President Paul Kagame's Toxic Behaviour At The National Leadership Retreat Proves He Is Not Fit For Office

President Paul Kagame's Toxic Behaviour At The National Leadership Retreat Proves He Is Not Fit For Office

March 1, 2015

Addressing Rwandan leaders that included Chief Justice, President of the Senate, Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and other officials attending the National Leadership Retreat, President Paul Kagame declared them all useless.

Shockingly, the President stated: "Everybody has become like the other - the killers of yesterday and the liberators of yesterday...full of self-importance and doing nothing for this country that has suffered so much."

According to Kagame, he is the only one left to save Rwanda. Were it possible he would even "take arms and fight" against the current non-performing and corrupt system that he himself created.

In most bizarre moment of the retreat, the Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda tried to rescue Rwandan leaders from Kagame by listing all the good things that Rwanda has supposedly achieved - including his extraordinary claim that Rwanda has a better healthcare system than even the united States of America.

Kagame then turned on Mwenda: "I really don't like your comments. You can reserve them for your Independent newspaper. You write them and I will read them there."

Somebody please remind Kagame that:

• He is the builder of the current system since 1994.

• He is the appointing authority of all the officials he is now cursing.

• He is their chief executive officer; chief operational officer, and chief financial officer.

• He is therefore in denial of his total failure.

Taking full responsibility, accountability and consequences for poor performance is important. But to turn to public humiliation as a method to change behavior belongs to dark ages whether it is with a 12 year old child or a 60-something Chief Justice of a nation. Frank discussion or showdown behind closed doors is understandable. But public humiliation?

No logic, rationalizations, or excuses make it OK for what the Rwandan President has done. His toxic behavior makes it clear that is not fit to govern. The date March 1, 2015, will be remembered for marking yet another low point in Rwanda's descent into a single big man syndrome.

https://soundcloud.com/president-kagame

Article by Dr David Himbara

AMAGANYA YA DOGITERI MAGANYA: ATI MURI REPUBURIKA NTA KIGENDA!

AMAGANYA YA DOGITERI MAGANYA: ATI MURI REPUBURIKA NTA KIGENDA!

Kagame yaje mu mwiherero amaze kwica Rwigara, Kayitare, Dr. Gasakure, amaze gukatira Kizito na bagenzi be, aza kwidegembya nagasuzuguro kenshi imbere yabo yagize infungwa ze. Aravuga ko mu butegetsi bwe ntakigenda kandi ko bimaze imyaka 12! None se indi manda arashaka iyiki? Kuki se umwiherero utaganira kubyubwicanyi bwe cyangwa demokarasi mu gihugu, abanyepolitike bafunze cyangwa impunzi? None abo abaza bamusubiza bate abamubwije ukuri ko abica, akabafunga, cyangye bagahunga akazabatsinda yo?

Mwiyumvire irimuva mu kanwa, ibyo ashyira ku bandi yakabyibajije:

"...Kubwirwa incuro cumi nebyiri nti wumva uba ufite ikibazo. Mbere yo gutangira umwiherero abantu baba batekereza gutaha. Ndifuza uwampakanya. Tuza hano kubahiriza umuhango gusa. Prove to me that I am wrong and I will be happy. Ndabategereje. You have no time to think seriously, you are good for nothing. I am not capable of changing people. You talk too much, nobody owns up, and you do little or nothing. You cannot answer the most important question, and it is all of us. Murasiganya nde? Your country is too small for anybody to be interested in your mess. You have nothing to offer. Ndabahishira simbabwira uko mu meze. Aba Ministri muzi ko muri ibitangaza kandi murutwa nabaturage. Are you listening abari kuri camera ko mbuna muri muri za tweet mureba hasi. It is a shame. The young, the old and those who think they know everything. It does not matter how much education you have, it was wasted money. Listen to those who criticize you and less to those who praise you. I sound angry but I am allowed to be. We deceive ourselves that we are very good because we are better than the worst. Murirata ngo mufite abo muruta? Ibibazo nitwe tub itera system...."

Kagame wakweguye ko bigaragara ko unaniwe! Ni hahandi nutegura kandi uvuga ko system yawe nta ngufu namba isigaranye uru rugamba rugusatira uzamanika amaboko, urugwemo, cyangwa uhungire mu baza gushyira mu nkiko mpuzamahanga? Hitamo. Agapfa kaburiwe ni mpongo.

Article by Dr Theogene Rudasingwa

Rwanda Budget Revision - Shortfall In Revenue Collection, Reduced Aid Donations, And More Debt

Rwanda Budget Revision - Shortfall In Revenue Collection, Reduced Aid Donations, And More Debt

February 28, 29015

As the CEO of Rwanda, President Paul Kagame, begins his lecture to a fearful gathering at the annual retreat 2015, he should not overlook the Revised Budget tabled by the Minister of Finance in Parliament on February 25, 2015.

