By Ivan R. Mugisha
In Summary
Diane Shima Rwigara on Wednesday declared her interest to
run for the Rwandan presidency, becoming the first female independent
candidate.
In her manifesto, the 35-year-old said she will work to
eradicate poverty, champion free speech, and provide health insurance
for all Rwandans.
The accountant and businesswoman also criticised the ruling RPF
party saying it was behind the 2015 referendum that led to the
suspension of term limits in Rwanda.
“When time comes for leaders to leave power, they get excuses to
stay and then say that it is the people who are asking them to continue
to lead. This is a bad habit across the continent,” she said.
“RPF has failed to tackle poverty or to provide security and
justice. What RPF has failed to do in the last 23 years, they cannot do
it in the coming years. As a president, I will ensure that I deliver on
all these.”
Ms Rwigara is the daughter of deceased Kigali tycoon Assinapol
Rwigara, who died in a road accident in February 2015. Accounts of his
death became controversial after the family cited foul play and
petitioned President Paul Kagame to call for investigations into the
manner in which he died.
Ms Rwigara joins a growing list of independent candidates
including former journalist Phillipe Mpayimana, and controversial
Catholic priest Thomas Nahimana who have expressed interest to run
against President Kagame in the August 4 polls.
However, in order to be allowed to contest by the National
Electoral Commission, they face a daunting challenge of gathering at
least 600 signatures from 30 districts — a minimum of 12 signatures and
at least an address in each district.
At the same time, the electoral body has warned candidates vying for presidency against fundraising to raise campaign money.
The commission will receive nominations from candidates from
June 12 to 23. A provisional list of qualified candidates will be
announced on June 27.
The names of qualified candidates will be published on July 7, a week before campaigns kick off.
Others in the race for the presidency is Frank Habineza, the
president of the Green Party as well as a candidate from the Social
Democratic Party, who is yet to be named.
President Kagame is, however, largely expected to win a
seven-year third term following the constitutional amendment that
allowed him to seek re-election at the end of what would have been his
second last term.
In 2003, Alvera Mukabaramba of the Party of Peace and Concord
was the first Rwandan woman to run for the presidency but withdrew on
the eve of the elections and joined forces with President Kagame who
swept the polls. She tried again in 2010 but lost to President Kagame.
No comments :
Post a Comment