On Tuesday this week, scenes of scores of well organised Rwandans marching towards Parliament on an historic day to observe members of both Chambers of Parliament convene to discuss the 3,784,586 petitions sent to them calling on Parliament to amend Article 101 of the Constitution which governs the number of presidential term limits, could not have been what Rwandan political opportunists and their accomplices envisaged and hoped for a few years ago. 

In fact, you do not have to be a political genius to understand that from the get-go, many of these opportunists expected today’s Rwanda to be a nation of social unrest, economic gloom, and political chaos, where discontent and radicalism is the order of the day.

In short, many of these opportunists who are mostly culprits of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, ex-government officials and, to some extent, rogue activists with self-serving interests, expected present day Rwanda to be a land of anarchy.

Fast forward to 2015 and the forecast made by these opportunists could not have gone more wrong; contrary to their expectations, Rwanda is not only stable and secure – the tiny nation in the heart of Africa sends contingents of its armed forces to countries such as South Sudan, Central African Republic and Haiti as contribution to peace building around the world.

Economically, countless reports have not only lauded Rwanda as an economic miracle thanks to its consistent economic policies of business reforms, among other factors, many economic experts have urged similarly situated nations to take a leaf from Rwanda in a bid to make poverty history.

Politically – and this is perhaps the most intriguing part – Rwanda is an inclusive nation that respects both genders as equal contributors to nation building. I do not get tired of reminding anyone that, currently, women occupy 64 per cent of the seats in parliament.

And why should I anyway? As if that were not enough of a hammer blow to opportunists, this week came news from the World Economic Forum that Rwanda is now ranked 7th worldwide among the most efficient governments, when efficiency is measured to include the wastefulness of government spending, burden of regulation, and transparency of policymaking.

But, of course, as always, do not take my word for it. Speak to those who have provided aid to Rwanda – they will at the very least acknowledge that indeed when assistance is given to Rwanda, every penny is accounted for.

In fact, some of these development experts will take it upon themselves (…and I have had several of these conversations) to explain that it is not in many countries you find allocations of funds used to the exact specifications of projects intended to raise people’s living standards.

In Rwanda, schools, hospitals, roads, houses, have all been built to elevate the standards of living. Basic health and education are both accessible to Rwandans, roads that facilitate mobility of people and goods are in good working order, and some of the most vulnerable members of our society have been provided with shelter, and additional support programmes such as Girinka are in operation.

Again, do not take my word for it; explore some of these reports for yourself.

Accordingly, and in line with aspirations of millions of Rwandans, as thousands of our compatriots marched to Parliament on Tuesday to request legislators to consider their petitions to amend Article 101 of the Constitution, it was all too clear why many had put their lives on hold that day to make sure that they witness an historic day when Rwandans put aside their ideological differences and acknowledged that we need continuity in order to guarantee peace, stability, and economic development.

It is no wonder that, as Rwandans continue their quest to ensure more of the same for the future, three factors keep coming up as the main reasons why Rwandans demand a referendum to assert appreciation of the current leadership.

For many petitioners, the current leadership has registered many achievements; however, three of them standout: first, lifting millions Rwandans out of poverty; second, achieving unity and reconciliation; third, security and stability that defines Rwanda today.

It is no wonder that following the debate, members of both Chambers voted to recognise the petitions as valid and committed to conducting countrywide consultations with Rwandans prior to voting on the national referendum required to amend the Constitution.

As we proceed to the next stage of our discussions, as Rwandans we must always remember that our moderate success does not necessarily please everyone especially those with hidden agendas – political, economic or otherwise.

Opportunists everywhere thrive on chaos and are less relevant when order is present. Unfortunately for them, in Rwanda we are seeking more in terms of order and less in chaos.

But make no mistake, as they lose the battle, they will do all they can to undermine our aspirations. They will also tell us that change is the only democratic way to go. But I ask; what is change good for if it does not deliver results?

Why should a leader’s value be assessed by how long they have led, and not what they have delivered? We cannot be coerced into believing that someone else is better suited to know what is best for us, because, if and when we want change, we will seek change.

But right now, we are asking for continuity and more of the same. Here is to hoping for continuity!

junior.mutabazi@yahoo.co.uk