We must swiftly deal with all barriers to our development

Editor, This is in reference to the story, “A toast to a leader who delivers what he promises to the people” (The New Times, July 17).

Friday, July 17, 2015
A resident of Nyamaseke asks a question during the Presidentu2019s visit on June, 29th. Rwandans lauded President Kagame for steering the socio-economic development of the country. (Courtesy)

Editor,

This is in reference to the story,  "A toast to a leader who delivers what he promises to the people” (The New Times, July 17).

Dr Joseph Karemera has explained it in a quantifiable and commendable manner. In Rwanda, we have a winning coach who has been delivering results consistently for the last 14 years, and the players of our team as well as the owners of the team are happy. We the citizens of the republic want him for another 7 years.

I urge Parliament and the Senate to do it swiftly so that our collective brainpower is refocused on the development to middle income status.

It’s achievable especially if we emulate our brothers and sisters from the Asian Tigers who have made it. Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam should be our role models.

Most of these countries have had strong pro people leadership (for sure Singapore did).

All of these countries have something in common: culture of excellence and innovation, very strong attachment to their indigenous cultural values, hard work, and massive education.

For Rwanda, we have reconnected with these values of excellence for the last two decades but we still have a long way to go.

President Kagame needs to keep us on track for at least another 7 years. It’s also important that the citizens, especially the young generation, begin to step up and emulating our leader so that when time comes to pass the baton in 7 or 14 years we don’t look confused and unprepared.

Al

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Thank you very much Dr. Karemera for highlighting just one of the so many items on President Paul Kagame’s track record of leadership excellence. I am not very sure many leaders, anywhere in the world, ever achieved as much in such a short time given a similar to Rwanda’s situation (post conflict and post genocide complication).

President Kagame is a God-given and God-empowered which any nation would ever wish for. As rightly pointed out, the "love of his country and people with the greatest passion” is a very distinctive characteristic: most, if not all, leaders lead for their own sake, but Kagame leads for his people’s sake (not considering himself first)—seems he derives his joys in seeing the joys in his people, and such a leader is godly because he is love propelled and not duty compelled. He is almost perfect in most of his approaches to things, and that is not a human trait.

I personally feel that the whole nation should earnestly pray that God continues to shower upon him perfect health and protection and more of his wisdom and guidance than ever before for the good of us all. The nation is going through a rare moment of a divine visitation which may never last forever.

I personally believe that term limits is a serious necessity given our background and history, but for Paul Kagame, let God accomplish his own purpose and plans for the nation.

Donart