Some presidential snippets

Monday 14 Feb
For the last couple of years people in Kigali have been instructed to cut down their hedges and replace them with walls and fences. The effect on the microclimate in streets and gardens has been markedly detrimental, despite the contemporaneous planting of street trees. The story was that the president found the hedges unsuitable to the dignity of a capital city and an embarrassment when his presidential pals from France, USA etc visit his country. Yesterday I heard that he actually commented when seeing an overgrown hedge that it was untidy and should be cut back. An official misheard or overreacted. The owners of hedges not yet massacred are wondering what will happen now. For too many the damage is already done.


When the president is due to visit a locality much sprucing up is done - as for our own royal family, one hears. Particularly during the campaigning for the recent election, many roads were mended. But to go to Cyangugu, he flies. I witnessed again today how badly the last quarter of that road needs some presidential attention.


Arrived in Cyangugu after the bumpy ride, four of us made for the pleasant restaurant next to the market in Kamembe for a late lunch. At 3pm the TV was turned up for the presidential opening of parliament. After President Kagame's address, the national anthem was played. I wondered whether people would stand. One customer did so.
Outside, a few minutes later, the three white members of our party were waiting for Antoine to complete a conversation. The man who had stood to attention came to speak to us. The president had been reviewing the decade from 2000, he said. He had made many comparisons. Availability of clean drinking water had risen from 41% to over 80%; availability of electricity from 4% to 13%. I was foolish enough to mention the word 'solar'. Our informant was scathing. 'I work for a Chinese company providing real electricity by cables and pylons', he said.

Tuesday 15th
I run the figures past Antoine. The statistic for clean water seems considerably inflated, he says. The figure for electricity may well be true, and there's a drive on now to get the supply round the country faster. However, the electricity is so expensive that many households run into difficulties and might be better off without it.