Foreigners living in Rwanda feel that the country has become a land of opportunities, thanks to the environment created by President Paul Kagame’s good leadership.
The country’s habitable environment is further attributed to President Kagame’s leadership that has marked with security, peace and good business outlook.
Despite being a small country with little resources, the government has still profiled what they can do including holding big international conferences, and installing Rwanda as hub.
With this, foreigners are proposing him to be the befitting leader for the country beyond the end of his mandate in 2017.
“Looking at what the government has achieved there’s a legitimate reason, given the context of where Rwanda comes from, I would like to see president to continue to lead this country come 2017 “said Russel Mushanga, a Zambian national and a country director for an American NGO in Rwanda.
He adds, “Rwanda is one country where issues of development have been profiled over corruption and other vices that have taken over many African countries.”
Accordingly, the country’s economy has continued to grow at comparably good rates, averaging 8 per cent per annum, despite the global recessionary period that started in 2008.
Further to note is the continuing growth in the midst of the global downturn can be attributed to its good governance and sound fiscal discipline, as well as to the commitment of its public and private sectors to build a more equitable country.
“I chose to be in Rwanda due to the country’s strict safety measures, it is an example of a country that is well managed, compared to many African countries I have lived in or visited”.
He adds, “Living here makes me feel like being almost in heaven, because when corruption or other crimes occur, they are immediately dealt with quickly, leaving no doubt about the country’s zero tolerance to corruption.”
Again, Rwanda, a number of foreigners interviewed by this website say Kagame is an exceptional leader. I wish that other African leaders could come and be here for a year and then go back to rule their countries.
Mushanga says that the government in stewardship of President Kagame has programmes such as Ubudehe, a community-based problem solving mechanism, Girinka one cow per family.
Others include mutuelle de Santé which is communal health insurance scheme have ensured success in lifting 10% of the population above the poverty line in a few years.
“The issue of changing a constitution for me is ok. But what if the next leader doesn’t deliver to match Kagame’s standards?” he observed, adding that for Kagame as an individual “I would want him to rule up to as much as 40 years.”
Mushanga noted that President Kagame’s performance has been recognized internationally setting yet another agenda to allow him to stand for third term come 2017.
Notably, President Kagame has been honored with various International awards and titles for his great performance beyond critics, where locals witness it from a number of organized home- grown initiatives, as a resultant.
Among other recognitions he received the 2014 World Telecommunication Information Society Award, the prestigious 2012 African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) awards, African Banker Awards 2014 for his pivotal role in leading Rwanda’s economic growth and transformation.
According to article 101 of the country’s constitution, a president is only allowed to rule for two terms with each taking seven years.
Mushanga ranked Rwanda among his best countries in Africa where he feels safe and free to live in.
Silver Muhanguzi a Ugandan national said he wants Kagame to lead for a longer time giving an example of President Vladimir Putin of Russia for an option, where his fans point to the stability he brought after Yeltsin and the way he stood up to the west.
Incidentally, data from the Directorate of Immigration and Emigration indicates that over 100 foreigners acquired Rwandan nationality between 2009 and 2013, as a resultant.
Most of the foreigners who acquire citizenship are from countries including Uganda, Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, and Kenya a few other African countries as well as American and European countries.
“The numbers keep increasing over time and others are still applying,”
said Ange Sebutege, Head of Communication and Customer Care at the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration.
The foreigners’ echoing on the proposed change of article 101 comes at the time over 4 million people petitioned Parliament to amend the Article that instates presidential term limits.
It was after this that parliament launched a three weeks consultative meeting across the country to further give people who were not able to sign petitions to present their wishes on the change of article 101 of the constitution.