The democratization process that started fifteen years ago by the current leadership in Rwanda has been largely achieved, Andrew Mitchell, the British Conservative Party and opposition Spokesperson on International Development has said.

In an exclusive interview with The NewTimes on Tuesday, Mitchell said Rwanda’s zero tolerance policy for corruption is an African success story that has won Kigali global accolades. 

"It is quite unusual to find honest, credible and straightforward leadership in Africa like we see in Rwanda,” Mitchell explained.

He said corruption is endemic in Africa but Rwanda has been able to take a firm stand against the vice.

"This is an impressive achievement for Rwanda. I hope other states will learn from Kigali,” Andrew added.

He observed that unless African countries adopt severe anti-corruption policies, the democratization process on the continent will fade and economic transformations will go down.

Under Rwandan law, any public servant involved in a corruption scandal is immediately sacked and imprisoned, depending on the severity of the crime.

Mitchell says the reconciliation process started after the Genocide is also one of the pillars for Rwanda’s rapid economic growth and peace.

"What condemns people to poverty is conflict and Rwanda has managed to end this,” Mitchell said.

He says strong leadership and accountability are integral components to transform societies.

"But I think everything starts by electing honest leadership. President Paul Kagame is a very clean leader but also a determined one,” he said.

Mitchell is leading 100 members of the UK Conservative Party volunteers who arrived in the country on Saturday for the third phase of Project Umubano.

A team of teachers, medical specialists, lawyers and a dentist will work in rural areas.

According to Mitchell, the Conservatives are also hoping to teach English language as part of the ministry’s training programme.

Conservatives will help train teachers throughout the country in English communication skills.

This year, conservatives are also turning their attention to the private sector, "the key driver of Rwanda’s long term development strategy of vision 2020.”

Other members of Conservatives traveled to Sierra Leone as the Project branches into new developing countries.

He explained that the trip to Rwanda was an important opportunity to experience "the reality of life in the country and evaluate their projects.”

 Last year 100 volunteers also spent two weeks learning first hand Rwanda’s development challenges and offering targeted professional help.

The four projects in Rwanda focus on health, the private sector, justice and education.

For two successive years Andrew Mitchell has organized Project Umubano, a social action project where Conservative volunteers work on a variety of development projects in Rwanda.

Mitchell who is also Shadow Secretary of State for International Development said Conservative Party members will also participate in Umuganda on Saturday.

Ends