The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has warned local leaders against interfering with the electoral process in the forth-coming parliamentary election scheduled for September.This was said by Charles Munyaneza, the Executive Secretary of NEC, who was at the weekend briefing local leaders in the Eastern Province about the electoral guidelines.NEC officials took turns to explain in detail on what is allowed and not allowed, under the law, to hundreds of local leaders in the Province.“We urge all local leaders to register, to become informed on these issues, and to vote; but they should not interfere with in the process. Do not exhibit bias for or against any candidate. Just leave the whole process for electoral officials,” he told the local leaders.Respecting laws At least six million Rwandans are expected to take part in the elections.“We register 200,000 new voters every year,” he said.General candidates will bid for 53 of the 80 seats in Parliament, while the rest of the seats are reserved for women (24), youth (two) and people with disabilities (one).Munyaneza urged local leaders to keep away from voting rooms, noting that such cases were witnessed in some areas in previous election.Parliamentary aspirants must have single and authentic Rwandan citizenship, be at least 35 years of age, and never served a prison sentence of six months or more.Campaigning starts on August 25 until September 15.Marie Odette Kansanga Ndahiro, NEC vice chairperson underlined the need to respect electoral code.She said that the sensitisation programme would continue in other provinces.“There is no short cut, people have to respect the law...Voters’ register revision is almost done and all equipment are available. All we need is to observe the law,” she said.
