VILLAGE URUGWIRO - A visiting group of legislators and leaders from the Limpopo Province of South Africa have said that they were awed by the country’s immense achievements in spite of its past mayhem.

"We have been positively overwhelmed by the positive observations we have made in this country that not so long ago had gone through difficult times,” Dr. Simon Farisani Tshenuwani told reporters yesterday shortly after paying a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro.

Dr. Farisani, who is the Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature and head of delegation, also said that they had visited Genocide memorial sites and other places that rekindle sad memories.

"I say we are very overwhelmed because in spite of the challenges and setbacks, the people have worked like children of one father and one mother to rebuild their country,” he noted.

"The other overwhelming experience we shall never forget is that the people of Rwanda have received us with great love wherever we went,” he added.

Limpopo is South Africa’s northernmost province, lying within the great curve of the Limpopo River. It borders Botswana to the west, Zimbabwe to the north and Mozambique to the east.

•President’s role on progress commended

Farisani also praised the President for his role in pushing the country forward.

"We had come to say thank you Your Excellency President Paul Kagame for the way in which you have led your country out of the recent history of darkness and into the era of light,” he said, explaining the main purpose of the courtesy call.

He added that Kagame’s input went beyond Rwanda to the African continent as a whole.

He alluded to what he termed the African renaissance and the African century, pointing to Kagame’s input in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), efficiency of the Pan African parliament, the Millennium Development Goals, among others.

"Doing that without neglecting your country is very critical because that is what we see happening here,” he underscored, and said that his Province was engaging in a strong development partnership with the Eastern Province of Rwanda.

"In principle and in spirit, we want to work on a partnership between Limpopo province and the Eastern Province so that whatever we achieve should not be reserved only for those in high places in government but should also benefit our people in Rwanda and Limpopo.”

The delegation visited several places in the country including Kigali City, and will now embark on a visit of the eastern Province given the special arrangement they have with it.

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