During the monthly community work (Umuganda) last month, President Paul Kagame urged Rwandans to embrace the culture of hard work as one of the ways to sustain the current development pace. The President noted that development is not a miracle but a result of hard work.

The President’s remarks are timely and every Rwandan should apply the values of hard work in their daily lives to achieve the country’s desired growth and uplift those living below the poverty line.

Fighting poverty and personal development cannot be achieved through wishful thinking and hope that a miracle will happen.

There is no shortcut to development. The road to development is through hard work and earning a living through honest means. Corruption and other forms of shortcuts to personal enrichment only lead to more poverty as the majority of the people are deprived social services in the process.

As Rwandans, we must get into the habit of working hard to achieve personal goals, which subsequently contribute to national development.

As an individual look at what you want to achieve in the short and long term. Then embark on the process of achieving this through embracing the values of hard work like keeping time and giving yourself deadlines to achieve certain goals. In essence set personal Imihigo (performance contracts) to guide you.

Getting out of poverty is not an overnight occurrence; it takes years of hard work and commitment to reach that goal.

As a country, what we have achieved so far shows that hard work pays, and there is need to keep the momentum.

Hard work can be reflected at all levels, whether you’re a leader, a businessman, farmer or a casual worker- put the values of hard work at the fore front of what you are doing.