More than 40,000 Rwandans in Diaspora are expected to vote today in a referendum on revised Constitution, while 6.4 million voters who reside in the country are expected to cast their ballot on Friday for ‘YES’ and ‘NO’ vote.
Charles Munyaneza,the executive secretary of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), has recently told journalists that they expect the polls to run smoothly as all the needed materials were already in place.More than 68,000 election volunteers are expected to assist the commission in the process.
“All the necessary voting equipment like ballot papers have already been supplied to polling stations. The polls will be supervised by Ambassadors or High Commissioners. But for countries where many polling stations are needed, embassy employees or any other Rwandan appointed by the ambassador or the high commissioner will supervise,” he said.
Norbert Haguma, a member of Rwandan Diaspora in China who is currently in the country, said they were ready for the polls as they were provided with all the needed logistics.
“In China, we did our best to register for the polls. Since Tuesday, all the necessary materials were available at polling stations. What is remaining for us is to vote,” he said.
The British government has said the country’s referendum on revised constitution is a democratic choice of the Rwandan people that they will not interfere with.
The remarks were made by James Duddridge the UK minister for Africa while addressing members of the press recently at the British High Commission in Kacyiru, Kigali.
“You have a democratic choice on what decision to take. I and the UK government do not want to and will not interfere with that democratic process, that would be highly inappropriate,” Duddridge told reporters.
