{President Paul Kagame has, shared Rwanda’s homegrown Innovations in dealing with numerous sector problems. }
President Kagame shared Rwanda’s Experience during an interactive session at the Africa Innovation Summit in Cape Verde. The session included also the President of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca and former Mozambican President, Joaquim Chissano.
Kagame talked about Gacaca Courts which were established in the country to prosecute Genocide perpetrators while at the same time restoring unity and Trust among Rwandans.
Although many countries in Africa are already looking for homegrown solutions in order to resolve their unique problems, Kagame said “In Rwanda, we drew from our culture and traditions for innovations in dealing with numerous sector problems: Between 2002 and 2012, Gacaca courts across Rwanda tried two million cases at the cost of less than one billion dollars. ICTR has so far tried 60 genocide cases and in the last 19 years at the cost of two billion dollars.”
He explained that this new approach and transformative justice, allowed Rwandans to heal and continue pursuing socio-economic transformation.
Commenting on different innovations that work in Rwanda, the Head of State said that Rwanda Defence Forces have worked tirelessly to get every citizen participate in national development.
“The army as a national institution has to reflect the character of the nation.” Said Kagame
RDF also provides healthcare during Army Week, which take place around the time “we celebrate the liberation of Rwanda… Rwandans have seen these innovations work and are encouraged and empowered to innovate even more.” He added
“We want Rwandans and other Africans to be equipped with education, skills, confidence and opportunities to innovate and be competitive globally. This is a serious and difficult conversation worth having, in order to attain self reliance, prosperity and dignity for our people.” Said President Kagame
He advised other participants in the summit noting that “Governments should connect with the needs and aspirations of citizens-agents of innovation and ultimately socioeconomic transformation…We have everything to gain by opening up to new ideas. In our quest to empower and enable our people fulfill their potential, we need to keep adapting and doing things differently”
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