Elections

The citizens of Rwanda went to the polls on August 10 and re-elected President Paul Kagame for another term, his last constitutional term. He was elected with 93% of the vote, down from 97% seven years ago. Many expatriates had left the country for the elections, but I was just returning. And there was no fear. Rwandans held a safe and orderly election, and are to be commended for that. They are an example for many East African nations. Even with the sporadic grenades this quarter that have been attributed to the opposition or outsiders, there has been no climate of fear in the country, as many Western media outlets have reported. I've learned that you can't rely on a Western news outlet who comes in for one week or less, interviews a few people and think they know the whole story. There's a lot more to most stories than what the reader gets on Time or Newsweek or CNN. Rwanda is a constitutional democracy, and well recognized as the most progressive and “cleanest” government in Africa, with zero tolerance of corruption. There was another grenade thrown in town the night the results were announced, and 20 people were injured, but there were no fatalities, and they arrested the perpetrators when they tried to flee. On election night, my first night back, millions gathered at the stadium to celebrate Kagame's apparent victory. It was 4am when I got home from the airport and got in bed, and the partying at the stadium could be heard, even miles away. Then, something new happened in Rwanda. Fireworks were set off! And sparklers and other noise makers. Since I had just returned from the States and heard firworks on the 4th, I was used to the sound of them. However, many other expatriates, including my principal and his family, were alarmed and immediately got up, started praying and packing their bags to leave the country. They had been used to hear loud gunshots and bombs in Kenya, and along with other families here, they thought things had gone horribly wrong. I had to respond to many texts at 4am telling people that it was only firecrackers. Ha! Anyway, I, along with many, many other Rwandans are proud of what President Kagame and the people of Rwanda have acheived in rebuilding their country, and it's my hope that the progress will continue in his next term.

Here are a few points that President Kagame campaigned on:  
1. Many things thought to be “impossible” have been accomplished. The genocide totally destroyed Rwanda's economy, infrastructure, justice system, hospitals, schools, and all other civil institutions. They have all have been rebuilt to standards far superior to the pre-genocide era. But much work remains to achieve Rwanda's well-articulated "Vision 2020" by the year 2020.

2. The standard of living in Rwanda has been dramatically raised with universal education, access to healthcare, a government of “inclusion”, a doubling of per capita income, spectacular growth in economic development, foreign investment, and tourism,... but we are not yet satisfied,... we cannot rest upon these achievements when we can still do much more.

3. Rwanda has some critics in the West (as well as many passionate supporters). Let the critics come here to Rwanda and see the work and achievements of this government. Proof of the legitimacy and effectiveness of current “good governance” is found, and shall be found, not in rhetoric, but rather its achievements.

4. Rwandans must not look outside Rwanda for affirmation or for others to determine our destiny. Rwandans must bear the great responsibility of self-determination.