On Friday, January 23, Minister of Interior Dr. Vincent Biruta delivered a high-level lecture of opportunity at the National Police College (NPC), highlighting how Rwanda’s internal security architecture is strategically aligned with the country’s Vision 2050.
Held under the theme “Aligning Internal Security with Rwanda’s Vision 2050: Strategies and Challenges,” the lecture was delivered to 38 participants of the Police Senior Command and Staff Course (PSCSC), intake 14, from nine African countries, including Rwanda, the host.
In his address, the Minister explained how Rwanda’s internal security framework is strategically and deliberately aligned with Vision 2050, the country’s long-term development blueprint.
He highlighted that the Vision is anchored on five core pillars: “human development; competitiveness and regional integration; agriculture for wealth creation; urbanization and agglomeration; and accountable, capable state institutions.”
“The reason why it is important to align both is to ensure the security of people and property goes hand in hand with the essential foundation of sustainable development,” he said.
Minister Biruta highlighted that key strategies for aligning security with Vision 2050 include professional recruitment and career development, gender equality, community policing, use of ICT, public-private collaboration, anti-corruption measures, and citizen feedback mechanisms.
According to him, Rwanda’s current security standing ranks among the safest countries in East Africa, 15th in Sub-Saharan Africa, and all that is premised on such visionary governance.
The lecture of opportunity provided participants with valuable insights into Rwanda’s experience in security governance, reinforcing the National Police College’s role as a regional center of excellence in senior police leadership and strategic studies.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Florent Niyongira from the Rwanda National Police is a witness to the role of people-centered security strategies and police-public partnership.
He said: “To explain what the lecture means to our daily experience, for example, sometimes I leave my house and equipment for a period of one to three months without fear for my assets because I know people in my neighbourhood watch and local patrol strategies are well functioning.”
Reacting to the lecture, SP Shupe Tempo Gumbi from the Malawi Police Service said it was fruitful as it strengthens the idea of public partnership, especially the engagement of agents of change, “Imboni z’impinduka” and “Imboni z’imipaka,” at porous borders to fight smuggling, which she said could also be effective if applied in their country.
“Smuggling rings sneak into our countries fraudulently and bring in illegal goods through informal border points. As police cannot be everywhere, these strategies can yield more fruits once put into place,” she said.
Lectures of opportunity are academic engagements that expose students to national leadership perspectives, bridge theory with policy practice, and prepare future commanders for complex security leadership roles.