Editor,

The president of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has been nominated for TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the Year which I think is an accolade he deserves. 

Post-colonial Rwanda was characterised by the worst leadership which lacked both the vision and ambition to stir the country to achieve at least modest development.

The classification of citizens made sure that some went to schools, involved in leadership of their country and it gave them a right to be called Rwandans while others languished in poverty, ignorance and they were not humans but cockroaches that needed to be killed.

With the RPF led by President Kagame winning the struggle in 1994 and restoring sanity, he embarked on reconstruction and reconciliation of a country that had been polarized by  genocide.

15 years on, Rwanda has not only won respect around the world, but the name Kagame has become synonymous with democracy, development, human rights and most importantly, a man loved by the people who had lost hope in themselves.

Ranked 24th, Kagame is the highest ranked African beating global figures such as Russian premier Vladimir Putin (35th).

The World Bank and UN indices released every year will confirm that the man has taken giant strides to make his country a better place where investors throw their money and a place where his countrymen live in harmony and happiness. 

Bravo Mr. President

Kicukiro