Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2018 shows the swearing in ceremony of Rwanda's newly-elected parliament members at the parliament in Kigali, Rwanda. Rwanda's newly-elected parliament members were sworn in for a five-year term in the capital city Kigali Wednesday. (Xinhua/Cyril Ndegeya)
KIGALI, Sep. 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's newly-elected parliament members were Wednesday sworn in for a five-year term in the capital city Kigali.
The 80 members of the lower house Chamber of Deputies were voted in parliamentary elections conducted from Sept. 2 to 4, where the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and its six allied parties won 40 seats out of 53 seats directly elected by proportional representation. The other 27 seats reserved for special interest groups including women, the young and the disabled were elected indirectly.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who officiated the swearing-in ceremony, urged the lawmakers to hold government accountable in serving citizens and delivering development.
"It is about starting a new mandate and committing to working hard. Rwandans have placed their trust in you to serve them and work towards transforming this country into what Rwandans want and deserve," he said after the ceremony.
He also urged them to remain close to the citizenry.
After the swearing in ceremony, the lawmakers elected Donatille Mukabalisa of Liberal Party as Speaker for a second term with 80 votes out of 80. They also elected Edda Mukabagwiza and Musa Fazil Harelimana to Deputy Speaker.
More than 7 million voters participated in the elections, according to the National Electoral Commission.
Parties who also won seats in the elections include the Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and the Social Party Imberakuri.
