With the referendum, the future is in our hands

Editor, RE: “Referendum on revised Constitution a sign of political maturity” (The New Times, December 10). Dont expect western politicians and journalists to hold their peace whatever the outcome. For them it has never really been the issue of term limits as such. It has always been only about seeing the back of this particular President whom they know would be returned by the people again and again in any elections in which he stood. What makes him anathema from their perspective is his single-minded determination to put Rwandan interests first rather than do their bidding. Had he been prepared to compromise those interests, such foreign hectoring would not arise—in that case however, nor would Rwandans be clamoring to keep him at the helm. Since they cant get him to do their bidding at the expense of the interests of the Rwandan people, while knowing very well that he cant be beaten in elections, their only hope has been that term limits would get him out of the presidency for them. You will remember how his departure from the presidency has been the only constant question western journalists have been interested in right from his first post-election press conference. It has almost seemed as if he was elected in order to just finish his two terms and leave. They just could wait to get rid of him. Not surprisingly, it is precisely their reasons for wanting him out of the presidency for which see the Rwandan people want to keep him in place. Mwene Kalinda ************************************ Spot on! They are never going to hold their peace indeed, because their ache is President Paul Kagame. They know amending constitutions is democratic, but any democratic process that is designed to create a possibility for returning Kagame into leadership office becomes undemocratic—here the factor of the people in the democratic equation simply becomes irrelevant. Kagame has become a tug-of-war between the international community and the Rwandans. Obviously Rwandans have a great advantage in this contest because their stand is Kagames merits while the international communitys stand is the silent creed: “Please, no African must be allowed out of the limbo!” Donart

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With the referendum, the future is in our hands