic education. Prof. Mbanda said citizens need to embrace the principles of democracy, adding that local leaders and parties need to play a role to ensure free and fair elections.Charles Munyaneza, the NEC executive secretary, said although the number of voters has increased from Rwf4.7 million in 2008 to 6.3 million today, the budget has decreased, with Rwf5 billion proposed for this year’s election Rwf7 billion was used in 2008. The legislative poll is due on September 16. It will be followed by the election for women representatives on September 17, and those of the youth and representatives of people living with disability a day later.