Editor,The culture of dependence was created in United States by donors and grew up in our minds – that we cannot live or do anything if we are not supported or assisted by others.But this culture of dependence has to be fought by all means. The west wants to keep developing countries eternally dependent on them so they can retain control over them. They use their aid to threaten us even without any reason.Besides, there is no way you will learn to stand on your own if they continue to feed you.A wise man always learns from the past and then devises better means to overcome challenges in future. The decision by some donor partners to suspend or delay aid to Rwanda over fictitious and biased allegations against Kigali – with regard to the fighting in the Congo – is an opportunity for us to actively engage and recommit to finding ways through which we can sustain ourselves as a nation. Several other African countries have also previously experienced aid freezes. And tomorrow, it could be someone else.As a continent, we have to think what will happen if one day, donors decided to close the aid tap.Therefore, it is high time we devised means to start fishing for ourselves, rather than living off someone else’s catch. We should teach our children how to survive without depending on foreign assistance. That’s the true independence.MurenziLesoto-------------------------------------------------EditorFor the last eighteen years, Rwanda has been governed well and the country has transformed economically. It’s always refreshing to know that the President is committed to help transform Rwanda.I know it will take time before the country could become self-reliant but it’s certainly moving in the right direction.Rwanda is a model of aid efficiency. I am happy to learn that the leadership is helping Rwanda to reduce its dependency on aid. Thanks to the Rwandan leaders for working so hard to help the country wean itself off foreign aid.Annet IngabireKigali
