Rwandan youth group questions Mitali’s decision on Halloween
As young Rwandans from the diaspora were smarting themselves for the Halloween celebrations, while on their half term break in Kigali, the bombshell, attached below, landed that freaked them into total confusion. Most of these young individuals are used to being open minded and trying anything new, lest they miss out on what would be opportunity. Typical of people nurtured and brought up in countries that are open and not closed like poor Rwanda.
This action, simple as it might be to the indigenous Rwandans who are used to these arbitrary government ‘control’ actions, has created a sense of uncertainty in the minds of both the young people and the investors that always expect to create a business buzz in times such as Halloween season, Valentine day period, Christmas season etc. They find themselves unsure of what to believe or not to believe regarding government discourses that claim that it is an open, modernising, learning, all inclusive and flexible government. In the grand scheme of things why has a minister got to do with whether people celebrate or not Halloween? It is fun time when young people make merry of evenings at a certain time of the year, something I believe in Rwanda’s culture used to be done like “gutarama”. In other countries this event has been modernised and with the help of businesses used to have fun and create community get together atmospheres in the evenings, as they begin to wind down the year.
Most you know that things like; “ trick-or-treating (or the related “guising” or “trunk-or-treating“), attending costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks” nowadays are nothing more than fun for kids and families with of course businesses making a bounty out this. Why should a minister be bothered if only it is not for the controlling attitude the government possess in much abundance?
This action on Halloween is one of such many actions the government has taken that contradicts its claims of being a modernising, business friendly, and one determined to change the old way of keeping archaic cultures where imagination is stifled or curtailed. Many of the young people took these government claims on the face value, like they have done on many occasions in the past, only to be disappointed. Many young individuals from the diaspora who have visited Rwanda always come back with a lot of unanswered questions.
Most of them have been brought up understanding the importance of rules, values and proper use of power. They expect the government to work for the people and not dictate what people should or not do. To them short of that is abuse of power, period. The government sets policies and procedures that are in the interest of serving the citizenry rather than championing their (government’s) self-interest, like it is done in Rwanda.
You might all know that these youth were alarmed by the way those that have attended the controversial Ingando training, some questioning the level of indoctrination that takes place there, were given preferential treatment compared to the ordinary Rwandan children who are obliged to attend. They get confused to see the meanness the government apparatus mete on their cousins and relatives while claiming to be welcoming to the outsiders and those in the diaspora. Most of them have questioned the language the President uses on opposition leaders and how no one dare challenge any government policy. They get saddened over the paranoia that their people demonstrate when it comes to discussing political issues relating to Rwanda, their country. One of them explained how he couldn’t come to terms with how President Kagame’s motorcade throws everyone in panic to the brink of potentially causing fatal accidents. He could not reconcile it with the claim that he is loved and adored by the same people that appear to be terrorised by his presence. This Halloween action, by a government minister, has just added to that confusion, of what to believe anymore, more so when it is in their opinion a way to make jokes and fun that they had spent the whole year planning to celebrate with their cousins and relatives. Little did these youth know that in Rwanda policies are made and decided on the kitchen tables no matter their impact they have on the citizenry.
Like other Rwandans they are fast learning that there is more of PR than substance, though this time in a hard way. As for the business community who has mobilised merchandise to facilitate the celebrations, this leaves them at a loss and a big dilemma whether they need to ask government before planning how to mobilise merchandise for would be customers. In other countries where governments are responsible, if they are to make a policy they consider all its possible implications to all sectors of their society. Alas, in Rwanda where mentioned decisions on government policy are made on the hoof and in most cases on the whim of ideology, this is the challenge the citizenry face. You all remember the same minister,
Mitali, recently woke up to the reality of the error of judgement on his part to support the policy, that was decided on similar grounds, of expropriating Rwanda’s Kingdom Main place at Nyanza. The youth and the business community wake up to reality and use their reasoning to analyse all claims that the current Rwanda’s Junta tries to sell to the innocent and unsuspecting. I hope this should serve as a lesson and explain why nothing has changed in Rwanda apart from being smart on PR rather than substance. They always hide behind weak excuses like Agaciro or Rwanda values when in the reality they themselves value no Rwanda, be it their property or life. The examples are many where they have hired mercenaries like Andrew Mwenda from Uganda and Tony Blair to hide the reality and instead sell air, as if Rwandans themselves are not enough. “Umuco” has been thrown in the dust bin despite the claim by this controversial minister.
