A debate on the Presidential Third Term

Sunday a hot show has been broadcasted throughout different radio stations discussing on the issue relating to the presidential third term scheduled to start on 2017. One side was proposing that the President Paul Kagame could rule the third term while another vehemently supported that President could handle the power to someone else.

The proposers said that the President Kagame has proven himself as wise  and insightful enough to keep ruling the country.

For them H.E Paul Kagame deserves to rule the other mandate because of his experience and patriotism he has shown in the precious years.

One of the panelists said that due to the respect and effective leadership President Kagame has shown, he deserves to rule the until the population finds it necessary to tell him to stop ruling.

However, to the other side,opponents to this view said that this is against the constitution because,according to them the Constitution clearly stipulates that the Presidential mandate should not exceed too terms meaning fourteen year long.

‘Why should you tell the President to violate the Constitution he stands for?, wonders one of them.

The proponents for the President to rule another term said that before this becomes effective, a referendum has to take place across the nation to find out whether the population wishes him to leave the power or remain on power.

It not unconstitutional to ask the population about its wishes in the matter, the proponents’ side responds.

The opponents side stroke back saying that the President himself has urged Rwandans to remain quite as it not yet time to launch the debate on the issue.

The audience intervened in the debate. Listeners from across the county reacted saying that the President Kagame has done a lot for the nation but now it is time,according to them, to let others exercise their knowledge and willingness to rule Rwanda.

Another side of listeners said that President Kagame remains the right person in the place  place, meaning someone who is strong and gifted enough to keep ruling the nation.

The opponents side underlined the fact that President Kagame has set up different and strong institution that  are worthy to remain as such if someone else replaces him after this second term.

The guests in the show were Vice President of Parliament (Chamber of Deputies) Mr Mukama Abass, the Manager of the Green Party, an opposition party for the protection of the environment Dr Habineza Frank alongside his Secretary Jean Claude Ntezimana.

The regular  show takes every Sunday from 2h00PM  up to 3h00. It aims at strengthening a culture of debate among Rwandans on serious issues that concerns Rwandans.

It takes place on six radio stations that are:Radio Isango star, Isangano, Ishingiro, Izuba, Inkoramutima, Voice of Africa and Radio Dix.

It is sponsored by European Union alongside other institutions that promote justice and organizers of the show  are Instutit Panos Paris and Association Rwandaise des Journalistes (ARJ)

 NIZEYIMANA Jean Pierre 

UM– USEKE.RW