Editor,

As Rwandans, we are keenly aware of the journey we have traversed over the past 21 years – a journey filled with complex challenges but also marked by progressive milestones.

We also know where we want to be as clearly articulated in the Vision 2020. More importantly, though, we are certain of the leader that will ensure the attainment of the Vision 2020 goals.

That is why we see the choice that Rwandans made in petitioning the parliament to initiate the process to change Article 101 to facilitate the removal of the term limits as the necessary step to ensure that we reach our desired destination, enshrined in Vision 2020. 

In addition, we are also of the view that Rwandans’ desire to remove the term limits is tied to our hope that President Paul Kagame will accept the request by the Rwandan people to continue being the "driver” of the impressive transformational changes that have taken place ever since he was first democratically elected in 2003.

President Kagame has a proven track record of transformational leadership that elevated Rwanda from a potentially failed state in 1994 to a level where, today, various international surveys place us in favourable competitive regional or global positions.

For example, the World Economic Forum Competitiveness Report 2015 places Rwanda in 3rd position (behind Mauritius and South Africa) in Africa and 62nd globally.

To put this in context, the country in the East African region with the closest ranking is Kenya, at 9th position in Africa and 90th globally. More recently, Rwanda was ranked fourth in networked readiness in Africa, behind only Mauritius, South Africa, and Morocco.

Other significant milestones that took place during President Kagame’s leadership include, but are not limited to, the following: peace and security that prevails across the country; provisions in the constitution which resulted into 64% of MPs elected in the last election being women which kept Rwanda in the 1st place in the world with the highest number of women MPs in parliament; and millions of Rwandans pulled out of poverty.

So, while some outside commentators, with suspect motives, have advocated for non-removal of term limits claiming that "we can get other Rwandans who are competent enough to lead the country”, we respectfully say that we cannot risk our country’s progress being stalled or even reversed and will, therefore, stick to a leader that is experienced, tested and has the complete trust of the Rwandan people and that leader is none other than President Paul Kagame. Agaciro Kacu Mobilization Group – Toronto, Canada