ON Friday evening, senior leaders representing the four political parties contesting for president took part in the first presidential debate.

The very fact that political parties contesting for the highest office in the land, come together to debate the critical issues in the campaigns is again one of the several pointers of where Rwanda has reached in its politics.
 
There are a few countries where such things as a presidential debate for granted. In any case, such political maturity should be the norm. But recalling Rwanda’s political history, it is a milestone and a momentous achievement for all Rwandans.
 
Gone are the days when political activism meant party youth wingers hurling insults and threatening violence. There was a time, when politicians in this country, were better known for their virulent rhetorical.  Now, Rwanda’s political class has reached a level where appealing to base instincts for political purposes has no place.
 
Thus the style of campaigning, characterised by civilized contest of ideas that has taken root in Rwanda, and which still eludes a number of other developing countries, is a culmination of a sustained  process of deliberate and progressive policies since 1994.  These were ushered in following the defeat of the genocide forces, and politics of divisionism.
 
Therefore, Rwandans have sent a clear message to the cynics and the rest of the world. That mature politics is possible when we work for it, and that it is not a dirty game but a contest of ideas. Rwandans should guard such achievements jealously.

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