Rwanda: Ruling RPF assured of victory

A week after campaigns for the parliamentary elections slated for later this month took off, the coalition led by the ruling party, Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) is optimistic to win.Having launched the campaign in a colourful ceremony ,RPF Chairman President Paul Kagame said that chievements recorded by the party so far should be proof enough to show the commitment by the country’s leaders to develop the country and so win another term in office.He cited such milestones as women’s emancipation, education for all Rwandan citizens, equitable justice and universal health access.“We have not met all the pledges we made in the 2003 manifesto but all of them will be met by 2010,” President Kagame told the rally at the launch of the campaigns.President Kagame is currently serving his first seven-year term after being elected to the highest office of the land in 2003. The second multi-party presidential elections will be held in 2010.Rwanda’s parliament consists of the chamber of deputies and the Senate. The September 15 election will see 53 Members of Parliament, the Deputies, being voted in. Others to be elected to the 80-member chamber include 24 female members elected by provincial councils, two by the National Youth Council and one by the Federation of the Associations of the Disabled.The National Electoral Commission (NEC) last week identified two officially recognised opposition political parties that have already presented candidates for the polls. While the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has presented a list of 64 candidates, the Liberal Party (PL) has submitted 62 candidates.The RPF has a list of 80 candidates out of whom 14 are drawn from five other minority political parties. According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) the campaigns would take 20 days until September 13.

Big blow hits Togo football

Disagreement over the salary of the coach of Togo’s national football team has led to his resignation after just four months at the helm of affairs.Disagreement over the salary of the coach of Togo’s national football team has led to his resignation.The Frenchman quits after just four months at the helm of affairs. His decision comes just nine days ahead of Togo’s 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Zambia.The BBC reported that there is some confusion as to exactly why he has left the post. But the Togo Football Federation (TFF) told the channel that there had been a disagreement over Henri Stambouli’s salary. However, Stambouli has said that the TFF had not given him enough support. He disclosed: “The TFF has not cooperated in providing me with the necessary facilities to train the players and make other preparations for Togo for their 2010 qualifying matches.” The assistant coach Kodjovi Mawuena will take temporary charge of the Hawks for their game on 10 September against Zambia. Togo, who qualified for the 2006 World Cup, are currently bottom of the three-team Group 11 one point behind both Swaziland and Zambia, who are on four points. The Hawks have played one game less than the other two sides but suffered a shock 2-1 defeat in Swaziland in their last 2010 qualifier in July.

Zambia split over Mwanawasa’s successor

Heated debate has ensued over the successor of the late President of Zambia. Three days before Levy Mwanawasa’s body is buried, fifteen high ranked members of the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) have applied for the vacant position of head of state.The controversy is over eligibility status of a suitable candidate and who fits to continue with the policy of the late president. Party officials have narrowed their choice to two influential people in the party – Vice President Rupiah Banda and Finance and National Planning Minister Ngandu Magande.A week before the members of the National Executive Committee meet to make their final choice, President Mwanawasa’s widow Maureen revealed that her late husband preferred Magande to succeed him. Her assertion was met with mixed reactions from other party officials who support other candidates.Some MMD top figures have recognized Mrs. Mwanawasa’s revelations with respect but say it is out of touch with party policy. Speaking on state television on Sunday, MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba said, “Mrs. Mwanawasa has the right to express herself as a Zambian citizen, but the powers are in the NEC to choose the right candidate”.However, a member of MMD and a former Zambian ambassador to Mozambique, George Chilumanda has thrown his weight behind Vice President Banda because of his political maturity and experience. “MMD is better placed to win the by-election if it chooses a person who has experience and mature and one who knew President Mwanawasa’s legacy well; or if we are not careful we may lose this presidency to the opposition,” he cautioned.But according to MMD Manifesto one qualifies to stand for position on the party’s ticket if he or she is a card bearing member of the party for a consecutive period of more than two years. Meanwhile, Banda has only been Vice President for two years and has never renounced his UNIP membership and it is not clear whether he has joined MMD on the quiet. Even with that his card may be short of the minimum requirement for a candidature.The National Chairman of the MMD, Michael Mabenga told Sky Fm that NEC would not succumb to any external influence. “If President Mwanawasa ever had a successor in mind; he never suggested that to me”.