"Use stability to fight poverty and drive development”

RUBAVU - President Kagame yesterday visited the Western Province where he called on Rwandans to make use of hard-won peace and stability as the foundation to fight poverty, create wealth and drive development for the wellbeing of all.

At the Rubavu Stadium on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and Inequality” President Kagame participated with about 10,000 Rwandans in a "Stand Up”, an act of solidarity with millions around the world in the "Stand Up Against Poverty” 2008 campaign in support of efforts to end poverty and achieve and exceed the Millennium Development Goals.

Minister of Local Government -  Protais Musoni and Minister of Information – Louise Mushikiwabo, read out the "Stand Up Pledge” in English and Kinyarwanda respectively.

President Kagame thanked the residents of Rubavu District for their continued efforts including their participation in the recently concluded successful legislative elections.

Responding to concerns expressed by the Mayor of Rubavu – and the Governor of Western Province, Penelope Kantarama, regarding insecurity across the border in DRC, President Kagame urged the residents to work together to identify threats to security in their communities.

He reassured them that the conflict currently on going in neighbouring DRC will not spill over into Rwanda and that the relevant authorities are capable of guaranteeing their security.

President Kagame encouraged residents to concentrate on protecting the stability achieved as well as the development in which the country was investing, particularly the costly infrastructure projects being undertaken in Western Province, such as the methane gas extraction and road construction, which when complete will dramatically improve the lives of Rwanda.

President Kagame promised the citizens whose homes were destroyed by recent strong winds that they would receive assistance from the government to rebuild.

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