Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Kagame revealed this on Saturday 1st May 2021 at the second day of the RPF extended National Executive Committee meeting held at RPF Inkotanyi headquarters in Rusororo.

Despite the fact that he lived in the country and worked with its people and leadership for long, Kagame explained that he has failed to understand the root cause of their problem with Rwanda up to now.

The President said that Rwanda shall draw emphasis on living freely, wish others peace and freedom noting that whoever ‘recklessly relates with us’, shall be dealt with in the most appropriate way.

“Therefore, to end on that note, my focus shall remain on putting a proper roof on top of our house to protect us from rain. I shall install strong burglar-proof on our doors to keep off anyone who would have intentions to invade us and disrupt our peace, or unilaterally grab our valuable possessions. If the worse came to the worst and I find the intruder already in my house, I will certainly kick you out,” he noted.

{{Full speech: }}

In winding up I would like to thank you all for your significant role in the good meeting we have had thus far. Your contribution to the discussions has been quite vital, including those who have been keenly following throughout. The rest is all good, and we should not even be repeating ourselves that often, because we have said these things and emphasized them strongly time and again that I feel enough is enough. What remains is to always scrutinize our own individual and collective performance levels with a view to improve to make sure what we agree on in such meetings is exactly what we go out and implement.

{{Rwanda desires only peace}}

Now I do not even know how much I should reiterate some of these things. See in all these matters, be it the (Genocide) reports, or the countries we are up against – the neighbors, the superpowers, others who are ordinary like us, all of them – this is my message. That one, as a country our priority is us. We desire peace in the context which allows us to continue our development path. Our objective is to live peacefully with everybody. We do not intend to be a security threat to anyone, and neither do we expect anyone from out there to be a security burden to Rwanda.

Secondly, in confronting all these challenges, to maneuver through them and live unharmed, the best approach is to look at us in the mirror internally. If someone wishes to live comfortably in their own house, free from rain, with sufficient security for their cows and granary, instead of staying awake all day and night, it is better to construct a strong home with an impenetrable wall around it. Build an unshakable house with a gate and entrance to the main house constructed in with material for burglary prevention. This will make life difficult for thieves and put off any raiders.

That is where you start from. Same thing with protection from the rain. Simply do your roofing properly with good and lasting material. That way when wind and storm come, your house will withstand these pressures.

It is for this reason that we shall look at ourselves as a people exposed to all this kind of risks. Rain, storm, thieves, all of them, if or when they come and find you weak, they will overwhelm you and take your valuable belongings or destroy them easily.

And that is where we need to start from. Building a formidable house, home, with strong doors and quality roofing so that whenever rain comes our sleep is not disturbed due to possible leakages. You can as well view your country from that perspective. Let us burglar-proof the entrances to our home, lay strong a foundation and roof the house properly. This is primary. (Sounds like Matthew 7:24-27).

{{Good service to Rwandans is our first line of defense }}

I tell you all these people, Rwandans, young and grown, including those of you who are here, starting with leaders, what we do and the way we do it is our most reliable first line of defense against the enemy. It is what comes first. No matter the lies people might peddle about, or any number of insults they hurl, and what have you, whenever what we do as a leadership is right and approved by our people, we shall always remain immune and safeguarded to a great extent. Forget those who baselessly allege that so and so is a killer who has finished people in his own country. There is always an effective way to respond to that.

You can for instance counter the accusations by saying that wait a minute – ‘let us first ask you and us this important question’: who in the first place has died from exactly which area? With this approach you might likely witness an interesting scenario like was the case with the other Human Rights Watch story which you may have heard of. Do you remember when they accused us of having killed our people? They went to the extent of issuing a cooked list of so-called victims. Some people had to go out running around the country to prove the claims, trying to find out from which place, district these people could have died and what could have been the cause of death.

All the people who HRW had alleged dead, I think the number was eleven or there about, I do not remember well, it turned out they were all alive and well. None of them even knew that they had somewhere been reported dead somehow. The lie had backfired.

Assuming these people had been found dead, that would have been unfortunate. It would have confirmed the accusations against us being killers. Probably we would have had difficult time explaining away the circumstances. That was not to be though, because it never was. Gladly the fabrications left behind an open answer for all to plainly see that nothing of the sort had ever happened.

{{When we were accused of killing our people, it backfired}}

And that was not all. Things took a turn, because now, the people initially reported dead were the ones asking tough questions like, ‘why would you expect us dead – and died of what anyways?’

That they were found to be not only alive but thriving as well, the one who told lies about it all faced strong questions from the very people who were in the first place supposed to have died, asking the liars to prove their false claims.

