Experts commend Rwanda’s unity, people-centred approach to politics

Rwanda’s post-Genocide political philosophy of bringing citizens together to foster unity and prosperity has helped to improve lives and should be transferred to many generations to come if the country is to remain prosperous, experts on Rwanda’s politics have said. The experts, most of whom are top political leaders in the country and well accomplished researchers in Rwanda’s political affairs, delivered the message in Kigali yesterday while speaking at a seminar dubbed, ‘Rwanda’s political philosophy’. The event was organised by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations (NFPO). After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda’s political leaders chose power sharing and consensual democracy instead of confrontational politics, an approach to which experts attribute Rwanda’s current stability and development. “Rwanda is a special country whose political philosophy is different from other countries’ approaches. We need to transfer the good system of governance we have today to many more generations. Rwandans in general, and the youth in particular, have to be constantly reminded of our governance principles,” said Veneranda Nyirahirwa, the spokesperson for NFPO, who is also a Member of Parliament from the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Power sharing and consensus building have been cherished by Rwanda’s political players ever since the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) stopped the Genocide and invited other political parties in the country to join in the rebuilding process. The political philosophy, based on dialogue, consensus and power sharing, were also entrenched in the country’s laws, with the current Constitution making it impossible for the winning political party to exclude other political players. According to the Constitution, the President of the Republic and the Speaker of Parliament cannot belong to the same political party regardless of the party that wins the polls. The Constitution also says that no political party can exceed 50 per cent membership of the cabinet. While those who challenge Rwanda’s political system may see consensus in politics as a weakness, but the country’s top politicians say that is where the country’s political strength lies. “The ability to work together under a capable and effective government makes it possible to ensure accountability in the country,” said Dr Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi, a former Prime Minister and currently the chairperson of the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour. Participants of the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations follow proceedings at yesterday’s meeting in Kigali. (Doreen Umutesi) Given Rwanda’s current stability, many of the political researchers who spoke at the conference, yesterday, emphasised that a political approach that brought back stability after the Genocide should be maintained for further prosperity. “For the current vision and hope to continue, we need to safeguard the current governance principles and values that have guided our nation over the last two decades,” said Dr Charles Kabwete Mulinda, the head of Department of Political Science at the University of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Sciences. Dr Eric Ndushabandi, a researcher at the Centre for Conflict Management at the University of Rwanda, agrees, saying the country needs to invest in young people to ensure that they will carry forward the political philosophy that works for Rwandans. “Our education system needs to deliver the right civic mentality for more people to understand the need to safeguard the country’s institutions and values,” he said. Senator Tito Rutaremara, a senior cadre of the ruling RPF-Inkotanyi, said the party’s governance philosophy is to care for the interests of the people. “The most important goal of Rwanda’s leadership has to be the development of the people. The ideological concept is to build a capable government that is able to improve people’s lives,” he said. Jean Claude Ntezimana, the secretary general of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, called for more tolerance among Rwandans. “Rwandans should be sensitised about tolerating different views. Many of them still look at opposition as something that needs to be avoided,” he said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Experts commend Rwanda’s unity, people-centred approach to politics