KIGALI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A 35 year-old Rwandan woman who seeks to challenge incumbent President Paul Kagame in August's presidential poll Tuesday presented her candidature to the National Electoral Commission of Rwanda (NEC).
Diane Shima Rwigara is the first female to show presidential ambition in this year's presidential elections.
The independent competitor arrived the commission accompanied by her mother and other relatives. In her brief to journalists, Rwigara said she would focus on poverty reduction, security, and ensure free political space once elected in the poll.
Rwigara joins Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, Gilbert Mwenedata, independent and Fred S. Barafinda, said to be the representative of Rwanda Revolutionary Union Democratic Advancers (RRUDA), who had presented their credentials to the commission. RRUDA is not known among registered parties in Rwanda.
Rwigara is a daughter of a fallen Rwandan tycoon Assinapol Rwigara, who died in a road accident in 2015.
The National Electoral Commission chairperson Kalisa Mbanda said Rwigara presented all the required documents required of an aspirant.
A provisional list of qualified candidates will be announced on June 27, the names of qualified candidates will be published on July 7, a week before campaigns start, according to the NEC.
Campaigns for the qualified candidates will officially begin on July 14 and end on August 3, just a day before the elections.
It is estimated that about 6.8 million Rwandans will vote in the upcoming elections, according to the NEC.
