Presidential term: Rwandans will decide at the right time

Editor, Reference is made to Prof. Mannaseh Nshuti’s article, “Change without alternative?” (The New Times, March 9).

Friday, March 20, 2015
A cross section of senior officials at the 12th National Leaders' Retreat in Gabiro on March 1. (File)

Editor,

Reference is made to Prof. Mannaseh Nshuti’s article, "Change without alternative?” (The New Times, March 9).

Watching President Kagame ask ministers and other leaders to explain their underperformance and corruption tendencies is really admirable. These people are in the positions they are in to protect our interests and make our country better. But the revelation showed alarming levels of failure.

I saw a leader asking questions in a way only done in private business. This spirit is nowhere else — not even in western countries. President Kagame can’t be allowed to retire at this stage; as Prof. Nshuti said, no alternative.

Joyce Mbabazi

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The recently concluded National Leaders’ Retreat showed that leadership can head for a nose dive and corruption can become the order of the day in Rwanda, if it were not for President Kagame to check and contain these.

It is true that we could have been in a bad state, were it not for the excellent leadership qualities of President Kagame as well put by Prof. Nshuti. Sure enough many of our leaders can be contenders for the top job, but I thought candidates should have been in that same retreat.

Given what I heard and saw, I want to agree that we have no alternative to Kagame at the moment. Letting go of him at this moment in time would be disastrous for our country that has seen tragic history. Come 2017; we shall request President Kagame to carry on the torch.

We have a winner; who can lose him just for a constitution?

Phil Karenzi

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I have come to admire the way Prof. Nshuti told the story. He touched my heart with the blend of the proceedings. I saw President Kagame put to task almost every leader at the retreat.

I have always admired his passion for leading us to a better Rwanda, and we are on the right track, but not there yet. We know that if you change a good leader you could end up getting a bad one. History has numerous examples.

I appeal to Rwandans to endorse President Kagame come 2017. Such leaders are rare. You don’t lose him/her if you can avoid it, and we have the chance to.

Eugene Gakwerere