Story by Ian Zvoma, News Editor
The 2023 edition of the Rwanda National Dialogue Council kicked off in Kigali this Monday, focusing on national transformation based on strategic partnerships with friendly nations like Zimbabwe.
In just 28 years, there has been a massive transformation which has taken Rwanda from the brink of collapse to one of the fastest-growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa based on massive infrastructure development.
Achieved through a shared national vision, the pursuit for greatness has once again brought Rwandans together for the annual National Dialogue Council, better known in the local language as Umushyikirano.
The event gives ordinary citizens an opportunity to engage the President and national leaders through open dialogue at the Kigali Convention Centre.
The interactive session saw President Paul Kagame emphasising the importance of serving the interests of the people through inclusive national development.
“There are those who support us in this journey and we are grateful, but there are others who seek to denigrate and manipulate us as though we are lesser humans than them. I want to encourage the leaders here not to accept that,” said President Kagame.
“We have religious leaders here. When God created us, he never put us into categories as we see here on us. God created us as equals,” he said.
Rwanda is, however, not doing it alone as strategic partnerships with friendly African nations like Zimbabwe are opening new avenues for economic growth.
This comes at a time Rwanda and Zimbabwe are exploring ways of cooperating in various sectors through the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation which has seen more than 150 Zimbabwean teachers being employed in Rwanda.
