Opinion
Rwanda elections 2024: Spare Kagame and blame RPF
In
August 2024, Rwandans will - for the first time - hold presidential and
parliamentary elections at the same time.
Under
the old electoral calendar, parliamentary elections were slated to take place
in September 2023.
The
reason for harmonizing the parliamentary and presidential election calendar was
that it is cost effective, hence saving taxpayers’ money that can be put into
other critical socio-economic development activities. Rwanda is well known for its
frugality.
Today,
the point of discussion though is not about the merger of presidential and
parliamentary election, but rather how every time Rwanda is about to hold
presidential elections, Western media start publishing recycled monolithic
stories that one can recite even before reading the content.
The
story titles run like this: Kagame changed the constitution to allow himself to serve a third term and could see him rule until 2034. How
Kagame came to power until 2035. Kagame
will run for a fourth term, potentially extending his tenure to become one of
Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Kagame is a dictator who has silenced his critics,
killed some and exiled others. Paul Kagame is surfing on artificial popularity.
Rwanda no longer needs a ‘strongman’ say Kagame opponents ahead of 2024 poll.
The
list is endless.
Much
as Rwanda has its own media outlets to talk about the life of the country,
achievements and challenges, Western media assumes the role of being “the voice
of the voiceless Rwandan people” because they claim Rwandans fear to talk about
political issues lest their lives be in danger of being killed or sent to jail
by a dictatorial government. Such are the narratives created in foreign
capitals to tarnish the image of President Kagame.
There
are probably three reasons, or more, why Western media does this.
The
first one is to undermine Kagame’s great achievements including stopping of the
1994 genocide against the Tutsi when the world abandoned Rwanda. Undermining
Kagame’s achievements is primarily the work of genocide deniers and
revisionists who are executing the last stage of genocide where those who
stopped the genocide are turned into perpetrators. This category of genocide
deniers and revisionists are not only genocide suspects being protected in Western
capitals. It also includes foreigners working in the media, academics,
researchers, non-governmental organizations like Human Rights Watch, Reporters
without Borders, and more.
Secondly,
Kagame haters point at Rwanda as a prison where people live in fear and under
torture. This false narrative is created to influence foreign countries to stop
cooperation and bilateral assistance programs with the country. When they talk
about Rwanda’s achievements under Kagame, they simply mention them in passing,
yet many African and world leaders are counting Kagame’s achievements with
bewilderment wondering how he managed to turn around an almost failed state to
one of the most well organized and fastest growing economies on the African
continent.
The
real story is that if Africa had many Kagame’s, the continent would be
different.
Thirdly,
Western media’s bad stories against Kagame are aimed at influencing Rwandans to
turn against him with the ultimate agenda of causing a regime change. The hate
agenda by foreign media has strengthened the bond between Rwandans and Kagame.
They are happy for being blessed to have a pragmatic and transformational
leader like Kagame. Rwanda is an African successful story of a people centered
governance model, orderliness, checked corruption and employing home-grown
solutions to overcome political and socioeconomic challenges.
Echoes
of Kagame’s success in Rwanda are not only heard on a thousand hills. They spread
beyond the horizon. Kagame is a Pan-African freedom fighter. He liberated
Rwanda against a genocidal regime in 1994, and Rwanda is now helping to restore
peace in other African countries.
In
2015, the constitutional change was through a referendum and there was nothing
controversial. Kagame as an individual could not change the constitution unless
Rwandans have been reduced to muppets, which is an insult. More than 3.7 million
voters requested for the constitutional change as they could not let go of a
rare President like Kagame. To suggest that Rwanda no longer needs a strongman is
ironical as no country boasts of having a weak leader.
During
the RPF's 16th Congress held in April, which also marked the 35th
Anniversary of the founding of RPF, leaders of opposition political parties
were invited. They heard and saw how RPF has built a strong party in the last
three and a half decades.
The
idea that Kagame has been in power for a long time and therefore should retire
when majority Rwandans still need him is against the principles of democracy.
In
a multiparty democratic dispensation, there is no favor for the weaker parties.
The game is about numbers.
As
negative press continues to flow from Western capitals about Kagame and the
2024 elections, I would rather Kagame be spared and, instead, blame be put on the
RPF for being stronger than opposition parties and not allow them to win.
Also,
blame RPF voters who want to keep the same president for life.
Let
Rwandans determine their destiny without external influence.
When
Western media attacks Kagame, just know that Rwanda is doing well.