In rare cases the Rwandan Radio the government mouth piece has mouthed that the local people are complaining of the exorbitant charges levied against them by local leaders.  Where do these local leaders get powers to tax people? Obviously any tax or money for that matter extorted from people should be sanctioned by law. Does it mean that these local leaders tax people without the knowledge of the officials of the Local Government?  If it is the case, then it is absurd, it would mean that the Minister of Local government is either not aware or pretending not to be aware.  If he is not aware why doesn’t he take action against these local leaders?

As a Christian I’m forced to refer to the Bible teachings particularly Mathew Chapter 13:12 “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him”.  As usual I will apologize to the readers of this article who are non-Christians but the purpose of this biblical proverb is to articulate all the injustices and financial hardships our people are going through under the rule of RPF.

According to Clarke’s Community on the Bible

Whosoever hath, to him shall be given – This is an allusion to a common custom in all countries: he who possesses much or is rich, to such a person, presents are ordinarily given.

Whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath – That is, the poor man: he that has little may be easily made a prey of, and so lose his little. This is a proper sense of the word εχειν in sacred and profane writers. In 1 Corinthians 11:22, τους μη εχοντας, those who have not, means simply The Poor: and Aristophanes uses τους εχοντας, those that have, for the Rich or Opulent. See a variety of pertinent examples in Kypke on Luke 8:18. There is one example in Juvenal, Sat. iii. l. 208, 209 that express the whole of our Lords meaning, and is a beautiful illustration of this apparently difficult passage.

If this proverb is put to the Pastors and Priests, they will definitely tell you that many people mis interpreted the Bible depending on the direction of their vision; it could be argued in this article that, the RPF machinery is either of the two. May be they are literally interpreting the way the rule is written in the bible or misinterpreting the rule, but whichever way, the continued unjustified charges on the local population is pushing them to the cliff.

Whereas it is true, a country cannot survive without taxes, selective and unjustified taxes are not only illegal but also very detrimental to the development of the country. Over taxation of the majority of the people who are already in abject poverty, while a few of the close friends and business associates of RPF are under taxed or the Ministers and other leaders are involved  all corruption tendencies and all of the sudden the Parliament is  intimidated  and forced to withdraw the statement implicating some RPF cadres who irrespective of overwhelming evidence, they are have been exonerate from the culpability of corruption instead the RPF machinery have ordered the Hon. Members of Parliament to apologize to the thieves.

Indeed, as the international community is tightening its noose on the government of Rwanda on the allegations of supporting the notorious militia of M32 in Congo, the RPF as usual has been going around spreading the Gospel of giving dignity (kwihesha agaciro development fund). This is another way of exploiting the poor and the big fish that own all the hills of Kigali and other property in Rwanda and abroad will definitely initiate the project with some smile.

The RPF business associates have invested in all the business and the carders are everywhere to know all the wealth people in Rwanda so that they can report to the RPF Secretariat so that they can know who and how much to tax. They even try to undermine all the business that does not adhere to the principles of RPF. The MOTO is RPF must control the wealth of the country is if will succeed in the controlling of the future politics in Rwanda.

It is tragic for some people to believe that only money can keep the government in power, in one of the recent mobilization of the RPF to mark the 25 years of its existence, MUSONI PROTAIS one of the founders of the RPF, he  told the people that he wants RPF to govern Rwanda 100 years.  What a nightmare dream? Governing people for 100 years will not depend on intimidation, killing, harassing, or causing others to flee the country simple because they have a different vision with you.

It should be noted that any political party in power has a social contract entrusted to them by the people to make important decisions on behalf of the many that are not part of the party’s leadership and therefore have the responsibility to bring other Rwandans on board irrespective of any political affiliations.

 While Kagame was addressing the RPF cadres on one of the RPF conferences, he emphasized this principle of work for the common good, but as usual for those who know him very well, he says something in public and does a different thing in private.

“We all work for Rwanda, but we cannot progress rapidly or do all we want to do if only a few of us are involved,” said Kagame adding that the meeting is not only about educating themselves but also mobilizing more people to join the effort.

 

This is what should and is required to be done, however, everybody knows how many planes the Head of State owns abroad , business empires in the name of RPF and the continued taxes and charges in the name of the new invention of KWIHESHA AGACIRO DEVELOMENT FUND. Mr. President many Rwandans have not any food on their plates, they cannot take their children to good schools and they are many who are unhappy but have no voice, your party and some of your officials are illusionary thinking that money can keep a party in power for 100 years as one of your Ministers is saying, the continuation of oppression is making you and your party very vulnerable and putting the whole country in a dormant volcano which can erupt any time.

Jacqueline Umurungi

Brussels.

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