In the same way when anyone says Rwanda’s leadership is terribly corrupt, people embezzle public funds left, right and center, with detractors echoing the allegations, just give it time. The noise will be loudly made and for long, but in the end, we shall ask questions like: ‘what was stolen from who? What exactly happened.’ Ultimately it will wind down to sober assessments which lead us all towards the truth.

The funders will be like ‘where are the funds which we gave you say for education? We have been told that you misused the money.’ And we shall say to them – ‘please come and see where the money was spent and how. Here are the school classrooms we constructed, the teachers who were trained, and all the logistical and operational costs involved. Feel free to hold us accountable on the transparence of methods of expenditure used. Ultimately truth will be plainly uncovered, and all sides will be satisfied.

Still, to us that is not the most important aspect. What matters most is that we put the funds to proper use, period. Children went to the schools which were constructed for them, and that is all that we should care about. That is why I insist on what we must do primarily in our interest. That is Rwanda’s uniqueness. Because our challenges are different – the point I was trying to hammer down your spine yesterday – we should do things uniquely.

{{We are not to compare Rwanda’s problems with others}}

As it is, our problems are more insurmountable in comparison to the rest around the world. For that reason, it so follows that the approach to resolving them, in the face of limited resources, requires us to religiously adhere to our unique and proven methods. This must be the case if we are to ever have a chance of overcoming them and make headway. That is the way it should be. There is no way around it.

Otherwise, if you want to be like others, yet you are not, in the first place, you will have chosen to deviate from the RPF principles which have thus far served Rwanda well.

Let me end by emphasizing the point I started on – that the reason we strive for peaceful coexistence is because we want to pursue our development goals unhindered. I am happy to report that we are well with all our four neighbors except one. We used to have problems with two, but today only one remains.

Particularly let me mention the country south, Burundi precisely, and say that we are moving together on the path to reconciliation. They are serious and, on our part, we are good to go as always (applause). We are good with the Democratic Republic of Congo as well, since the differences we earlier had with them are being jointly tackled in a genuinely amicable way. And with Tanzania, we have never had issues, we live together in bilateral harmony.

The neighbor north is the one who still has a problem with us. Up to now I have failed to understand the root cause of their problem with us. I lived in that country and worked with its people and leadership for long, but still it has not helped matters in finding our way through.

Therefore, to end on that note, my focus shall remain on putting a proper roof on top of our house to protect us from rain. I shall install strong burglar-proof on our doors to keep off anyone who would have intentions to invade us and disrupt our peace, or unilaterally grab our valuable possessions. If the worse came to the worst and I find the intruder already in my house, I will certainly kick them out.

Ultimately, we shall continue to leave freely and wish others peace and freedom too.

But whoever will recklessly relate with us, we shall deal with in the most appropriate way. It is how we live and what we prepare for.

Thank you very much

{{Twitter: @KabagambeI

Ignatius R. Kabagambe, is the Head of Corporate Communications at the University of Rwanda (UR).

Twitter: @KabagambeI}}

Kagame delivered the message on Friday 30th April 2021 at the RPF extended National Executive Committee meeting held at RPF Inkotanyi headquarters in Rusororo.

The meeting held in compliance with ongoing COVID-19 preventive measures, brought together over 650 members.

It was also attended by various guests including top Government officials and youth representatives.

Kagame also urged Rwandans to strive for inclusive development and stand against whatever tends to separate them.

Regarding efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the President told gathered cadres that there are some achievements not only commendable at national level but also internationally.

He highlighted that RPF Ikontanyi has responsibilities to uphold its fundamental doctrines to build around discipline which has been the key enabler for the political party to achieve its agenda.

Kagame also talked about other issues of national interests, urged Rwandans to strive for common goals, identify priorities, make right choices and avoid whatever that tends to turn them against each other.

{{Full speech: }}

Good morning everybody,

RPF Leaders, Vice Chairman, Secretary General, Commissioners, leaders here present, cadres and invited guests from other organs of our country, who we always invite to such meetings. I am excited about this meeting, the first of its kind this year 2021. Today we intend to revisit our responsibilities, examining how we have fared lately, especially in view of the current global challenges, though what mainly we need to focus on are particularly what directly concern us.

You realize that you are wearing face masks. They are a symbol of what we have been dealing with. And I take this opportunity to emphasize the need to wear them properly. Some people cover only the mouth leaving out the nose. The name ‘agapfukamunwa’ (mouth cover) has been taken literally to carry the meaning that only the mouth is to be covered, leaving out the nose. That is not the case. If it were possible even the eyes would be covered.

