Independent presidential candidate for the July 2024 elections, Philippe Mpayimana, has pledged to introduce a mandatory military training of six months for young people who complete secondary education, if he is elected president in next month's poll.
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According to Mpayimana, the training should be included in national Itorero programme, before secondary school graduates undertake employment or enroll in higher education.
Itorero is an initiative of the RPF-led government that seeks to promote the culture of serving the country at no financial gain as a way of instilling patriotism, positive values, responsibility and selfless service, especially among young people.
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Mpayimana is contesting for the presidency against the incumbent President Paul Kagame, who is the flag-bearer of the governing Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) and eight allied parties, and Frank Habineza, the Chairperson of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR).
Mpayimana says Rwandans like Itorero so much the one month of civic education it usually lasts ends with participants still yearning for more.
He also referred to the love that Rwandans, in general, have for the military largely inspired by the legacy of the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA, the armed wing of the the RPF-Inkotanyi political party during the liberation struggle.
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After stopping the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, RPA was restructured and renamed the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
"It is obvious that, based on the legacy of heroism of Inkotanyi, many Rwandans like the army, they know its value. Why can’t we go through that channel [military training for young people who complete secondary education] so they can all acquire these (military) skills and serve as soldiers,” Mpayimana wondered.
"I wish that it becomes mandatory because students who finish secondary school education are [normally] aged 18 and that’s when they start making their own choices,” he said, indicating that this would facilitate their choice to join the military.
On potential implications to the country, Mpayimana said, "it would mean that the country has many soldiers because even those who would not eventually pursue a military career would be reservists,” adding that, "armies are strong pillars for countries.”
He said that this does not mean that one likes wars, "rather loves peace.”
A large and strong army enhances a country's dignity, he said.