HIMBARA’S TEN-POINT ADVICE TO THE NEW GENERATION RWANDAN LEADERS

Whereas Rwanda has not experienced a peaceful power transfer since 1893, during the Tutsi kingdoms.

 

Whereas Rwanda has suffered greatly under Hutu and Tutsi dictatorship leadership for 63 years since its independence.

 

Whereas most Rwandans are exposed to conflicting oral interpretations of Rwanda’s three historical episodes of the Tutsi kingdoms up to 1959, the Hutu dictatorships up to 1994, and the Tutsi dictatorship since then.

 

Whereas most Rwandans don't read books, leading to the Rwandan proverb: “If you want to hide something from Rwandans, you will only put it in a book. But if you want something to be known, just whisper it to one person.”

 

Now, then, be it that David Himbara, Founder and Principal of the Governance and Institute of Rwanda (GIOR), advises the emerging young generation leaders on the ten-point fundamentals for preparing to lead a united, democratic and prosperous Rwanda.

 

1—Every young Rwandan leader should read and discuss comprehensively about Rwanda’s history to fully grasp the country’s tragic past. “You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken; even if we know society is broken, none of us are aware of every sliver.” Christy Leigh Stewart

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I highly recommend three books on Rwandan history:

1. Jan Vancina, Antecedents to Modern Rwanda: The Nyiginya Kingdom

2. Alison Des Forges, Defeat Is the Only Bad News: Rwanda under Musinga, 1896–1931

3. David Whitehouse, Missionaries and the Colonial State: Radicalism and Governance in Rwanda and Burundi, 1900–1972

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2—Every young Rwandan leader should inspire each member of their political party or civil society organization to read and discuss comprehensively about Rwanda’s history. Crucially, discuss Rwanda’s history openly and unreservedly without hoarding knowledge. Rwanda’s future depends on knowledge sharing, not hoarding knowledge.

 

3—Every young Rwandan leader should form, inspire and lead an organization that looks like Rwanda, comprising Rwandan ethnic groups, reaching out to the indigenous Abatwa who are endangered.

 

4—To every young Rwandan leader, build a culture of inspirational leadership. Inspirational leaders uplift their teams, foster a positive environment, and encourage individual and collective growth. They primarily use emotional intelligence, persuasion, and vision to get the best out of people. Their focus is on empowering others to reach a shared objective.

 

5—Every young Rwandan leader must reject at all costs “dictator leadership,” a style where the leader holds absolute power, makes all decisions, and expects unquestioning obedience from subordinates. Rwanda has fallen victim to this evil for centuries.

 

6—Every young Rwandan leader embraces the ethics and practices of good governance. Good governance describes how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources, ensuring the realization of human rights, while being free from abuse and corruption, and adhering to the rule of law. It emphasizes accountability, transparency, and the efficient use of resources to meet societal needs and protect the environment. In essence, it's about managing public affairs responsibly and efficiently for the benefit of the public. 

 

7—Every young Rwandan should fully embrace the fact that education and health are intrinsically linked and crucial for individual and societal well-being. Education provides the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about health, while better health allows individuals to fully engage in education and reach their potential. 

 

8—Young Rwandan leaders will fully understand that governments do not create wealth in the traditional sense of generating goods and services. The government plays a crucial role in enabling and facilitating prosperity through various mechanisms. Governments provide a stable environment for economic activity, enforce contracts, protect property rights, and build infrastructure and public services that contribute to a thriving society. 

 

9—Young Rwandan leaders wholly embrace that business leaders and the private sector are crucial for economic growth and development, playing a key role in job creation, innovation, and overall prosperity. The private sector is the engine of economic activity, providing goods and services, generating tax revenue, and contributing significantly to national income. 

 

10—Young Rwandan leaders fully understand that regional and international trade are vital for economic growth, fostering greater wealth and a wider selection of goods and services. They allow countries to specialize in areas where they have a comparative advantage, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. Furthermore, trade creates new markets, stimulates economic activity, and attracts foreign investment, ultimately benefiting consumers and businesses alike.

 

David Himbara,

Founder and Principal 

Governance Institute of Rwanda

May 16, 2025