Known for his no nonsense approach to challenges facing his country, President Paul Kagame walks into a comfortable fourth term in office after 99.15 percent of voters in Rwanda trusted him with a vote on July 15.
Kagame, 66, in office since 2000 had two opposition challenges with his main critic Diana Rwigara barred from participating in the elections after the Electoral Commission insisted she has failed to a criminal record statement, one of the requirements for nominations.
In the absence of Rwigara, the People Salvation Movement (PSM) party leader, who was also barred in 2017, Kagame only had Frank Habineza of Democratic Green Party and Phillipe Mpayimana in the race.
The incumbent and leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) was on July 16 declared winner after garnering 7,099,810 votes, equating to 99.15 percent of the total votes cast. In second position was Habineza who garnered 38,301 votes (0.53 percent), while Mpayimana came third with 22,753 votes (0.32 percent). These two contenders have conceded defeat.
Crispin Kaheru, an African Union Election Observer has described the campaigns for the recently concluded exercise in Rwanda as “low key” with the Election Day seeing widespread participation.
“The emphasis on voting in Rwanda encourages citizens to actively contribute to shaping the country’s future, fostering a culture of civic responsibility and discipline. Moreover, Rwanda’s structured electoral framework has significantly contributed to political stability, providing a predictable environment conducive to development,” stated Kaheru.
Kaheru added that; “over the years, Rwanda has reframed and tailored its elections to prioritise voter participation and inclusivity. The electoral process is designed to engage a broad spectrum of the population, ensuring that citizens vote”.
Having observed elections in several African countries over the years, Kaheru believes that Rwanda has moved a step further to organise peaceful elections because every success moves close to uniting a country that has to forget the effects of the 1994 genocide that was a result of a divided society.
“The system appears to have been crafted to build a cohesive society where democratic practices are integrated into the fabric of everyday life, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and national unity. These nuances explain the high voter turnout figures,” he added.
Kagame’s campaign
His latest campaign focused on promises of inclusive development, security, and improving citizens’ livelihoods without leaving anyone behind.
He was eligible to run in the current election due to a 2015 constitutional amendment that allowed him to seek three additional terms. While this amendment permitted Kagame a seven-year term in 2017, it also reduced presidential terms to five years starting in 2024. Having worked on the provision of a better healthcare, improved education, among other sectors, Kagame has during the campaigns charismatically explained the following.
Transformative Infrastructure Projects
Kagame explained to the Rwandans how if still around for another term, he will transform the country’s landscape with state-of-the-art infrastructure projects. He told the voters that his coalition government was planning to construct and rehabilitate 1626km of feeder roads and 1091km of tarmac roads.
Also to be spent on is the construction of three inland ports on Lake Kivu to facilitate transportation of goods and services. These ports are in the Districts of Rusizi, Karongi, and Rutsiro.
During a campaign rally in Ngororero District on Monday, June 24, President Paul Kagame, the Chairman and flagbearer of RPF-Inkotanyi, unveiled an ambitious development agenda for Rwanda, covering a broad spectrum of sectors.
The rally, attended by thousands of residents, highlighted the party’s commitment to fast-tracking Rwanda’s growth and progress over the next five years.
Agricultural Sector
Kagame wants to use this new term to increase production in the agricultural sector with value addition through agro-processing. He plans to raise agricultural and livestock productivity by 8 percent annually and manufacturing productivity by 13 percent, also annually.
This focus on productivity aims to create 250,000 new jobs each year, contributing to Rwanda’s overall economic resilience and self-reliance. The Government of Rwanda has created 1,138,872 jobs as of June 2023, according to a report by Germany Development Corporation, commonly known as GIZ. The country has one of the highest growth rates in Africa with the International Monetary Fund projecting it to hit 7 percent.
Advancing Technology and Innovation
As Artificial Intelligence takes shape in Africa, Kagame wants Rwanda to lead the way in advancing adoption of technology. The AI according to Kagame has a crucial role to play in the development strategy.
During campaigns, he emphasised the need for embracing modern technology to improve various sectors, from agriculture to education.
By fostering innovation and technological advancement, Rwanda aims to position itself as a regional leader in the digital economy.
Rwanda’s investment potential
During the campaigns, he pitched to the voters on how his government plans to attract foreign investors to establish in Rwanda and making the country a financial hub. The government wants to create a conducive environment for the foreign investors as well as boosting the country’s tourism potential. Under this plan, Kagame is looking increasing tourism revenue from the current projection of $620m in 2024 to $1.1 billion by 2029.
Another area where Kagame targets the influx of the foreign investors is the mineral development. Though Rwanda does not have deposits of dozens of minerals like its neighbours Uganda and the DR Congo, the government has plans to develop the sector that bases on tin, tantalum and tungsten mining. While the country earned about $1,1 billion from mining in 2023, it was an RPF promise that they plan to raise this by $7 billion by end of the new term.
Emphasizing Self-Reliance in Development
Throughout his address, Kagame reiterated the importance of self-reliance in Rwanda’s development journey.
He called on Rwandans to prioritize improving their livelihoods with the resources available, while also leveraging external support when necessary.
This mindset of self-reliance is seen as a crucial element in driving sustainable development and reducing dependency on foreign aid.
Security
For Rwanda, security of the citizens is one of the top agenda of the government and indeed, Kagame has invested a lot in this sector. He has been hailed for eliminating the genocidal militia and extremists over the years. The safety of the borders of Rwanda and its airspace also remains key in the governance of the East African country.
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