World Bank praises RPF on development

KIGALI - A paper released recently by a Commission on Growth and Development under the World Bank has praised the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) on its development ideology. This was revealed by Dr. Thomas Rusuhuzwa Kigabo, a chief economist working with the National Bank of Rwanda(BNR) in an interview Tuesday with The New Times at his offices in Kigali. Dr. Rusuhuzwa said that Rwanda’s economic growth was due to the party’s positive ideology. “Ideology is a very powerful weapon that I compare to a bomb. The positive ideology of RPF gave birth to policies like decentralization and others that made Rwandans be actors in the development of the nation,” he explained. “Usually when a country comes from war; Genocide in Rwanda’s case, the economy may grow because of donations, aid and grants, and diminishes when some countries pull out; but it was not the same case with Rwanda. Her economic growth was sustained, which I call a Rwandan miracle,” Dr Rusuhuzwa went on. Rusuhuzwa said that the core of the RPF’s ideology is summarized into nine points, one of which is strong social and economic development. He added that the RPF has an ideology of optimism, hard work and community empowerment, and is described as a key of the development that is in Rwandan hands. He also noted that RPF’s positive ideology builds national self-confidence and the will for all Rwandans to own their future. “This positive ideology was in the minds of RPF members even before beginning the struggle. That is why we have unique policies that have helped this nation grow in a tremendous way economically. We have Gacaca, the Umuvunyi (Ombudsman), with others that converge together to create a secure environment,” he said. Rusuhuzwa added that developing a nation cannot be attained if peace is not built, noting that it (peace) is among the RPF’s nine-point programme. Asked whether the paper would not be viewed as trying to just portray the RPF in good light, Rusuhuzwa was quick to answer that it is not based on speculation but that it was based on scientific research approved by over 50 world renowned researchers. Christophe Bazivamo, the Vice Chairman of the RPF, told The New Times that the country’s economic development has been solely on positive ideologies that helped in drafting good policies. Bazivamo said that good governance and justice are among the many factors that have given birth to developing programmes like Ubudehe (local collective development action) which allows citizens to participate in the country’s economic growth. He added that RPF members believe in debates and gathering all resources to reach to conclusions and allow participation of all citizens. Bazivamo added that the former regime did not give a chance to citizens to contribute towards their development, and that every infrastructure that was completed was credited to individuals or different project owners. The 19-page paper titled: ‘Leadership, Policy Making, Quality of Economic Policies, and Their Inclusiveness’ was presented to a group of world researchers in Washington DC in June this year. Ends