Dear Radio Katwe Editor,

I worked as an expatriate in Rwanda for about 10 years after genocide. I have been following the debate on Rwanda. It is interesting to inform you RK that this website is widdely visited. I came to learn about it last month when I was in Brazil. It is Brazilian scholars that told me about it. It gives researches clues from which they can initiate scientific research.

It is almos clear from your articles that Kagame's role in the reconstruction of Rwanda after genocide is significant. My contribution will start from here. In my opinion it is not reasonable to compare Kagame regime with the (Habyarimana) regime before the Genocide. Remember, before the Genocide, 'insignificant' countries in the cold war could do anything they wanted. There was no time for 'the world' to get concerned. So regimes like that of Rwanda could afford to practise and enforce discrimination - directly - against the Tutsi. But after 1994, no regime can continue with direct discrimination. So, the issue of Hutus, Tutsis and Twa studying at the University or other schools in Rwanda now, should be viewed at this level.

I think for Kagame to remain relevant in Rwanda, he should check on the following:

1. Kagame has re-made Rwanda but he is far from re-making Rwandans. He has failed to check on his "strong men's" powers and authority. Such men like James Muson, Jack Nziza, James Kabarebe, Dr. Ndahiro, Charles Kayong, and the list continues, have unlimited powers which they actually further 'delegate' to individuals who also construct their own power bases.

   It is this phenomena, which because it flows along the 'natural' line of 'Tutsis', that people refer to as Tutsi dominance in Rwanda. I am afraid, it is not every Tutsi but to the extent that Kagame is merely looking on while the ordinary people suffer, then it may be perceived as the policy of his regime.

   Yeah, it is interesting to look at the list of Ministers, diplomats, senior officers in the army and police, General Secretaries, Governors, MPs, Senators, Chair Persons and members of national Commissions, Mayors, Directors at every level, among other leaders in the country. There are hadly Hutus and Twas! I tend to think this uneven distribution of power among the different tribes of Rwanda might make it difficult for Rwandans to work together.

   Corruption in Rwanda!!! Kagame is 'lucky' in the sense that there is no vibrant civil society in the country that can make much noise about corruption in the country. He has also managed to control the media to the extent that everything written in the news papers must be in favour of the regime. Otherwise, it is difficult to get to anything in Rwanda if you do not belong to 'the power house'. Kagame, please work on that.


 
2. Kagame should also accept that there are many of his army officers and many civilians (i.e. Tutsis) who killed the Hutus. Mass graves of the Hutu who were killed exist throughout the country. If these people are never tried, the Hutus will not feel a sense of Justice and so, this will remain a fundamental problem for generations to come. Kagame should be open, and create an environmnet in which a South African like Truth and Reconciliation Commission will develop and operate.

 
3. Kagame should involve the Hutus and Twas as equal shareholders in the administration of the State.

 
4. Kagme should allow his viable and robust political opponents to exist without fear or intimidation in the country; he should allow the Rwandan civil society to develop. Politics of manipulation should be played down by his regime

 
5. Rwandans should not resort to war. Any and all politicians in Rwanda should denounce violence and war, then work hard to make sure that the different ethnic groups are recognised and empowered.

Wissly, UK

 06 Jul 2008

 09 Jul 2008