Call for critical thinking as local leaders begin training

The Minister for Local Government, James Musoni, has challenged local leaders to combine knowledge and values to implement social transformation programmes in the country.The minister said this while launching a two-week training that attracted all sectors executive secretaries, all directors at district and provincial levels as well as City of Kigali.Organised by the Ministry of Local Government, the training is taking place at RDF Centre of Excellence and Combat Training in Gabiro, Gatsibo District.The main theme of the course which is facilitated by governance experts from Singapore is ‘management for results with values and ethics.’The minister said leaders should always go about their duties without compromising on the ethics saying that this is an important element in good governance.“Good leaders embed both their values and ethics in their leadership style and actions. Your leadership ethics and values should be visible in everything you do; that is how we will take the country to the desired level of prosperity,” he said.The Singapore styleThe minster said government hired specialists from Singapore because of the Asian country’s record in good governance.Musoni urged local leaders to stop behaving like former Bourgemestres (the equivalent of present day district mayors) in the past regimes, who only served their personal interests and not of the public.“Conduct yourselves and behave in an exemplary manner. Some of you have been behaving like former Bourgmestres; corrupt and autocratic. This must stop, we will judge the success of the course on your behavioural change,” he said.Aj Shahrill, the principal consultant and trainer, said the course would dwell much on the required values that allow a leader to serve the people.He said the training was expected to make leaders understand what it entails to serve the public.“Leaders’ main challenge is to understand themselves and how to serve others. It’s a challenge to leave legacy for the future posterity. So, the requisite behaviour is what we will focus on,” Shahrill said.“Just like Singapore, Rwanda can prosper to greater heights. We are in a world of greater challenges, so how do you survive in such situation? This is our concern,” Shahrill added.

National

Call for critical thinking as local leaders begin training