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KIGALI, RWANDA —Rwandan voters cast their ballots Monday in an election where incumbent President Paul Kagame is expected to cruise to an easy victory. But his opponents say after serving so many terms, it is time for him to retire from the political landscape and give others a chance to help shape the country.
People stood in line patiently starting at 7 a.m. to vote, saying they were excited to exercise their civic responsibility for their country. Some said they want a leader who can deliver what the population desires. Others say they have seen progress and will vote for that to continue.
Julie Igiraneza said there was no stress with the voting process, which was smooth and organized.
"I want the perfect candidate to win the elections because that's what I want for Rwanda," she said. "The future of Rwanda is very bright, and we need a leader to take us there ... one that delivers what the citizens of the country need, development of infrastructure, security."
Albert Rudatsimburwa said he was a refugee for 30 years before moving back to Rwanda in August 1994. He said there is no reason to change something that is already working.
"I've seen the rebirth of a nation," he said. "I've watched it, I've witnessed it."
Kagame cast his vote around 1:30 p.m. local time at a voting center in Kigali. At a news conference over the weekend, the incumbent told reporters that his priorities of building and growing the country he's been leading since 2000 toward prosperity will not change. He deflected retirement questions, saying that he never wanted to be president, that it's his party that insists on his candidacy year after year.
He faces two other candidates, including Democratic Green Party Candidate Frank Habineza and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.
Mpayimana said he is the candidate for change from the government of the past 30 years. He said there are some institutions that can be reinforced while others can be eliminated.
This is the second bid for the top job for the journalist-turned-politician whose manifesto initiatives have received coverage in 50-plus articles to develop agriculture, transportation, fishing and other industries.
Democratic Green Party candidate Frank Habineza, who also ran against Kagame at the last elections, told VOA he is in the race again this year because the incumbent has been in office too long.
"I am giving them [voters] hope that after 30 years, we really need to see a different way of living, different political programs, different thinking, and a different vision," he said.
About 9 million of the more than 14 million Rwandans are registered to vote - 2 million more than last time, according to the National Electoral Commission. For the first time, parliamentary and presidential elections are combined.
Oda Gasinzigwa, chairperson of NEC, said it's an exciting but new experience.
"The measures we have put in place to make sure that nothing goes wrong is, first of all we had a very comprehensive voter education," Gasinzigwa said. "So, this has been a very important component to make sure that everyone is on board."
She also said that more than 300 international observers are in Rwanda and about 700 local observers.
Herve Bertrand Keumogne, an international election observer from Nouvelle Perspective, said his organization has 25 observers on the ground.
"Today, we are seeing the queues everywhere to vote," Keumogne said. "Up to now, we haven't noticed anything abnormal, we have the ballots are there, the boxes are transparent, and the people where they have to choose their candidate is well built. People are choosing their candidate in secret and that is something important."
The Kagame, 66, is expected to cruise to an easy victory. One reason, according to critics, is that he has stifled dissent. But another, analysts say, is the way he has been able to guide the East African country toward internal peace since the 1994 genocide, when an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu extremists.