President Paul Kagame has urged the country’s top leaders and Rwandans to go beyond being thankful for Rwanda’s progress and examine their individual role in sustaining development.

The Head of State delivered the message yesterday while speaking at leaders’ Prayer Breakfast, a thanksgiving event that brings together the country’s top leaders every year.

The president said leaders need to use this opportunity to reflect on their responsibilities of leading Rwandans to greater heights.

"Working towards the achievements we deserve should not be a onetime event, it should be an ongoing journey and a way of life,” Kagame said.

The Head of State reminded leaders and Rwandans that no one is in charge of their well being and encouraged them to be in full control of their livelihood.

"Rwandans, you must fight to be at the high table. If you are not on the high table, you will be on the menu. We have been items on the menu for too long. No one owes us our livelihood and we do not owe anyone our livelihood,” he said.

Speaking on the importance of the Bible, President Kagame pointed to the need to turn words into action.

"The Bible contains many life lessons, the importance is to turn its teachings into action,” he said.

The country’s top leaders gathered at the prayer thanked God for keeping Rwanda safe and prospering in the year 2014.

Françoise Mukayisenga, a Member of Parliament, said: "We thank God for His guidance in all the achievements.”

Pastor Antoine Rutayisire, head of Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, said in a sermon that leaders need to always remember that they are servants of people and avoid complacency, arrogance, and corruption.

"We are in service for the people. Let’s pray that God gives us the heart to lead Rwandans well,” he said.

President Kagame told leaders to remember that a convergence needs to be found between politics and morality.

He said what is morally correct should be politically correct and vice versa.

"Our role as leaders is to work towards ensuring the gap between what is morally and politically correct is as small as possible,” Kagame said.

The Head of State told leaders that Rwanda is defined by a tragic past but that its future needed to be bright as a result of their hard work.

He reminded them that they will always emerge as winners if they fight for the truth and rights of all Rwandans.

"When you are fighting on the side of the truth, you are not afraid, you don’t give up or expect others to fight your battles,” he said.

Pastor Rutayisire says the leaders’ prayer is an important moment where leaders get a chance to meet and reflect on their work as they also ask God to be on their side.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw