Rwanda can show us how to succeed

WE WITNESSED a nation turning its humanitarian crisis into an opportunity. There are crucial lessons to be learnt from the Rwandan nation’s experiences. What they achieved did not come by chance but by focused interventions and visionary leadership.

Taking it back home, the president has acknowledged the need for a capable state. He conceded that the inability of state-owned enterprises to deliver on their mandates were diminishing the state’s capacity.

There were, in addition, some glaring problems or mistakes facing some of the key entities struggling to fulfil their mandates, for example Eskom’s load shedding at the time.

Drastic action is needed to reverse the impasse. There are noted leadership changes in various state entities to assist with the necessary capacity. The changes help them fulfil their mandates and contribute meaningfully to the economy.

We can take a few lessons from Rwanda on how they have turned their economy around. Areas that were key to their vision on reconstruction were good governance and a zero-corruption policy. Rwanda has the highest growth rates in sub-Saharan Africa and has gained a reputation as a country with low corruption levels.

We can rise again as a nation. The crisis provides us with an excellent opportunity for a new start towards achieving the 2030 key national development goals. Let us be resolute and take the steps to be successful.

Cape Town