Kigali, 26 September 2017 

Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente presented the 7-Year Government Programme and National Strategy for Transformation before Parliament both chambers. This programme is focused on three pillars, namely: economic, social and governance. 

Speaking before both members of the two chambers of Parliament, Prime Minister said: 

“Regarding economic transformation: we will create 1.5 million jobs. We will put in place a mechanism to support at least one model income and employment-generating project in each village (umudugugu). We will also continue to promote the ‘Made in Rwanda’ brand working with the private sector to recapture at least USD 400 Millions of imports by 2024. We will double tourism revenues to USD 800 million by 2024 from USD 404 million in 2016. We will also upscale our mining sector by completing exploration of potential mineral areas to establish the extent of national resources and reserves, in terms of quantity and quality with the aim of exporting USD 800 million by 2020 and USD 1.5 billion annually by 2024.” 

The Prime Minister said that in order to reduce cost of doing business and facilitate trade and ease of transport across the country; 3,000km of feeder roads will be rehabilitated, 800 km of national asphalt roads will be built.

In his speech, the Prime Minister reiterated that easing access to quality healthcare is a top priority for the Government and one of the main components of the social transformation pillar of this programme. It is in this regards that the 17 sectors which didn’t have health center will each have one, as well as 150 new health posts will be constructed. This will reduce the doctor-patient ration to 7,000 from 10,055, one nurse per 800 people from 1,142 and one midwife per 2,500 from 4,037. 

“All Rwandans will get access to electricity and water, from 34.5% and 85% today, respectively. Access to sanitation will be also be scaled up to all from 84% (2016) to 100% and waste management systems will be developed in cities, towns and rural areas.” PM Ngirente said on the issue of access to utilities. 

On the governance pillar, the Prime Minister reiterated that there will be a special focus on an efficient, smart, accountable and service-delivery oriented public service. It is in this regards that the Prime Minister said that 100% of Government services will be delivered online by 2024 from 40% in 2017. He also said that districts revenue collection capacity will be increased to finance their development needs by focusing on local economic development and reforming laws on locally administered taxes. 

This programme includes views from the citizens collected through public consultations around the country. It also captures the RPF Presidential Manifesto, as the winning party in the previous presidential elections; presidential pledges made during the presidential campaign, key priority lines as elaborated in the President’s inaugural speech on 18 August 2017 as well as his speech during the swearing-in of the new cabinet. 

The programme also include elements from EDPRS 2 (2013-2018), Vision 2020, Vision 2050, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Union’s Agenda 2063 as well as the East African Community’s Vision 2050. 

To read the full speech click <link media-publication publication>Here