President Paul Kagame has warned young people against drug abuse, saying they cannot effectively contribute to Rwanda’s development if their health and wellbeing are compromised.
Kagame made the remarks during the RPF-Inkotanyi Political Bureau meeting, where young people made up about 60 percent of participants.
Addressing the youth, Kagame said Rwanda’s future depends on their ability to remain healthy, acquire knowledge and take responsibility for building the country.
“Young people, the country expects a lot from you. When I say the country, I mean you. You should also expect a lot from yourselves. But you must have knowledge and you must have health, because if you do not have health, what will knowledge do for you?” Kagame said.
He said personal wellbeing requires continuous care and investment, comparing it to nurturing a tree by providing the conditions it needs to grow.
Kagame urged young people to take an active role in shaping their own lives while benefiting from guidance provided by parents, society, culture and values.
The president warned that substance abuse first damages individuals before affecting families and society at large. He said the growing use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances among some young people was a concern that needed to be addressed.
“There is alcohol, there are substances that affect the mind, tobacco and others. I receive reports that these things are present among some young people. They have become widespread; some learned about them here, others brought them from elsewhere,” he said.
Kagame said people often hide harmful habits because they know they are wrong, but the consequences eventually become visible.
“No matter how much you hide them, their effects will eventually appear. But before they harm society, they first harm the person using them,” he said.
He encouraged young people to reject the idea that drug use is a symbol of status or something worth celebrating.
“The first step in overcoming them is not making them a trend, not making them something extraordinary that people should do, and not accepting them,” Kagame said.
He reminded the youth that they are central to Rwanda’s future and that the country’s progress depends on their creativity, discipline and commitment.
“The innovations Rwanda wants, the new things people talk about, are created by people who have health, knowledge and determination. Innovation that goes far helps, builds and strengthens the country. That is what we want for Rwanda,” he said.
Kagame added that every citizen should have a sense of belonging and a responsibility to contribute to the country’s development.
