Ralph Nader, an American political activist, as well as author, lecturer, and attorney, famously stated that “the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” Rwanda’s Paul Kagame practices the reverse — toxic self-centered obsession that destroys existing and potential leaders.
Case in point is Ambassador Jacques Bihozagara. Today, we learnt that Bihozagara died in a Burundi prison. In the current environment of poisoned relationship between Burundi and Rwanda, we will probably never know how he died. May the Almighty bless his soul.
But we know how Bihozagara went back into exile in Burundi in December 2014 — he was driven out of his homeland by political banishment and poverty. Yes, indeed, revolutions eat their children. And Rwanda is no exception. Once it ends, “the same people who started the revolution begin to fight each other for power.” And the same techniques used to justify the destruction of former rulers are now used to dump, exile or even kill members of the revolution. The newly-targeted include members of the revolution that “have different ideas on how to run the country.”
So who among RPF leaders will, politically and physically, survive the eating of the Kagame-led “revolution” and the Rwandan toxic environment that has gripped the nation?
1. Pasteur Bizumungu — former president was imprisoned, released, but unable to travel overseas for medical help. In reality, Buzimungu remains in prison since he cannot move freely within Rwanda let alone abroad. The Kagame revolution has eaten and finished Bizimungu.
2. Patrick Mazimhaka — barely surviving on the fringes of society. Mazimphaka’s “sin” was to be a minister in Bizimungu’s presidency. Mazimphaka, too, has been eaten and is finished.
3. Protais Musoni — dumped and living somewhere in Kigali.
4. Tharsice Karugarama — dumped for opposing Kagame third term, and languishing somewhere in Kigali.
5. Charles Muligande — dumped, too.
Of the original RPF leaders, only one is left standing — my old teacher in Uganda refugee camps, Tito Rutaremara.
Rutaremara has survived by selling his soul.
The phrase “The revolution like Saturn devours its own children,” was famously uttered by a French revolutionary leader, Danton, as he was being eaten by his own revolution. Danton and other revolutionaries had their heads cut off after leading the French Revolution in 1789. From then onward, revolutions around the world have eaten their children. As Pete Townshend explained, “in short, the one rule of most revolutions is “Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.” This is an accurate description of Rwanda where an iron-fist military dictator replaced another military dictator who thought he was “invincible.”
By David Himbara
