A list of at least 1200 observers has been put by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to follow up on the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 16.
The NEC has accredited 1,236 observers, including 176 from outside the country. Observers from the African Union have already entered the country and the all observers from the Commonwealth countries are expected to come by the end this week; however the more observers accredited until September 14.
In the meantime, the EAC will also be sending a mission consisting 36 members that will be headed by Kenya’s former Minister of EAC Affairs, Musa Sirma,. The move is seen as a way of having the community’s role in building a regional integration process and democracy through free and fair elections.
NEC Executive Secretary Charles Munyaneza says that the observers are welcome to Rwanda and the country has grown in managing and conducting the elections, which is one reason why observers may have less work to do
The number of elections observers interested in Rwanda’s electoral processes has over the years decline, according to the Executive Secretary of the National Electoral commission (NEC), Charles Munyaneza
Munyaneza says that this is because Rwandans have grown mature in conducting elections and there is no doubt that the country has learnt from its past elections and has made necessary amendments and developed to suit the needs of the community.
The largest number of election observers was witnessed during the previous presidential election, in which Rwanda had over 3000 local and foreign observers.
Munyaneza says that with time the observers will have little to do, but for formality, since Rwanda has made tremendous progress in financing and organizing its elections compared to other countries in the region.
At least 5,953,531 Rwandans out of the 18million Rwandans are eligible to vote for the 410 candidates contesting for the 80 seats in the next parliament.
1,200 observers for Rwanda parliamentary polls