President Kagame today told Rwandans that there is no documented
evidence of a nation or people anywhere in the history of the world who
progressed by receiving assistance by other people. He said this at the
launch of the Agaciro Development Fund and signing of Imihigo
(performance contracts) by Mayors, Ambassadors and Ministers.
President Kagame launches Agaciro Fund Development- Kigali, 23 August 2012
President Kagame launches Agaciro Fund Development- Kigali, 23 August 2012
Before commencing his speech,
President Kagame paid homage to the late Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of
Ethiopia, with a moment of silence. President Kagame described Prime
Minister Zenawi as an eminent leader who worked for Africa’s progress
and said his passing was a loss not only to Ethiopia and Ethiopians, but
to the entire continent.
Speaking on the significance of
the Agaciro Development Fund, President Kagame called on Rwandans to
lead the drive for self-sufficiency and draw strength from the
injustices experienced to work hard and end dependence:
“Other people may provide
assistance and this should not be considered entirely a bad thing.
However, such assistance should only come as a supplement to what has
been generated by ourselves, because assistance by other people is like
anesthesia; both offer temporary relief.
We are not changing our relationship with our partners and neither are we trying to isolate ourselves. We are simply trying to add value to the relationship because aid is never enough and we need to complement it with homegrown schemes to accelerate growth.”
We are not changing our relationship with our partners and neither are we trying to isolate ourselves. We are simply trying to add value to the relationship because aid is never enough and we need to complement it with homegrown schemes to accelerate growth.”
Comments