Starting with the pandemic, historically both our word and our action are equally important. What we say and how we conduct ourselves should always feed from good discipline.

{{Discipline as bedrock of RPF ideology}}

The RPF ideology is only applicable where there is discipline. When it is lacking a lot gets lost along the way and only so little is achieved. This is true to the extent that people even get so used to scoring minimum percentages. Instead of aiming higher to achieve best results possible, say 90%, people tend to settle for as little as 30%.

This I am saying as way to remind ourselves of our values so that we can move on fast and tackle other issues.

RPF must be characterized by focusing on the need to solve general issues for the general populace. With us there should never be discrimination based on religion or region, or whatever else you may use to define unhelpful differences. RPF is a unifying factor, never to separate or divide Rwandans. That is why I just said our performance against the pandemic shows how far we have gone. Let us celebrate our respectable achievements because they have been laudable in Rwanda, the region and around the world. We all share the credit as it has been a collective effort.

Having said that, we also know well that where we took one step forward, we could as well have possibly taken two or even more. And if that was potentially the case, why was it not possible to do better? For example, why would we wait for a whole year to solve a problem which could have been handled in say a month? If we could have saved 1000 people, why save only 100?

In dealing with the pandemic, our ways have stood out and our resolve has been clear. Confidence in self plays a big part. We put into practice what we believe in, beyond mere talk. That there are some few Rwandans not in conformity with the rest of us who are focused, that is ok, because society is like that. People do not move on the same pace. We do not share similar convictions.

{{The sham claim about lack of space}}

For example, out there we have detractors who claim baselessly that in Rwanda it is only misery. That no one opens their mouths or freely associates politically. They claim lack of freedom of speech and other freedoms in an anarchical atmosphere, and so on. Let them say whatever they want to because when they do, truth comes out. Uttering irresponsible falsehoods is a sign of freedom of speech being in place. It only is being misused and abused by the very people who allege it is not in place.
It is important that we speak out against lies. Keeping quiet is not an option.

Because when we do, the ones who smear Rwanda will be believed by the innocent and uninformed.

It is now time to look at how we have behaved during the pandemic. First, I apologize for those who have been inconvenienced as dealt with the pandemic.

Including the people who were apprehended at a so-called wedding ceremony. Part of the noise made was that how could authorities arrest brides, instead of wondering why the honorable brides chose to violate the covid rules. In the first place it was evident that the wedding was only a cover up, otherwise they had been engaged in some other altogether. Unfortunately, even leaders have let us down by getting involved in such misbehavior. They often get distracted from their duties and deviate into flimsy things. Yet we should always be mindful of our unique situation, because as RPF and Rwanda, we cannot afford to do things ordinarily, including saving resources. We must sacrifice.

Take the example of the vaccines that are this little (400) so far against a population of almost 14m. How many people would we save if we did not approach things from the RPF point of view of fairness? Problem is that people simply sit down there and wait to be reminded of doing right thing at the right time. It should not be like that.

{{Genocide was a result of political bankruptcy and madness }}

In this month of April, we always Remember. One, we Remember the innocent masses who perished because of who they were. We also bear in mind all the time that the cause of death to these innocent souls was bad politics. We must never forget that all these people should never have died.

Which brings us back to the pathetic politics of destroying a people. How and why did we accept to be divided, to the extent of family members turning against each other? It was an unbelievable level of madness, which we should not lazily attribute to external factors. We need to come to terms with the truth that we are entirely responsible for the madness.

So how do we address this problem? First, we must identify who we are, what is in our interests and what serves our best interests. Are we a people who cannot identify who we are, what our best interests are and how to fight for and achieve them?

Failure to identify the three has contributed to the indiscipline we talk about every day. If we are not disciplined now, it will be difficult to identify who we are and what serves our best interests. When we have failed to understand who we are, what we want and how to achieve it, that is when the external people and factors have ago at us, because we have given them opportunity by losing focus on what is important.

{{We should not be like grasshoppers}}

There is this story about grasshoppers which I am sure you have heard about before. When they have been collected into a container before being fried, they fight each other fiercely, forgetting the common threat awaiting them outside. Imagine they get on each other’s throat even as they await their death sentence. We should not be like grasshoppers who forget they will end up in a single saucepan to be fried. They go for each other’s legs, necks, feathers, and so on, before their final verdict. That is characteristic of a society that is defective. People turn on each other before the external enemy finishes them off.

Thankfully, I was long liberated from their grip, and I speak my mind freely, without any harm done to me. The question is by the way, if I did not do it like that, how would you advise me to go about it? Give me the better way to live with them and I follow it if it serves us well. My point is that even if you stooped too low for them, you would still end up in a hot pan where they will fry you. And there are lessons around us, all over the place, to learn from. You know I had the opportunity to remind them recently at Kwibuka27 on April 07.

