The Interview
Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame (pictured), tells New African’s Hichem Ben Yaïche that he will step down at the end of his current term in office, which ends in 2017. “I have no intention to disrespect the constitution,” he says.
Kagame ‘I will step down in 2017’
Q: You were elected last August for a second 7-year term that will end in 2017. How do you plan to execute your politi- cal “roadmap”? Will you make changes to your priorities? A: Over the next seven years, we will work together with Rwandans to build on our achievements in order to improve the lives of all the people by transforming our coun- try into a middle-income economy based on knowledge and technology. Te priorities will stay the same; we will
invest more in energy, electricity distribu- tion, and getting clean water to all Rwan- dans. We will continue to build infrastruc- ture and increase agricultural production including processing, so that Rwandans are able to earn more from their work. We will also build more productive partner- ships between the public and the private sector to improve the quality of services.
Q: Will you step down at the end of this 7-year mandate which is effectively your last term in office, as provided by the constitution? A: Our constitution is clear on term lim- its. I have no intention, and no desire, to disrespect the constitution.
Q: Your programme seems to concen- trate mainly on education, health and infrastructure. Is there a specific reason for this choice? A: Our people are our greatest resource so we are investing in the areas that will make a real difference in their lives – to ensure that they are healthy, educated, skilled, and able to compete globally. Infrastruc- ture [spending] makes all other develop- ment possible. It goes beyond providing
66 | April 2011 New African
essential services domestically, to linking up with other countries in our region, particularly to facilitate increased business and commerce.
Q: Your opponents refer to your style of governance as authoritarian and un- democratic. What is your response to these critics? It is commonly agreed that democracy is about political and institutional forces of opposition. What is your perception of democracy? A: We would never have been able to make the progress we have made since 1994 with- out the massive participation of Rwandans. My opponents have a right to their opin- ions, but what is important to me is what 11 million Rwandans think and want, and it is clear to anyone who cares to see that Rwandans today have an active voice in affairs that matter to them. We have a constitution that was writ-
ten after extensive consultations with all Rwandans, both here and abroad. Rwan- dans make decisions through our decen- tralised system of local government; they benefit from programmes that are home- grown and owned by the communities they serve; and they can trust the institu- tions we have built to govern our complex society. Te result is that all Rwandans are enjoying increased stability and improved livelihoods. What’s more, democracy and development go hand in hand. It is clear to us that rising incomes foster democratic values. Once a family moves its focus away from survival, they have an even greater ability to improve their communities, in- vest in their future, and vote freely without fear or coercion. Tis, in turn, will sustain our development.
Q: Your tenure as president has been marked by the radical transformation of the geopolitical set-up of the country: the choice of English as the language of instruction in schools, regional integra- tion, and a “Look East” policy towards Asia (China, Singapore, India, etc). What factors have influenced this? A: We look at the available options and choose what will help us achieve our goals most quickly. English is the language of business, science, and innovation all over the world, and as members of both the East African Community and the Com- monwealth, we want to ensure that Rwan- dans are equipped to seize available op- portunities for their own development and that of the country. It is not about looking East or West,
rather it is about engaging with inter- national partners, no matter where they come from, to improve our citizens’ lives, through mutually beneficial and respect- ful partnerships.
Ê PHOTO:Ê JASONÊ VENKATASAMY
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