It ’s hard to fill Kagame’s shoes but Constitution outlasts individuals

Editor,THIS IS with reference to the article, “The task at hand for RPF cadres”, (The New Times, February 11, 2013).

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Editor,THIS IS with reference to the article, "The task at hand for RPF cadres”, (The New Times, February 11, 2013).I totally disagree with those RPF cadres calling for the amendment of our Constitution to lift presidential term limits. President Kagame has done an excellent job right from 1990 till now. He fought dictatorship, stopped the Genocide, rebuilt our motherland from ruins and gave us respect in the region and all over the world. He is an icon to all of us. However, the best gift he can give us as Rwandans is to serve his last term, oversee a peaceful and democratic transfer of power to another individual and gracefully retire. Our Constitution is barely 10 years old, it should outlive individuals but if it is amended, my conclusion would be that it was made for the convenience of certain individuals not one that can outlive them. You don’t need to go far from home to see what damage a life presidency can do to a country, just cross over at Gatuna. Yes, it is very hard to fill Kagame’s shoes but South Africa cannot have another Mandela. Nonetheless, his successors have done a good job as well.Peter Sano, USA