2024 elections: Who qualifies to be Rwanda's next president?

Author: Daniel Gatimu

• 2024-02-25 05:53:00

Asked whether he believes he is the most qualified candidate for the presidency in the July presidential election, Rwandan President Paul Kagame replied that the elections are for Rwandans to decide whether the people they are electing are qualified for the job.

Kagame was speaking in a one-on-one conversation with CNN journalist Eleni Giokos in Dubai, on February 12, where he was attending the 11th World Governments Summit (WGS).

“The history counts and the proof is in the polling,” Kagame said.

Rwanda has registered a significant socio-economic transformation under Kagame’s leadership.

After the devastating 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, during which more than one million people were brutally massacred in 100 days, Kagame transformed Rwanda into to the successful, hopeful, and inspiring story that it is today.

Rwanda’s economy grew by 9.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, following 8.2 per cent growth in 2022. Real GDP growth is projected to reach 8.0 per cent in 2024 on account of continued slow recovery in domestic agricultural production and recovery in exports and conference tourism.

Rwanda aspires for middle income country status by 2035 and a high-income country status by 2050.

President Kagame has heavily invested in a knowlwdge-based economy, by accelerating technology and innovation to improve service delivery and accelerate economic transformation and development.

Life expectancy improved from 49 years in 2000 to 70.27 years in 2024; poverty fell from 77 per cent in 2001 to 55 per cent in 2017; the maternal mortality ratio declined to 203 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 down from 1,071 in 2000 while under-five mortality dropped to 45 deaths per 1,000 in 2020 from 196 deaths in 2000.

From the 1950s to 1994, Rwanda experienced discrimination and division among its citizens, promoted by bad leadership. The result was the loss of over one million lives in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The RPF, led by Kagame as commander of its armed wing RPA, stopped the genocide and transformed post-genocide Rwanda. Kagame restored unity among Rwandans, eradicated ethnic divisionism, and restored justice.

Kagame’s efforts have made Rwanda a safe and secure country. He invested in building strong and disciplined security forces so as to maintain peace and security in the country.

Rwandans are enjoying living in a safe and secure country.

Kagame has even gone beyond Rwanda’s borders and provided military support in countries like Mozambique, South Sudan and Central African Republic to restore peace and security. In foreign lands where they operate, Rwandan soldiers have left a positive mark, and example. It is no wonder Rwanda is the fourth biggest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, and is ranked the second on the list of top 10 safest countries in Africa to visit in 2024 on vacation.

When Kagame said “the history counts,” he meant it. Rwandans are aware of that.