The other day I was listening to a conversation between Gen. Romeo Dallaire and Gen. Henry Kwami Anyidoho of Ghana. They were addressing the subject of denial, reflecting with regret how they could not do much to stop the Genocide denial. What is not debatable though, is that we have the capability on our own hands, in our limited means. The abundant truth which we know should be applied without being bothered by what is beyond us, to challenge the denial narrative. There is no excuse for not confronting these Genocide deniers to engage them in a battle of truths. This they would lose hands down. And it can be done in various ways.

{{Thankfully our tormentors are human too}}

Fortunately, and you people need to remember this because it is crucial, the people who torment us are also human. I have often said it to you and to them. They are not God, but humans made of flesh and blood like you and me. I will listen to them whenever they unilaterally must read the riot act to us, and still go on to do what I must do in my country’s interest.

Secondly, if we commit wrongs as a country, is there anyone in the world who is innocent or angelic? There is no country, even the so-called superpowers, who is not handicapped in several ways. COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses of all of them, although even before it came nobody was perfect. Look at how for example they are challenged by racism. They kill black people at will by shooting them anyhow, on the streets in broad day light, and it has been like this for ages. I know the Genocide happened here. But do you not see a similarity here? Or when national forces randomly and openly on the streets shoot at people during elections because of political party differences. It shows how such challenges can be beyond individual nations’ capacities and become of an international nature.

When a superpower gets that challenged, people need to stop and ask questions related to the magnitude of the problem. I understand that there are security and criminal matters a country can and should resolve internally through own capacities and resources. Yet when it comes to Rwanda and Africa, little chance is given to us to resolve our problems. They desire to micromanage us, telling us what to say and do all the time, including trying to decide for us who should lead our governments. It looks like they delight in derailing our progress, since it has not been possible to stop us completely.

{{Not even a shirt or a pair of trousers is given to the sell outs}}

I see our people who they manipulate, their collaborators. They are all over the place on YouTube making noise on behalf of their masters out there. What shows you the futility of their sinister marriage of convenience, is that those who abuse and tell all sorts of lies about us on their behalf, not even a shirt or trouser is given to them. Nothing. It is total exploitation based only on verbal pampering as the sparrows endlessly sing.

And I say this mainly to our young people here, the many of you who are and will be here long after our generation has gone. Please listen and take heed now. You should not require any body to repeat this message to you in future. There is no better preparation for you to be able to take the mantle tomorrow than what I am telling you now. Let it be up to you to decide what you want to be and who you want to follow, for your own good and the good of this country. It will help you in mastering the management aspects of society. Listen and make a choice – whether you choose to behave like the grasshopper, it is all up to you.

Let us learn how to make the best out of the little that we have. It is possible to listen, learn, master, and apply these lessons in normal life. There is no shortage of examples that have worked for us to serve as clear reference. We need to fast get used to these good practices, including what we work on jointly with our foreign partners, in national interest. In everything we do, we must know how to survive in this unkind world, how to maximize dividends from our limited resources through innovation and by working in unconventional ways. We need to know who we are, identify our interests and define how to attain them. Lastly, we must look far ahead as opposed to seeing only what lies immediately before us.

Thank you very much!

{{Ignatius R. Kabagambe, is the Head of Corporate Communications at the University of Rwanda (UR).

Twitter: @KabagambeI
}}

{{Float in one of the world’s most biodiverse ecozones}}

Rwanda is known to most travelers for its mountain gorillas and for the wildlife—including the “big five”—that you can see on safari. For those who want to see a rarer side of Rwanda, try this new luxury houseboating cruise on one of Africa’s biggest lakes.

Lake Kivu is a Great Rift Valley freshwater lake on Rwanda’s western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It’s the largest lake in Rwanda and a relaxing way to see the range of what Rwanda has to offer. Hippo- and crocodile-free, Lake Kivu is safe for kayaking and other water sports.

The brand new Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga offers the first luxury cruise on the lake.

Your voyage begins on the lake’s northern shores, in Rubavu, the former colonial beach resort (once called Gisenyi) with its historic mansions lining its promenade and red sand beaches. In the south of the lake, you’ll visit the Nyungwe National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and home to chimpanzees and the rare Angolan colobus monkey. You’ll also stop at the DRC island of Idjwi—Africa’s second largest lake island, about the size of Malta. Called “Africa’s Forgotten Island,” here you’ll learn about the Bambuti group. Marginalized, displaced from their traditional way of life, and pejoratively called “Pygmies,” tourists buying their pottery and crafts is an important source of income.

