Rwandans in 41 sectors around the country had the opportunity to air out their views on the ongoing debate on whether or not to amend Article 101 of the Constitution as President Paul Kagame’s second and last term in office draws nearer.

VIDEO: Term limits: MPs begin nationwide consultations. Source: The New Times/YouTube

The discussions are being led by Members of Parliament who started a three-week nationwide consultative process yesterday, with deputies traversing 30 sectors and senators 11 across the country on Day One of the consultations.

There are 416 sectors nationwide and the bicameral Parliament has said its members will reach every sector to gather more public views on the issue two years ahead of the expiry of Kagame’s current term.

This follows last week’s backing by MPs of the relevance of petitions from more than 3.7 million Rwandans who want the article amended to allow Kagame to stand for another term in office come 2017.

In Gikomero, a rural sector of Kigali’s Gasabo District, where deputy Zeno Mutimura led a delegation of three members of the Chamber of Deputies in collecting views from the public, many residents who spoke backed lifting of the term limits, while others said the article could be preserved but a special clause introduced to allow for Kagame’s continued stewardship beyond 2017, owing to his performance record.

‘Deliveres on promises’

Alexandre Gahakwa, one of the residents, told the MPs that Kagame is the most qualified person to lead Rwanda into its next phase of socio-economic progress since he was central to laying a strong foundation and remains the country’s ultimate vision bearer.

He said Kagame has not only turned around the country’s economy and rebuilt its social fabric following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi but also took services to the people, particularly extended clean water, schools and hospitals to remote areas and gave the poor cows so they can transform their lives.

"He is one person I know who wishes the best for the people, he’s genuine to us and has always deliveres on his promises, why would we want to lose such a leader, after all he is still young and energetic, if it were up to me I would ensure he stays in charge for another two terms,” he said.

Another area resident, Donatille Mukankurikiyimana, said Article 101 of the Constitution should be amended to allow Kagame to seek re-election as a reward for his "unquestionable commitment to the people of this country”.

‘Free will of the people’

"Everything he’s done in his public life was in the best interest of the people,” she said, urging the lawmakers to go on and pave the way for a referendum on the issue. "He has brought electricity to us and our children go to good schools, what more do you need from a leader?”

Jean Pierre Twagiruwijuru suggested that article 101 could be preserved in its current form as a principle but another clause introduced to allow for an extension by another term for "exceptional leaders like Kagame, leaders who have given their life for their people and done extraordinary things”.

"We need to ensure that Rwandans are able to keep their presidents in power if they want and to remove them if they so wish.  We should never have a situation where unpopular presidents cling on to power as is currently the case in Burundi, that’s recipe for violence and we should avoid it.”

MP Mutimura praised the "free will” of the people, which he said was on show during the consultative meeting. "You could see that they were free as they gave their ideas and they shared diverse views.”

In Huye District, senators Prof. Chrysologue Karangwa and Evariste Bizimana, presided over the proceedings in Rusatira Sector.

Many residents here said they wanted President Kagame to lead the country for many years to come and implored Parliament to do its job to ensure that happens legally.

Some suggested that term limits be scrapped from the Constitution and instead people given more powers and legal avenues to remove a bad leader even before the expiry of their term in office.

Stephen Mukundabantu, a Rwandan who was expelled from Tanzania and has since been resettled in Rusatira Sector, said: "I wrote to Parliament requesting for the amendment of the Constitution because President Kagame promised to build us houses and he delivered on that promise. He has also united Rwandans, he loves Rwandans and works hard for their improved welfare.”

Another area resident, Anonciata Umwanzakuvugaye, credited Kagame with empowering Rwandan women and giving Rwandan children equal access to education opportunities.

"Today almost every Rwandan woman is a member of a savings and credit cooperative and women are no longer afraid of acquiring loans to invest in income-generating projects to develop themselves, the President has truly empowered women. It is also true that every Rwandan has right to education, which was not the case previously.”

‘Liberation war hero’

A senior citizen, Paul Rwicaminyoni, 79, recalled the 30 years he spent in exile in DR Congo owing to the discriminatory policies of the pre-Genocide regimes, and praised Kagame for leading the campaign to liberate Rwanda and stop the Genocide.

He said Kagame ensured all categories of Rwandan refugees returned home with dignity.

"Kagame is a hero, he led the liberation war and has brought us this far. I’m 79 years old but I have not seen or heard of any other leader who goes out of their way to ensure every citizen owns a cow and drinks milk,” he said.

"He eradicated thatched houses (Nyakatsi), which were a symbol of poverty. He promoted education for all, and is behind all the good things we have as a people, not to mention the peace and security that we enjoy.

"For these achievements, we need him to remain our president and lead us to more good things; it’s not so much about rewarding him because keeping him at the helm is in the best interest of every Rwandan, especially the poor.”

Domithile Mukakamanzi, a widow and mother of seven, said when her elder child passed national examinations under the regime of the late Juvenal Habyarimana, he was denied a chance to go secondary school because of discriminatory policies of the time.

"Today some of my children are studying at the University, that’s because every child has equal right to education,” she said.

Deputy Speaker Abbas Mukama, who coordinated the parliamentary consultations in Western and Southern provinces, said the people looked enthusiastic during the discussions.

 "I can tell you that in all of the sectors we have been to people look very interested,” he said.

‘A chance to prepare successor’

Senate vice-president Jeanne d’Arc Gakuba described the dialogue as "fruitful”.

In Rusatira, Senators, on several occasions, asked if there were people opposed to the amendment of Article 101 as has been requested by millions of Rwandans, but none came forward.

In Kimironko sector in Gasabo, Gaspard Bugingo, a resident, said term limits should be waived only for Kagame, while Joselyne Ingabire, a resident of Kibagabaga Cell, said the President deserves more terms because of his "exceptionality”.

Théodomir Ngarambe, another resident, said Kagame should be given one more term to prepare a successor. "The President has done well for us. I wish he could get another seven-year term to allow him to prepare a competent successor.”

Senator Tito Rutaremara, who led the consultative team of senators in Kimironko, urged residents to forward their views to Parliament for consideration in subsequent deliberations.

For a referendum to be held on presidential term limits, both chambers of Parliament must support the proposal by at least three-quarters.