When Rwanda was liberated, the odds of survival were long. Our strategic environment was fraught with danger. The neighbourhood was hostile. The treasury was empty. With virtually nothing, Rwanda was vulnerable. Fortunately, through Rwanda’s enlightened leadership, they realised quickly that a nation that wanted to shape its own future first had to protect its people and its interests. We will forever be grateful.
Today, Rwanda is completely transformed. We have the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) that is kriss-krossing the world cutting deals on behalf of Rwandans – a quick example is the brilliant #visitRwanda campaign, we have the Rwanda convention bureau that warmly welcomes all guests visiting Rwanda, and we also have the Kigali Financial Centre (KIFC) – what RDB did for Rwanda over the last decade, KIFC will do even more in the next decade, and the skyline is absolutely ravishing. In short, Kigali has become a dynamic, global city.
How did we achieve this? Rwandans worked very hard, and we connected ourselves to the world and made a living for ourselves. But more importantly, it is because our Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and Rwanda National Police (RNP) made vital contributions. They protected us from danger, and provided the security and confidence that enabled us to build our economy, educate our people, attract foreign investments, and improve our lives. They still do so today.
Despite our tough start, today, Rwanda is successful, wildly successful. Otherwise, we wouldn't be sitting here today. But we can't stand still because the world is changing, our people are changing and so must Rwanda and so must the way we govern Rwanda.
To continue to succeed we have to balance between continuity and change, keeping what is still working and good and strong in our system, which is a lot, and changing the part which is obsolete, discarding the part which is no longer relevant, inventing new pieces, new ideas to deal with new problems and to take advantage of new opportunities and to develop new strengths and strategies to thrive in a different world.
We can never afford to be satisfied with the status quo, even if we are still okay, even if our policies are still working. People say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". I say, if it ain't broke, better maintain it, lubricate it, inspect it, replace it, upgrade it, try something better and make it work better than before.
We have to rethink all our problems, big and small. Nothing should ever be set in stone. Afterall, Rwanda is a country where the impossible becomes possible. We have to support our entrepreneurs. They are the backbone of our economy. We have to support Rwandans being spontaneous, being unconventional. We should not put obstacles in their way. We should help them to succeed.
Looking ahead, I am optimistic. We are building something unique and precious here. In a world full of strife, we have everyone living in harmony. In a region where corruption is everywhere, we have a clean and meritocratic system. We invest in our young to help each one to find his strengths and realise his aspirations. We offer special opportunities to all to do well and also to contribute to Rwanda and we spread widely the benefits of progress so that everybody benefits when the country does well. And we are strengthening our national identity day by day. It is not yet a very long history, but year by year, with each crisis, with each joy and each sorrow, we build on it.
Each successor generation of Rwandans must build on these assets and work out their solutions to new problems, seize new opportunities and avoid impending disasters in an ever changing world. We have to strengthen our national consciousness at a time when the forces of globalisation are deconstructing the very notion of nationhood.
We must help younger generations of Rwandans who have grown up in a more stable and affluent environment to understand these strategic realities, and prepare them for their part in defending Rwanda, our home. We must also strengthen Total Defence. Every Rwandan must be committed to the defence of Rwanda, whether it is military defence, civil defence, economic, social or psychological defence.
Now, what do I see as a vision for Rwanda? I think this will always be work-in-progress because we will never be satisfied. We always want to move on, do better. But I know ours is a future of opportunity and promise. We should have a prospering economy, creating good jobs for all and having opportunities for our people to venture and to create new businesses and new openings and new possibilities for ourselves. So, we have a lot going for us. Let us all work together to realise our dreams and to make this bright future for our people and for Rwanda. Happy New Year 2022!
The author is the Managing Director of Safe Gas.