Woman nominated to vie for presidency

For the first time, a woman has been nominated by a political party to contest Rwanda's presidency. The presidential poll is due to be held on 25 August, marking the first post-genocide elections in the country. The candidate, Alvere Mukabaramba, is a medical doctor. She joins four other presidential aspirants who include the incumbent, President Paul Kagame. Mukabaramba, from the majority Hutu community, was nominated on Wednesday in the capital, Kigali, by a new party, Parti du progres et la concorde. "The place for a woman is no longer the kitchen; I am ready to take on Kagame," she said at a news conference after her nomination. She served for five years as a Member of Parliament in the transitional national assembly. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for 29 August. If elected, Mukabaramba has promised to ensure free primary and ordinary level secondary school education, to fight for expansion of the East African Community and to promote gender balance, among other issues. Meanwhile, presidential candidates flocked to the National Electoral Commission to register ahead of the Friday deadline. The presidential poll has attracted five candidates, so far. Mukabaramba and two other candidates, Nepomuscene Nayinzira and Theoneste Niyitegeka, both contesting as independents, were all slated to register on Thursday. Kagame was the first candidate to register on Monday. Former Prime Minister Faustin Twagiramungu is also expected to beat the registration deadline.