Rwanda’s militaristic monarch hits again.  

After ordering the assassination of Gospel Singer Kizito Mihigo for straying from the official narrative, Kagame’s muzzling of freedom of speech continues with the order to stop what was seen by many as the only respectable news source in Rwanda : https://www.chronicles.rw/2020/07/09/we-are-suspending-publication/

This is scandalous. It is disturbing, disgusting, and embarrassing. It is an insult to journalism in general. The closing down of this publication is a further reminder that there will be no freedom of speech in  Kagame’s Rwanda.

His autocracy will only warrant the freedom of speech limited to his praises and to praising the regimes  “ bling bling accomplishments”; most of which are financial disaster ticking time bombs that generations of Rwandans will have to bear the burden of paying for one way or another long after he is out of the picture.

One has to wonder what Mr. Kagame hopes to accomplish by closing down this publication!

Will it turn his rigged elections into democratic victories overnight? How does this play into his visionary leader character?

Is this is meant to keep the literate elite inline with the official narrative?

Is this publication really closing down for having published a story that did not demonize Ms. Victoire Ingabire?

This is a truly shocking and sad development! How far is Kagame willing to push this autocratic madness?

The deafening silence of the learned elite who read this publication daily is also worrying. This is how hypocritical we have had to become to adapt to this regime.  How further into darkness are we willing to let Mr. Kagame take his repression in the name of “developing” Rwanda?

How much longer are we willing to embarrass ourselves “singing for our dinners”  as we watch things go from bad to worst?!

Thank goodness cowardice has not spread to everyone!

Samuel Kamanzi