Rwanda: Know Your Presidential Candidates

           

Three candidates nominated for the 2017 presidential elections launch their campaigns today in different parts of the country. They are Paul Kagame, of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi); Frank Habineza, of Democratic Green Party of Rwanda; and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate. Athan Tashobya profiles them.

Philippe Mpayimana

The former history teacher-turned-politician was a surprise inclusion on the final list of presidential candidates, having failed to make it on NEC's provisional list for falling short of quite a number of requirements.

But the confidence he had while addressing the media shortly after presenting his nomination papers showed that he understood the "battlefield" he was bracing for. Mpayimana, who was initially not able to present the minimum required 600 signatures of endorsers and his birth certificate, among other papers-was able to collect and present them in a week later-subsequently making it on the final list.

Mpayimana, 47, is a father of four and recently returned to Rwanda after 13 years living in France. He also lived in DR Congo for five years before he left for France.

Three of his children live in France with his first wife. He is now married to his second and current wife. The couple have one child.

Mpayimana, a professed activist and an author, has published a number of books including; Réfugiés rwandais entre marteau et enclume (L'Harmattan, Paris 2004), La rue de la vie, poèmes du Rwanda (L'Harmattan, Paris, 2006), Rwanda, regard d'avenir, loosely translated as "Only forward looking" (L'Harmattan, Paris, 2015) - Rwanda 2017, and his recent collection titled "Indi ntambwe (L'Harmattan, Paris, 2016)-loosely translated as "Another step".

According to Mpayimana, it is his "Indi Ntambwe" issue that launched him into politics and his desire is to see Rwanda take "another step" in democracy and in all kinds of freedom.

"I was really happy when I learnt that I was on the final list of candidates," Mpayimana said, adding, "My objective is encouraging people out there not to fear politics. I want us to take another step in democracy and freedom of expression and build a nation that is inclusively developed."

He is the only independent candidate.