Rwanda braces for quality governance through self-choice of leadership

There may be temptations to mistaken the title of this column as yet another modest attempt of partisan veneering to justify a particular political outcome – far from it. It is important to understand the unique underlying context of the Rwandan narrative before fashioning one’s personal opinion on the East African country. After all, the concept of dealing with context in any meaningful narrative is imperative if one is to clearly understand the subject – a one size fits all mentality isn’t feasible. This is a narrative of a country and a context that is worth exploring considering the wide range of the formerly ascribed negative labels; ranging from a near-failed state in 1994, to an endemic ethnically-polarized nation, all of which was a result of the colonial ethnic divisive policy and bad post-independence governance that climaxed into the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. It’s no secret that Rwanda is today lauded for having reconciled its erstwhile ethnically divided people, achieved political stability, functioning institutions and rule of law, unsullied zero tolerance to corruption and year-on-year vigorous fiscal discipline. The implied atypical strong leadership virtues practiced after the horrendous 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, coupled with excellent macroeconomic policies, have resulted in steadfast socio-economic growth, culminating into one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with an impressive annual average GDP growth rate of eight per cent in the last decade. Moreover these achievements aren’t taken for granted by the Rwandan folk who credit it to the good and far-sighted leadership of this country with President Paul Kagame at its helm. Following the petitioning by nearby four million legible voting Rwandans to purge term limits to allow the incumbent President to compete for re-election in 2017, both chambers of Rwandan Parliament responded to the will of the people in August by unanimously voting to establish a Constitutional Review Commission to review the 2003 Constitution of Rwanda. The Rwandan Parliament unequivocally stipulated that the role of this Commission was not to amend or remove term limits as this particular decision can, according to the Constitution, only be made by Rwandan nationals through a referendum. Unambiguously stipulated, the Rwandan Constitution provides that the resolution to initiate this relevant amendment through a referendum is firstly adopted by at least a two third majority of members of each chamber of Parliament. It is vital to note here that the voice of these millions of Rwandans representing over seventy per cent of the country’s electorate cannot be ignored under the normal definition of democracy where the will of the people must, under normal circumstances, be seen to take precedent. But as we vet the recent aforesaid developments in Rwanda, a country with a population of twelve million, it would be devastatingly and immorally folly not to first understand the psyche of Rwandans who in 1994 were in an apocalypse that was by the way stopped by the very leadership that was later to very ably turn around this very nation that many had then seen as a pre-destined failed State, to an admirable example in the global community of nations. As the Global Community adopts the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the next 15 years, it is vital to recognize Rwanda’s undisputable and remarkable progress in achieving all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The World Economic Forum (WEF) Report of 2015/2016 lists Rwanda as the third fastest growing economy in Africa, as well as the most competitive in doing business ranking in East Africa and third on the African continent. Metaphorically paralleling this astounding social resurrection to one of (social) optical phenomena is apt and befitting to the resolute strides made by Rwanda under the effective and able leadership of President Paul Kagame, albeit the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The Rwandan government has earmarked an overarching benchmark of growth objectives (Vision 2020) to be attained through arduous strategic policy implementation building blocks that have been sustainably initiated, in the name of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS), have been encouragingly complimented by other home-grown initiatives and innovations with effective consultations and participation of the population to very noticeable effect. As an example, between 2000 and 2014, life expectancy of Rwandans rose from 49 to 64 years, population below the poverty line has fallen from sixty to under forty per cent and universal access to health care sits at an encouraging ninety six per cent. This year’s Gallup Poll ranked Rwanda fifth safest country globally after Singapore, Hong Kong, Norway and Spain. In complementing other business environment innovations, this secure environment makes it an increasingly attractive destination for foreign investments, tourism as well as presenting an enabling environment to support the country’s National Investment Strategy. Attaining the aforesaid rating would have seemed outlandishly surreal and unfeasible two decades ago and certainly wouldn’t have been attained without a very smart leadership at the top. It is equally an imperative to acknowledge Rwandans who have unanimously adopted and embraced the incumbent president’s pragmatic progress-driven vision and meritocratic leadership. The Rwandan governance Scorecard of 2014, in conjunction with international expert observers (Africa Governance Report 3), showed a seventy nine per cent approval rating expressed by Rwandan citizens towards the independence of the Electoral Commission of Rwanda. As we approach President Kagame’s penultimate year as Rwanda’s Commander-In-Chief, the general consensus amongst the Rwandan electorate is that this well documented progressive development shouldn’t be capped at the expense of mere blind execution of constitutional term limits that were, after all, instituted by the same Rwandans in 2003. It is thus this desire to sustain the general progress and development trajectory that has sparked the recent autonomous petition for Parliament, fully initiated by legible voting Rwandans who advocate for amending their own Constitution – if this isn’t democracy I don’t know what is. This noble call by Rwandan folk has, however, provoked into some condescending views from some quarters outside Rwanda that aren’t conversant with the goings inside Rwanda – this will, however, not deter the will and popular call by Rwandans across all walks of life for continuation of their President, so beloved for his characteristic love for his people and delivery of goods and services. This veritable admiration that the Rwandan population have for their current leader is thus not one of irrational political fanaticism but rather the result of positive reverberations of President Kagame’s effective delivery for his people, insistence on Agaciro (aiming at self-reliance and upholding dignity) by Rwandans as a form of self-determination, coupled with his administrations’ championing of successful home-grown initiatives such as Gacaca Courts, Abunzi (Mediation Committees), which have all impacted very positively on access by Rwandans to justice (80.25 per cent according to the 2014 Rwanda Governance Scorecard indicators) as well as up-lifting millions from poverty, have had a laudable ripple effect. Other notable home-grown and successful initiatives fostered by President Kagame include, the revival of Umuganda, Girinka, Universal Secondary Education, Ubudehe and Mutuelle de Santé. Good governance and an unwavering determination to achieve have inspired an overwhelming all-round ubiquitous conception among the Rwandan faithful, that maintenance of their country’s current progression is hinged upon their unperturbed aegis for continuity of the country’s current apex of leadership. Ultimately, in a democracy, the most important office is the office of citizenry and this is basic for any democracy which Rwanda is. Premised on the recent petitioning, the majority of Rwandans have unequivocally stated their choice motivated by the conviction that President Kagame still has more to offer to them as a leader. Indeed, as a major tenet of democracy, choice of a befitting leadership is and should be a preserve and fundamental right of Rwandans. The author is Charge d’Affaires a.i, Rwanda High Commission, Lusaka This article was first published in the Daily Nation of Zambia

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Rwanda braces for quality governance through self-choice of leadership