Rwanda’s political parties’ forum – an examplary approach to african politics

After the 1994 genocide committed against Tutsi, Rwanda faced many problems but the pace of recovery is encouraging. There are lessons learnt and Rwandans are busy trying to consolidate their hard earned peace through national unity and reconciliation, respect of human rights, maintenance of security, social and economic development. There is the co-existence of the political parties in Rwanda to avoid repetition of the negative role some played during the genocide. It is in this line that the post – genocide Rwanda’s political management is a bit unique to suit the Rwandan situation. However, it is always surprising that some elements including media groups continue to misinterpret the situation in Rwanda either to satisfy their selfish motives or due to their ignorance. In its article “Violence pervades Rwanda election” of 19th July 2010, the Independent Online (IOL), ignorantly if not falsely concludes that Rwanda is prohibiting political freedom ahead of the elections. The media outlet falsely accuses the government of Rwanda of having a hand in the recent assassination of the local tabloid journalist Jean Leonard Rugambage and of Green Party official Rwisereka Kagwa Andre, attempted assassination of Gen. Kayumba, Ingabire Victoire’s pursuit by Courts and the arrest of Ntaganda Bernard. According to the IOL, these activities are aimed at suppressing opposition parties ahead of the Presidential elections. It equally accuses RPF of amassing wealth while other parties in the race are struggling to fund their campaigns. It is evident that IOL reporters are reporting about a country they are ignorant of realities on the ground. Rwandan political structure is a bit different if not completely different from other countries in that all the registered political parties are brought together in one political parties’ forum. Currently, the forum brings together 10 registered political parties: RPF, PSD, PL, PDC, PDI, PSR, UDPR, PPC, PSP and PS – Imberakuri. The forum which was established in 2003 by the Law N°16/2003 is a platform for exchanging ideas on politics and how these ideas may help in governing the country. Through this platform, political organizations both with and without members in Parliament exchange ideas for effective management of state affairs; and political organizations discuss major national issues and present their recommendations to the relevant state institutions. The organization is also aimed at making political organizations’ members role models in the policy of unity and reconciliation and in fighting discrimination and divisions, thus promoting unity. As an institution, the political parties’ forum reinforces the principle of power sharing, and educates politicians and other citizens in the culture of considering an opponent not as an enemy but as one to collaborate with through constructive ideas. Given the fact that citizens had lost hope in political parties, the forum has helped in the restoration and strengthening citizens’ confidence in political organizations and politicians themselves. Being in the same forum does not mean that parties are not independent in as far as political programs and finances are concerned. For example each of the four parties in the Presidential race has different manifestos based on their different political programs. The principle of power sharing is prime as far as the Rwandan political organization is concerned. The constitution prohibits the ruling party from occupying more than 50% of cabinet posts. It provides that the President of the Republic and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies have to belong to different political organizations. This is a unique and exemplary initiative that many African politicians would not adopt since most of them believe in the “winner takes it all principle”. The IOL’s allegation that the RPF is running an expensive campaign as other contenders will be operating on low budgets portrays the IOL’s ignorance on the independence of political parties. Though the parties are in the same forum, they remain independent in their management. The parties have their own means of income but the government has the obligation to fund political parties that managed to get 5% of the votes in legislative elections. As a matter of fact, the central government disbursed 500 million Rwf for the three parties that were able to get the required 5 % of the votes. The government has also distributed to each party equipment worth 18.4 Million Rwf. Apart from this support, every party has its own source of income which means that the financial capacity of each party depends on its other sources of income. RPF’s big budget is based in its history and achievements. RPF’s achievements including stopping genocide, economic development and unity and reconciliation, have made it a party liked by many hence having a considerably big number of supporters who contribute to the party. The party also gets finance from its income generating projects. The media outlet also links the recent murder of the journalist Jean Leonard Rugambage and the Green Party official to the presidential elections and maliciously accuses the government of Rwanda of having a hand. This shows the biased side of the media house, since it has arrogantly refused to recognize the results of the Police investigations but rather concocts its conclusions. Rugamabge’s killers were arrested and one of them Didace Nduguyangu confessed to having killed the journalist out of frustration and anger that he (Rugambage) had been released under unclear circumstances after serving half the sentence Gacaca traditional courts had handed him. As for the Green party official, one suspect is now in Police custody and the other is still on the run. The two suspects were close business partners to the deceased and according to Police sources, the business partners had developed business related wrangles, which could have led to the murder. IOL’s quick conclusions implicating the government of Rwanda, are aimed at pre-empting the investigations already underway, and show how biased IOL is. The media outlet shamelessly implicates the government of Rwanda in the recent failed assassination of Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa in South Africa. One wonders why IOL is quick to run to such malicious conclusions and why it has on all cases not believed in the police investigations. The South African Police has revealed that it has in its custody four people; Two Tanzanians, a Mozambican and a Somali national. The media outlet should instead be questioning why the South African Police investigations have failed to come up with something conclusive and why a prime suspect, the Kayumba’s driver remains at large and why Kayumba’s in-law was among the police interrogators, rather than maliciously implicating the government of Rwanda. The arrest of Bernard Ntaganda is self explanatory. His party was allowed to register in the Political party’s forum and indeed it remains a member of the forum with its new leader, Mukabunani Christine as a new deputy speaker of the forum. He fell apart with his party members after they realized that he had genocide ideology tendencies. His arrest is in line with article 38 of the Law N°16/2003 establishing political party’s forum which prohibits politicians from engaging in any acts based on discrimination and divisionism. It is also in line with article 40 of the same law which prohibits politicians from: supporting or committing any act that may cause war, disturbances and any other acts that may lead the country to a state of emergency or siege; inciting members of political organizations into terrorist acts or inculcating into them the culture of intolerance; and negationism or trivialization of Genocide. Ingabire Victoire’s case is similar to that of his political companion Bernard Ntaganda. The self styled politician was implicated in the 2009 UN Group of experts’ report on DRC of having a link with the FDLR – Interahamwe, the genocidaires still in the DRC jungles. Still she faces the cases for promoting and spreading genocide ideology and masterminding terrorism activities. Arguing that the arrest of Ntaganda and the court investigations against Ingabire Victoire are aimed at suppressing the opposition parties from taking part in the Presidential elections would be negating the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. Would Germany, with its strict Holocaust denial laws allow genocide deniers to work and promulgate their views in its society? Yet again it seems there is one law for the West and one for Africa when it comes to genocide. The media outlet would do better to focus on the Rwandan suspects living in Europe with the apparent complicity – or at least judicial and political apathy – of governments there than spending their time drafting false and malicious accusations against the government of Rwanda. Ends