A purpose driven leadership, term of office and the choice of the people

Residents of Musanze district in Northern Rwanda during the consultative meeting with legislators.

In my previous article ‘‘Power is derived from people and national sovereignty belongs to Rwandans” I illustrated that the motivations of the people of Rwanda to amend the article 101 are summed up into two: First, the people of Rwanda commend the service rendered to them by their visionary leadership under President Paul Kagame; consequently, they once again wish to recommend to themselves a brand that has worked well for them, during his office tenure.

Secondarily, the achievements during President Kagame’s term of office have projected high hopes and inspirations into the future of the citizens of Rwanda so that they still wish to tackle challenges of their lives with him, always, at the fore front.

Today, I wish to rest another case, to reiterate the importance of a purpose driven leadership and its efficiency when it is matched with the good choice by its people.

As we all agree, state systems are run by individuals at different levels; in this view, I intend to demonstrate how a purpose driven leader, can take a country into the walks of resilience to a pragmatic long-term social and economic development. My case in point is Rwanda whose leader, President Paul Kagame, is widely admired to have tackled the Rwanda’s post genocide challenges with determination, distinction and dignity.

Paul Kagame: Intrinsic and naturally enduring character

Many in the public opinion affirm that the citizen’s wish to extend the stay in power of their leader is self-explanatory: Rwanda’s recent history has been full of unimaginable challenges but some were called to meet a special share of these challenges. President Paul Kagame tackled them: It fell on him to wage a war to fight for the liberation of Rwandans, stop the genocide, pursue the resilience of his country and create a platform to enable his country to develop and grow.

Experts in analyzing public figures and characters recommend that a leader who usually had a strong character as person can command great authority if given an opportunity to wear state powers.

As person, in his Infancy, early childhood and early adolescence, Paul Kagame displayed extraordinary abilities to surmount challenges around him in difficulties. At the age two, when his family got forced into exile, he endured hardship when life seemed hopeless and in refugee camps in Uganda.  In these conditions, he mastered the art of listening to the advice of his parents and few friends and this helped him not to engage in any blameworthy conduct.

Kagame is credited of having never engaged in smoking, alcohol consumption or other blameworthy conducts, rather among other children of his age, he was known for his discipline and personal hygiene.

At this time, while absorbing and managing different shocks of life, he understood the importance of good relationship and synergizing with other people.

In the NRM, Kagame proved to be a highly motivated and disciplined officer and above all, in the RPF liberation struggle, he proved to be uncompromising commandant and an intrinsic leader committed for the total liberation and freedom of his fellow Africans.

As a leader, and also a believer that giving attention to details brings excellence, Kagame does not tolerate corruption, time insensitivity in public affairs handling, uncleanness in the communities, homes and at highways.

Committed to turn Rwanda into a middle income country, in that journey, Rwanda was not in short of shocks and disturbances but Kagame implemented a wide range of policies aimed at the economic growth and poverty reduction, deepening and expanding the financial sector, capital markets and unit trust investment development.

In addition, policies that facilitate and encourage skills and competencies development to allow particularly the youth to become more productive and competitive to support their ambitions were implemented, home grown solutions were encouraged to improve the lives of all Rwandans in the face of an uncertain global economic environment.

A choice of the people who mind less about terms of office

The people of Rwanda have understood that a purpose driven leader always needs time, even beyond the set terms of office, to transition their country into a middle income economy in 2020 to the first world economy in few years after that time. In other words, requesting to amend the article 101 of the constitution, the people of Rwanda see into President Paul Kagame, their future and mind less about terms of office.

Not reinventing the wheel

Aware that it is within their powers and rights, convinced that power derives from the people and national sovereignty belongs to Rwandans, the people of Rwanda have decided to amend the article 101 to ensure their future.

It is important to remind that what Rwandans wishes to do, happened elsewhere in a good number of times. Many interested in international politics may be recalling of a political figure under the name of Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore from1959 to 1990.

Lee Kuan Yew, is recognized as the founding father of Singapore, credited to have transitioned Singapore from “third world to the first world in a single generation” due to his policies in favor of pragmatic long-term social and economic development.

Lee Kuan Yew used two political ideologies: Meritocracy and multiracialism, made English the common language but also mandated bilingualism in schools for his citizen to be full conversant with the rest of the world. Lee believed that that sustainable development cannot be achieved when the National security and Defense are not guaranteed.

But, all these could not have happened if Singaporeans have not have chosen to give their leader enough time to serve them. The point I am making here, is that, if a country has been blessed to have a purpose and impact driven leader, it is indispensable to accord him time to perform up to the aspiration of the people.

Likewise, Rwandans have understood that time is an important resource they have to offer to their purpose driven leader to make an important step ahead with them in the future, shape their development and elevate Rwanda into a new era of prosperity that will be celebrated for generations.