Rwandan author and veteran journalist, Gerald Mbanda has launched ‘China and Rwanda- Effective leadership is key to Transformational Governance’, a new book that talks about how leadership has been key to the transformational governance of China and Rwanda.
Through a comparative analysis, Mbanda demonstrates that the gains made by China and Rwanda are attributed to the transformative and effective leadership exhibited by President Xi Jinping and President Paul Kagame through their leading political parties; the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF- Inkotanyi) and the Communist Party of China, (PC) respectively.
The author convincingly makes a case for the state’s involvement in facilitating economic development by advancing the state economic development theory where the state takes a major role in macro-economic planning and through making crucial political decisions and interventions that affect economic development.
Looking for solutions from within is another theme that the author ably explores as the major catalyst to the development of the two countries. As a result, the author notes that millions of people have been lifted out of poverty
He says that “Rwanda and China have demonstrated that all countries are capable of developing own models that can bring about development without cloning the Western ones and therefore, refuse to be diverted by unrealistic foreign perceptions”.
At a continental level, Mbanda’s maiden book demonstrates the success of President Kagame to rebuild Rwanda from scratch after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, which earned him trust among other African leaders, who entrusted him with the responsibility to lead the African Union Reforms.
He further provides evidence that China has been Africa’s true friend in weal and woe. Through the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) China has supported and financed Africa’s development and promoted people-to-people cooperation. During the 6th Ministerial conference in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2015, President Xi Jinping pledged US$60 billion in form of aid and loans to the continent.
On the global stage, the One belt, One Road Plan by China, involving more than 60 countries is one of the most ambitious developmental project in the 21st century. The project, if implemented, will by all means improve multilateral relations. Mbanda also explores how China is rattling the old World order and taking the lead to influence a new World order.
Eugene Ndabaga (PhD), Associate Professor of Education Management, Policy and Planning at the College of Education-University of Rwanda after reading the book, said the author “unyieldingly and brilliantly explored the role of government intervention in the two juxtaposed countries particularly through Home Grown Solutions that have become the landmark for China’s and Rwanda’s success today”.
Meanwhile, Zhangxian (PhD), Director of Confucius Institute at the University of Rwanda, and an Associate Professor at the Chongqing Normal University –China, said Mr. Gerald Mbanda has done great work by writing the book which highlights two outstanding leaders with great ideas on developing other countries.
“Both Xi Jinping and Paul Kagame have demonstrated effective leadership qualities by transforming China and Rwanda in all spheres of life; Political Governance, Commerce, Diplomacy, Education, Sports and Economy…this [book is rich in content and I recommend it as a perfect study book about China and Rwanda,” he added.
The Express News
