Rwanda is rarely out of the news these days. Most times it is for good reasons even if the motive for being there is usually ill-intentioned. We have to get used to it. It comes with doing things that attract attention, admiration or envy. It has not always been like this. For a long time, this country was largely unknown. Few, even in Africa, could locate it on a map. And so nothing much was said about it. Not that nothing of note happened. A lot did, including periodic pogroms. But the leaders of the country at the time were pliant clients of those who purported to rule the world and control the media. So nothing adverse was ever mentioned and the rest of the world remained ignorant of this country in the heart of Africa. Then it all changed, and for the most horrible reason. The pogroms of the previous decades turned into genocide. More than a million Tutsi were wiped out in a 100 day killing frenzy in 1994. That set the tone of how Rwanda was reported in the world’s media in the years that followed. Often, the reporting followed two opposing narratives. The first was a narrative spun by western media, politicians and NGOs that what had happened in Rwanda was expected, that it was typical African behaviour, and therefore nothing much to worry about. Self-inflicted failure was common among Africans, or in this case, Rwandans. They are inept, corrupt, murderous, people without any ability or conscience and can only survive because of the goodwill of others. The second is in opposition to the first. Rwandans have been writing their own narrative that reflects their struggles, aspirations, choices and the destination to which they want to take their country. First they refused to die or be condemned to the living dead. Instead, they rose from the ashes of genocide, rebuilt their lives and began to make progress. Then they chose to define themselves and their interests because others could not do it better than them. Nor did they want others to chart a path for them. They rejected prescriptions on how to cure what ails their society preferring the efficacy of their own remedies. This narrative ran contrary to the one designed for this country by those who claim the right to decide for others what they think is good for them. They don’t like it. But because it was based on observable achievement, it can only be contradicted by falsehoods and name-calling. Every time they do not like what is happening here, usually when it benefits Rwandans, they resort to calling our president all sorts of unflattering names. This is, of course, very annoying, but luckily cannot subtract from his ability or achievements. When all this is not enough distraction, there is always the heavy punch to fall back on – aid. They must tell these hapless Rwandans or other Africans that they can do nothing for themselves without generous donations from the rich countries. And to bring the big-headed and naughty ones back into line, they threaten to cut it. A lot of this has been on view in the last few days when Rwanda was accused in some media for being reckless and wasteful to promote its tourism by advertising with Arsenal Football Club. Those threats have never been taken kindly in Rwanda. They are regarded as an insult to their dignity as a nation and rather than cow them, have spurred them to search for means to break that dependency. And so they have spelt out their ambitions and designed the means to realise them. It is easy to understand President Paul Kagame’s frustration with public officials who fail to deliver to citizens, build self-reliance and eventually break dependency on charity. That is not to say that most of them are not playing their role. They are. Every international index and results on the ground show that the means Rwandans have chosen to attain their goals have been right. Which is why there are renewed loud noises in some sections of the media. For them, this is not supposed to be happening. But things are changing, not only in this country but across the continent. A similar narrative is being told by other Africans. They are building closer ties, building stronger pan-African institutions and are determined to transform their respective countries and the continent. In the past Rwandans faced this media onslaught alone. Some Africans even joined in the vilification of this country. This time, however, most other Africans and indeed other right-thinking people from across the world have come to Rwanda’s defence. The two narratives will continue to be told but only one will remain credible. You cannot deny that progress is taking place or wish it away by pretending it does not exist when there is such overwhelming evidence. jorwagatare@yahoo.co.uk @jorwagatare
