Keep the winning team, Kagame tells Gisagara

GISAGARA - As the Presidential campaign entered its nineth day yesterday, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) candidate, Paul Kagame told party supporters in Gisagara, Southern Province that they are yet to see the best the party has in store for them. On arrival at Ndora Sector football ground at approximately 12.45 p.m., Kagame was given a rousing welcome by the over 90,000 party supporters who chanted and danced to party songs along with a number of local artistes. Kagame told the enthusiastic supporters that his mission to Gisagara was to discuss, lay strategies and celebrate what has been achieved. He said that Rwandans want peace, security and development based on agriculture and livestock, the environment, social welfare and good health. The candidate wondered whether people outside Rwanda recognise the progress the country has made over the years. He pointed out that the country is known for what it is not, and that this perception can only be changed if Rwandans continue to make the right choices. Kagame went on to say that when people want to achieve set targets, they continue to choose well. He added that in the 2003 general elections, the people of Gisagara made the right choice and that 2010 will not be any different. Likening the forth coming elections to a sports team, Kagame said that there is no reason to change the coach of a winning team. He said that when a team is winning, the fans rally behind the coach. The candidate went on to say that Rwandans who take pride in themselves and have the hope and desire to develop, know how to choose wisely. Kagame told the mammoth crowd of supporters that a vote for the party candidate is a vote for security, peace, modern agriculture and 12 years of free basic education. He pledged to promote tourism and the cultivation of marsh lands to satisfy domestic consumption and the market. Kagame pointed out that for all this to be achieved, good leaders are a prerequisite and that the RPF candidate knows the direction to lead the country. Fidele Ndayisaba, the RPF’s campaign manager said that the party candidate is focussed on development, fights divisionism and has redeemed the face of Rwanda on the local and international scene. Daphrose Mukarutamu, a Genocide survivor shared her experience about how she has been able to rebuild her life, thanks to the advice and leadership of Kagame. Mukarutamu, spoke of how she began the foray into the business world by purchasing a modest grinding mill. From the profits, she has managed to build a house, installed piped water and electricity. She then brought together fellow genocide widows and formed an association. Through the association, they were able to acquire a bank loan and opened up a beverages company. “We acquired a loan to a tune of Rwf50million, we invested it well and paid it back on time, we have bought a car from the profits,” said Mukarutamu. Ends

National

Keep the winning team, Kagame tells Gisagara