Rwanda : Ex-election commission chief named Senator

President Kagame speaks to Prof Karangwa (in grey suit) and Local Government Minister, James Musoni

President Paul Kagame on Wednesday named the former National Electoral Commission chief, Prof Chrysologue Karangwa to the upper House of parliament – ending an era in which he managed two crucial election cycles.

Prof. Karangwa is among the four new presidential Senate appointees. The Head of State is constitutionally accorded right to appoint eight senators among the 26-member House, which is supposed to be filled up following the senate polls last year.

The outspoken Prof Karangwa, until June this year, had overseen Rwanda’s electoral process since 2002. He was replaced at NEC by cabinet with another academic Prof. KALISA MBANDA.

Others on the presidential appointee list include Zephyrin Kalimba, the longtime campaigner for rights of the “Batwa” people, who are referred to in Rwanda as “historically marginalized community”.

The other new senators are Ms Uwimana Consolee and Nyagahura Margaret.