President Paul Kagame and the chairman of the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) yesterday called on RPF party members to maintain high levels of discipline as it remains one of the key principles that guide the party.
President Kagame in his capacity as the chairman of the ruling party told party members who had convened at the Petit Stade in Remera for the General Assembly which happens every two years that any acts that contravene the fundamental principles of the party dont only spoil the good image of the party but also impact on the well being of the people they are supposed to serve.
He pointed that selfish acts such as corruption cannot be tolerated and that whoever gets to stray from that path will face the consequences, making it clear that the party is built on an all inclusive, participatory policy where all the citizens are not only part of the development process but equally share the benefits that come from the hard work and commitment.
He warned that any leader who strays from the idea has strayed from the path of the party and has to be answerable of the consequences.
In reference to the just concluded 9th National Dialogue, Umushyikirano, President Kagame said that the overall outcomes of the two-day meeting was an example of how Rwandans, regardless of their political difference, can come together to look for solutions to the challenges, adding that such an event should be reason for people to reflect on what they have to do and had a mindset change towards achieving that.
Kagame told the assembly which was attended by representatives of recognised opposition parties and non-political government entities that the RPF took the decision to liberate the country because the regime at the time was using discriminative politics and that it will always stand for participatory politics as one of the key principles of RPF is to involve
citizens in the decision making processes.
President Kagame said that since it was founded, the RPF Political ideology was designed in a way that everyone was involved, observing that it is different to a football game where only 22 men on the pitch play and the rest who fill up the stadium are just fans who cheer the players on the field,saying that RPF acts as a team where everyone is involved.
He highlighted that the outcomes of the national dialogue which were a result of the deliberations between leaders, citizens and all the parties in the political and development processes present a better opportunity for all to reflect and have mindset change focussed on the future of the country.
President Kagame pointed out that while RPF rules a team, each and every person has their responsibilities which they must fulfill and if not, that person will be put to task to explain why they did not meet expectations while those who misuse their positions for selfish interest will be brought to book.
Pointing out that no country in the world appreciates poverty among its citizens, President Kagame said that the all inclusive approach was adopted such that all Rwandans benefit equally from the development process and that citizens have what it takes to participate in the initiatives to eliminate poverty.
He however, noted that when leaders divert from such principles to pursue selfish interests, such targets are never, warning party members against abandoning the original objective of the ruling party.
He pointed out that every negative action by a party member is attributed to the party, issuing a stern warning that RPF is a party that will not allow such individual mistakes to soil the good image of the party, making it clear that it is important for all party members to conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, amongst themselves and in whatever they do for the country.
Once again, despite Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana who was invited to the assembly defending his idea of a 3rd term of the incumbent, President Kagame came out clearly saying that RPF as a party is not built on an individual, observing that the main focus today should be addressing the challenges the country is facing, which is the main issue and there after “many Kagames” can come up to lead the country.
Harelimana who is the head of the Ideal Political Party (PDI) who was among the other opposition party leaders that were invited to the assembly was recently put on spot by President Kagame saying that he should be the one answering questions of another term since he is the one who started the talk.
The Sheikh who also doubles as the Minister of Internal Security defended his actions arguing that his idea was a result of a research his party conducted worldwide which showed that countries normally revise the constitution to allow a leader another term in office when it is deemed necessary.
Also present at the biennial meeting were the president of the Senate and the Speaker of Parliament who are invited in their non-partisan capacities as well as representatives of recognised political parties in the country.
Perhaps the invited guest who drew the most applause was Christine Mukabunani, the leader of Parti Sociale Imberakuri who noted that her once embattled party has overcome its challenges and it is now ready to partake on the national cake. Last year, the newly formed party was riddled with internal wrangles.
The assembly was also an opportunity for the ruling party to elect new commissioners where necessary and also take disciplinary action where needed.
The biennial assembly attended by all party representative at local government levels is also used by the party lay new strategies to consolidate the current development.
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