Brace up, Vision 2020 will need a lot more

As the world still finds itself entangled in a web of economic disorder with Wall Street still limping out of the global financial crisis, Rwanda is setting new growth targets. Bringing it closer home, as regional economies continue to grapple with run-away inflation, falling currencies and slow growth, Rwanda has decided to take a bold step of revising its targets under Vision 2020 and, instead of lowering the target, the bar has been raised higher. Going by the resolutions of the 9th Leadership Retreat, this country‘s leadership is fired up, with strong eyesight and determination to be a middle income Nation come 2020. This is a tough call. The new targets that have been lined up include an increase in Per Capita income to $1240 as opposed to $900 that was earlier projected in the Vision 2020 document. Poverty must be cut to 20 per cent, and not 30 per cent as previously projected. We stand at 44.9 per cent today. Average life expectancy must be 66, and not the 55 years in the old document. We stand at 53 years today.Therefore, no doubt that these are high expectations. In fact, an outsider who might not be conversant with Rwanda’s post-Genocide recovery, could wonder how this country, sandwiched in all corners of its geographical landscape, with no tangible mineral resources and largely dependent on weather prone-agricultural sector, would dare say it seeks to be a middle income in just 8 years’ time. True, it’s not an easy feat. At an individual level, it might require a complete transformation of our attitudes, commitment and approach towards whatever we do. At the national stage it might require what Prof. Paul Collier mentioned at the 9th National Leadership retreat, extra-ordinary innovations and more sophisticated policies and programmes. And this would mean that the agricultural sector which has been expanding despite nature’s shocks, would have to move to its next stage of expansion by adopting a more aggressive approach towards modernization – large-scale farmlands that are not only mechanized but also not dependant on nature’s call. As a nation, in addition to the existing home grown solutions, we will require new innovations both traditional and modern that target the remotest common man still trapped in the cage of poverty. Something ‘miraculous’ must be done within the energy sector to increase current accessibility from 10.8 per cent to at least 50 per cent or above. Lake Kivu has the solution but what we need is to stop massaging dilly-dallying investors and probably inject Government resources into this project. Once, it’s up running, these investors will come running to either buy what Government has set up or invest in their own projects. The ever-expanding balance of payment needs to be tamed by adding value to whatever we produce, so that our export base widens but also have import substitutes readily available on the local market. Most important, and drawing from Prof. Paul Collier’s remarks, for us to realise this dream, it must begin with a change in the mindset and attitudes of our public sector. The heart of getting progress lies with the ability of the people in the public sector to internalise the purpose of their mission and take full ownership. Whatever, we, in the public sector do, must be done with a strong conviction, motivation and commitment of making positive contribution. If it’s a teacher, you enter a classroom with passion and appreciation of your duty as a teacher charged with shaping the minds of the young generation. If things are done passively, especially within the public sector, then the pace of realising this ambitious dream is completely lost. True, remuneration might be a factor to drive this passion. However, equally true, are many incidences where even the well remunerated among public servants are completely detached or carry the ‘I don’t care’ attitude when it comes to executing their responsibilities. If we indeed accept that the public sector sets an enabling environment for the private sector to flourish, it must drive ahead, providing guidance and support for this sector to emerge. But equally important is that the private sector must be alert and stop playing second fiddle. Vision 2020 places the future of this economy in the hands of businesses and time is now for our business community to show that they are up for the challenge. Above all, it’s the responsibility of each and every Rwandan to make whatever form of contribution. These renewed targets are quite ambitious but again the last 18 years were even more challenging than the next eight years. Simply because the foundation built over these years is as solid as a rock. On twitter@aasiimwe

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Brace up, Vision 2020 will need a lot more