Editorial: Very busy seven years lie ahead, but Rwandans shall overcome

President Paul Kagame will be sworn-in today to begin another 7-year mandate. His overwhelming endorsement by the Rwandan people caused some ripples among a few foreigners but Rwandans had the last word. They had spoken. The number of foreign Heads of State and Government who are here for the inauguration is also an indication that Kagame’s reputation and respect goes far beyond our borders. He has been able to lead a formidable and well oiled organisation: The RPF-Inkotanyi. Its capacity to think ahead in clear terms and with solid priorities is not new. Back in the days when it was still fighting in the bush, it had already traced a clear path albeit with numerous challenges it feared not to tackle. While today the RPF’s manifesto hinges on nine key areas, during the liberation struggle it had identified eight areas. The programme was so ambitious that some US State Department staffer, in a 1991 diplomatic cable, described some of the content as “hot air”. They had no idea what they were talking about as they were looking at Rwanda through the biased prisms they regarded other third world countries. Today the song has changed because this country means business. President Kagame is likened to a company CEO because of the way he runs the country, a result oriented approach. There is no doubt that the next seven years will bring even more achievements. The RPF manifesto is bursting at the seams with many things on its agenda, especially improving the livelihood of its people and economic development without forgetting good governance. But as the RPF and its leader have shown in the past, no task is too daunting as long as there is commitment.

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Editorial: Very busy seven years lie ahead, but Rwandans shall overcome