The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has launched its parliamentary campaign in Ngoma District, Eastern Province, this Monday 13th August 2018 with a pledge to revamp agriculture and exempt taxes for the low-income earners.
PSD Senior cadres and leadership had joined Residents of Ngoma District as the parliamentary rallies kick off.
At the rally on Monday, Dr Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, the PSD Executive Secretary and the party’s number one candidate for a seat in the Lower House, said PSD intends to promote the livelihoods of the farmers through putting in place sustainable programmes, considering that the country’s economy is largely based on agriculture and livestock.
“Our country has fertile land and hard working farmers but we have to improve some areas with better planning in agriculture and animal resources sector. As PSD, we want to be a good advocate, to advocate on separating agriculture and animal resources to get each area develop better,” he said.
He said PSD will teach farmers on better practices and find them markets for the produces.
Dr Ngabitsinze said the party will seek to exempt taxes on the salary which is below Rwf60,0000 while the current law taxes the salary from Rwf30,000.
PSD President Dr Vincent Biruta said the party is proud of its contribution in the reconstruction of Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that had devastated the country.
“PSD has played a crucial role in reconstructing the country towards peace, unity, reconciliation and development. We are proud of the step we have made in democracy in our country. PSD is prepared to keep contributing in the country’s governance and development,” said Dr Biruta who is the Minister for Environment.
PSD parliamentary campaigns were officially launched by Dr. Vincent Biruta, the Minister of Environment and President of PSD in Rwanda.
PSD has been in existence for 27 years and was in the coalition of parties which fought the genocidal regime in the 1990s.
After the genocide, PSD has been alongside the citizens in the reconstruction process and putting in place foundations for the governance that leads to the country’s development, democracy, justice and social welfare of the citizens.
In the 2003 presidential elections, PSD rallied behind then RPF candidate Paul Kagame but in 2010, PSD put forward its presidential candidate Dr Jean Damascène Ntawukuriryayo who won the second place in votes behind the RPF’s Paul Kagame.
PSD also emerged the second in 2013 parliamentary elections and acquired seven seats in Rwanda’s Parliament.
The PSD Secretary General Dr. Chrysostome Ngabitsinze presented the party’s manifesto to Ngoma residents and members of the press present.
In 2015 PSD was part of the political parties and individual Rwandans who campaigned for the Constitution amendment to allow President Paul Kagame to run for the third term, citing his unrivalled leadership. The Constitution was later amended by the November 2015 Referendum, removing the two seven-year term limit that Kagame was serving until 2017 and allowed him a seven-year transition term ending in 2024 and two five-year terms thereafter.
In the 2017 presidential elections, PSD also rallied behind the RPF’s Kagame who won the elections.
For the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for September 2 and 3, PSD has now put forward 65 candidates among whom are 40 male and 25 female.
See the full list of PSD’s parliamentary candidates for the upcoming Rwanda’s MPs elections.
See full launch of PSD parliamentary campaign rallies in photos below:
Kinyarwanda
