Productivity, self-reliance dominate debate on Day One of Dialogue

Rwandans can become financially self-reliant only through working harder, producing more and savings.This is the message that resonated at the 11th National Dialogue Council, best known as Umushykirano at the Parliamentary Buildings in Kimihurura, Kigali, yesterday, where participants shared views on how Rwandans can fast-track socio-economic development.More than 1,000 people, including delegates from the Rwanda Diaspora community and the country’s development partners, are attending the two-day annual forum, chaired by President Paul Kagame.On the first day of the Umushyikirano, participants discussed strategies that would help the economy move away from donor-dependence, increase national productivity, maximise the potential of the private sector, and consolidate unity and uphold the Rwandan spirit among citizens.President Kagame urged faster delivery of quality services both in the private and public sectors, and a new paradigm that upholds self-reliance.The Head of State reminded the participants and Rwandans that Umushyikirano is a time to freely deliberate on solutions to the country’s challenges in order to help the country move forward.“This dialogue is about highlighting the role of each and every one of us,” he said, emphasising that leaders are just as important as citizens in the country’s development process.Kagame added that both regional and international cooperation are key to achieving sustainable development. He challenged Rwandans to work harder and lift themselves out of poverty.In his presentation, the Minister for Public Service and Labour, Anastase Murekezi, said, on average, Rwandans work for a meagre 24 hours a week, which translates to about three hours a day, saying there is need to significantly scale up working hours.“We are working very few hours and we are not working smart,” Murekezi said.He also urged Rwandans to pool their resources together through savings. “We can raise a lot of money if each Rwandan put any amount, even Rwf100, in a bank or a stock market,” Murekezi said.It was noted that service delivery remains below par and needs urgent improvement.InfrastructureParticipants also called for improved infrastructure, more access to financial services, and more investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to help unlock the country’s potential and increase employment opportunities.There were also concerns about the cost and low production of power, a major driver in the country’s bid for faster growth.Discussions particularly revolved around issues captured under the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2).Estimated to be implemented a cost of about Rwf10 trillion over the next five years (2013-2018), the economic blueprint is expected to deliver the country to a middle income status. That will require the country’s growth domestic product (GDP) per capita to double over the same period.Finance minister Amb. Claver Gatete said for this to be achieved there was need to widen the tax and export base.Participation in the dialogue, Beatrice Ufitingabire, from the Rwandan Diaspora community in Canada, told The New Times that more emphasis need to be placed on the concept of self-reliance.“We need to keep explaining this concept so that Rwandans learn to always ask what’s in it for them. Until they understand that they are building (the country) for themselves, they won’t build better,” she said.To ensure wide participation, views were also collected through an SMS, phone calls as well as social media platforms, including social media platforms Twitter and Facebook.The event was also followed live by hundreds of youth at three sites – Ngoma in Eastern Province, Huye in Southern Province and Petit Stade in Kigali, who contributed to the discussions and posed several questions.The Dialogue is expected to end this afternoon with resolutions on the major issues that should be catered for over the next one year.