Provisional results released Saturday by Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission on the referendum show Rwandans have overwhelmingly voted to amend the constitution that paves way for President Paul Kagame to seek another term.

Rwandans in the diaspora voted on Thursday while the entire country voted on Friday in the referendum, according to the electoral commission. There was high voter turnout with 98.3 percent of registered voters participating in the polling. Electoral commission officials say the vote was largely peaceful across the country.

Charles Munyaneza, executive secretary of the National Electoral Commission says 98.4 percent of the voters approved the measure to amend the constitution while, only 1.6 percent voted against it.

“6,155, 606 Rwandans voted yes and 100, 863 Rwandans voting no. …The process has been peaceful mostly at the polling station. Rwandans were very enthusiastic and I think this is the first time that we have got that kind of voter turnout and we are impressed that youth, the students really participated in their big numbers,” said Munyaneza.

He says the final results would be announced on Monday. The electoral commission, Munyaneza says, will then present its report about the poll to the relevant authorities as part of the electoral process.

Opposition groups including the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda complained that they were not allowed enough to campaign against calls by millions of Rwandans who petitioned parliament to amend the constitution.

In a letter to the media, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda said, “The National Electoral Commission also confirmed that campaigns were not permitted, meaning that the Party’s NO CHANGE campaign would be illegal. However, members of parliament were able to campaign for a YES vote during their national sensitization program. … The Democratic Green Party will continue the democratic struggle and ensure that Rwanda will have sustainable peace, security and development.”

Responding to the opposition concerns, Munyaneza says the entire referendum process was bolstered by the several millions of Rwandans who demanded a vote for the measure to amend the constitution.

AAs you are aware over 4 million Rwandans had petitioned parliament. … So, if four million out of 6.3 Rwandans eligible to vote had requested for this amendment then it means Rwandans knew what was taking place,” said Munyaneza. “There wasn’t much need for a month or two months of campaign. But whatever time was given, everybody had time to canvass for a yes or no vote. And as far as I know some opposition political parties did it in the media.”

“Even in other countries, we know countries where referendum has been called in only one week and people have turned up in those referenda. So I think it is not very peculiar to Rwanda,” he said.
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