President Paul Kagame

The budget is bad news: 1) Revenue collection has fallen short of 2014 estimates, 2) donors are less generous, and so the regime 3) is turning to more and more debt.

Here are a few highlights from the revised budget.

• Overall the 2014/2015 budget has increased from RwF 1753.3 billion to RWF 1759.6 billion - equivalent to US$2.5 billion.

• Tax revenue estimates have fallen short by RwF 12.2 billion from RwF 906.8 billion to RwF 894.6 billion - equivalent to US$1.3 billion.

• Donor grants have shrunk from the original estimate of RWF 544.8 billion (US$788 million) to RWF 414.4 billion - equivalent of US$600 million. Donors in other words are giving the regime less than originally anticipated by US$188 million.

• Total loans have been raised from RWF 122.8 billion to RwF 212.6 billion - equivalent to US$ 307 million.

Kagame's economic lion is proving to be a mouse. Let us hope the retreat is not the usual posturing and phraseology, and instead addresses substantive matters by first acknowledging the difficulty situation facing Rwanda.

Article by Dr David Himbara

Rwanda’s Kagame defiant over accusations of backing Congo rebels

Thu Oct 4, 2012 4:49pm GMT

* Western “bullies” are “dead wrong” -President Kagame

* Says freezing aid an injustice, will make Rwandans defiant

* Rwandan, Congo leaders fail to resolve row at UN meeting

* Rebel crisis fuels tension in Africa’s most volatile region

By Jenny Clover

KIGALI, Oct 4 (Reuters) – President Paul Kagame said on Thursday Western governments were “dead wrong” in blaming Rwanda for the rebellion in neighbouring eastern Congo and threatening Kigali with aid cuts, and he pledged to stand firm against his accusers.

The United States urged Rwanda on Monday to publicly condemn rebels who have seized parts of Congo’s east, an appeal that highlighted U.S. frustration over Kigali’s alleged involvement.

Kagame has not openly denounced the M23 insurgency, and instead told parliament that wanton killings were being carried out in the Congo “in broad daylight” but not being condemned by that country’s government or by the West.

“Even with these threats every day, threats of aid, threats of what, whatever it is you have, you are just dead wrong … The attitude of the bullies must be challenged, that’s what we live for, some of us,” he said.

Kagame said those responsible for Congo’s bloodshed were indigenous to tiny Rwanda’s giant central African neighbour.

“There is a bigger territory where worse things are happening … So if you ask me to condemn people or to blame them for anything, I know where to start from.”

Rwanda has denied having any links with rebels, including the M23 group, who have been fighting Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government soldiers in North Kivu province since April, displacing some 470,000 civilians.

PUNITIVE AID CUTBACKS

Donors, including the United States, one of Kigali’s closest allies, have slashed aid to the tiny central African nation as the result of a U.N. report that concluded Rwandan officials were supplying the rebels with weapons and logistics.

“This persecution of people even at an international level is just unbecoming,” Kagame said to applause by members of parliament in front of ambassadors who were in the assembly.

“Freeze aid to Rwanda, freeze, freeze … This injustice does not make us compliant, this injustice makes us defiant.”

The EU said this week in Kigali that although existing projects would continue, a decision on additional budget support would be delayed until Rwanda’s role in Congo was clarified.

Countries including the United, Sweden and the Netherlands have suspended aid to Rwanda, which relies on donors for about 40 percent of its budget. But Britain unblocked part of its aid earlier this month, saying the Rwandans had constructively engaging in the search for peace in Congo.

Kagame has launched a so-called “dignity fund” to help wean Rwanda off its dependence on outside help.

Kagame and Congolese President Joseph Kabila met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly last week to discuss the fighting in the Congo, but no breakthrough was made.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met both leaders to push for a solution, only for Kabila to allude to Rwanda’s alleged support for M23 in his speech before the U.N. General Assembly last Tuesday.

Observers have lauded Rwanda’s economic progress since the 1994 genocide but say lack of political freedom and media curbs have hampered reforms. Kagame has rejected the accusations.

Kagame said Kigali should not be blamed for Congo’s woes.

“For over a decade you keep blaming Rwanda for the problems of Congo. Why don’t they have enough courage to blame themselves and take part of the responsibility?” he said.

“What is this blackmail about? Aid? .. They give you aid so that forever you glorify them and depend on them. And they keep using it as a tool of control and management.” (Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: Reuters

Rwanda’s Kagame defiant over accusations of backing Congo rebels

Thu Oct 4, 2012 4:49pm GMT

* Western “bullies” are “dead wrong” -President Kagame

* Says freezing aid an injustice, will make Rwandans defiant

* Rwandan, Congo leaders fail to resolve row at UN meeting

* Rebel crisis fuels tension in Africa’s most volatile region

By Jenny Clover

KIGALI, Oct 4 (Reuters) – President Paul Kagame said on Thursday Western governments were “dead wrong” in blaming Rwanda for the rebellion in neighbouring eastern Congo and threatening Kigali with aid cuts, and he pledged to stand firm against his accusers.

