RWANDA has just hosted a successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the first since the pandemic struck and the 6th to ever be held in Africa. The road to CHOGM 2022 was far from being smooth, with the meeting being postponed twice as a result of Covid-19, along with other pandemic-related challenges that further complicated preparations. There were also other dynamics that came into play in the run-up to the summit – notably the unprovoked shelling of the Rwandan territory by the Congolese army and the genocidal FDLR militia, which partly sought to suck Rwanda into an internal DR Congo crisis and possibly derail CHOGM preparations. Nonetheless, thanks to the government’s commitment to host a successful CHOGM, with support from the private sector and other actors, the meeting has taken place seamlessly, attracting thousands of delegates from around the world. And the wide range of rich deliberations held during a series of forums and side events in the lead-up to the Heads of Government’s Executive Sessions and Retreat ensured that the conversations at this year’s CHOGM edition were not only inclusive but also tackled relevant and most pressing global challenges. That Rwanda has been able to host CHOGM – let alone a hugely successful summit – just over 10 years after its admission to the bloc and a few years after its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry took shape speaks to what can be achieved with effective and visionary leadership, even in the context of limited resources. It’s also a vindication of President Paul Kagame’s ambitious vision (including turning Rwanda into a MICE hub), which has since transformed Rwanda into an active player on the global scene. Going forward, it’s now up to the people of Rwanda to step up and match the country’s vision by making the most of the opportunities it continues to deliver. This is what the President meant when he said at the opening of CHOGM on Friday that, “everything we do, including joining the Commonwealth in 2009, is aimed at making sure that our people are connected, included and forward-looking”. The meeting has ended but its benefits are just starting to unfold; nonetheless, only those with a plan and are deliberate in their approach will enjoy them. In particular, the ball is in the court of young people and businesses.
