Editor, 

RE: "Rwanda’s political messiahs” (The New Times, October 2). Allow me to first of all quote the author: "But the bar must remain high. Evidence suggests that it is working and that it has, time and again, been able to act as a firewall against the rise of political mediocrity and the clinically insane to positions of leadership as a means of averting the recurrence of tragedy. It is never again in practice.”

Excellent piece, Mr Rugira! That closing paragraph struck the deepest chord with me. It occurs to me this democracy—as should be the case with any other democracy—needs to be based on the belief and trust in the will of the people.

Regardless of the specific details that make up a country’s democratic system, it must be a system based on the belief and trust in the will of the people. We have only come this far in Rwanda, because we believe in seeking and maintaining high standards. "The bar must remain high” perfectly captures this.

We are a small country with big goals. And such goals could never have been achieved if we the people did not believe in ourselves as a people worthy of high standards. The Rwandan people believe in this resistance against mediocrity. We the ordinary citizens engage our public servants publicly, because we know we are deserving of the best of standards. It’s simple truth that is perfectly understood and accepted by RPF. And RPF’s adherence to high standards is a testimony to its belief in the Rwandan people.

This is the quality we want in our system, because we believe this is what will sustain our progress into an ever brighter future. We believe we are capable of achieving this future. So, any party or group of individuals that do not believe in these high standards and goals, or does not believe in fulfilling even the most basic entry requirements into our country’s political system, is simply telling us they do not believe in us, the Rwandan people. And if you don’t believe in Rwandans, how do you expect Rwandans to believe in you?

Dayo Ntwari