RWANDA VOTES ON NEW CONSTITUTIONAL CLAUSES
(Posted 18th December 2015)
Rwandans are, come daylight, heading to a referendum over proposals made by the country’s lawmaking bodies, Parliament and Senate, to change several clauses of the current constitution. This proposal was arrived at following wide consultations among the population and intense interaction between members of parliament and senate with their constituents.
When approved, and there is no doubt at all that this is a given considering the overwhelming support expressed already during the consultative stages for the changes, will President Kagame, should he so wish, be eligible for a third seven year term of office. Other changes will after that period then introduce five year terms for the office of President.
President Paul Kagame, who was elected as President first twelve years ago – contrary to suggestions that he became president immediately after the genocide regime was driven out of the country in 1994 – has transformed Rwanda which has risen like the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes of that genocide. Economic growth went hand in hand with dealing firmly with those responsible for the 1994 genocide and zero tolerance for corruption and transparent accountability for development funds received was accompanied by major infrastructure projects for roads, power plants and the ongoing airport expansion in Kigali. Tourism has become the country’s leading foreign exchange earner with over 303 million US Dollars last year, a figure expected to rise further when the 2015 figures are in.
For the continent and the world has Rwanda attained a sterling reputation for the secondment of peacekeeping troops to UN and AU missions and for instance for sending police units to Haiti, while in the wider Great Lakes region playing an instrumental role in keeping Congo based terror groups like the FDLR at bay.
Notably have Western countries refrained from issuing their usual panicked anti travel advisories ahead of the referendum day, as indeed all preparations are on course and an entirely peaceful conduct of the vote is expected by the Rwandan people. Sources from within Rwanda’s tourism industry have confirmed continued uninterrupted arrivals of tourists across the land borders from Uganda and through the main international airport in Kigali and literally sold out gorilla tracking permits for the holiday period.
Pundits are expecting a very high approval rate of perhaps as much a 90+ percent for the change of constitutional clauses before politics then take a back seat as Rwanda enters the festive season between Christmas and New Year. For information about Destination Rwanda click on www.rwandatourism.com
