Rwandans react to term limits debate

Hundreds of Rwandans yesterday turned up at the Parliamentary Building to follow the debate on the presidential term limits. Below is a reaction by a cross section of Rwandans who were at Parliament. Harriet Umuhoza Harriet Umuhoza, student at CAKSK. ‘I will definitely believe after the Constitution has been amended. But of course I have hope that it will finally be. I support the amendment because of what Paul Kagame has done for us as youth. He is really an inspiration to many of us. He has taught us leadership and self-reliance, but beyond that he made it possible for us to study without any hindrance. He deserves more than even three terms. It is not a matter of years but it’s all about what he does and that’s what we are looking at.’ Match Nkunda Match Nkunda, Karongi District. ‘I came to Parliament to follow the debate because we asked lawmakers to amend Article 101 to allow our President to lead us for the next seven years after 2017. It is interesting that all the MPs almost unanimously voted yes. I am sure every Rwandan is happy with the decision of the lawmakers. Had they rejected to consider our wishes, we would have camped here until the next day or take to the streets to protest.’ Isaac Bizimana Isaac Bizimana, Musanze resident. ‘I will feel happy seeing the Constitution amended because what we really need is what exactly our President is doing for us. We have achieved a lot – good schools, health centres, name them. If MPs had turned down our demands, it would have been a disservice to all of us.’ Jacqueline Mukundwa Jacqueline Mukundwa, Kicukiro resident. ‘The Constitution should be amended for various obvious reasons. President Kagame has spearheaded good governance, empowered women and more children are going to school. We have security and Rwanda is contributing to peacekeeping missions around the world. These are all good indicators of our President’s ability to steer this country to another level.’ Mukankundiye Marie Rose Mukankundiye, Nyarugunga Sector resident. ‘I am really happy that MPs have accepted our wish as citizens. I have been asking myself why they delayed to decide on this issue of the constitutional amendment. It is even my first time coming to Parliament; I could not miss this significant debate.’ Laurence Muhoza Laurence Muhoza, women’s representative in Nduba sector, Gasabo. ‘The first question I would ask those against amendment of Article 101 is why they think the Constitution should be static. Look at women in the country; before we could not have a say in any government position, but now women are in all levels of leadership. Imagine how we used to suffer the consequences of poor leadership. Now we got an opportunity to have a person to champion our cause. The Constitution must be amended without debate because everything is self-explanatory.” Launce Ishimwe Launce Ishimwe, employed in Kimironko Sector. ‘Although the Constitution has not been amended, there is a high hope judging from the support the petitions received. As a youth, I support the amendment to allow our President another term because he is a champion of all our rights.’ Habimana Jean Damascene Habimana, student at ULK. ‘We have spent a lot of time requesting for the constitutional amendment. I credit the President with the current transformation in various spheres, including education which gave more students opportunity to go to school. I wouldn’t have joined university if it was not for Kagame.’ Paul Dusengimana Paul Dusengimana aka Paul W’imushubi, Nyamagabe District. ‘I am the first person who sent a letter to the MPs and senators requesting to change the Constitution to allow the President another term in office. We finally believe that our legislators are our ambassadors because they have backed our request. I promise them that we are going to work hard, support all the government programmes and do whatever it takes for our country to develop. There are several reasons why I want our President to stand for another term. For example, the development in former Gikongoro District in terms of infrastructure, including roads and electricity, among other things.

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Rwandans react to term limits debate