Rwandans go to poll for a new constitution

DIASPORA Rwandans yesterday took their turn to participate in governance in their country as they cast their votes in a referendum aimed at amending the constitution

The constitutional amendment, which passed by parliament last month, reduces presidential terms to five years and maintains a two-term limit, although it makes an exception for Kagame.

Few expect the changes to be rejected, although they have been denounced by the United States and Brussels as undermining democracy in the central African country.

It would allow Kagame to run for a third seven-year term in 2017, at the end of which the new rules come into force and he will be eligible to run for a further two five-year terms.

About 37,000 Rwandans have been registered to vote overseas, while another 6.4 million are eligible to cast their ballots across the nation in the main vote which holds today.

AFP quoted a voter Annet Mukayiramba who went to vote in neighbouring saying, “I came to vote… because we want our president to continue leading us.”