The Africa we want lies within us, Minister Mugenzi tells Pan-Africanists

The Minister of Local Government, Patrice Mugenzi, urged members of the Pan-African Movement (PAM) Rwanda Chapter to be at the forefront of championing Africa-led solutions. Speaking during the PAM Consultative Council Meeting held in Kigali on June 29, Mugenzi pointed out that what most Africans seek abroad can be found within the continent. “They need to first value these local solutions, work towards realising them, and inspire others to adopt a similar mindset,” he said. ALSO READ: Pan-Africanism: Musoni urges self-reliance over dependence The meeting brought together members of the PAM National Commission Bureaus to elect additional leadership and strengthen coordination mechanisms across all levels of the movement, the minister noted that many solutions are often overlooked and underutilized, which is why many Africans continue to look elsewhere. “We need to adjust our mindset and develop a sense of resilience. Let's first convince ourselves that we're capable of doing better. We just waste energy unnecessarily. I myself, like other fellow Africans, need to realise that most of the solutions are in Africa and not outside,” he said. Mugenzi gave the example of many Africans who drown in the Mediterranean Sea while migrating illegally to Europe in search of greener pastures. He described this as a painful reality that shows a lack of ownership and belief in their own continent. This situation, he said, leads to a loss of valuable manpower, and when they arrive in those countries, they are often undermined. “We need to value ourselves first, value Africa, Mugenzi said. We must speak a common language and preserve the most important things in an African way, starting with the private sector, which employs the majority of people. We can’t keep waiting and outsourcing everything. Real resilience lies in building something that provides sustainable solutions,” he said. ALSO READ: Pan-African Movement, Africans in Rwanda discuss development The gathering followed the resolutions of the PAM National Congress held on May 25, which elected the National Bureau. The event aimed to build on this momentum by focusing on leadership expansion, national mobilization, and the presentation of PAM-Rwanda’s annual strategic activities. During the meeting, 21 commissions were elected, with 30% of their members being women. These commissions will carry out their respective responsibilities to ensure the effective operation of the movement. As PAM-Rwanda prepares to extend its structure starting from the village level, the goal is to reach everyone, educate them on the movement’s values, and encourage their participation in driving change and valuing the continent. ALSO READ: Africans, we should all be Pan- Africanists Protais Musoni, Chairperson of PAM-Rwanda, noted that the current socioeconomic situation in Africa can be improved if more people join hands. “Let’s bring more people on board to work together on solutions. Let’s identify the problems, understand their root causes, and find ways to address them,” Musoni said. “The private sector and nonprofit organizations can collaborate with government institutions to achieve greater impact. Let’s join the movement with urgency. I believe that in the next three to four years, we will see some changes,” he added. Musoni urged the newly elected commissions to prepare for the work ahead and to lead the change with commitment and urgency. Mary Clare Mukamusonera, who was re-elected commissioner in charge of welfare, said that one of the urgent priorities is to extend efforts to the village level and raise awareness among all residents, including in schools, so that young people can learn African values and grow up embracing them. “Young people need to grow up loving and learning how to build Africa, Mukamusonera said. By the time they participate in national duties, they should have already understood what it means to be African, to respond to Africa’s challenges and know how to solve them.”

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The Africa we want lies within us, Minister Mugenzi tells Pan-Africanists