{"id":76771,"date":"2024-06-21T10:44:12","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T10:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/rpf-ready-to-campaign-at-19-locations-countrywide"},"modified":"2024-06-21T10:54:39","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T10:54:39","slug":"rpf-ready-to-campaign-at-19-locations-countrywide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/parties\/rpf-ready-to-campaign-at-19-locations-countrywide","title":{"rendered":"RPF ready to campaign at 19 locations countrywide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>President Paul Kagame, the chairman and flagbearer of the ruling RPF-Inkotanyi, will, on Saturday, June 22, start canvassing for votes for the party\u2019s candidates in the build-up to next month\u2019s presidential and parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n

Rwandans will go to the polls from July 14 through 15 to elect the country\u2019s next Head of State and members of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house.<\/p>\n

Talking about ongoing preparations and the journey to the campaign trail, RPF Secretary General Wellars Gasamagera said that the party is optimistic ahead of the campaign trail, noting that the presidential candidate will be \u201cmore than ready\u201d to share the party manifesto.<\/p>\n

\u201cStarting tomorrow, we will have a total of 19 campaign sites where our presidential candidate will meet face-to-face with the population during this exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt all the sites we will be fronting with our eight coalition parties who will also speak to the public during the campaigns.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gasamagera pointed out that this year\u2019s campaign trail will be held parallel with the parliamentary elections, for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing the revision of our constitution which allows for synchronization of presidential and parliamentary elections, we will also have our parliamentary candidates campaigning around the country as they contest for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pressed for details on the RPF manifesto, Gasamagera was quick to point out that the party\u2019s presidential candidate will share the party\u2019s manifesto, when the campaign period officially begins. Kagame will be competing with two challengers; Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate.<\/p>\n

For seats in the 5th parliament, RPF and five of its coalition parties have 80 nominated candidates, including 38 female and 42 male.<\/p>\n

The campaign trail will kick off in Musanze District, at University of Rwanda\u2019s campus in Busogo, in Northern Province.<\/p>\n

According to Alex Kanayoge, Musanze District\u2019s Executive Secretary, the site has already been set as they wait for the campaign to begin.<\/p>\n

“We are doing the final touches at the site. All needed equipment has been put in place, including tents, sound system, paddocks, maintenance, among other equipment,” Kanayohe told The New Times.<\/p>\n

He added; “We are expecting hundreds of Musanze residents to participate, and the energy can already be felt.”<\/p>\n

The numbers<\/p>\n

Rwanda\u2019s Lower House \u2013 known as the Chamber of Deputies – has 80 lawmakers.<\/p>\n

Overall, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) received 666 candidatures for parliamentary aspirants, according to their tally. These include 392 nominated by six political organizations, 27 independents, 200 under women, 34 under youth, and 13 under people with disabilities. Women, youth, and people with disabilities, are special interest groups.<\/p>\n

The final list published by NEC on June 14 indicates that candidates who meet requirements represent more than 84 percent of the 666 aspirants for parliamentary positions. Of the 392 aspirants on political party lists, 345 meet the requirements, up from 246 who were on the NEC provisional list of eligible candidates.<\/p>\n\r\n