Rwandans will determine their own destiny - Kagame

KIREHE - The RPF Presidential candidate and incumbent, Paul Kagame, yesterday said that Rwandans don’t owe anybody anything, warning that those who want to make choices for Rwandans or shape the future of this country will not be given any chance. Addressing over 95, 000 people at Nyakarambi-Kirehe District Headquarters in the Eastern Province, Kagame said that Rwandans should be accorded the dignity and respect they deserve and left alone to make their own choices.Kagame said that Rwandans will not tolerate those who want to make choices or determine what Rwandans want, whether they are Rwandans or foreigners. Drawing cheers from the supporters, Kagame said that the thousands who turned up for the rally should make it clear to everyone that Rwandans have what it takes to make their own choices. Kagame once again took a swipe at the country’s critics for “having eyes but don’t see, ears but they don’t listen and brains but don’t reason”. Otherwise, he said, they would have known what the “new Rwanda” is and who the “new Rwandans” are. Again Kagame warned that whoever has intentions of destabilising the country’s will be met with the strongest force, adding that such people need to know who Rwandans are today and what RPF stands for. He told the cheering crowd that the country has won many hard-fought battles in the past, thanks to the people’s patriotism, adding that the battles ahead will also be won with ease. He said that the people of Rwanda have won battles against poverty, underdevelopment, bad leadership and ethnicity, pointing out that they will continue to win more battles regardless of what critics say. Reflecting on the big turn up, Kagame called on those who doubt the country’s democratic path to come and ask the thousands of Rwandans who turn up to show their support to the RPF. He called on the residents of the district to reflect on the last 5 or 10 years and see where the district has come from and where it is going, adding that critics should be looking at the achievements because they speak for themselves rather than making unnecessary noise. Kagame noted that his campaign visit to Kirehe was to assess the achievements of the last 7 years and also focus on the next 7, adding that it is important to continue with the RPF and its candidate to maintain the path that has already paid dividends. Kagame, who said that Rwanda is for Rwandans who are determined to build and transform the country, disclosed that during the next seven years, the achievements already registered would be multiplied. He told the residents of Kirehe that choosing RPF is choosing economic development and all its aspects, good relations with other countries because RPF politics is founded on that. He added that when the people’s lives are improved, development takes shape and the people make their own choice of leadership, which constitutes democracy. Once again Kagame said that Rwandans will not allow anybody who wants to divide the people along ethnic lines, noting that Rwanda is not for Hutu, neither is it for Tutsi, nor for Twa, but rather for Rwandans. He said that Rwanda is not a country that can surrender leadership to criminals or people who subscribe to ethnic divisionism, all in the name of democracy. He added that for foreigners to seek to impose individuals with criminal history on Rwandans is a sign of arrogance, warning that such nonsense will not be tolerated. Kagame said that Rwandans have been victims of the arrogance of intruders for over a century, but it will not be the case today. Emille Mukunzi, a 29 -year youth from the district, gave a testimony about his life, beginning with his return from exile in 1994 and eventually dropping out of school. He was however identified and supported by Benishyaka association until he completed advanced level before engaging in livestock farming. Beginning with one goat, he ended up with 50 which he sold, got a bank loan and started raising cattle. Today he has over 80 highly productive cows and has returned to university pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Ends

National

Rwandans will determine their own destiny - Kagame