KIGALI - President Paul Kagame, yesterday, met with a group of 12 Rwandans living in Zambia and Malawi at Village Urugwiro The group has been in the country for two weeks to witness, first-hand, the country’s progress.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the meeting, Rodrigue Maniliho, a Biomedical Scientist working with the University Teaching Hospital in Zambia, said that they were impressed by developments in the country.

"We discussed with the President how we can sensitise Rwandans living in Malawi and Zambia about the current situation in Rwanda so that they can come back home,” he said.

He added that most Rwandans living outside usually receive false information about the country, from detractors and this stops them from coming back.

"Rwanda has registered a lot of development, there is peace and security and its time for everyone (refugees) to come back and acquire the necessary documents that allow them to remain in the Diaspora as Rwandans, if they still want to continue living in foreign countries,” Maniliho said.

The Head of the Rwandan Diaspora in Malawi, Jean Claude Gasana, said that there are more than 4,000 Rwandan refugees in Malawi interested in returning home but lack the means and capacity to do so.

"Our country has registered tremendous development so there is no need to be a refugee,” he noted.

Gasana added that during their visit to Mutobo reintegration camp, they held discussions with the ex-FDLR commanders, who told them to assure the Rwandan refugees to return home because the country was safe and secure for everyone.

Louise Mushikiwabo, the Minister of Foreign of Affairs, said that the Head of State painted for the group, a picture of where Rwanda is today and a very important message of transformation that has taken place in the minds of the people.

"President Kagame assured them that this country is theirs and at this particular time in our history, no Rwandan should be excluded,” she said.

Mushikiwabo added that the President told them that they belong to Rwanda and whether they want to return or remain wherever they are, the country is open to them and the leadership is ready to continue protecting the interests of any Rwandan wherever they are.

While in the country, the group visited several Rwandan institutions including security organs, both chambers of Parliament, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Health, Mutobo reintegration camp and all four provinces.

Latest UNHCR records estimate that there are 4,032 Rwandan refugees in Zambia and 4,070in Malawi.

Ends