Regional
Five key things to know about Rwanda’s 2024 elections
The year 2024 is going to be momentous
for Rwandans, as the nation will hold general elections in July.
The Presidential and
parliamentary elections will be held at the same time following the revision of
the Rwandan constitution, in August 2023, allowing both elections to take place
on the same day so as to save time and money.
The polling date throughout
the country is July 15, while the Diaspora will vote on July 14.
Here are five key things to
know about the 2024 election:
Election
budget minimized
The decision to combine
presidential and parliamentary elections aimed at minimizing election budget.
Parliamentary elections would
have cost around Rwf7.2 billion, and presidential elections just about the same
amount, a year later.
The new plan to hold them at
one time minimized the election budget from Rwf14 billion to Rwf8.1 billion.
Internal
sourcing
While many African countries
have been sourcing election budgets from foreign donors, Rwanda sources its
election budget internally.
The east African country does
not struggle with any deceptions from foreign financial supports for elections,
which would lead to lack of independence in holding free and fair elections.
Historically, external
sourcing has been a channel of foreign interference in elections within African
countries. Rwanda found a home grown solution for that challenge; by thinking
out of the box, and big. Self sufficiency is key.
Voluntary
polling agents
Between 60,000 and 70,000
voluntary polling agents will be deployed to facilitate the general elections.
This indicates not only patriotism but also Rwandans’ will to contribute to
fair and free elections without hefty cost.
In many countries, polling
agents are provided with wages; sometimes leading to infiltrating election
results in favor of the ruling parties.
Rwandan
elections a festive season
Rwandans are always happy during
elections. Rwandans are therefore getting ready for a big party, in a newly
renovated 45,000-seater Amahoro National Stadium.
Rwanda is known for no
election related violence since three decades ago.
Elected
President will serve a fiver-year term
The upcoming election will
mark the first time a Rwandan President serves a five-year term as per the new Constitutional
amendment.