By GEORGE Kagame
One of the most fascinating stories I have had the pleasure of reading was written by Rwandan writer Rama Isibo for his blog sometime in 2007. Having saved money to buy his first personal computer, Isibo was bemused by the amount of information that the computer shop salesman gave him. I related to the story because my own attempt to secure a first computer were very testing.
Isibo's challenges were much different from mine in purchasing his first computer, as at that time I believed he was living in the UK and so he didnot have to clench his fist and gnash his teeth while saving up the money for a computer.
Nonetheless, his experience with the computer shops were quite hillarioius. In the end, Isibo signed off his article promising to keep the memories of his exercise to tell to his children.
As a budding journalist myself at the time, it was a basic necessity to have a personal computer. It remains todate as one of the most challenging battles of my life so far. I had to save my salary for two months and default on practically every other essential daily expenditure. When I believed I had the right amount I took a day long bus ride to a neighbouring country where computers were selling at cheaper price. At the end of the ordeal my roommate at the time evicted me from the house for failing contribute my share of the monthly rent.
At the time I was saving for my computer, government along with South Africa and other members of the EAC were in negotiations with SEACOM , a fibre optic cable firm to form a marine based cable connecting Cape Town to Cairo through Dar Salaam, Mombassa via Kigali Kampala, Ethiopia and then to Cairo. The cable would then link Africa to India through the Indian Ocean and Eurpe.
The attitudes to computers is just one of various challenges that government and other policy makers will have to address starting in October when Rwanda is slated to sign on to the sea cable submarine fibre optic network that is owned by SEACOM a South African private consortium that specializes in selling cheap bandwidth to internet subscribers. The operation of SEACOM was launched on Wednesday in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa and according to economists and ICT experts will go a very long way in removing the international infrastructure bottleneck and supporting East and South African economic growth.
Rwanda was not among the first countries to join the cable system because first the national fibre network roll out was still being constructed across the country and also the obvious factor for not being close to the ocean. Interesting, it is only Rwanda in the region that has embarked on a nationwide fibre optic cable rollout, and is also so far, the only country with a national policy framework for ICT in the region. Kigali city and its suburbs have already been connected by 77km of fibre optic cables, over 70 percent of the country according to the EDPRS framework is covered today.
Nevertheless, owning a computer remains a daunting challenge to a very large majority in the country. In fact it is a fair assumption to say that computers are only limited to a select few in the country. And this is not just because the gadgets are expensive or Rwandans are too unsophisticated to handle computers. Many of my colleagues have very expensive mobile phones that could buy two new sets of computers. Yet interestingly the owners of these phones have no ideal use for the features in these phones and most times our telephone service providers do not have the software to use these mobile phones. This is testimony that the purchasing knowledge of most consumers is tuned to bizarre attitudes that only a seasoned anthropologist would attempt to figure out.
If you like, the success of most development programmes in the country hinge on this fibre optic cable. Starting with the One Laptop Per Child Programme, which on top of increasing the quality of education that school going children will be able to access, will foster the delivery of health initiatives across the country as well. Already the Centre for Research and Treatment of HIV/Aids and other infectious diseases-TRAC-was using mobile telephones to connect patients to care professionals but the cost of airtime was an unnecessary hump in the process. High speed internet connection to health centres will ease this burden. A child whose computer is connected to the internet will help other family members that could be sick in accessing ARVs. The members are helped when they are easily connected to the specialists that TRAC has stationed in most health centre across the country to monitor the health of patients and the child would have learnt invaluable lessons in the process. In the long run the quality of life on the continent will improve and we shall leave the group of people that have a very short life expectancy.
The benefits of fibre networks cannot be overemphasized, online education will not only expand but it will also be a reality to many more people as will government's promise to make all its operations digital. The network will also reduce the slice of the national budget that was being diverted to the wallets and egos of public officials that have been handling such policies and fees that go with them.
The bigger picture is that the integration of Africa will be enhanced as SEACOM will attempt to complete Vasco Da Gama's dream of a connected triangle bringing together Europe, Africa and India, the cooperation of African countries will increase with faster internet and we might be the generation that casts away the image of a dark continent. For the new generation of wannabe Ga Gamas to Africa, the cable will make it easier for them to make travel arrangements faster online and this way seeing more of the continent.
As Seacom’s undersea cable project is the first of its kind to connect to East Africa to the rest of the world through links to India, the United Kingdom and France. This will open up unprecedented opportunities, at a fraction of the current cost, as government, business leaders and citizens can now use the network as the platform to compete globally, drive economic growth and enhance the quality of life across the continent.
Africa has been slow to catch up with bandwidth as most connections on the continent were by satellite which is quite expensive and unaffordable to many.
Yet for the fibre optic cable to make a real change to the lives of Rwandans other challenges on the continent will need to be dealt with faster. For example, expanding the electricity grid to all parts of the country will have to shift from EDPRS documents to all major trading centres across the nation. Most important is the general political stability of Africa will primarily be a responsibility of Africans as the recent pirate insurgency on the Somalian coastline demonstrates. The pirates apparently hindered the completion of the cable connection on time as they were operating in waters where the cable passes in February and March. Where Africa left the international community to deal with the pirates, now it will be upto to all of Africa to ensure that Somalia stabilizes.
