Page 36 - Nile Explorer Issue 007

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Outside of Africa, however, Kagame
raises mixed feelings, with human rights
groups classifying him as an authoritari-
an leader, who curtails press and politi-
cal freedoms and presides over an
undemocratic nation whose constitu-
tion he changed to remain president
beyond his legal term.
Born in southern Rwanda in 1957,
Kagame's parents fled the country
during anti-Tutsi pogroms when he was
two years old. He was raised in Rwan-
dan communities in refugee camps in
Uganda, where he observed and was a
victim to the recurrent oppression of checks and balances on the ruling Last year, Rwanda moved up seven spots
visited upon his people. He later joined a party is likely to exacerbate corruption. on the World Economic Forum's
Ugandan guerrilla movement, the When these conditions hold, elements competitiveness index to number 63 out
National Resistance Army that installed of patrimonialism may be economically of more than 140 countries. In recent
Yoweri Museveni as president of productive by generating resources that years, it has posted average, annual GDP
Uganda. are channelled back into the system. In growth of more than 7 percent. The
When he returned to Rwanda as leader the Rwandan case, the Rwandan Patri- country's unlikely economic success can
of the RPF, the country's coffers had otic Front’s economic and political be traced back to its president.
been looted, an estimated 800,000 dominance has not undermined devel- "Kagame's concept was: 'If we can have a
Tutsis and moderate Hutus had been opment because the funds generated country that really works, everybody
killed, the survivors were traumatized, through party-owned enterprises have speaks English, the Internet is
the killers fearful of retribution and the often been reinvested in the economy. super-fast, the airport is totally free of
returnees destitute. Rwanda was a failed The problem is that these conditions corruption, we can then lure to Rwanda
state by any measure. don’t hold in most African states. With a all the companies and economic inter-
Kagamenomics: The Rwandan few exceptions such as Chad and ests that are working in this entire
Economic Development model Angola, the ruling party cannot aspire to region,' " Kinzer says. Kagame brought
One of the most rigorous efforts to the level of dominance witnessed in in American agronomists to help boost
understand the political conditions that Rwanda because the opposition is too Rwanda's low-quality coffee to
made the Rwandan model possible has strong for this degree of political super-premium grade. Famously, he
emerged from the African Power and control to be sustained. In Kenya and also studied the strategies of East Asia's
Politics research project led by David Zimbabwe, for example, the opposition "Tiger" economies.
Booth, Tim Kelsall and others. They has consistently won a large share of the "We want to learn a lot from Singapore
argue that Kagame’s government is an legislative and presidential vote. that has been very successful, that has
example of “developmental patrimo- In addition, even some states that turned a lot of challenges historically
nialism”. In this system, the potentially into a lot of opportunities," Kagame
damaging aspects of patrimonial feature more dominant ruling parties says. "It's about how they have invested
politics are held in check by a leader have consistently failed to impose in people, skills, technology, high-value
who enjoys tight control over patronage economic discipline on their govern- products they have been able to put in
networks. These include jobs for the ments. Instead, entrenched clientelism the marketplace. So, it's our aspiration."
and internal factionalism have typically
boys, waste and inefficiency. undermined anti-corruption efforts. Rights groups routinely blast Kagame
This authority needs to be established This is true for both Angola and Chad, for crushing critics at home and alleged-
both internally and externally. External hurting efforts to reduce poverty and ly backing rebel forces abroad. Last
political control is required because the boost economic growth. week, a Human Rights Watch report
threat of electoral defeat by a strong Shorn of the internal and external polit- said the Rwandan army is aiding a rebel
opposition party may force the govern- group in the Democratic Republic of
ment to prioritise short-term survival ical control required to make it work, Congo called M23, which is accused of
over long-term investments. Internal the application of the Rwandan model slaughtering civilians and raping
control is required because the absence elsewhere would generate very different women. •
results.
36 | The Nile Explorer 007