Umushyikirano: Rwanda’s lesson to the world

I was honored to attend the Rwandan National Dialogue Council - Umushyikirano on December 15 and 16 in the Kigali Convention Centre last week. What is happening in Rwanda should be spoken about all over the world, it is truly amazing. Yes, the world knows that there was a tragic Genocide in 1994, but what the world should know, should appreciate and should revel at is the easily seen, people focused, progress that is and has been occurring. As I sat listening first to President Paul Kagame’s opening remarks, discussions by Rwandan business, politicians and many, many comments by citizens, yes, citizens, who were provided the opportunity to speak directly to the president, prime minister and department ministers about their concerns on “what they want in their Rwanda.” I sat in complete awe as people from around Rwanda and the Diaspora spoke to the gathering via video link or twitter and gave their opinion on what they wanted from their Rwanda. What was most impressive was that no person ever asked for something for themselves but rather they asked on behalf of their whole village, their cooperative or their district. From a Genocide survivor asking for more progress on the tarmac road to increase milk to Rwandan youth bringing concerns for more freedoms for their professors to make decisions to a young artist, possibly 13 years old, asking the president, “HIS” president for help in finding an art gallery for he and his fellow local to display their art as they dream of developing their artistic talents. I watched as President Kagame and other government leaders, intently writing down each citizen’s request with serious integrity and when a group of comments or questions or comments had been concluded, the minister in charge of the specific issue spoke directly on how that issue would be resolved. This is real inclusive government and truly natural citizen democracy where government is not only responsive but it is responsible for the success of the populace. I watched as, with each comment or question, President Kagame’s face would change as he listened with great interest and great seriousness, almost as if the weight of each question was directly on him and him alone. I witnessed presidential intervention when the answers provided were “just not good enough” and the president asked for more information. The audience was touched as a young man from an outlining district on video link, recited a poem in honor of his country and his president, short of time the moderator halted the poem but in true Kagame fashion, the president interceded and stopped the proceeding to direct the moderator to “have the young man write down and personally send that poem to me,” providing a voice to what I would call a young patriot. I travel a great deal and I pay a great deal of attention to matters of governments. The United States, Great Britain, France, China, something is missing. Have they become so self-consumed that they forget why they exist? Umushyikirano and Paul Kagame proved that republics can still be responsive, can still work for self-sufficiency and can care deeply about everyone from the farmer, to the artist and to the young poet. I am convinced that today, this intense caring would not happen any other place than beautiful Rwanda. Does Rwanda face challenges? Of course, one would be foolish to believe that this vastly developing country is without challenges. But, the difference lay in how challenges are met. There are no dictatorial edicts in Rwanda but rather, I have witnessed firsthand and let this editorial provide testimony that as an educator and degreed student of government, that this Rwandan government from the president to the parliament, to ministers to the military are focused on strength through sustainable development in order to provide a place for children, the next generation, to dream. This government realizes the limitations but strives and plans to be self-sufficient and this government addresses the evil past head with fresh eyes to prepare for a future. After leaving the Kigali Convention Centre, a thunderstorm had just passed and the clouds were illuminated by the setting sun and a thought passed into my head. My dear Rwanda, the world will sleep better tonight because of who you are becoming today and for many years because of the Umushyikirano, the exercise of citizen democracy and because Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, exists on this earth. Yes, high praise from an American who holds a deep love of Rwanda and for the America that I remember. When President Kagame rose to the podium to make some final, heartfelt, remarks, and commented on the many, many genuine and well deserved accolades of thanks and praise afforded to him arising from Rwandan citizenry from provinces encompassing Rwanda, the President, with great humility said, “what we do here is NOT about being praised, it is about the interests of Rwandans.” I realized that those simple words defined a true committed leader, one that the world needs more desperately now, than ever before. Lessons learned from Rwanda. The writer is an American academician who is a Friend of Rwanda.

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Umushyikirano: Rwanda’s lesson to the world