The World Leaders are meeting in Davos in Switzerland on the annual World Economic Forum to discuss politics and business. While these Excellencies and Right Honourables are sitting in Davos tossing champagne, new Oxfam report says that the richest 80 people in the world now have the same amount of wealth as the bottom 3.5 billion of the global population.

Tony with Paul

 

As usual the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair poured more sugar on what he calls Rwanda Economic success under the dictatorship of President Kagame.   Tony Blair said: “I am delighted to be able to share my experiences, and to support the Rwandan government in their remarkable journey of reform. President Kagame is rapidly emerging as one of the leading African heads of state and his impressive transformation of the country over the last 15 years is inspirational.”

While it’s true many of the fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa and the continent’s future appears to be bright, some countries like Rwanda the growth figures don’t reflect an improving quality of life.

Two decades after the genocide, Rwandans are enjoying figures in books of the statistics doctored by the RPF cadres and their lobbying machinery worldwide. The so called wealthier lives and eradication of poverty programs has benefited just a tiny population that is close or family members of the Rwandan ruler, the rest of Rwandans are in extreme poverty coupled with political suppression. Here’s a statistical breakdown of the major developments since 1994

The RPF doctored Development indicators tell a story of significant changes in education, public health and the economy.  According to some foreigners who are handpicked by RPF and under the supervision of the RPF cadres, they tell a story that   Rwandans are living longer and are better off economically than 20 years ago – but extreme poverty remains a reality for more than 80% of the population.  As I have mentioned above, the so called wealth people either seen on the streets of Kigali or those presented to be asked by the Kagame regime represent 20%, and mostly belong to the close confidants of president Kagame, his family, friends and in-laws.

At some point Tony shadowed Col Qaddafi too

Nearly 1,137,000 tourists visited Rwanda in 2013, according to Rwanda Development Board. Major retail chains have also set up shop in the capital, Kigali, as have several commercial banks. But little does the World know that all these commercial banks, telecommunication companies, dairy corporation, agro-processing, construction, the so -called buildings in Kigali are owned by the Kagame business empire under the umbrella of crystal ventures.

Bill Tony and Paul exchanging views

But why Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and the World Bank have sung Rwanda’s praises? Some corporate consultants like Andrea Redmond and Patricia Crisafulli described the fortunes of the country as the ultimate turnaround. Their book, Rwanda Inc, was described by one reviewer as “an extended investment brochure”.

The answer is simple,  Kagame  like many African dictators  know where the power  belongs , the big Corporations in the US and  UK have been given lucrative business access, Tony Blair has been made the Kagame advisor  while Bill Clinton’s Foundation has been given  the market of buying the produce of Kayonza Grain milling products.

Indeed, prominent big companies like Starbucks have been the Kagame lobbying machinery; Pastors like Rick Warren have been allowed free or subsidised access to the Rwanda economy through the so called non-governmental organisations that benefit these individuals and the Kagame family. These individual are paid by the Rwandan tax payer to spread the gospel of development and economic success that benefits only the Kagame royal family. But rarely do these gentlemen mention any Kagame suppression of political opposition and free speech. The government’s alleged role in the conflict in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo has also not been condemned or mentioned by Tony or Bill Clinton.

The ability of regimes criticised for human rights abuses to achieve notable social and economic gains poses difficult questions for development experts. The New York University economist William Easterly argued that observers tended to give too much credit to leaders for development gains when progress might have happened despite their rule, rather than because of it.  For example in 2013, the World Bank Doing Business report reflects Rwanda as the 2ndeasiest country to do business in Africa after Mauritius. However, this report does not reflect the kind and nature of people doing business there. For example the Rwandan tycoon Rujugiro Tilbert was burnished in Rwanda and all his business empire was taken by Kagame.

Like all those who are not doing business with Kagame or doing on it on his own behalf will never have the so called conducive atmosphere the Rwanda Development Board is talking about. Again the World Bank is fed by the Rwandan statistics doctored by the RPF cadres and unfortunately this World Financial body buys the Kagame lies in whole sale. In fact many Rwandans will never know with certainty why Tony Blair has continued to support the murderous regime of Kagame, but make no mistake, Mr. Tony Blair will one day tell the Rwandans that it was a mistake to support and work with a criminal who is one of the remainging sitting Head of State serving on the African Continent.

Jacqueline Umurungi