On your lake cruise you’ll also go hiking, bird watching, and see how coffee and tea are grown at a lakeside estate (tastings are an essential part of the experience). And you’ll soak up the gorgeous lake views, seeing small villages, picturesque fishing boats, and several of Rwanda’s thousand hills with their eucalyptus and pine forests and terraces of banana trees.

You’ll want to add other Rwanda experiences on to your cruise since travel in tiny Rwanda is fast and easy. Lake Kivu’s northern edge is just an hour from the home of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, for example. Alluring Africa’s luxury 11-day Rwanda’s Hidden Gems itinerary has you visiting Kigali and three national parks—the savannah, hills, and wetlands of Akagera; the mountains of Volcanoes; and the chimpanzee rainforest of Nyungwe.

{{The Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga}}

This new ship is solar-powered and will be the first motorized yacht to sail Lake Kivu.

The Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga has three decks and just ten cabins, in addition to a swimming pool, hot tub (ideal for admiring the views), wellness center, restaurant, and bar. Each cabin has an ensuite bathroom, satellite TV, mini-fridge, and air conditioning. You can choose from six luxury cabins, two deluxe cabins, and one VIP and one presidential cabin. Complimentary wifi is available on board. The entire ship can be booked exclusively. The Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga is expected to launch in July 2021.

The ship’s crew are local to the area so as to provide essential income to local communities and to help you learn more about Rwanda’s cultures and traditions. On board you’ll admire the decor’s local art and sample ingredients grown in Rwanda. Sustainability of the environment and local communities is central to the tailor-made experiences.

The ship is operated by Mantis, an international conservation-focused hotel group affiliated with the Accor brand since 2018. Mantis’s collection of luxury boutique hotels, eco-lodges, and luxury eco-houseboats are in Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Cape Verde, the island of St. Helena, as well as in Antarctica, Costa Rica, and London, England. The brand aims to take travelers off-the-beaten path and provide unique and sustainable experiences.

Mantis and Accor take responsible tourism seriously and formed the Community Conservation Fund Africa. It’s both a registered non-profit and a grant-giving organization and its projects protect wildlife and their habitats as well as empower local communities. A stay in any Mantis property—on land or on water—supports these initiatives.

{{Rwanda open to travel}}

Rwanda has had one of Africa’s most successful Covid responses—including vaccinating its most vulnerable citizens—and started reopening its arms to international travelers in August 2020.

For now, Rwanda’s Covid entry requirements include proof of a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. You’ll receive a second test upon arrival and then stay in a designated hotel until the results are confirmed negative, which usually takes about 24 hours. Additional tests may be needed depending on how long you stay in the country and the national parks you plan to visit. A negative PCR test is also required to fly out of Rwanda.

{{This article was published for the first time in Forbes }}

Kagame revealed this yesterday at the RPF extended National Executive Committee meeting held at RPF Inkotanyi headquarters in Rusororo.

“RPF is not about choosing a few to benefit. Not so and so’s child and not people of a certain region. Our ideology is built around benefitting all Rwandans without any form of discrimination, “he said.

The meeting held in compliance with ongoing COVID-19 preventive measures brought together over 650 members.

It was also attended by various guests including top Government officials and youth representatives.

President Kagame said that the meeting was held at a time when the World continues to fight COVID-19 and urged Rwandans to keep soldiering on to defeat the pandemic.

He highlighted that RPF Ikontanyi has responsibilities to uphold its fundamental doctrines to build on discipline which has been the key enabler for the political party to achieve its agenda.

Kagame said that RPF has for far too long been characterized by inclusive development without leaving anyone behind noting that the pandemic has shown the status of achieved milestone.

Even though there are areas of improvements in leadership, the President told gathered cadres that there are some achievements to be proud of and urged them to continue striving to do more.

Kagame explained that the country has achieved a lot to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within available means not only commendable at national level but also internationally.

“It is rooted on hard work, discipline and collaboration. The fact that there are some Rwandans with particular mindsets will continue to exist, that is the nature of the World. When there are groups of people dedicating enough time to write, claiming that people die in Rwanda, that there is no freedom; we cannot stop people from talking, “he said.

“Even those saying wrong things, talk. You are the ones who should be talking. You have what to say, why don’t you talk? […] do right things and tell the truth. If you don’t do so, the wrong doer tarnishes your reputation. It is like having clean water and then someone else pours in drops of paints gradually,” added Kagame.

The President reminded the youth that serving in different institutions to uphold discipline, make right choices and strive for common interests.