Gertrude Kazarwa elected Speaker during inaugural parliament session
Gertrude Kazarwa from the Liberal Party (PL) was Wednesday elected Speaker of the next Parliament of Rwanda, as recently elected legislators held their inaugural session.
Her election followed the swearing in of new Members of Parliament for a five-year mandate following last month’s legislative elections.
President Paul Kagame presided over the inauguration ceremony at parliament building in the capital city Kigali, during which the MPs also elected two deputy speakers.
The lower house of the bicameral national legislature of Rwanda has 80 lawmakers.
They include representatives from political parties, and special groups including youth, women, and people with disabilities. A majority, 51 lawmakers are women, representing 63.75%.
Kazarwa received 73 out of 80 votes, beating her only male challenger Pie Nizeyimana who got five votes.
Kazarwa becomes the third woman to hold the position of Speaker of the Rwandan Parliament, after her predecessor Donatille Mukabalisa (2013-2024) and Rose Mukantabana (2008-2013).
Mussa Fazil Harerimana and Beline Uwineza were elected as deputy speakers in charge of finance and administration and in charge of legal affairs and governance oversight, respectively.
Rwanda’s constitution stipulates power sharing in state institutions. And the president and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies cannot come from same political parties.
During the same event, Edouard Ngirente, who was Tuesday reappointed by the president as the country’s prime minister, was also sworn-in.
Ngirente, an economist was first appointed to the position in August 2017.
Prior to his first appointment as prime minister, the 51-year old worked with the World Bank Group in Washington D.C. as senior advisor to the executive director.
