EVERYONE has their happiest day. For Francois Mazimpaka, the day he slept on a bed with a mattress for the first time, was possibly his happiest moment ever.

Showing off his new mattress, the 63-year old man smiled throughout this interview with The New Times, repeatedly turning and pressing it to demonstrate its durability.

“It is so wonderful. I am so happy,” Mazimpaka repeats over and over. “If I could, I would carry everyone here on my back”.

“I used to live in a grass-thatched house and I could not afford such a luxurious product on my own. Recently, I was helped acquire a new decent house and now I can sleep comfortably on a mattress,” Mazimpaka, a resident of Gatovu Cell, Kigembe Sector of Gisagara District, says.

Another resident, Valerie Ahishakiye, of Nyarunyinya, recalled that the last time she slept on a mattress was before the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

“During the Genocide I lost my family and all my property. I remained alone and sunk into poverty”, she narrates.

“After the Genocide, I used to sleep on grass, but thanks to VUP [Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme], I now own and sleep on a mattress. I will always remember this time because it is a significant achievement for me,” the 76-year-old woman says.

The two residents are among 184 people who benefited from a donation of mattresses a week ago. The donation targeted the most vulnerable residents in the area.

Initiated in 2009, VUP is an integrated local development initiative to accelerate poverty eradication, rural growth and social protection.

The programme is one of three flagships of the Economic Development and Poverty Strategy (EDPRS).

It has three components: public works (job-creation through the construction and maintenance of public assets), credit packages (loans foster entrepreneurship opportunities) and direct support (unconditional support to households that do not qualify for public works or credit packages).

Life transformation

The social protection programme currently covers 120 sectors out of the 416 countrywide. Those living in areas covered by the programme say it has helped transform their lives.

Alexis Birindabagabo of Agahabwa Cell in Kigembe Sector, has been employed as part of the public works component.

“There wasn’t any form of income-generating activity in this area until the VUP began. From the money I was paid, I managed to buy three goats and a bicycle. I hope that if the programme continues, I will acquire a cow next year. My life is really improving”, Birindabagabo proudly says.

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Rwanda is likely to maintain its lead in registering the highest rate of economic growth within the East African Community (EAC) this year, if predictions set by the World Bank in its latest report on the prospects of the global economy come to pass.

The report dubbed “Global Economic Prospects report for 2012”, says that Rwanda will maintain its lead in economic growth within the region set at 7.6 percent.

However, the projection this year is a marginal slowdown to what the Bank says was a higher figure of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 8.8 percent registered last year.

Commenting on the report, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, John Rwangombwa, told The New Times that the bank’s projection on Rwanda is recognition of the policies set by the government to transform its economy through measures such as the medium term economic framework that is now bearing tangible results.

“It is a good indicator that recognises Rwanda’s high growth path, largely anchored by sound economic policies linked to our vision 2020,” Rwangombwa observed.

He added that the projection was set after consultations with top policy makers in the country. The projections, Rwangombwa says, will mainly be delivered by giving more focus on agricultural   and industrial sectors.

The report states that growth in Uganda is expected to drop from an estimated 6.3 percent in 2011 to 6.2 percent in 2012 while Tanzania’s GDP is expected to see an improved performance from an estimated 6.4 percent in 2011 to 6.7 in 2012 and 6.9 percent in 2013.

The report states that the global GDP is projected to slow down significantly for the next two years with high-income economies more affected than developing countries.

“Sub-Saharan Africa was one of the fastest growing regions in 2011, but remains vulnerable to outturns in the global economy,” the report says adding that: “While developing countries are in much better shape than high-income countries, they remain vulnerable to significant downside risks”.

The World Bank says that Rwanda’s nominal GDP has been witnessing a steady rise from US$4.7 billion in 2008 jumping to US$5.7 billion in 2010.

The bank projects that Rwanda’s nominal GDP that is looking at growth, minus inflation, will be US$7.0 billion this year and will further rise to US$7.8 billion next year.

The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has commended the tremendous developments taking place in the country.

The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has commended the tremendous developments taking place in the country.

He made the observation on Thursday after receiving letters of credence from Robert Masozera, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Belgium.

According to a statement from the Embassy, Masozera presented his credentials to Barroso and his counterpart, Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council.

“Rwanda’s remarkable progress in a short period of time is a good indicator of development and should serve as an example to other countries,” Barroso said.

He also congratulated the country for its successful development strategy and the remarkable efforts made 17 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in the area of national unity and reconciliation.

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