Editor,

I read, with great pleasure, in yesterday’s issue of The New Times, that the United Kingdom has chosen Rwanda as one   of the two countries to host a new pilot programme for development assistance to Africa.

Upon its success, the new programme will be applied in other African countries, changing the way the UK administers aid to Africa.

One might ask why Rwanda? Over the years, donors and development partners have been citing Rwanda as one of the few countries in Africa that put aid to effective use.

Therefore, the decision by the UK Government says it all. Rwanda surely is going places. Such a decision will go a long way in silencing detractors who go around the world trading wrong accusations against Rwanda.

Like President Paul Kagame has always said, actions speak louder than words. If we can continue working hard, doing what we have to do and making the right choices, our actions will speak for themselves.

The decision by the UK is timely and well thought out because Rwanda’s experience shows there could not be a better place to test the programme. In Rwanda, aid has done miracles in just 17 years, and the country is on course to weaning herself off aid.

Emma Munyarukumbuzi

London