The RPF Chairman, President Paul Kagame on Saturday morning delivered his victory speech after results by the National Electoral Commission put him in commanding lead of two other candidates in the presidential polls conducted on Friday.
With 80 per cent of the presidential vote tallied, the Chairman garnered over 98 per cent of the vote, far ahead of his two challengers Philippe Mpayimana, an independent and Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda.
The Chairman was besides RPF Inkotanyi endorsed by eight local political parties, whose leaders were present at all campaign rallies stretching three weeks.
Addressing thousands of supporters at the recently inaugurated RPF Inkotanyi headquarters in Rusororo, Kagame said thanked the different people who played part in the party’s presidential campaign, which he said was flawless.
“I want to particularly thank the group of young men and women, who spared no effort to ensure we run a very successful campaign. Everything was in order,” said Kagame.
Kagame also thanked security personnel for the great work they do in keeping the country safe.
He thanked RPF members and Rwandans in general for yet again putting their trust in him.
“Where we are today is a journey that started some time back, with millions of Rwandans signing petitioning parliament calling for me to continue as your leader,” he said.
Over four million Rwandans petitioned parliament in 2015 calling for them to initiate a process to change the constitution to allow for Kagame, who had served two terms provided for by the constitution at the time, to remain the country’s leader.
Kagame ran on a platform of his impressive track record and a promise to continue on the path of the country’s transformation process.
During campaigns, his rallies were characterized by huge crowds – in hundreds of thousands – in the 34 sites he visited in all districts in the country during his three weeks on the trail.
The incumbent led a liberation struggle that stopped the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and went on to spearhead the country’s dramatic turnaround in across all sectors.
Nearly 7 million Rwandans participated in the poll.
