By David Himbara
The Coronavirus is brutal and does not spare anybody. It looks like it has given General Paul Kagame the biggest blow. He was to host the biggest event ever held in Rwanda in June 2020 – the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Kagame government had also declared that it would make investment deals worth of US$700 million during CHOGM. The Coronavirus has demolished these grandiose claims.
How do we know this? The Commonwealth Secretariat has given strong hints that CHOGM2020 may be held virtually to protect heads of government. On March 19, 2020, the Commonwealth Secretariat gave an update on Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for June 2020 in Rwanda. The Secretariat noted that they continue “monitoring developments regarding the spread and impact of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) very closely.”
The Secretariat further noted that they were “discussing a wide range of options and reviewing all possible arrangements for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).”
Then, on March 31, 2020, the VOA announced an update it had received from the Commonwealth Secretariat with similar overtones as the earlier pronouncement. Noting that “we are living in unprecedented times,” the Secretariat stated that all its internal and external meetings these days are “held on our virtual platform with great success.” For example, they held CHOGM discussions and consultation meetings with more than 60 participants from all British High Commissions.
The Secretariat says that next week, it will hold the 56th Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting virtually. The CMAG will discuss priority issues including the June 2020 CHOGM. The Secretariat emphasizes that “in all these conversations, we have given priority to considerations of wellbeing and health of all officials, delegates, staff, media and participants.”
In conclusion, if the Commonwealth Secretariat is holding the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting virtually, it is most likely that the Secretariat will hold CHOGM2020 the same way – with General Paul Kagame hosting virtually. We do indeed live in unprecedented times.
The Coronavirus is brutal and does
