Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)
27 August 2008
Kigali — He has just turned 31, but the only independent candidate running for parliament feels the next House will be something different from what Rwandans have often experienced.
With marked confidence that he will get far more than the 5 percent of the required votes, Mr. Harelimana Jean Marie Vianney says he wants to change the existing understanding that independent candidates cannot make it to parliament.
In the 2003 elections, none made it, in a race that was largely dominated by the RPF coalition and other bigger parties. Critics have said the arrangement does not favour independent candidates.
From about 4.7 million registered voters, independents are supposed to have at least 5 percent. Even the parties that do not raise that level do not get a single seat.
Sounding unconvinced as he struggles to detail his electoral plan, Mr. Harelimana says he would like to have a country that emphasizes rehabilitative form of correction other than brutal punishment.
"As a strongly practicing Christian, though I believe people need to face the law for their crimes, I do not believe in a system that puts criminal punishment first, but one that emphasizes education to prevent any such crimes", explains the father of two living in Kigali occasionally making reference to God.
"My understanding is that our society needs so much to do with education aimed at changing behaviour other than doing that with criminal punishment."
When RNA contacted him for the interview, he sounded very polite regularly responding with appreciation and apparent surprise that a media was contacting him at all. Soft spoken at first encounter, the candidate often shot up as he explained farther his ideas.
Mr. Harelimana describes himself as a "businessman" but is adamant to detail what exactly he deals with. The son of late Mr. Masirika Jean, the youthful candidate is neither comfortable to name his mother, but could only say she lived in the low-end Kiyovu suburb of Kigali that was razed to the ground recently by city authorities.
From a family of nine - some of whom have passed away, Mr. Harelimana explains with discomfort how his father was "beaten" in 1990 on suspicion that he was collaborating with Rwanda Patriotic Front rebels. The old man hailing from Cyangugu (now part of western province) apparently remained bed-ridden from the injuries till his death a few years later.
In a system that has seen political parties nominating career politicians with long ties and active service in those parties, Mr. Harelimana says there is nothing that will prevent him from joining the next House where he wants to "show other Rwandans and the parties" that even independents can be a force to reckon with.
As a youth himself, the man who says he raised the legal 600 nomination signatures with so much ease, plans to use his seat to urge for more tangible programs intended for the youth.
"I would like to see the current youths supported with vigorous programs such that they can graduate from associations into cooperatives", explains the candidate who can only describe his education level as "sufficient" for a member of parliament. But he is keen to emphasize his ability to overcome any challenges because he can "read and write".
The election campaigns started on Monday this week, but as parties stroll across the country, Mr. Harelimana says resource constraints remain the biggest challenge for him and would like the Electoral Commission to provide some support in form of funding.
Government is not bound by any law to finance the activities of people seeking political office, neither is the electoral commission mandated to provide any support. However, the head of the Commission Prof Chrysologue Karangwa has said members of the electoral colleges for women, youths and the disabled will be transported to polling areas.
"My preference is that the electoral commission should have been given the mandate to avail some funding support to candidates - especially the independents because we do not have resources like political parties. But if there is nothing they can provide, I will operate with what I have", notes Mr. Harelimana, also revealing that he has a campaign budget totaling 9.6 million Francs.
"As the situation stands now however, it is becoming very difficult for me to raise all that money. But ultimately the people of Rwanda are going to vote for me amass considering how they have come to know me from different fora."
Interestingly, he speaks with a measured use of words, often expressing satisfaction with the status quo. "So much has been done by government and the outgoing parliament", he points out, adding "and that is where I want to continue from but with more vigour and new ideas."
As he speaks about the former parliament or issues that push him to comment about government, he reduces his pace and pokes around for phrases - though maintaining a positive view of everything.
When Mr. Harelimana is told that the last House was viewed negatively by the public, he does not seem to be convinced - instead with gestures says the House "performed very well".
"Imagine a parliament that passes such a big number of laws (287). That is extraordinary. Even if critics dismiss that, but remember Rwanda is taking a very speedy development path that is why the Députés had to work so hard", he explains.
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