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- Oct 16, 2014
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Kagame gets heroic welcome in Gasabo in 2014 during the Citizen Outreach trip that saw speakers urged him to contest for president in 2017
The debate on whether President Paul Kagame should serve a third term in office after the expiry of the mandatory two terms in 2017 is raging on in Rwanda, with former combatants in the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) saying the head of state should stay around.
On Monday, Dr Joseph Karemera, who was among the commanders that spearheaded military operations of the RPF to capture Kigali in 1994, wrote an article in the government-owned The New Times, saying President Kagame's should be given another term.
He described Kagame as a "rare person whose character from childhood to date, has informed and shaped the current new image of Rwanda," adding, the President has "turned around a country that was on the brink of becoming a failed state after it turned against its own twenty one years ago."
He recollected some of the key roles played by Kagame in the liberation struggle such as reorganisation of fighters after the death of Maj Gen Fred Rwigyema, inspiring the nation to preserve its dignity and eventual seizure of power from the genocidaires.
Karemera said while Rwanda has registered remarkable success, there are still looming threats and vulnerabilities before asking: "Is it time for H.E Paul Kagame to leave office come 2017? The answer is no. It is important to remember that Rwanda has had unique problems, including decades of misrule, destruction and division that ended in the Genocide against Tutsi."
He added: "We cannot afford to mess around with achievements we have made under Kagame's leadership. If we have to overcome the threats and vulnerabilities and strongly position our country in the current globalized environment, we need the continued visionary leadership of President Kagame."
Since then, other RPF war fighters have since come up to pressure Kagame to stand again for president.
A one Rtd Captain Frank Mugisha, said he was one of the fighters who saw the liberation war practically lost on day one in Umutara.
"Most of us-if not all-lost hope of coming home after the sudden death of Maj. Gen. Fred Rwigema (RIP), but Paul Kagame, the eventual commander-in-chief, came changed the war for good. We defeated not only a heavily armed enemy, but also their supporters, including the French troops who advised, financed, and fought alongside the genocidal militants (I can't call them an army)," he said.
Mugisha added: "We certainly can't take a gamble, not with our future; we shall not allow him to abandon us come 2017. Does he want to lose all he fought for? My humble answer is a big NO. To continue the war of development we need a tested and ‘war-hardened' commander.
President Kagame has no equals that I know of. No experiments with the so-called changes western powers often impose on us. Where were they when the Genocide was taking place? Why should they show up now with lectures after forsaking us in our greatest hour of need?"
Will Kagame go for a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] term?
According to the latest developments, it is highly likely that Kagame will contest again in 2017.
For some time, Kagame who after capturing power in 1994 turned down the RPF's decision that he becomes president, settling for Vice President and Defence Minister, recently told students at Tufts University that he had never aspired to be head of state.
"It was never my ambition to become President," said Kagame in April last year.
"I spent nine and half years of my life in the battlefield. Every single day of those nine and a half years, I was never sure if I would see the next day or the end of the war," he added.
During several Citizen Outreach tours, people have asked President Kagame to stand for president again.
Kagame's supporters say he should remain President to enable the country achieve its targets especially turning Rwanda into a middle income country by 2020.
Article 101
ChimpReports understands Parliament needs to make amendments to the Constitution for Kagame, who has been president since 2000, to contest again.
Article 101 of the Rwanda Constitution states that; "The President of the Republic is elected for a term of seven years renewable only once".
It further reads: "Under no circumstances shall a person hold the office of President of Republic for more than two terms".
Paragraph 1 of article 193, provides that power to initiate amendment of the Constitution shall be vested concurrently in the President of the Republic upon the proposal of the Cabinet and each Chamber of Parliament upon a resolution passed by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote of its members.
However, paragraph 3 of article 193 provides that, the constitutional amendment concerning the term of the President of the Republic, must be passed by referendum, after adoption by each Chamber of Parliament. The last paragraph provides that no amendment to this Article (193) shall be permitted, meaning it is only done through referendum.
Fred Mufulye, the Director General of Territorial Administration and Good Governance at the Ministry of Local Government, Rwanda, says the country's constitution as "revised to date was established and enacted based on the ideas of Rwandans. Based on the principles of democracy, Rwandans have constitutional rights to modify or review their constitution to match it with their current aspirations and wishes."
Opposition
The RPF calls for Kagame to stay in office are likely to be met with resistance from opposition leaders and civil society groups which have for long been opposed to the incumbent's system of governance.
Human rights groups accuse President Kagame of using an iron hand to suppress dissent especially by jailing opponents, a charge Kigali vehemently denies.
Critics further blame the Rwandan leader for repressing freedoms of speech and assembly thus inhibiting the growth of democracy in the East African country.
Last year, The Political Bureau of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, said it was opposed to the "proposed request regarding the lifting of the presidential term limits from the constitution of the Republic of Rwanda."
In a statement dated November, 22, 2014, the group added: "After serious analysis of the proposed request by the political bureau, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda wishes to inform members of the media and the general public, that it does not support the proposed change as well as an advancement of this request to the parliament and a subsequent referendum on lifting of presidential term limits."
Kagame's thoughts
Briefing journalists in Rwanda in February 2013, Kagame made it clear he was not interested in a third term.
"I don't want a third term in office. I want to carry out my responsibilities to my level best," said Kagame.
"I said what I said with outmost clarity. I am not responsible for other versions. This debate was started by the media; we are only putting issues into context."
He further stated: "Our history is complicated, so is everything that we have to deal with. The debate is about change, which is clearly outlined in the constitution. But now I have now joined the debate. I asked my party officials to put this matter into perspective asking people concerned ‘where are you going?"
Kagame elaborated that the responsibility of the President is to be bothered about what affects his people.
"I don't want to say much to add in more confusion to an already confused situation. People don't know how I am dying to get out of this place [State House]. I am not the person who needs a third term. I can continue serving my country in different roles. I don't do this job to be paid or to please anyone. I am thinking about the future of this country not the third term."
He said what is expected come 2017 is change, "that is what is in the Constitution, talking about continuity of progress…we need stability."
However, towards the end of the press conference, Kagame said the Rwandan Constitution can be amended like others in different countries.
"Most people who ask and speculate forget the right of people who put the Constitution in place… Can you tell me which Constitution in the whole world that hasn't been amended?" asked Kagame.
"Why forget the role of the people? This Constitution was put in place by the people and sometime back one person would write the Constitution," the President elaborated.
He maintained Rwanda's situation is unique which defines how the country deals with its affairs.
Source:chimpreports
