Let's begin with our own pensioners

Editor, Allow me to react to Kenneth Agutamba’s article, “A top retirement destination”, which was published in The New Times on March 15). I thank Mr. Agutamba for pointing at this issue of European pensioners eventually retiring in our country-to me Rwanda is a real heaven on earth for them.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Editor,

Allow me to react to Kenneth Agutamba’s article, "A top retirement destination”, which was published in The New Times on March 15).

I thank Mr. Agutamba for pointing at this issue of European pensioners eventually retiring in our country—to me Rwanda is a real heaven on earth for them.

My question is this: Why European retirees only? Why not launch a worldwide campaign inviting all retirees in all continents to pass through Rwanda, on their way to their long sought heaven, wherever this may be? Especially, a campaign first aimed at bringing back home all Rwandans born and aging in the Diaspora, and most of them now bitterly disillusioned and not so comfortably living in the long falsely believed Western Heaven?

And secondly, even more urging, instead of just focusing on foreign currency that those aging foreigners may eventually invest/spend in Rwanda, why not come up with a well orchestrated campaign to awaken all Rwandan citizens themselves, particularly the youth (56% of the population are in 15-64 years age range), to the need for a careful and early planning for their retirement?

Dear Agutamba, have you ever asked yourself what you—and all the increasing number of youngsters will be doing in 20 to 40 years from now?

Perhaps, that is farfetched, but even among us here there are more interesting potential Rwandan investors of all sorts that are ignored, and they themselves ignore and squander their real monetary and other capacities to contribute to their well-being, and ultimately their well aging in our heavenly Rwanda!

Francois-Xavier Nziyonsenga