Athletics Federation sets new date for elections

Muha J.M.

Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) has set January 28, 2018, as new date to hold athletic elections for the next four years.

The head of the RAF electoral commission, Capt. Oswald Rutagengwa announced the date after the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly which convened over the weekend and attended by all the official members of RAF.

“Elections will be on held in January, and they are still open to any member interested in any position. Those who submitted can either retain their submissions to the same position as previously done or apply for other positions of preference.”

“The reason why the deadline for submission was protracted is because some positions lacked applicants since they had not fulfilled the requirements, the other reason is to incorporate women into the new committee.”

Two candidates had applied for the positions of president namely: Johnson Rukundoformer secretary general standing against incumbent president Jean-Paul Munyadamutsa.

Former Rwandan international long distance runner Serge Gasore, the founder of ‘Gasore Foundation’, a charity organization based in Bugesera Ntarama, was the exception applicant vying for the position of secretary-general.

Hussein Kamanzi was the single contender for the position of Vice President and PatrickNiyigira had applied for treasure.

Before election dates where postponed, no female applicant had shown interest in being part of the new committee.

According to the resolution from the GM, it was decided that more time should be offered so that all official RAF members can persuade the ladies capable from respective clubs to apply.

According to the RAF constitution, the executive committee is supposed to take into consideration the issue of gender where 30% of the committee should be made of women.