Kagame’s gangster-style rule over Rwanda has given rise to a predatory economic system that preys on its poor to establish a loan-shark-like elite of greedy incapables. 

Granted, the man set out to rebuild the country from scratch, and turning Rwanda into the Singapore of Africa was a bold and ambitious project but somewhere along the line, something went terribly wrong.  The ruling party ( RPF) has literally devoured the country’s private sector. RPF rules over land, imports, and exports, infrastructure contracts, industries, private security contracts, etc.  RPF’s hoarding of everything is fatally suffocating Rwanda.

Life could not be better for the lucky few who are part of Kagame’s technocratic elite, they live unaware of the hardship in which the rest of Rwanda lives in. 

But has the “winners take all” victory orgy not gone on long enough? When is enough going to be enough?

Rwanda like any other country needs a private sector; in fact, being that we are a developing country, our need for a healthy private sector is not optional.

Nations are built by their taxpayers; in Rwanda, RPF monopolizes every income-generating sector, exempts itself from paying any taxes while mercilessly taxing an impoverished population with no income!

The situation is alarming. There is a general despondency that cannot be ignored for much longer. It is fueling a dangerous momentum of populism that should inspire a renewed sense of duty and pave the way for a new mentality. 

We have an establishment of onlookers in Rwanda who need to step up and change things before the current situation degenerates into civil unrest!

Indifference in the face of the suffering Rwandans are enduring today amounts to treason. The sycophantic support of Kagame, his enablers, and his cronies’ poor decisions amounts to treason. It is not right to continue clapping for a one-man show causing grievance upon grievance on our people. It is time to find enduring solutions to our troubles. 

We need a sober leadership that puts our people and nation first, revisits our foreign policy, engages our diaspora, and consults with forward-thinking experts. Kagame has done his part, history will judge him for his shortcomings but  Rwanda can still be saved. 

Noble Marara       

Photo: KT press