KIGALI: Rwanda’s ruling party held onto power with a widely-expected landslide victory in parliamentary elections, provisional results showed yesterday, reinforcing President Paul Kagame’s grip on the country.
The National Electoral Commission said Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) had won 76.2 percent of the vote with all ballots counted. Final results are expected tomorrow.
Two decades after the 1994 genocide, the east African country has become a favourite with foreign investors under Kagame’s leadership. The order book for Rwanda’s debut eurobond in April was 8.5 times the $400m sought, underscoring steady economic growth.
But Kagame’s opponents have accused him of cracking down on political opponents and restricting press freedoms — allegations he dismisses.
The electoral commission said 98.8 percent of registered voters cast their ballot, a figure that jarred with accounts from some who said turnout was low in their constituencies.
“People felt like there was no point voting, the RPF was going to win,” said one man from eastern Rwanda, withholding his name, a common occurrence in a country where many feel scared to talk out against the authorities.
Others said that although the result was predictable, the process had been free and fair.
“We can choose whoever we want to vote for,” said Claudette, a 30-year-old teacher from Kigali.
Voters cast their ballots on Monday for 53 directly elected seats. A further 27 seats are reserved for women, youths and disabled representatives who will be indirectly elected by the end of today. Those candidates are not aligned to specific parties.
REUTERS
