Yusuph Olaniyonu Lagos
11 May 2008
(Page 2 of 2)
And these efforts are paying off. President George Bush last February gave what appeared to be a fantastic testimonial on the reconstruction efforts going on in Rwanda. While signing a bilateral investment treaty between the US and Rwanda, Bush said: "this treaty is a good way of saying not only is this a good place to look, but when you invest, there will be certain guarantees- not a guarantee of return on investment, but a guarantee you'll be treated fairly".
He continued: "And secondly, I'm frankly not interested in, you know, spending tax payers' money on governments that end up pocketing the money and not helping citizens live. It's one of the reasons I've come to Rwanda; the record here is quite extraordinary when it comes to saving lives".
Also, a recent World Bank Doing Business survey ranked Rwanda as the best country in Africa in terms of economic reforms and the 11th in the whole world. Another study by the same World Bank estimates that it takes only 21 days to open a business in Rwanda whereas it takes 32 days to do the same thing in Japan.
That probably is the reason the 2004 IMF business survey ranked Rwanda as one of the top "three lion cubs in Africa" because of its rapid economic growth rate. Also, the September 2005 edition of the IMF World Economic Outlook Data Base stated that in the last five years, Rwanda registered the third highest purchasing power parity in Africa after Botswana and Mauritius.
Another 2003 report by the World Bank ranked Rwanda as one of Africa's top performers in terms of good governance and least level of corruption. All these are good testimonials which may continue to divert foreign aids and investment into the Central Africa country.
There is the belief that the US and its allies in the Breton Wood institutions are only helping Rwanda to atone for their sin of staying aloof while the carnage in Rwanda went on unimpeded. But the most important thing is that that country is rebuilding itself and laying foundation for a better future for the citizenry.
The government seems to be adopting the twin policies of economic empowerment and infrastructural provision to tame the aggression of the past which led to the carnage for which the Rwandan people have been stigmatised.
But now, the country is already being rebuilt and we pray that NEVER AGAIN will the regime of hatred return to Rwanda.
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