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Rwanda’s elections: Why critics get it wrong

In their haste to dismiss the country’s choices in the socioeconomic realm, they are overlooking something important
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Rwanda’s journey of transformation over the past 30 years continues to attract much controversy. On the one hand, critics dismiss it as a gimmick that has had little impact on the lives of ordinary Rwandans. On the other hand, Rwandans, especially the youth, respond to these critics by turning up in record numbers to listen to the RPF-led coalition’s candidate. This is happening in a context where voter turnout is declining in most parts of the world. Are Rwanda’s critics overlooking something important in their haste to dismiss Rwanda’s choices in the socioeconomic realm?

Consider the argument that Rwanda’s investments – including the creation of MICE infrastructure that attracts globally-significant conferences, or partnerships with global brands such as world famous football clubs (Arsenal, PSG and Bayern Munich) and sports federations (BAL) that support Rwanda’s tourism and sports industries – are nothing short of a waste of money. Former CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi, has on more than one occasion made a compelling case for their positive social and economic impact on society, whether in a famous interview with BBC journalist John Humphreys or in op-eds such as “Sportswashing? No. Rwandans benefit from the business of sport” in the East African. She convincingly demonstrated the inability of critics to overcome their prejudices when analysing Rwanda’s decisions, and to grasp the extent of the change taking place in what many consider a “jungle” beyond the borders of the “garden” of Europe. The debates surrounding these particular investments continue to be extensive.

But has the government neglected social development in the pursuit of the above investments? The facts show it has not. Quite the contrary. Interestingly however, the social investments the government of Rwanda has made over the past two decades attract less attention, perhaps because they are less visible than an international conference, a major sporting event or a Visit Rwanda brand on European sports shirts and stadiums. These are grassroots investments whose impact cannot be assessed from Paris, London or Washington. They are less noticeable also because, in some cases, their positive impact on society is slow to manifest, becoming clear often years later.

Yet these investments are worth mentioning for at least three reasons. One, they are evidence that Rwanda takes the human rights of its citizens seriously – a fact that contradicts the dominant narrative in Western media around the government’s actions. Two, they demonstrate that the RPF-led coalition puts the well-being of citizens at centre of its policies. Three, they are some of the reasons Rwandans give to explain their eagerness to support the ruling party in the upcoming elections.

These investments are varied. For instance, housing programmes have benefited vulnerable and low-income groups. Programmes such as Girinka have strengthened social cohesion. The construction of schools and the recruitment of teachers have led to higher literacy and numeracy rates over the years. School feeding programmes aim to reduce the number of school drop-outs by providing meals to children who would otherwise not be able to afford them; they also create local circular economies, in which the partnership between parents and the government supports the activities of farmers by buying their produce to feed the children. Numerous investments in health care, including the fight against malaria, one of the leading causes of death in Africa, the training and recruitment of health care professionals, the construction of health facilities and the establishment of a universal health care system, to mention only a few, have improved life expectancy, which is now the highest in the East African region.

Rwandans tell success stories about farmers’ cooperatives that have drastically improved production as a result of the government providing them with affordable fertilisers, or its efforts to find new international markets and gradually eliminate middlemen between farmers and overseas buyers, thereby increasing farmers’ incomes. In this regard, it is worth noting that Rwanda is now self-sufficient in seed production and has recently opened a factory with the capacity to blend 100,ooo tonnes of fertilisers per year. These are all efforts to make the country food secure, a country where people can feed themselves in a global environment that has put inflationary pressure on African economies. While eradicating poverty cannot be achieved overnight, the enthusiasm with which large numbers of people turn up at President Kagame’s rallies points to the massive support he has, the outcome of Rwandans appreciating what the government he leads has done for them.

At any rate, critics miss or dismiss this important aspect of Rwanda’s transformation. If they knew better or were more honest, they would laud the ingenuity of a government that has been able to make long-term strategic investments (that have the potential to accelerate economic growth tenfold) without neglecting social investments. They would encourage other governments to choose a similar path. Perhaps then, the social uprisings we see in some places today could be averted elsewhere.

Rwandans are not wealthier or less affected by global inflation than their neighbours, and the country’s youth also face challenges related to unemployment. The difference with what is happening elsewhere as evidenced by youth disaffection, seen in violence and mayhem in some countries, is that they have hope for a better future. They share their leaders’ belief that if Rwanda continues on its current development path, and there is no indication that it will not, their material conditions will inevitably improve. This hope is the main reason why the social contract between the state and the people will be renewed on 15 July. It is also a key aspect of the psyche of Rwandans that critics fail to grasp.

 

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