By From Rebel Leader to Life President, Paul Kagame of Rwanda set for third term in office
Coming to power at the height of Rwanda Genocide in 1994, 59-year-old Paul Kagame is on the verge of making himself a Life President if he wins today’s election.
His ability to contest for a third term was facilitated by a constitutional amendment carried out 2015, giving all-powerful incumbent president, Kagame and the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a chance to stay in power until 2034.
Kagame became directly involved in the governance of Rwanda when his rebel group took control of the capital, Kigali, ending the genocide in which some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered.
Even though seen as the African pride in the area of development, BlackBox Nigeria has gathered that there is limited room for opposition.
Incubent Kagame widely expected to win his third term in office is credited with the country’s rapid economic development since taking office in 2000.
The only major challenge he is confronted with is Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.
Another person should have been US-educated Diane Rwigara, a 35-year-old businesswoman who become a fierce critic of Paul Kagame, following the death of her father in 2015. But she was disqualified.
Her disqualification followed nude photos of her which surfaced on the internet with many especially her supporters claiming this was orchestrated by the ruling party to smear her character because she represents the voice of the youth.
Paul Kagame no doubt is on his way to a third term in office and might as well just be staying there for life, a syndrome which is similar to African leaders.
