There have been outbursts from certain quarters presumably reacting to the articles by some Rwandans who have expressed their views and concerns about the need for President Paul Kagame to serve Rwandans for a longer time so as to build a solid foundation for sustainable stability and development.

Rwandans argue that, in so doing, President Kagame will have established a legacy that transcends generations and sets them on a path of no return. They believe that the time is not now for him to leave because the reconstructed house for one Rwanda is still being set. It is at a critical stage, which requires the hands-on participation of the experienced mason who also happens to be its chief architect, President Kagame.

Critics however say the president will have missed an opportunity to establish a legacy and join a club of what they describe as “other African leaders who are clinging onto power.”

The legacy they talk about is the script that has been defined by those who view Africa and African leaders through a colonial lens. They want to compare President Kagame with “those leaders” based on constitutional term limits but would not dare to compare leaders owing to their track record.

This narrow thinking tends to negate what the term “legacy” is about. Yet the legacy that will deliver Africa and its people is one where leaders work to improve the quality of life and move the country from a certain level to a higher ground in terms of economic growth, social development and political emancipation.

Leadership is about leading a people and not merely occupying a seat. It is not about how long one has occupied a position but rather, where and how fast the leader is leading the population to their destination and what options citizens think they have to superior choices.

Every country’s governance is shaped by its history, its socio-cultural structure and the aspirations of its people.

Rwanda’s post-colonial history explains why its citizens and leaders place the highest premium on security and stability. They know that even if as they progress towards medium income status, they need a very strong foundation.

President Kagame has led the difficult process of reconciling an ethnically divided country where no one gained and everybody lost to a present Rwanda that is a socially cohesive society. Building on this cohesion, he has led Rwandans to an ambitious road to socioeconomic prosperity and the achievements are visible to anybody who cares to look.

More than two million Rwandan children who are of school-going age are in school as a result of universal fee-free basic education launched in 2003 when he was first elected president. Citizens have better access to quality healthcare because health systems are functioning and poor citizens are enabled to have health insurance.

The economy is growing at an impressive rate — now at almost Rwf5 trillion ($700 billion) from Rwf1.7 trillion in 2006 when the second development plan was launched. Massive infrastructure projects have been rolled out in all parts of the country — from roads to markets, irrigation and rural electrification. Most importantly, everyone — citizen or foreigner — feels safe in any part of Rwanda at any time.

These achievements have given Rwandans hope that they on the right road to prosperity.

In 2007, President Kagame led Rwandans into the East African Community. As a result, Rwanda now has access to a market of more than 110 million people, a population 10 times its own and which has a higher purchasing power than Rwanda’s. He is now leading the consolidation of a new citizenship based on one Rwanda, patriotism and self-reliance.

Programmes such as Ndi Umunyarwanda (I’m a Rwandan) and Agaciro (restoring dignity) are not mere political posturing. They are part of the building blocks for a new Rwanda.

When Agaciro Development Fund was launched in 2012, Rwandans at all levels contributed at the inspiration of President Kagame, just as they have done in previous causes where Umuganda has been required.

Now that’s a journey that Rwandans do not want to be derailed from so early in the process. They fear the process they are involved in requires the personal leadership of President Kagame and any change in 2017 — merely for the sake of change — will certainly be too costly to bear.

Thankfully, the responsibility to determine who leads Rwandans is firmly in the hands of Rwandans themselves.

Stay will not affect legacy

Some detractors have argued that President Kagame’s stay will affect his legacy. On the contrary, however, a legacy has to do with moving the country from one level to another more desirable one.

Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore for three decades and his legacy is the story of transformation of Singapore from a third- to first world. There has never been discussion about the long time he spent as Prime Minister.

In Tanzania, the legacy of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere is not defined by the 24 years he was head of state or the events of his voluntary retirement, allowing multiparty politics and giving Tanzanians an opportunity to change leaders when he left State House in 1985.

Rather, he had spent all his time as president working to establish a United Republic of Tanzania since becoming president in 1961, putting in place systems and structures that promote people’s welfare, promoting one identity through literacy, language and culture, as well as building a value system and cadre of citizenship based on patriotism and self-reliance.

This is the foundation that has sustained Tanzania even after the founding father left the stage 30 years ago.

Similarly, Festus Mogae’s legacy is defined by his transformation of Botswana economically and politically (including the prudent management of the diamond economy) and not how long he stayed. Nelson Mandela’s legacy has less to do with having served one term as president and more with advocating and leading South Africa into a “Rainbow Nation.”

A legacy is secured and sustained by the people when it is firmly rooted in institutions, structures and values and not just in events and deadlines set in provisions of the constitution. The destiny of Rwandans is so important for them that they are prepared for any obstacle.

Two decades after the genocide, Rwandans are cohesive; they are hopeful but are apprehensive. This did not take organisations and institutions that can be designed for anybody to implement.

Many could not imagine that they could live harmoniously and most are apprehensive that they might be taken back if they lose footing. For now, the footing has been provided by the leadership of Paul Kagame. He has worked hard to earn the credibility and trust of Rwandans across ethnic, social and political divides. He is using this credibility not to pursue selfish interests but the welfare of all Rwandans.

In a situation like Rwanda’s, it required patience and time for citizens to trust a leader. Changing the top leadership at this time, before the nation realises full social cohesion — but, most importantly, when citizens feel President Kagame is driving them in the right direction at the right speed — poses risks that Rwandans are not prepared to bear. He certainly has a right and freedom to decide but has to listen to Rwandans. Leadership is not something to play around with.

In calling upon President Kagame to stay on, Rwandans feel they are not yet fully on safe ground and need to establish a solid foundation, and the possibility that anybody else may derail or reverse their journey or rock the boat is something no one wants to even think about.

Leadership guru John Maxwell observed that everything rises and falls on leadership, and experiences around the world, both in history and in the present, clearly show that it is leaders that transform nations.

Democracy — in whatever form and in whichever part of the world it is practised — must happen in an environment of social justice and peace. Rwandans, under President Kagame, have succeeded in establishing it.

If Rwandans must replace him in 2017, as stipulated in the Constitution, the reason cannot be merely because “the Constitution says so in Article 101.”

It must be based on the confidence that they have established a strong foundation for leadership to evolve and be nurtured, for citizens to express their views and decide who leads them. To feel secure that they have built solid systems, cultures and values that will stand the test of time.

Constitutions and constitutionalism are not just paragraphs and articles. Rather, they are a set of beliefs and principles which serve the common interests and aspirations of a people.

Would Rwandans, for example, blame the Constitution if, say, they changed the leadership and the new leaders took the country backwards? Or isn’t this a possibility? Aren’t there enough examples out there?

There must be mechanisms to provide assurances that the leadership change takes Rwandans a step or two higher on the development path, and that’s what they are building.

Building a socially cohesive society is a long-term process, and transforming a nation requires visionary and exemplary leadership. For now, Rwandans need Paul Kagame’s leadership to consolidate this.

In a nutshell, Rwandans need to tread carefully about how they manage their future. They must decide to maintain the steady path of stability and sustainable socioeconomic development that they have embarked on by asking President Kagame to lead them to Vision 2020, which was crafted by Rwandans under his leadership.

But they also have the option of changing leadership “because the Constitution stipulates so.” However, do circumstances favour change of leadership merely for it?

Rwandans will listen to their inner conscience and ask President Kagame to continue leading them. And, as the father of the new nation, President Kagame also has everything to lose if the legacy he has worked so hard to establish is left unfinished by exiting the stage when there are compelling reasons for him to stay on and help the country to sail to safe ground.

Dr Venuste Karambizi is a professor of political science at Kigali Independent University.