The Head of State was speaking Thursday while closing the 15th National Leaders Retreat (Umwiherero) at Rwanda Defence Force’s Combat Training Center in Gabiro.
Kagame reminded leaders that the main objective of the retreat is to effect change as they strive to develop the country.
He said that the key to transformation is harnessing the strength of culture. Among the strengths of those who have attained development are humility and hard work.
“We must instill a culture of firmness about what we stand for, and resist those who may want to make us be what they want us to be. Without firmness, disorganization will be imposed on you from elsewhere, and you will be obliged to accept it,” he said.
He said that the discussions at the retreat should focus on why the good policies the country don’t produce the results wanted, and they should not focus on a review of these policies.
“Where we have failed, the right culture was lacking,” he said.
“It is due to lack of these values that people tend to cover up the reality on the ground, and only implement projects when the President is coming to visit,” he added.
Kagame said that the cost of standing on ceremony is bad habits that distract leaders from the things that matter.
“Why should a Minister’s visit to a district outside Kigali be seen as a favour to citizens?” he questioned.
He urged that professionalism should be a habit among leaders if they want to get the results wanted. He added that in order to achieve this, the efforts must be collective.
Speaking to Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, Kagame advised; “You are new and will probably be discouraged by advisors who resist change or reject a new work culture. If it hasn’t already happened, it will. Don’t accept it,”
He cited cases of lack of communication between leaders, to the extent where a Minister may give a report contradicting that of his Director General.
He urged new and young public servants to resist attempts to discourage them, or slow them down.
“Fight back. Do what you know is right for your country, what you have been trained to do,” he said adding that there should be consequences for officials who try to discourage those who want to change things for the better.
Started on Monday, the four day retreat brought together over 300 leaders from the central and local government and parastatals as well as private sector.
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