Today President Kagame invited the press briefing them on his commitment to uphold his constitutional oath that he will protect and defend the Rwandan Constitution. However, President Kagame also hinted to protect and defend his wishes and desires under the mask of the people.

“Kagame yavuzeko ko ahubwo abareyeho gukorera Abanyarwanda, bityo n’icyemezo cyose azafata azagifata mu nyungu z’Abanyarwanda n’igihugu muri rusange. Nigeze nandika itegeko nshinga? Kuki mutajya kubaza abo baryanditse niba bashaka kurihindura. Ntabwo nigeze ngira uwo nsaba guhindura itegeko nshinga. Mugende mubaze abo bashaka kurihindura”

There is a saying in Kinyarwanda that words are like feathers, when you throw them in the air, it will be hard to collect them again. “Agatambutse umunwa karushya ihamagra” . As word spread that Kagame’s   proxies are busy lobbying the Rwandan population to amend the constitution to allow President Kagame to stand for election after his mandate expires in 2017, Kagame is busy but confused inviting the media in village Urugwiro to tell them that he would have left the Presidency if it was not the Rwandan people who love him to death.

However, we know that Kagame has been launching underground operations using his proxies to sell his desires and appetite to change the Constitution come 2017. Little does the President know that in Private the public opinion does not want him to come back, they are just too scared to talk about it public. After a disastrous murders  and disappearances of many innocent Rwandans,  corruption  scandals  that have plagued his administration, the president  does not deserve any extension  of his term , even in his ruling RPF party , some members are burning inside their hearts asking themselves where Kagame is taking their country.

It’s not Rwandans Mr. President, it’s you who want another term.

 

Kagame sees himself as a revolutionary, a historic figure who fought in the bush, stopped genocide or sparked it according to some revelations that we didn’t know before, according to Kagme he overthrew dark forces, and whose mission to transform Rwanda is not finished, despite the fact he’s been around for almost 21 years now.

Despite some scandals and political murders, no one denies Kagame’s accomplishments. Under his 20 year rule, security has improved, the army is more disciplined, but under his control and the economy has gained traction.

Today, more children go to school, the fight against HIV/AIDS has made progress,  London and Washington consider him a key regional partner in sending peace keepers  almost in every corner of conflict on the African continent.

Indeed, Rwanda has made great strides, in the economic sector and general infrastructure development. But, having said that, I think that we have reached a point where Rwanda no longer needs Kagame. Most people would say that, although they will say it in their bedrooms for fear of reprisals.

Kagame has failed to uphold the rule of law for all Rwandans; we have witnessed political cases even to less influential political figures like Mr. Bernard Ntaganda, Deo Mushyayid and others.

If Kagame is loved by Rwandans as he alleges why does he not allow opposition to campaign openly and freely in the country. If by any measurements, Kagame is the most hated man inside and outside Rwanda. We all saw how Congolese and many people in the Diaspora celebrated his death,  he had faked his own death to divert the attention of the killing of Col. Patrick Karegeya in 2014.

Kagame’s predecessor, President Habyarimana after 1973 coup, he formed MRND and CND (Parliament) exploiting the people as the unifying figure between the Hutus and Tutsis, but he was the ring leader of the University massacres that were used to overthrow the government of President Kayibanda.  Habyarimana’s name was sung on all the streets of Cities and rural areas as the father of the nation (Umubyeyi).

In the last days of President Hussein Mubarak of Egypt , his Political party, National Democratic Party(NDP)was elected almost more than 90% but just after a few days in power he was overthrown in what is now called the Arab Spring uprising. Where is he?

The press freedom and freedom of assembly is a taboo in Rwanda, yet these are the pillars on which democratic institutions stand. In Rwanda 21 years after genocide as a nation, it’s no longer enough that President Kagame exploit Rwandans saying that he stopped genocide and has transformed economy.

Kagame was once regarded as one of the most progressive leaders in Africa. Today many Rwandan analysts say Kagame increasingly resembles any other African big man, characterized by vainglory and egocentrism, nepotism and corruption, repression of opposition figures and intolerance of dissent.

In fact in under Kagame’s rule many politicians have been murdered or disappeared more than his predecessors combined.  Rwanda is regarded as the North Korea of Africa; there is total anarchy, repression, and totalitarian regime.  My guess might be as yours, the longer you stay in power the more vulnerable you become. I think what we’re seeing now in Rwanda, Kagame and his RPF government are entering a phase where regime survival becomes a top priority.

Many human rights reports released annually claim the authoritarian climate in Rwanda is typified by the president’s treatment of certain nongovernmental organizations. The reports say groups have faced closure, intimidation, arrest and decertification for challenging the government’s political and financial interests.

Police systematic murders.

We have witnessed systematic murders of innocent people by Police, they have been shooting inmates in prison or escorting them to death with excuse that they have been trying to disarm them or just they were trying to escape. When force is unavoidable, it must be “minimal”, “reasonable in the circumstances”, geared towards “de-escalating” the conflict and applied only upon instruction from the commanding officer. But here we have a situation where any police officer in Rwanda can shoot to kill. This is why President Kagame should give a chance to another Rwandan who might bring sanity in the judicial system, allow freedom of speech and assembly and strengthen the democratic institutions not individuals as Kagame is tryiing to convince us to believe.

That’s why all the Kagame mercenaries , even Kagame himself when asked about the president’s longevity in office, they all smile and say  it’s up to Rwandans to decide whether they want to keep Kagame  in the country’s top office when he runs for an expected 3rd term in 2017.  They should stop saying that, “it’s not me who made the constitution its Rwandans”, in contrast its Kagame who abolished the Arusha Peace Accord replaced it with his own draconian laws called constitution, and The Arusha Peace Accord would have been the foundation of governance in Rwanda today.

Jacqueline Umurungi