PRESIDENT'S CALL TIMELY

Addressing the Rwandan Patriotic Front’s political bureau, President Paul Kagame, yesterday urged them to be at the forefront of driving the country’s development agenda. This call must however, not just be heard and adhered to by the members of the political bureau alone - we all have a duty as citizens to follow suit. It is a call for self examination and introspection as we move to the next stage of the country’s development. President Kagame’s vision of a leadership who are not the problem but the solution, in fighting inertia and corruption, is one that he consistently drives home, and one that should form the basis of our day-to-day thinking and strategizing as we go about our national duties. Rwanda today stands tall as a shining example and beacon of hope, not just for her citizens but beyond borders- and this is not accidental, but the sheer hard work and discipline as inspired by President Kagame. As we celebrate hard earned national achievements, including the recent World Bank’s “2010 Doing Business Report”, the temptation to rest and bask in the glory might creep in. That is why President Kagame’s call for us not to sit on our laurels, must be heeded by all beyond the RPF’s upper echelons. Each achievement gained at any level of our society, be it in the performance contracts, ‘Imihigo’ or in fighting corruption at national level, must be followed by vigilance to do even better. Citizens are the vanguard of the country’s liberation ideals, meaning that it is us who must work hard, but at the same time demand accountability from those in leadership positions. More often than not, when leaders shield each other in corruption tendencies, it is likely that the average citizens will also be in the know, but will be too afraid to blow the whistle. By keeping quite and shielding corrupt officials, we would have failed in our duty as responsible citizens. Ends

Opinions

PRESIDENT'S CALL TIMELY