President Paul Kagame
President Paul Kagame has asked Rwandans to choose their own path and destiny and work hard to attain their developmental goals even when their country has gone through the hardest times.
President Kagame made the remarks while addressing over four thousand Rwandans at the RwandaDay 2015 event held in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The President remarked that the path which Rwandans have taken to develop their country in the last 21 years after the Genocide which claimed over one million lives, cannot be disputed and this trend is what will make Rwandans distinct from others.
“I would like to ask you to choose your own path. We cannot be held hostage in other people’s armpits. If Holland has developed yet it is a small country like Rwanda, which means that development is not driven by size,” Kagame said.
He also noted that despite the fact that the country lost a lot, it has continuously repositioned itself towards development and changing lives of its people.
Giving examples of what Rwanda has achieved, such as reducing child mortality, food security for the first time, gender equality, as evidence to its successful story, Kagame said that there are few countries which have managed to do what Rwanda has done.
“The truth about Rwanda’s progress speaks for itself. The fact is that the truth speaks for its self, and even if you ignore it, it manifests itself” Kagame said sending the crowd into rounds of applause”.
He also noted that this progress has also been caused by the efforts of all Rwandans from all walks of life- who have manifested their abilities in the way they work, with same goals and with the help of some friends of Rwanda.
Subsequently, Kagame said that Rwanda can no longer afford to take the choice of sitting back and wait for someone else or other countries to choose what is best for Rwandans, since this same aspect has been the main cause of Rwanda and Africa’s derailed development.
He also questioned people including some Rwandans who still go around the globe tarnishing the country’s image under the pretext that Rwanda has no democracy and that nothing has been done.
“Some of them say that there is no debate in Rwanda, but some of them have committed crimes in Rwanda, killed people and been real thieves who just want to come abroad and say anything. Debate is not an end in itself, its purpose is to exchange ideas but it must form the basis of action” he said
Kagame also hinted on the failed development on the African continent and said that Africa is where it is because the continent has chosen to be defined and developed by others and the reason for its current state is because it has chosen this path.
“Nations that made progress in last 50 years leaving Africa behind made progress because they chose to define their own path. It is easy to sit around and live off leftovers. It just means giving up your dignity and your freedom of choice” he said.
Kagame also stated that Rwanda has a lot of expectations from its youth and asked them to carry on the legacy of development wherever they are.
“Rwanda must be a nation that stands tall. We are on the path of recreating our nation. Youth must carry this legacy forward” he said.
Kagame concluded his speech by welcoming all Rwandans home and said that unlike those who still protest on the streets in European countries, others are welcome and their sins can be forgiven.
“Our nation is no longer too small to deny anyone a home as it was once the case.” He said.