When the first National Leadership Retreat kicked off 13 years ago, it brought together a select group of senior government officials to craft out the country’s future. But over the years, that concept has evolved to rope in other sections of society; from the private sector, civil society, security and religious groups. Many of the solutions that have helped this country surmount most of its problems emanated from successive retreats. Today, the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2), is doing its last lap. Looking back, when the EDPRS policies were first unveiled, there was pessimism: Weren’t we chewing more than what our throats could support? Weren’t we overstepping out capabilities and end up being the laughing stock? But today the story is different because the leadership retreats helped build self confidence. But as we are approaching the Vision2020 horizon, there is need to shift gear, and President Kagame seemed to think the same way when he opened the retreat. He urged those present not to be satisfied with past achievements but to strive for more. But that needs ambition and a sense of urgency, as he pointed out. The current retreat is significant for two reasons; it is the last in the current mandate and will serve as an evaluation tool. The retreat will also trace the line for the next target: Vision2050, which by then, it is hoped, the country will have attained a high income status. But that will need for Rwandans to dig deep into their reserves. So, all our hopes are pinned on the people attending the retreat, that they will come up with more winning strategies and they have done in the past.
