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Rwanda Votes in Presidential Election

by Zack Baddorf

   KIGALI --

   Rwandans went to the polls Friday for the country's presidential
   election, and the incumbent, President Paul Kagame, is widely expected
   to win a third term.
   As polls opened at a school about an hour outside Kigali, election
   staff explained how to properly cast a ballot for president.
   The voting was calm as voters slowly trickled into the school and found
   their polling offices in the school, nestled in the hilly outskirts of
   the sprawling capital city.
   Voter Joseph Zorondera said "there's good organization here. It's like
   a celebration -- like a wedding. Very well organized."
   The East African Community has international observers monitoring the
   polls, while the European Union decided not to send a team of
   observers.
   Local observers won't release their finding until after polls close,
   but at mid-day, representatives of local observer missions told VOA
   they hadn't encountered any significant issues and that the voting
   appeared to be progressing smoothly.

   President Paul Kagame faces two challengers in his bid for a third
   term. Voter Joseph Zorondera said he voted for the incumbent.
   "We need a good leader in our country now to continue to secure the
   countr he to help the people of Rwanda and to continue to develop the
   country for the next seven years," he said.
   Nine of the 11 political parties permitted to register in Rwanda have
   endorsed Kagame. His two opponents are Green Party candidate Frank
   Habineza and independent Philippe Mpayimana. Four other presidential
   hopefuls were disqualified by the electoral commission.
   In Photos: Rwanda Election

   The government and ruling party have brushed off allegations from human
   rights groups that authorities have worked to intimidate and stifle
   political opposition.
   At the polls in Mbandazi in the outskirts of Kigali, Charles Ndamage is
   voting for Habineza.
   "I chose this party simply because of its good platform," he said. "The
   manifesto presented by Habineza was very interesting to me. For
   instance, the fact that he wants to develop the country by reducing the
   step between rich people and poor people."
   Kagame has been in power for 17 years. He is widely credited with
   stabilizing the country after the 1994 genocide. A 2015 constitutional
   referendum, approved by 98 percent of voters, allows him to potentially
   remain in power until 2034.
   Some Kagame supporters VOA met at the polls Friday said they expect the
   president to step down after a third term. For now, though, voter
   Imelda Batamoliza said she doesn't see another option on the ballot.
   "They are good but '¦ I don't think any of them will do better than
   Paul Kagame because we have seen for the last few years that he has
   been on the changes," she said. "It's really a big change. It's
   obvious."

   The electoral commission is expected to release official results over
   the weekend.