Party members tipped on elections

EASTERN PROVINCE RWAMAGANA — The Eastern Province President of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), John Baptiste Gasana, has cautioned party members against breaching the electoral laws in the forth coming parliamentary elections. Gasana, was in Rwamagana at the weekend, to meet area party officials. “We have explained to our party members matters concerning the electoral law, the behavior and code of conduct during the elections,” Gasana, told The New Times after meeting over 100 party officials from across the Province, at Avega Centre. Gasana added, “We also urged them to avoid conflicts in order not to take our country into the dark days of the past but to vote wisely to promote democracy in the country. At the meeting, Charles Munyaneza, the Executive Secretary of the National Electoral Commission, reassured the participants of a free and fair election, saying party representatives, independent observes and electoral officials would be present to ensure a smooth exercise. Munyaneza appealed to all political party leaders to mobilise their faithful to massively participate in the elections ‘for the good of the country’. Citing Kenya and Zimbabwe, where recent elections sparked violence, he appealed to Rwandans to avoid election malpractices. One of the participants at the meeting noted that quite often local leaders abuse the electoral process and appealed to electoral commission officials to be aware of such elements. Ends