The verdict is out, just as expected, Rwanda’s steady economic growth is getting even stronger, according to the World Economic Prospects report published by the World Bank. In the past whenever the country posted positive results, not everyone has welcomed the news. Some even go to the extent of alleging that Rwanda was cooking its economic data, allegations that the World Bank has been at pain to disprove. The latest data will drive those people up the wall even further; Rwanda is the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa that will post economic growth of more than 8 per cent in 2020. The data is not based on any single factor but many indicators, but above all, besides those scientific calculations and projections there is the human element. It is one thing for the government’s planning departments to draw up ambitious plans; it is another to follow them through. That has been this county’s worst kept secret; doing the best with the little it has and being accountable every step of the way. But it is the little things we read about every day that make the difference; the most vulnerable being given cows or medical insurance. Galvanising the population during the monthly community work, Umuganda to contribute to social protection projects. It is the well-being of the people that contributes most to economic growth. Grassroots leaders are well aware of that, and they also know that stepping out of the line of service delivery means being shown the door.