This will not be a difficult task as it appears on paper. The stability of the East African coastline has in the past been achieved after serious insurgencies. It is said the Arabs and Da Gama first operated as a pirates on the coast before they each took turns at settling at Fort Jesus.
Tuesday 28 July 2009
Sunday 26 July 2009
And then there was the internet, "don't speak or look at me!!"
BY GEORGE KAGAME
The social networking and online dating sites like this one are one of the latest inventions concepts in a consumer society. In this society, every aspect of life is geared towards making all of us into consumers and participants to a drama that has become our lives than actually living it.
Lets see, when you're out with friends on a trip or a night/day out, chances are that you will be more occupied with taking pictures of all the moments to upload on facebook than actually enjoying the time out or the company of our friends. When you get home, very carefully prepared adverts of the camera you're using the pictures await you on the television.
Two, Instead of speaking to somebody in a night club or bar, some marketing agency has done that for you. The club hoists its advert on the web and tells prospective patrons of the day that today they have a ladies night and therefore whoever is coming to the theme night needs no company. The advert will also give you pick up lines once you get inside the club, a prospective target for your advances would also have been propped up on what to expect. And so as you dance your way to the object of your desire on the dance floor or counter, everybody in the body club can tell what you're up to. The feeling between hunter and prey is amicable. It is possible that when you go dancing these days you'll end up between the legs and arms of someone whose name you don't even know and most certainly know nothing about other than the fact that your sexual appetite is at an all time low!
When you wake up the next morning, both of you are more concerned with where you dropped your pants and running away from each other's space as fast as you can. You get on the bus or train to your home early in the morning as if you worked the night shift the previous night. As you ride to your place you don't want any eye contact with a person seated next to you on the train or bus. After all he/she is from home to their job wand they're fresh for a new day while you're on the way to your home from your away romp and after a quick shower then to your work. You will report to work late on a monday and therefore start the week on a sour note and most probably end it that way. A life of stress, you'll spend the entire week watching watching adverts on how to fight stress and the any medicines to fight it.
The internet-which upon its creation in the late 1980s was said to make life so simple has instead complicated it and created machines out of human beings, robots. WE are tasteful,lazy, suspicious and choosy bunch, full of fear, uncreative and many assumptions about the person seated next to us on the bus and the cafe. Like the creation of our hands and minds, the internet has made human beings of our generation into commodities, especially the ones living in the west. But with the launching of the EASSY marine cable network in East and South Africa last week, even Africans are going this way soon.
As you head to your apartment in the morning after a night in the club and sleeping over at somebody's place-who picked you up in the club-you're torn between two worlds. On one hand you're happy that you were conquered and so will be planning on what to wear or say next time you're out so as to appear a more successful candidate to be picked up. As a result you will spend most of your time browsing askmen.com or Ivillage.com.
On the other hand you're regretting within, how cheap have you become? You're not much different from a prostitute, a gigolo, there's a price tag on your head. You're predictable,. You are a piece of auction, open to the highest bidder. While these things are taking place in your head, you don't somebody to speak to you. Once one actually does speak to you, you'll react like a bomb has dropped on your head! You're a machine, you're programmed. The internet has made us distrust ourselves so much and made us become best friends with computers than fellow human beings. Your computer can give you directions to where you're going without asking for directions, get you a boyfriend/girlffriend, your ideal restaurant and even get you a job. On top of this it can help you to order medicines from the pharmacy and doctor to heal whatever illnesses you secretly surfer from. What's the need of having people around you? In case you need any type of contact, the computer will connect you to a local pet shop where you'll order for a dog, duck, bird and cat. While we are still at it, you can go to the nearest endoscopy and fertility clinic to have a baby. Everything done on the internet.
In their method of control against the spread of STDs and abortion, the Catholic Church has been busy campaigning against stem cells development, cloning and condoms -in the process denying many of us in Sub Saharan Africa that grew up in the late 90s the opportunity to indulge in the blessings of youth for fear of STDs and pregnancies-but the Vatican has not addressed the real dangers of ICT to this generation.
The world today is fighting its most important battle as a result of the collapse of the credit economy and financial institutions. The credit crunch happened because people in Europe and North America switched on their computers, saw figures that were calculated by computers believed them bought shares that were not existent. Invested in projects that never really existed and ended up being fleeced by unscrupulous banks and investment agencies. Most of the transactions that led to the collapse of the world's financial set up took place in the comfort of their homes. On their computers.
The collapse of the international economy which happened as a result of ICT access to people that did not deserve or misused it has not been condemned by the Vatican. The Vatican is concerned only with its dogma than the realities of a changing world. As a result of this crisis immigrants in South Africa, Europe, North America and Japan are denied a chance to access services and jobs. Some have even been killed as they're a threat to employment opportunities and other services.
But the fear is not only to immigrants, citizens of the western world are have given up their rights to finding partners with whom to share their time and good life to the internet. Cue e harmony.
