{"id":2528,"date":"2013-07-04T17:03:46","date_gmt":"2013-07-04T17:03:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paulkagame.com\/_test_&#038;web\/?p=2528"},"modified":"2017-07-16T22:46:08","modified_gmt":"2017-07-16T22:46:08","slug":"we-cannot-accept-to-be-observers-in-matters-that-affect-our-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/?p=2528","title":{"rendered":"We cannot accept to be observers in matters that affect our lives"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"fb-root\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>Kigali, 4 July 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>President Kagame today asked Rwandans to fully participate in the nation&#8217;s development and not except anyone else to do it on their behalf. Speaking during Liberation Day celebrations at Kami Barracks in Kinyinya, President Kagame said that Rwanda&#8217;s history and challenges cannot be addressed as in a business as usual way:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt requires a new approach. The new Rwanda is one where the vulnerable are cared for, where we invest in the well being of Rwandans. The times of a divided Rwanda are behind us. Rwandans today value each other because they understand their role in building a prosperous nation. We have a long way to go but the progress we have achieved to date shows that we can accomplish even more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>President Kagame urged all Rwandans, young and old, men and women, to take ownership of their future because, he said, achieving a better a future is a collective duty.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--> <span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">Before addressing thousands of <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">Kinyinya residents<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> and <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">RDF <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">soldiers who gathered at the Kami Barracks to celebrate the 19<sup>th<\/sup> liberation commemoration, President Kagame and <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">Mrs<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> Jeannette Kagame toured the newly refurbished Kami Barracks, home of the 1<sup>st<\/sup> Rwanda Defence Force Division and modern residential houses built by <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">RDF <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">soldiers for <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">residents in need<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">, <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">from<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">proceeds contributed by Rwanda peacekeeping troops.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">President Kagame said it<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\"> <span lang=\"EN-GB\">was<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> important to work hard and <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">keep<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> Rwanda on the path of progress, but that it was equally important to <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">fiercely<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> protec<\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">t<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> what has been achieved<\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\"> particularly <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">from those <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">attempting<\/span> <span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">to<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> revers<\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">e <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">the gains made. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">President Kagame said that as Rwandans commemorate the 19<sup>th<\/sup> Liberation Day and the 51<sup>st<\/sup> <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">i<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">ndependence of Rwanda from colonialism, it is time also to reflect on how far <\/span><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">the country has<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> come in terms of attaining self reliance and dignity. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">\u201cThose who are wondering why we celebrate Independence Day and National Liberation concurrently should not stress themselves unnecessarily. The two historic occasions mean a lot to Rwandans in different ways. Rwandans finally refused to be observers in matters affecting the<\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">m<\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> and took <\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">the intiative to regain<\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\"> control of their <\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">lives<\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">. We have achieved a lot in a short time and this <\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">show<\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">s us that there is <\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">more <\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">ahead that we can achieve if we completely refuse to be <\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;\">mere <\/span><\/em><em style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif';\">observers in our affairs.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kigali, 4 July 2013 President Kagame today asked Rwandans to fully participate in the nation&#8217;s development and not except anyone else to do it on their behalf. Speaking during Liberation Day celebrations at Kami Barracks in Kinyinya, President Kagame said that Rwanda&#8217;s history and challenges cannot be addressed as in a business as usual way: \u201cIt requires a new approach. The new Rwanda is one where the vulnerable are cared for, where we invest in the well being of Rwandans.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9468,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","post-has-thumbnail"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2528"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9469,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528\/revisions\/9469"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paulkagame.rw\/2025\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}