Rwandans have made their choice. They have chosen to stick with President Paul Kagame. Both the choice and size of victory were never in doubt. It is easy to see why. He has led them to great things. He helped them resurrect their country, rebuild and transform it, and put it on the path to prosperity. He gave them back their dignity and confidence, and respect among nations. In electing him, they chose the things that matter to them most: unity and progress, dignity and prosperity, and peace and security. In this sense the choice is a massive endorsement of the RPF and Paul Kagame’s leadership and vision for the country and the trajectory it is on. This election has, apart from returning the president everyone wanted re-elected, confirmed many things about Rwandan voters for which they are rarely given credit. They are more sophisticated than some people outside the country and even some Rwandans, rooted in the past and politics of division, but masquerading as enlightened politicians, think. They will not be swayed by appeals to certain identities or falsification of the reality around them. They have refused to be intimidated by the loud, incessant barking, or hear insults and name-calling, and scare-mongering. They have moved further, away from the politics of division and confrontation to the politics of consensus that Rwanda has chosen. Since politics is about the exercise of power and all power belongs to the people, they have agreed it should be shared, not just as a principle, but in practice as well. Power-sharing, which means different political parties working together on an agreed common programme for the country, is enshrined in the constitution. But the principle goes beyond the mere legal requirement and has become part of the country’s political culture. Political parties voluntarily work together to support the candidate of one political party. Contrary to criticism, these parties have not been swallowed by the RPF, or been coerced or influenced in any other way, except by the interests of the country. They retain their identity and independence, which is why they field their candidates in the legislative election. Indeed one party opted to field its own presidential candidate. In this, and recent elections, Rwandans have shown they are concerned about issues that affect them in their daily lives, matters of their wellbeing and future. They have left behind the politics of kin and region, and the ideologies of yesteryear. They are informed by their recent history. They see and like where they are, where they are going and are confident they will get there. They are also aware of forces that want to derail or drag them back, even destroy what they have built. By turning up in such large numbers to cast their vote, they are saying they will not permit any of this happening. Now, some things have come to be associated with elections in Africa, almost as integral aspects of them. One is their inevitable condemnation for a variety of reasons: they are marked by violence, are always rigged and therefore not free and fair, and many others. This is, of course, true in some places. In Rwanda, this sort of denunciation, extending beyond elections, goes on all the time, elections or not. It becomes greater at this time and already the usual detractors are taking issue with a number of aspects of the election. First is the landslide victory which they claim is impossible in a democratic setting and for which they invent reasons. It is the vote of a captive population living in mortal fear of their president. You cannot expect better from a closed or restricted political space where intolerance to dissent reigns, and strong opposition has been silenced. They conclude, as they always do, that this is a sham or stage-managed election. But how can anyone say that if they have followed the three-week campaign and seen the massive, joyful crowds celebrating their collective achievements? The rallies had a carnival atmosphere. How can they say that if they have witnessed the peaceful voting and festive climate at the polling stations? Or the long queues of voters at Rwanda’s embassies overseas, some of whom travelled for days to get there? The result of Monday’s election is Rwandans’ way of telling off their detractors and all others who wish them ill. They are telling them: we know what is best for us. We will make and live by our choices, not according to anybody else’s dictates. You may not like it and do not even have to. That is your business, but respect our choices and please leave us alone. Another feature that has become part of polling in Africa is the army of foreign election observers that descend on the country at this time. They come to check on the bad behaviour of the African government and people. You see, we cannot be trusted to conduct such complex things like elections. They are usually looking for faults, and when they find any, the foreign media quickly picks up and spreads them across the world to prove our ineptness. They should have saved themselves the bother. They must have found no faults in Rwanda. Some, especially the fault finders, will be disappointed. Others will be bored that they have had nothing to do. Most will love the assignment and enjoy the holiday. But it will not be an entirely wasted journey. They will take back lessons about how to organise and conduct peaceful elections and about a different democratic culture. That could even be the standard for future election observation. But do not bet on that. Detractors bent on negating Rwanda’s every achievement, fault finding observers or not, Rwandans are very pleased with the choice they have made, And so they have been celebrating since last night. It is deserved. However, they are also aware of the important task that awaits – of continued rebuilding and transformation of the country, creating their own future. The partying will end, but not the happiness.
