By David Himbara
First Lady Jeannette Kagame: Rwanda’s ‘Kingmaker’?Some compatriots were recently amused by Rwanda’s “pink cabinet.” Dressed in pink, Cabinet Ministers including Prime Minister, were dressed in pink, attending the 10th Anniversary of Imbuto foundation, First Lady Jeannette Kagame’s NGO. These high level officials seemed bewildered and lost.
Several Facebook Friends requested that I share some thoughts on the rise of the Rwanda’s First Lady. Here are my brief reflections.
There are famous cases around the world, of First Ladies acquiring formidable political power.
Perhaps the most spectacular was the case of Imelda Marcos, wife of Ferdinand Marcos, President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. During her husband’s 21 year-rule, First Lady Imelda Marcos served in various capacities, including governor of the Capital City, Manila, member of the interim national assembly, and as Minister of Human Settlements.
Incredibly, Imelda Marcos who fled the Philippines with her husband in 1986 was later to return and enter politics. At 85, she is a member of the Philippine House of Representatives.
Africa has had its fair share of powerful First Ladies.
Zimbabwean First Lady, Grace Mugabe, saw her political prominence drastically increase in December 2014. She became head of the ruling party’s Women’s League, and a member of the ZANU-PF Politburo. It remains unclear what happens to Grace Mugabe in post-Mugabe phase. This may not be in too distant future given the advanced age of the Zimbabwean head of state, Robert Mugabe.
Before her husband was driven out of power in 2011, Cote d’Ivoire’s First Lady Simone Gbagbo, was often described as co-president with her husband Laurent Ghagbo. Simone Gbagbo was the vice president of the then ruling party, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), and president of FPI’s parliamentary group. While Laurent Ghagbo is facing trial at the ICC at the Hague, Simone Gbagbo is serving a 20-year sentence for crimes committed during her husband’s presidency.
Then there is the curious case of Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni, who has been a Member of Parliament and a Cabinet Minister in her husband’s government. But in May 2015, she announced what appeared to be the sudden end of her political career with these words:
“Now, friends, what I want to say to you today is something I have been thinking and praying about for some time. I have sought God’s guidance and assurance about it. Therefore I now have no doubt at all in my mind that this is what God intended for me in this season; that in the coming elections of 2016, I will not offer myself as a candidate for Ruhaama Constituency Parliamentary seat.”
The rise of Rwandan First Lady Jeannette Kagame is entirely different from the above cases. I give three reasons as follows:
- First Lady Jeannette Kagame has never held, and does not hold a formal position in the ruling party, Rwandan Patriotic Front, as is the case of Grace Mugabe and (formerly) Simone Gbagbo.
The Rwandan First Lady has not run for high office, and is therefore, unlike Simone Gbagbo and Janet Museveni, not elected to any political position in government.
Mrs Jeannette Kagame has not been appointed to serve in her husband’s government as in the case of Janet Museveni.
The political power of Rwandan First Lady is therefore “unwritten,” and “informal” emanating from her physical proximity to her husband. Through this she “borrows” and uses the Rwandan government as she wishes. She is able to summon government senior figures – as high as Chief Justice, Senate President, Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers.
Perhaps the term “Kingmaker” best describes Rwanda First Lady – defined as a person who has great power to influence. The question is: will matters end there, or will the Kingmaker want the kingdom itself?
Video : https://www.facebook.com/DemocracyInRwandaNow/videos/874656202609913/
