Six million Rwandans started casting their votes for the Parliament, Monday, Sept. 16, in a contest where the expected winner is President Paul Kagame’s ruling party, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
During the last week of the campaign, the capital city of Kigali did not show any signs of the typical campaigning seen in other countries’ elections: there were no candidates’ faces mushrooming everywhere, no slogans heard from rallying loudspeakers, and no parties shouting at each other to gain the last swing votes. Even the debate scheduled on national TV Saturday was officially canceled.
Mr. Bonaventure, campaign manager for PS-Imberakuri, the only opposition party admitted to the contest, held a few posters showing the party’s candidates. He tried to hang them on the City Council’s walls.
The law states that all public buildings can be used for campaign posters, but in practice an authorization is needed for each spot. It causes inevitable delays. On the second floor of the City Council, Bonaventure sat on a large armchair opposite Aimable Gasana, one of the executive directors. After a few calls Gasana said, “The General Director is in a meeting, I cannot get his authorization now. I advise you to come again later.” After a pause, he added, “Yes, public buildings must be made available, but the exact spot needs to be determined, and sufficient space must be left for the other parties, should they decide to come too.” On the first day of the elections none of the parties’ posters were seen on the City Council’s wall.
As he left the building, Bonaventure glanced at the giant RPF-Inkotanyi billboard some 60 miles down the road. “That’s a private advert, our small party cannot afford them.” It’s the same for full-page ads on Rwandan newspapers. Whereas it is forbidden to hang campaign posters on trees or even on the metal fences of the many construction sites open throughout the city, using private spaces is not subject to limitations.
The PS-Imberakuri party ran for the first time in Rwanda’s elections. It was founded in 2009 by ex-members of Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR). “We felt we did not have a space to really express our opinions,” the party’s president, Christine Mukabunani said. She did not obtain permission from the Electoral Commission for the 2008 legislative and the 2010 presidential elections.
Their campaign faced other difficulties as well. “The police and local authorities always come to our events and many people feel intimidated and prefer not to come. In some areas they may even tell local bus drivers not to drive our supporters,” Mukabunani said.
“Collaborating for an opposition party brings problems,” added Bonaventure, who said he was dismissed from his job at the Ministry of Health because of his involvement in the PS-Imberakuri. “It was a trap” he said, “I needed some urgent medical treatment but my leave request was never processed. When I finally went to the hospital, on my return I found the dismissal letter on the grounds of absence without leave. But there was nothing I could do.”
The party has had a difficult history. Jean Ntaganda, the party’s founder and former president before an internal split took place in 2010, was arrested on the eve of the 2010 elections on the grounds of ‘endangering national security by fostering ethnic divisions with anti-government speeches.’ According to Human Rights Watch, the accusations were politically motivated.
The RPF coalition has been ruling the country since the end of the genocide in 1994, where over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. Heavily criticized by human rights groups for its grip on freedom of expression, the government is praised by certain international institutions for fostering economic development.
For instance, in the recently issued World Bank a report about doing business in East Africa, Rwanda consistently scores first in the region for enabling business and for adequately protecting investment. President Kagame also prides himself for having brought peace and security to the country, currently one of the safest in sub-Saharan Africa.
On the other hand, in the “World Happiness Report” issued by the U.N., which aims to measure the population’s wellbeing, Rwanda ranks rather poorly among the worst five countries in the world. The ranking is based on indicators like GDP per capita, health, life expectancy, perception of corruption, and freedom to make life choices.
“Tell people in Europe that Rwanda is not like other African countries,” said Kigaly City Council’s Executive Director Gasana. “Here, elections are held quietly and in total safety.” A bit too much, perhaps?
Giordano Cossu is an independent journalist and documentary maker, reporting on development and social issues worldwide. You can follow him on Twitter: @Agashya
