Leadership requires mass support, says Kagame

NYAGATARE - The RPF presidential candidate, Paul Kagame, yesterday told the residents of Nyagatare district that being a country’s leader is not something that happens overnight or a responsibility that anyone can choose to do. Addressing over 130, 000 ecstatic RPF supporters at Rukomo sector play ground, Kagame, who arrived at around 2.30p.m., said that leading the country is a huge task which cannot be accomplished by a lone individual but requires the support of the masses. The candidate, said that external forces will not be allowed to impose any individual on the country, adding that leading Rwanda is not something anyone can wake up and do. Amidst ear-splitting cheers, Kagame said that a country cannot be ruled on sentiments, ethnic divisions or even radicalism, and that Rwandans are already contented with the leadership they have put in place. He reminded the crowd of the history of Nyagatare pointing out that the residents contributed in the war to liberate the country, played a role in building the country’s economy and in development in general. Kagame went on to say that the huge turnout at the rally is a sign that Rwandans are not ready to squander the achievements registered, over the last 16 years. The candidate pointed out that ensuring development, delivering public service and maintaining peace and security is not a task anyone can accomplish. Kagame noted that that his visit to the district was to draw plans, with the residents, on how RPF can maintain the development path it has already embarked on. He added that the choice Rwandans make in the in the forthcoming presidential elections will determine whether that progress will be sustained, noting that by choosing RPF and its candidate, Rwandans will have chosen continued development. The candidate reminded the supporters that the RPF’s record speaks for itself. Kagame, who was evidently upbeat said that voting RPF 100% is democracy because Rwandans have said so, adding that it shows how popular the party is among Rwandans. The candidate went on to say that in spite of the tremendous achievements during the last seven years, there is still a long way to go, adding that the next 7 years are going to constitute another phase of development. The residents took time to showcase the achievements of the one-cow-per-family programme championed by the RPF candidate. At the rally, Kagame was shown one of the cows, draped in RPF colours, belonging to, Damien Habyarimana, who currently owns four cross breeds that were sourced from the programme. Hakizimana, a resident of Gatunda sector in Nyagatare district was given a 50% crossbreed cow during the programme’s distribution exercise, which produced a 75% high breed calf that he later inseminated and produced a full exotic cow that now produces over 20 litres of milk a day. In her testimony, a former beggar, Epiphany Nsengimana, a resident with disability, said that today she owns an embroidery and a tailoring project which supplies schools with sweaters. She also manufactures beads. She told the crowd that she drew her inspiration from President Kagame’s call on Rwandans to be innovative. Ends

National

Leadership requires mass support, says Kagame