The United States urged Rwanda on Monday to publicly condemn rebels who have seized parts of Congo’s east, an appeal that highlighted U.S. frustration over Kigali’s alleged involvement.

Kagame has not openly denounced the M23 insurgency, and instead told parliament that wanton killings were being carried out in the Congo “in broad daylight” but not being condemned by that country’s government or by the West.

“Even with these threats every day, threats of aid, threats of what, whatever it is you have, you are just dead wrong … The attitude of the bullies must be challenged, that’s what we live for, some of us,” he said.

Kagame said those responsible for Congo’s bloodshed were indigenous to tiny Rwanda’s giant central African neighbour.

“There is a bigger territory where worse things are happening … So if you ask me to condemn people or to blame them for anything, I know where to start from.”

Rwanda has denied having any links with rebels, including the M23 group, who have been fighting Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government soldiers in North Kivu province since April, displacing some 470,000 civilians.

PUNITIVE AID CUTBACKS

Donors, including the United States, one of Kigali’s closest allies, have slashed aid to the tiny central African nation as the result of a U.N. report that concluded Rwandan officials were supplying the rebels with weapons and logistics.

“This persecution of people even at an international level is just unbecoming,” Kagame said to applause by members of parliament in front of ambassadors who were in the assembly.

“Freeze aid to Rwanda, freeze, freeze … This injustice does not make us compliant, this injustice makes us defiant.”

The EU said this week in Kigali that although existing projects would continue, a decision on additional budget support would be delayed until Rwanda’s role in Congo was clarified.

Countries including the United, Sweden and the Netherlands have suspended aid to Rwanda, which relies on donors for about 40 percent of its budget. But Britain unblocked part of its aid earlier this month, saying the Rwandans had constructively engaging in the search for peace in Congo.

Kagame has launched a so-called “dignity fund” to help wean Rwanda off its dependence on outside help.

Kagame and Congolese President Joseph Kabila met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly last week to discuss the fighting in the Congo, but no breakthrough was made.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met both leaders to push for a solution, only for Kabila to allude to Rwanda’s alleged support for M23 in his speech before the U.N. General Assembly last Tuesday.

Observers have lauded Rwanda’s economic progress since the 1994 genocide but say lack of political freedom and media curbs have hampered reforms. Kagame has rejected the accusations.

Kagame said Kigali should not be blamed for Congo’s woes.

“For over a decade you keep blaming Rwanda for the problems of Congo. Why don’t they have enough courage to blame themselves and take part of the responsibility?” he said.

“What is this blackmail about? Aid? .. They give you aid so that forever you glorify them and depend on them. And they keep using it as a tool of control and management.” (Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: Reuters

Rwandan president's £12,000–a–night hotel

The president of Rwanda, one of the world's poorest countries, faced criticism last night after he was reported to be staying in a £12,000–a–night hotel room in New York

By Jon Swaine, New York

10:46AM BST 23 Sep 2011

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda Photo: Getty Images

Paul Kagame, whose country receives more than £80 million a year in aid from Britain, is said to have been based in the Mandarin Oriental's presidential suite while attending the UN General Assembly.

A receptionist at the hotel said yesterday that the standard nightly rate for the suite, including taxes and charges, totalled $20,664.50.

The average Rwandan would need to work for 18 years just to be able to afford one night in the "luxurious two–bedroom suite", which boasts "panoramic views of Central Park and the city skyline".

According to the hotel, it "is the perfect retreat with large living and dining area and separate wood panelled study."

Spokesmen for Mr Kagame and the hotel declined to confirm he was staying there. Sixbert Musangamfura, a spokesman for the United Democratic Forces (UDF), the Rwandan opposition coalition, told The Daily Telegraph: "It is a scandal. Rwanda is not a country that can afford to pay this much for hotels. People who have to survive on 40 cents a day will be disgusted." 

The president typically travels with dozens of bodyguards and aides, who would also have been housed in hotel rooms with access to the UN headquarters.

Most of New York's classiest hotel suites were packed with world leaders this week. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, is thought to have been housed in a £1,800–a–night room at the UN Millennium hotel.

But Mr Kagame's reported room rate was extraordinarily high even for the busiest week of the year in Manhattan.

David Cameron stayed at the Barclay Intercontinental in a room with an adjoining office. Aides said the price was "certainly not in the territory" of Mr Kagame's, but declined to give a figure.

Britain is Rwanda's biggest direct aid donor. Labour Party figures last month called for aid to be withdrawn amid reports that exiles in Britain had received death threats. The Rwandan High Commissioner in London dismissed the allegations as "bogus".