President Kagame has a track record before hosting CHOGM

H.E Paul Kagame inviting world leaders for CHOGM 2020

On March 7, 2021, Philip Murphy, the Director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies published an article in which he focused on the Commonwealth and some of its challenges that affect its worth to its member states. In the article, Murphy seems to have conjured up material scattered on the internet without a shred of effort to sieve through them to come up with a researched article based on evidence.

For instance, in the lengthy article, he refers to Rwanda’s membership to the Commonwealth club of 54 nations, and states that by bidding to host the Commonwealth Heads Summit, Rwanda sought to boost President Kagame’s image across the world. Rwanda will in June host CHOGM and subsequently assume the chair of the commonwealth for the next two years. 

The author needed to do a little bit of reading, or even travel to Rwanda to understand why President Kagame is admired in Rwanda and beyond its borders. 

To understand Rwanda, one needs to comprehend its historical background; and be keen enough to source primary data from the ground. Many researchers like Murphy always miss the point because they will sit on their desks to conjure up reports, most likely based on hearsay. They need to do more by searching for facts.

Commonwealth member countries do benefit from being part of a mutually supportive community of independent and sovereign states. By getting united, Commonwealth countries amplify their voices to achieve some collective action on global challenges. A geopolitical consideration, mainly regional political and economic integration justifies Rwanda’s joining the Commonwealth although it’s a country that was not a British colony.

Kagame’s record speaks for itself

Mr. Murphy probably based on wrong sources or assumptions missed it all when he talked about President Kagame’s track record. He said, “Paul Kagame of Rwanda seems to be hoping for a similar boost to his reputation when he hosts the heads of government meeting in June. This is despite repeated signs that he is intolerant of opposition.”

As shocking as this statement is, it points to the fact that the writer did not take time to research on the subject. While he probably cares less about it, I wish to help him out with some key facts about Rwanda and Paul Kagame’s track record.

Talking of human rights, Prof. Philip Murphy, who seems to have a deep interest on matters of human rights and democracy, should know that in 1994, when the genocide against the Tutsi was taking place, no country and no academician regarded what was happening as a violation of human rights, no wonder no country whatsoever came to the rescue of Rwandans at their neediest time. Rwanda was left alone to deal with its mess, and the only solution to what was happening was to come from Rwandans themselves.

President Kagame’s first track record was the decision he made to leave his comfort zone in the United States in the early 1990s, where he was pursuing his military studies and decided to return to join the political and military struggle to liberate Rwanda.

The struggle aimed at bringing about peace, security, social cohesion and economic development in a country that was torn apart by ethnic hatred, mass killings, extreme poverty and where a recovery from such conditions simply seemed impossible that it required someone who truly believes in the ability to carry out total transformation. 

Very few Rwandans, let alone the international community could have the bravery to hope for a change. Paul Kagame, despite the many challenges he had to face, he managed to stop the genocide through an armed struggle and as he did so, he ordered for a humanitarian operation at the same time that cared for the survivors of the genocide, and multitude of problems that had turned Rwanda into an almost a failed state.

For this fact, Prof. Murphy is welcome to visit the Campaign against Genocide Museum where he will understand that, no country or even scholar can pretend to preach President Kagame about human rights. If anything, they should be consulting him on the same.

Prof Murphy talks about lack of democracy in Rwanda. Hilarious as it sounds, people from the west always want the world to believe that they are the champions of democracy and if any country does not practice their own model then they are deemed undemocratic. What we do not agree on is that democracy is not a one size fit all. Each country can have its own model based on the history, culture, aspirations and contextual realities. Consensual democracy preferred by Rwanda is probably unique to other countries of the Commonwealth, in such a way that politicians do not fight or hurl insults at each other. Political actors agree to have a a forum to discuss national issues and agree on a minimum agenda on the wellbeing of the nation.

Kagame has managed to unite the people, bring about equal rights and equal opportunity for all and economic development where Rwanda has been one of fastest growing economy in Africa for slightly more than a decade.

President Kagame leadership also prioritized social protection where health infrastructure has been effectively decentralized.  Rwanda is ranked 6^th globally in dealing effectively with the current COVID-19 pandemic, ahead of most  developed countries, including the United Kingdom.

In the same vein, more than 90 percent of all Rwandans have access to universal healthcare, through community-based health insurance, locally known as mutuelle de sante. President Kagame’s leadership also managed to provide shelter for the needy through his Integrated Model Village Projects that is still ongoing. Child mortality has dropped significantly from 47.5 percent in 2009 to 26.3 percent in 2019.  

Rwanda records of women empowerment are second to none globally with 61.3 percent of women representatives in parliament and 53.3percent in cabinet. This is not only an issue of human right but also a crucial development factor of inclusiveness, when looked at from the demographic dimension.

The argument would be that Kagame managed to achieve all this because he got the support of different development partners; well yes….but Rwanda is certainly not the only country that gets funding from its development partners.

Talking of the track record of President Kagame, one needs to appreciate the fact that it lies on his great achievement as a Rwandan leader and the fact that the majority who appreciate his efforts for Rwanda’s development primarily comes from the Rwandans.

President Kagame’s reputation does not need validation through the Commonwealth, his public relations is his track record in Rwanda’s transformation from stopping the genocide to bringing about social economic transformation, peace and security to the Rwandan people. By hosting the CHOGM, Rwanda aims at being a relevant and an effective member of the Commonwealth just like any other member state does.