This article will focus on Andrew Mwenda’s article in his independent news paper that is now seen on the streets of Kigali. Once seen as beacon of hope in the profession of journalism in the great lakes region in his famous articles and outspoken debates, champion of democracy, democratic values and ideals. However, in the eyes of many Rwandans now, his mercenary of destruction Indeed, he has not only been corrupted by the Kigali regime by a monthly cheque as a presidential advisor but he has crossed a line of honesty.

In his paper of 27th May 2012, he argues that Prof. Ayitte’s postings on Rwanda are just empty condemnation which are aimed at tainting the good image and discourage or discredit the achievements of his paymaster President Paul Kagame.

Does really Andrew Mwenda believe what he says and says what he believes?

I doubt, but what is certain is that he is a misguided missile on Rwandan issues which will hit anything on its way, and to put this in context, he mentions  that Prof . Ayittey continuously condemns the Rwandan Government for what he calls misinformation and lack of context. I will argue that Prof. Ayittey is not only fully informed on the Rwandan issues but also puts all issues in the Rwandan context.

Andrew argues that Rwanda with its model of governance is exemplary on the African continent; on contrary Rwandan is heading to unpredictable future and there is no sign of light at the end of the tunnel.

“By any measure, post-genocide Rwanda has set itself apart from most of Africa as a model reformer in nearly every field” In what context?  He admits and mentions that democracy is a journey not a destination; its realization is a process not an event”.  Since 1994 after genocide, where are the Rwandans? And what journey he is talking about? What have Rwandans realized if any? If you sweep the verandas and the fore front of your house can you say that you are clean because you hide your guests the dirt inside your house? If Andrew Mwenda is not aware of what is happening to the common man in Rwanda or just defending his monthly cake, I will tell him to go in the upcountry or the streets of Kigali and ask the common man on the street.

Again Andrew Mwenda compares United States journey in democratization with Rwanda, why should Andrew cross the Atlantic to get the comparison when our neighbors have almost gone through the same conflicts but have managed to liberalize their politics. Uganda where some of the post Rwandan genocide leaders were mentored and Andrew where is free to report even the most bitter criticisms against the government of Uganda and goes to his house and sleep knowing that he will wake up the following morning. Do his counterparts enjoy the same freedoms in Rwanda?

He further argues that Rwanda has made deliberate reforms by empowering women, the creation of local councils from the village to the district where ordinary people manage their own affairs and impact public policy, the registration of political parties and allowing them freedom to open branches up to the village level, the National Dialogue which is an open forum where citizens hold leaders to account etc.  Andrew is again misguided and misinformed on both fronts. Are really women empowered? Do we have Miria Matembe in Rwanda? What about Winnie Byanyuma, Bety Kamya,Cecil Ogwal, Salam Musumba just to mention a few. Has taken time to ask why those gallant Pan Africanist women do not exist in Rwanda? Is that what Andrew calls empowerment of women in Rwanda? Interestingly or shamelessly Andrew is well aware that those ladies in Rwandan parliament are just rubber stamps of one man (Paul Kagame).

Similarly, he mentions registration of political parties which according to him are free to operate. Again he deliberately closes his eyes on this issue, does he know that the former President together with his Minister Ntakirutinka  were imprisoned for just saying that they are going to start a political party (Ubuyanja) and this word can land a person in prison if you mention it in Rwanda, despite being one of the vocabularies in Rwandan dialects? Where are Ntaganda and Ingabire? Deo Mushayidi without mentioning those who were murdered like Andrew Rwisereka of Green Party, Asiel Kabera, again just to mention a few? Does he know that, the reason why those ladies and Gentlemen in Rwandan Parliament choose to keep quite or just stamp the orders of Kagame is just to save their skins and those of their families? What he doesn’t know or he deliberately ignores is the coercion methods of intimidation and harassment Kagame uses to terrorize those he thinks are political opponents but most importantly the collective punishment  with all their families and relatives. Does he know where all the relatives of Kayumba, Karegeya, Rugiro etc are? Some are in Jail, exiled, or killed.

Uganda has all the Generals, Cols. and all the ranks in the army establishment who do not only participate in politics, but rather active in the opposition. These people have families, property and still enjoy the basic rights as those in NRM; the problem in Rwanda is having political Doctors without professional Doctorate. He further says  that, political decentralization has been dispensed to the district level, again is he aware that , these guys at the grassroots are nominated indirectly, take for instance the Mayor of Kigali, does he know that we knew that he will be the Mayor when he was still a Governor in another District? What about all his predecessors? And all the Mayors of Rwandan local districts.   He is one of the advisors of the President Kagame, why can’t he advise him on how Elias Rukwago in Uganda was elected Mayor of Kampala?

Again he argues that Rwanda has built the largest network of fiber optic cables of any country in the Third World and according to him this ranks Rwanda a paradise in the region.  The former Ghanaian President JJ Rawlings said that, he does not understand the economic  terms of the Economists when they talk of the Economic growth of GDP , what he understands is when a common person in Ghana goes out in the morning and comes with what can feed his/her family. When he/she can manage to take his/her child to school, be able to pay medical bills for him/her and family. Is my brother Andrew aware that some Rwandan nationals go without food or just eat once? While their leaders have jets in the names of other people? What about big buildings and companies in the names of Hatari Sekoko just to mention a few? Rwandans need the same thinking and approach where all Rwandans will go out and come back with a paper bag of food and be able to exercise their fundamental rights, freedom of speech and writing like Andrew Mwenda in Uganda.

Dear Andrew history is not on your side if you continue to behave in the manner of indifference, disregard, and disrespect of the Rwandan suffering. Don not exchange your professionalism with greed for money and other incentives, as I have mentioned above history will judge you harshly.

Jacqueline Umurungi

Brussels..