Rwanda | Rusizi: Electoral officials to avoid favoritism

The Electoral commission of Rwanda is requesting returning officers in Rusizi and Nyamashekes to avoid favoritism in their responsibilities as it comes with negative consequences.

 This was discussed during a training work shop aimed at reminding them the rules and regulations that accompany responsibilities of the Electoral commission.

The national coordinator of the Electoral commission Liberathe Irambona says favoring one side of the party in Elections distorts the objective of the whole process of Elections. “Countries that experience conflicts after elections in many times are a result of electoral authorities who favor one side among the competing parties”, she remarked.

Electoral authorities should not support any side of the competing parties to avoid conflicts. Rwanda should not experience any conflicts as a result of poor management of Elections and that is why they are sensitizing the electoral officers on proper means of handling the Elections.

The coordinator continues that favors in Rwandan elections are not very common even though it appears in some observational reports that some Electoral officials offer services to certain people whereas other people are denied that particular service yet they are all under the same rules and regulations which is a real sign of favoritism or support to a particular party in the race. This portrays a bad image on to the country.

The electoral officials do not deny the weakness amongst themselves whereby some electoral officials favor particular party in apolitical race yet it is unprofessional. “Some of us the electoral officials have a weakness of falling on one side of the party during the electoral process”, as one of the electoral officials in Nyakabuye sector Rusizi district confirmed.

The electoral official in Rusizi district Edouard Uzayisenga said the official who supports one side of the party causes effects like conflicts among people, portraying a bad image of the electoral commission and discouraging people from participating in to elections again.

The electoral commission held a meeting with district and sector electoral officials in preparation for the coming elections of selecting youth, women and the disabled representatives.