You ain’t seen nothing yet, Kagame tells voters

You haven’t seen anything yet, Paul Kagame, campaigning for re-election tells a mammoth crowd attending his rallies. They cheer loud and long.

"We have made tremendous progress in the last seven years. We are going to multiply that seven-fold in the next mandate”, he goes on. More prolonged cheers. "You haven’t seen anything yet. More is in store. The best still lies ahead.”  By this time the crowd is delirious.

Kagame’s campaign, as his administration, has been marked by the absence of extravagant promises. He has always been pragmatic, promising what is achievable. On the campaign trail, he has presented the voters with his record. They agree with him on every point.

And so while the promise of a seven-fold increase in development may appear out of reach if made by another candidate, it is quite credible being made by Kagame. The people believe him because he has delivered on earlier promises.

The conviction that Kagame will deliver on his promises is premised on a simple question. If we have achieved so much, beyond all expectations, when we were rebuilding, how much more can we achieve when we are stable and have the necessary foundation in place?

The assurance that his campaign pledges are attainable is based on another factor that Kagame has stressed throughout his campaign. The strides the country has made are a result of collective effort.

He recognizes the valuable contribution of every individual Rwandan to the collective develop0ment effort. In this sense he tends to downplay his own contribution. Herein lies Kagame’s strength and appeal. He does not brag about the great things he has done. He lets others share in the glory.

The compliment is soon reciprocated. All the people testify that they owe their improved quality of life and individual achievements to his leadership and vision, to the environment he has created and his commitment to a better life for all Rwandans.

Paul Kagame continues to draw the best from the people. This has been his method: provide the leadership and inspiration, promote a feeling of self-belief and cultivate a "can do” attitude.

The method is based on the conviction that Rwanda will be developed by its people. And the people have not disappointed. They have taken full advantage of the climate of encouragement – from the woman in Rusizi who started off with 5000 francs a few years ago and is now the proud owner of a boat fitted with an outboard engine and transports passengers across Lake Kivu to the widowed school teacher in Nyaruguru, survivor of the genocide, who juggles teaching, studying at the university, educating her children and other orphans in her care, and leadership roles in her community.

There are many other examples of success stories across the country that drew inspiration from Kagame’s leadership.
One can easily see that it is this mutual trust, empowerment and active encouragement that will deliver the votes and afterwards propel the country to the realization of the campaign pledges.

Even as he continues to canvass for votes, Kagame carries on in familiar style, exhorting the people not to waver in building the nation, extolling the value of individual effort and compassion for fellow Rwandans. He keeps on about love of country and value of labour. It is his signature pep talk style. The people love it.

Rwandan campaigns are unique. They are conducted in an unusual civil manner. There is no acrimony between the candidates. In most parts of the world, including the advanced countries, campaigns are often marked by vicious personal attacks. Candidates shoot down the policy positions of their rivals, even when there is obvious merit in the policies.

There are several reasons for this. First, Kagame’s record speaks for itself. There is no need to put down his opponents.

Second, other candidates cannot find fault with Kagame’s performance. Third, civility and correct public decorum are cherished aspects of Rwandan culture. Insults, mud-slinging and other forms of smear campaigns are not part of civilised conduct in Rwanda.

Yes, competition exists – that is the premise of imihigo – but this is based on performance and not on denigrating the other. This is where Kagame becomes unbeatable. He has a performance record to show.

Of course, Kagame has chided the other candidates for laying claim to credit that is not theirs. He has, on occasion, reminded them not to appropriate for themselves the successful policies of the RPF. One must pity the other candidates. They really do not have a policy framework from which to challenge Kagame. Still, they are putting up a brave fight.

The appeal of Paul Kagame’s promise to turn Rwanda into a sort of economic and social nirvana is irresistible. His simple message of "there is more in store” and "the best is yet to come” is unbeatable. The others cannot find anything to match, let alone beat, it.

Ends