Rwandans are firmly in charge of their future

Editor, Refer to the article, “RPF backs constitutional amendment on term limits” (The New Times, June 16). The west seems to be failing in their quest to retain self-proclaimed expertise on Africa. The trends and wind of change in Rwanda, right from the time Paul Kagame was elected President, have perhaps been the beginning of difficult times, getting it all right or wrong when crafting and narrating African story. Still struggling to find out what is so special about Rwanda, and as if cross sectional social economic developments happening recall or rather justify failure on the part of the third party, our friends (not enemies) have played all sort of sabotage games on the leadership and the people of Rwanda. We have lived to witness double standards in the manner the international community treats Rwanda when it comes to national security and sovereignty, some getting pre-occupied with mudsliding, belittling and maneuver-tagging the obvious progress made in national unity and reconciliation, and in all social-economic sectors—you name them. To some Rwandan critics, the Rwandan government should never have promoted equity and access to health services, education, social inclusion and women empowerment, unless if the strategies emanated from, and were prior approved from their [the west] capitals. In all these struggles by, and among some sections of the west, the worst stumbling block to achieving whatever results intended has been the masses—the people of Rwanda. All attempts to a return to the divide and rule strategy have been futile. No wonder they would link the ongoing Rwandan mass request for constitutional amendments to manipulation because such kind of people-driven positive movements is different from what they expect from Africans. When will they learn that Rwanda is a unique society, and does not fit in the one-size-fits-all narrative about Africa? The truth is Rwanda will continue to own solutions to her problems. While advice and support from well-wishers is always welcome, these should end at that level. Watch Rwanda keenly towards 2017 and further beyond. One thing I like about Rwandans is honesty, pride, dignity and perseverance—once they have made up their minds, they will do just that at whatever cost. This time around, they even have gone further to ask this question; If we Rwandans do not have any fear about our stability and sustainability of our decisions today, why would anyone out there spend sleepless nights over the same? Abdul Kanoti

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Rwandans are firmly in charge of their future