By Enyichukwu Enemanna
In a bid to reduce cost, authorities in Rwanda have commenced plans to effect a constitution change to make it possible for the presidential and parliamentary elections to take place same time, a statement outlining cabinet resolutions, sighted by Reuters on Saturday indicates.
Parliamentary elections in the East African country are scheduled to take place in August this year, but if the constitutional change is implemented, they may be pushed forward to next year to be held simultaneously with presidential polls.
The statement said that the cabinet on Friday approved a proposal sent in by the President, Paul Kagame allowing a “harmonisation of parliamentary and presidential elections calendars” but no time has been fixed for the amendment.
Rwanda last amended its constitution in 2015, to allow Kagame to extend his rule by a seven-year term commencing in 2017, followed by two further five-year terms. The lawmakers’ term is five years.
Kagame has been Rwanda’s president since 2000.
Officials have said cost of holding both elections at different times is becoming burdensome for the country.
