Being indifferent, where their development and well being is concerned is a thing of the past for Rwandans. Their new-found zeal for hard work is truly commendable and the results of this effort are obvious to see.

When one looks at all the progress the country has made since the dark days of 1994, you are amazed by the will of all the stakeholders, both private and public, to grab a hold of their own destiny and give the nations’ future a brighter hue. This is especially true when one looks at all the private-public partnerships in Rwanda.

Recently the residents of Kanombe, a Kigali suburb, celebrated the achievements that were made possible by their involvement.

These include, providing 4,500 homes in the area with access to electricity and clean drinking water. What should be feted is the fact that the residents contributed 50 percent of the cost for the electricity installation, to a tune of about Rwf 70m.

This huge sum was raised because residents decided to seize the initiative and get the job done. This kind of attitude should be mirrored by every Rwandan. We cannot wait for either the state, or someone else to rescue us.

We alone determine our destiny and it is upon us to give ourselves a chance for a better future. We can either sit on hands and hope that the government does everything for us, or we can, in collaboration with the government and the Vision 2020, emulate the people of Kanombe.

Ends