The youth who participated in the elections for the first time expressed that they were happy to take part in the process of choosing the President and members of the Parliament of Rwanda, fulfilling their civic duty to the country.
On Monday, July 15, 2024, more than nine million Rwandans living inside the country participated in the elections for the President and Deputies.
The election was attended by 3,767,187 youths, including more than two million who voted for the first time.
Those who spoke to Hobe Australia said they found the experience very interesting, feeling like they were now participating in the life and governance of the country.
Nancy Gaelle Umuhire, who voted in Kicukiro district, Kanombe sector in Kageri ka Kabeza, told Hobe Australia that voting for the first time made her happy, feeling like a true Rwandan.
She said, “Voting for the first time was an experience that pleased me because I also felt like a Rwandan. I voted well and elected a leader who is right for Rwanda.”
Another first-time voter from Nyaruguru District, Munini Sector, Ntwali Cell, Kabilizi village, said she was happy with how she was received at the Election Site.
She said, “I am voting for the first time, but I feel very happy because it showed me that I am also a Rwandan. I am very grateful to the people who were at the polling station. I was a first-time voter and felt confused, but they explained the whole process to me.”
Another said, “I’m happy and proud that I was able to participate in choosing my future by voting for the first time. Now I can say that I’ve grown up because there’s a step I’ve taken that I haven’t achieved before.”
He added, “We are looking forward to seeing the results of the election, and I hope that we will dance to victory.”
The partial results of the presidential elections were announced on the night of July 15, 2024, on Rwanda Television by Oda Gasinzingwa, the president of NEC.
The figures from the National Electoral Commission show that Paul Kagame, the presidential candidate of FPR-INKOTANYI, received 99.15% of the vote in the presidential election, according to partial provisional results after a 79% vote count.
Frank Habineza, the presidential candidate of the Green Party, received 0.53% of the vote after a 79% count.
The independent candidate in the presidential race, Philippe Mpayimana, received 0.32% of the vote after a 79% count.
The provisional parliamentary results will be announced on July 16 (afternoon).
On the evening of July 16, NEC is expected to announce preliminary results of the parliamentary elections for special group categories.
The announcement of provisional results for both the presidential and parliamentary elections is expected no later than July 20, while the final results for both the presidential and parliamentary elections will be released no later than July 27, as per NEC.
