Term limits can scrapped off -Kagame.

By Wesley Spartan

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said term limits can be erased from a national constitution if citizens feel they have outlived their usefulness.

While he continued to delay his decision whether he would seek re-election, Mr Kagame said in an interview that term limits are not the new definition of democracy.

What’s this obsession with this thing called ‘term limits’? If limiting terms is democracy, why go even for a second? Serve one and go,” he said.

He added: “Those who put term limits in constitutions and change them after some time, it’s because things change. Tell me which part of the world has not tampered with their Constitution? You put it (provision of term limits) because it served you at that particular point in time,” he explained.

President Kagame said proponents of terms limits want to appear nice before donor countries and he hit out at Western powers for preaching what they don’t practise.

Mr Kagame has been in power since 1994 when he led the Rwanda Patriotic Army/Front (RPA/F) to power and stopped the genocide against the Tutsi. His second elective term expires in 2017. 

According to Article 101 of the Rwanda Constitution, “The President of the Republic is elected for a term of seven years, renewable only once. Under no circumstance shall a person hold the office of the President for more than two terms.” 

However, during his two-day tour of the remote districts of Rutsiro and Karongi in the western province, several residents and local leaders called for the amendment of the article to pave way for Mr Kagame’s re-election. 

Huge crowds waving Rwandan flags chanted praises and sang songs describing Mr Kagame as a clear-headed leader who led their liberation and has implemented several development programmes. 

Asked why he was not listening to the “voice of the people” Mr Kagame responded: “I think I am listening to them... there is no way I can’t listen to them.

Mr Kagame, however, said their demands will not distract him from the work to rebuild Rwanda and fulfilling the promises he made. 

Mr Kagame bashed unnamed western countries for falsely accusing Rwanda of plundering minerals in DR Congo when it crossed into the vast country to pursue FDLR rebels. 

Earlier, he told local and opinion leaders at the headquarters of the Western Province that criticism of Rwanda is born out of the amazement about what magic bullet the tiny country is using to progress.