{"id":63936,"date":"2024-01-25T17:12:58","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T17:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/party-civil-society-leaders-hail-kagames-inspirational-speech"},"modified":"2024-01-25T18:10:45","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T18:10:45","slug":"party-civil-society-leaders-hail-kagames-inspirational-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/parties\/party-civil-society-leaders-hail-kagames-inspirational-speech","title":{"rendered":"Party, civil society leaders hail Kagame\u2019s \u2018inspirational\u2019 speech"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Leaders from across the political spectrum and civil society have praised President Paul Kagame\u2019s first speech since his Burundian counterpart Evariste Ndayishimiye publicly declared Rwanda an enemy state, offering to help oust its government.<\/p>\n

Opening the National Umushyikirano Council in the capital Kigali on Tuesday, Kagame delivered what many have described as \u201can inspirational\u201d speech, reassuring citizens of security and urging them to not be distracted and instead single-mindedly focus on transforming their lives and country.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to defending this country that has suffered for so long and nobody came to help, we don\u2019t need permission from anybody, to do what we have to do to protect ourselves,\u201d the President told a fully packed auditorium at the Kigali Convention Centre.<\/p>\n

Delivering his eagerly awaited speech in the wake of threats of war on Rwanda by the Burundian leader, the commander-in-chief said, \u201cyou go home, sleep, don\u2019t do anything, there will be nothing crossing the borders of this small country of ours. Do not fear empty barrels. You know a balloon? You just need a needle, and whatever is inside disappears.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cwhere we have been, 30 years ago, there is nothing worse that can happen to us. Also, that means, if you put us in a situation where we have to think like it\u2019s going back to that time, then we have nothing to lose. We will fight like people who have nothing to lose, and somebody will pay the price, other than ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Civility, political responsibility…<\/p>\n

Christine Mukabunani, Chairperson, Parti Democrate-Imberakuri<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a timely speech,\u201d said Christine Mukabunani, chairperson, Parti Democrate (PS)-Imberakuri. \u201cCitizens needed to hear his message considering all the speculation and threats that have been going around over the last few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMost importantly,\u201d she said, \u201cthe President was calm and measured, easily exercising civility and political responsibility throughout, while ensuring the message came through loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed off Ndayishimiye\u2019s suggestion that Rwandan youth were \u201cprisoners\u201d who needed to liberate themselves. \u201cI took it as a joke, he probably made things up because he wanted to project a sense of power to the people of Burundi or something like that, which is illusory, otherwise Burundi cannot be the country that can feel pity for Rwandans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheikh Mussa Fazil Harerimana, the chairperson of the Ideal Democratic Party (PDI), said, \u201cwhen you abuse the leader of a people, you have abused the people themselves, and, therefore, the people of Rwanda looked forward to their leader\u2019s message.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheikh Mussa Fazil Harerimana, Chairperson, Ideal Democratic Party,<\/p>\n

Kagame, said the former cabinet minister, used Umushyikirano to send a \u201cclear\u201d message to both Burundi and DR Congo that Rwanda was not interested in war although it was ready to successfully defend itself. \u201cCitizens were always confident in the President and the security forces\u2019 ability to keep us safe, but they still needed to hear from him, and he came through with an incredibly empowering speech.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Dr Alvera Mukabaramba, the head of the Parti du Progres et de la Concorde (PPC), the President needed to deliver a public response to warmongers, and he did just that.<\/p>\n

Dr Alvera Mukabaramba, Chairperson, Parti du Progres et de la Concorde.<\/p>\n

\u201cA response was needed because we have recently seen Ndayishimiye join Tshisekedi on his path of aggression and in beating the war drums and maybe some people were starting to be disturbed.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, she noted that such threats against Rwanda were not new, recalling similar remarks by then Vice President and Defence minister Paul Kagame in parliament in the late 1990s, during which he addressed Mukabaramba\u2019s concerns about security.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were concerns around DR Congo\u2019s plan to destabilise Rwanda but, just like this week, he reassured us that we needed not to worry because everything was under control,\u201d she recollected. \u201cThere has never been doubts about our military\u2019s capacity to defend this country, not even in the mind of a citizen near the border areas in Rubavu (close to DR Congo).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Proactive measures to save homeland\u2019<\/p>\n

Joseph Ryarasa, the Chairperson of Rwanda Civil Society Platform and Executive Director of Never Again Rwanda, told The New Times Wednesday, \u201cPresident Kagame emphasised the importance of Rwanda’s sovereignty and the need to protect the country’s interests without relying on external assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Joseph Ryarasa, Chairperson of Rwanda Civil Society Platform and Executive Director of Never Again Rwanda.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a powerful statement that speaks to Rwanda’s determination to ensure its own security and well-being,\u201d he said. \u201cIt’s key to see leaders who prioritise the welfare of their nation and take proactive measures to safeguard it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mary Barikungeri, the Founder and Director of Rwanda Women\u2019s Network, said the President\u2019s speech was \u201cinspirational and uplifting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mary Barikungeri, Founder and Director of Rwanda Women\u2019s Network.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt put you in a state of tranquility and made you feel safe,\u201d she said, adding that the President \u201cmade clear that he wants us to not lose sleep and just focus on the most important things, which is building our families, our communities and our country.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe never tires of reminding us to always strive for excellence and to exemplify the values of agaciro (a cherished Rwandan concept that can be almost equated to dignity) in whatever we do,\u201d Barikungeri said.<\/p>\n

\u2018A right to statehood\u2019<\/p>\n

For Protais Musoni, the Chairperson of Pan-African Movement Rwanda Chapter, one message that stood out for him in Kagame\u2019s speech on Tuesday was the President\u2019s clarity and conviction about the responsibility of leaders to safeguard the rights of all citizens, without any form of discrimination.<\/p>\n

Protais Musoni, Chairperson of Pan-African Movement Rwanda Chapter.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the fundamental rights of citizens is the right to statehood and governments have a responsibility to safeguard that right. That\u2019s what the President stressed when he talked about Congolese nationals who are denied the right to statehood,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The veteran politician and former cabinet minister added, \u201cThe President was clearly questioning why he should be given a burden that\u2019s not his, when there are people responsible to carry that burden and address the fundamental issue of a people\u2019s right to statehood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe President was making a case that those leaders needed to embrace a mindset of independence and address their problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Musoni also cited Kagame\u2019s \u201crenewed emphasis that Rwanda remained open to working with our neighbours to promote peace and sustainable development.<\/p>\n\r\n