LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. CASE OF RWANDA

Abstract

None can doubt about the central role that contribute to leadership and good governance to the success of any country or any company and economic development. Promoting good governance and getting attainment of general rights has a significant bearing on political, social and economic growth and the way that a given Country performs in all sectors. The nexus between leadership and governance is that good leadership sets the strong foundation for good governance. This paper engaged in the conceptual analysis and examination of the governance and leadership phenomenon based on secondary data, analyzes its relevance in Rwanda. Findings revealed that, for the past decades, Rwanda was marked by bad governance based on dictatorship, politics of fear, discrimination and exclusion of a section of its people in the governance of their own country. In fact, the country by lacked vision, characterized with high level of corruption and poverty, compounded with politics of hate and division consequently, resulted into Genocide against Tutsis in 1994 that claimed over a million lives. Prior the general elections were held in Rwanda, but were never based on the constructive ideas or competence of the candidates but rather on ethnicity, origin, religion and other issues from which forms of discrimination excluded some citizens from participating the governance of their country. Twenty eight years ago, Rwanda was considered a failed state, deeply devastated in all aspects of life, whose future was simply unclear following the 1994 genocide against Tutsis. The whole system was down from economy to security through justice and infrastructures. However, conditions currently observed in the country have been called “the Rwandan miracle.” The country has achieved tremendous progress both politically and economically. The fundamental causes of this decade of quick development are most likely the following: committed leadership, inclusive and positive ideology, strict political will, and lessons from the genocide and Rwandan history. After the elections, the elected leaders did not concern themselves with the needs of people’s problems they were allegedly representing. To make our forefather’s dreams into reality, a country of milk and honey, new regime under the HE, Paul KAGAME leadership, ensured democracy, good governance and leadership where citizens are on top and center of everything, leaders are people’s servant and accountability is imperative if good governance and leadership is to be attained in Rwanda. Note that, achieving leadership and good governance is one of the Rwandan greatest successes that determined the success of policies and programmes to promote Rwandan’s development.

Keywords: Leadership, Good Governance, Development and Rwanda.

CITATION: Rwigema, P. C. (2022). Leadership and governance for economic development. Case of Rwanda. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 9 (2), 1177 – 1192.