Coming soon. e Harmony>>>>>>
dating in the west is done on the computer-it is very easy to find someone to have sexual intercourse with and the next day each party acts as strangers
Internet dating conference due in September in London
From Hollywood’s box office now Rwanda’s story goes to the Prime Time with NBC
Danny Glover with fans in Kigali recently
By GEORGE KAGAME
All things prime have a new favourite home In Rwanda today. It is quite not surprising these days to find a photo of a Hollywood superstar with his fans-mostly curvaceous beautiful local girls posing in pictures taken in the streets of Kigali.
Even young tourist girls from western countries have had opportunities to have their pictures with Hollywood A list actors taken in the city’s backyards cue Bourbon Coffee.
(In my unofficial survey, this joint could rival Hollywood cafes in the statistics for hosting celebrities, but this another topic.)
The 2009 photo albums so far posted on facebook have appearances from Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Brian Lara-a cricket legend and many more.
It is possible that Damon was attracted to Rwanda by his close friend and former campus roommate Ben Affleck a frequent visitor to Rwanda.
To this cast you can add Ewan Mcgregor, Ashley Judd, Natalie Portman and so much more who have packed up and made the great trek to Kigali. And while you’re still talking movies, it is important to note that some from Europe’s major entertainment industry-soccer-have also visited-cum the All Europe star team that was at Amahoro just recently to make their contribution to the One Dollar Campaign including Samual Eto’o, Didier Drogba and others.
While each of these superstars has had very noble reasons for visiting, I cannot attempt here to have explanations for the pulling power of Rwanda.
After all, the county has been described as a model for rebuilding and stability from near annihilation and as one European journalist recently stated, “Kigali is the poor man’s version of a civilized city.”
For all these accolades, visitors have become a common feature, coming along with brief cases to start projects aimed at humanitarian work or better-still a video crew to make a play or documentary about reconciliation and or orphans of the Genocide.
And based on the ORTPN’s awards at Berlin’s tourism Rwanda could be one of the best summer destinations in Africa these days.
The most recent project coming out of such visits and inspiration is NBC’s prime time series The Wanted. The Wanted, which premiered on Monday in the US, is likely to resemble or attract the same audience as the once Kigali favourite Kigali The PrisonBreak.
The Wanted is about the work of investigative journalists from the US who follow international criminals wanted for committing crimes against humanity in their countries of origin but living well off in other countries mainly in the west.
Some of these alleged criminals are Rwandans, suspected and wanted for perpetrating and participating in the Genocide.
One such suspect set to appear in the series, a former lecturer in a major US college is currently under investigation.
Therefore, many of you adrenaline filled people hungry for some action in the mould of Michael Scoffield, will get that and the added advantage is that you will understand some of the script as it is about people and issues you understand very well.
The first two episodes will track fugitives living in Norway and Germany and even if the episodes are not about Rwandans, the two countries are reportedly harbouring or have in the past hosted wanted suspects of the Genocide in Rwanda.
It is ironical that the show premiered just a day after President Paul Kagame appeared on CNNs GPS and discussed the ‘selective’ and cheeky nature of international justice in pursuit of war criminals.
Don’t wish or count on the temptation that the show will improve or do better than a whole UN funded worldwide search for the same fugitives, but the power of commercial television will go a long way in exposing that it is easy to track these suspected criminals with less dollars than the Arusha based ICTR has done.
(On a separate note, I call for the privatization of the ICTR and hiring bounty hunters. This way, it will take less than a week to capture Felicien Kabuga.)
It is my opinion that the show will damage the public relations gibberish of the ICTR. It is possible that the hypocrisy and lies of the ICTR’s tracking team will need more public relations funds to cover up their incompetence.
Such is the irony of public relations that even if the movie Hotel Rwanda had flaws in its version of events in Rwanda during 1994 and thereafter, the interpretation of events in Rwanda under the leadership of Kagame by Paul Rusesabagina, it helped many in the west to get a glimpse of Rwanda and its story.
Rusesabagina then got over excited and sold his story in the west and actually attempted to accuse the RPF government of the genocide it prevented. This gave a background to the infamous French and Spanish arrest warrants.
A Hollywood picture now became a major influence on the political face of Rwanda. Such is the power of celebrity culture and television in the west.
Whatever fact or fiction history writers make of Rwanda 50 years from now, one thing that will stick out is that it is a beautiful and wonderful country tacked in the middle of Africa both physically and politically, on top of being at the cross section of Africa’s political economy of the past and new.
A combination of that and other factors have made Kigali an attraction for both touring and development work by international movers and shakers. We could have our prized gorillas, the supposed source of River Nile, a picturesque countryside and a clean city but our humble ability to attract major figures in the world to contribute to the country’s growth today.
It is very difficult to attract these people.
Ends
By GEORGE KAGAME
All things prime have a new favourite home In Rwanda today. It is quite not surprising these days to find a photo of a Hollywood superstar with his fans-mostly curvaceous beautiful local girls posing in pictures taken in the streets of Kigali.
Even young tourist girls from western countries have had opportunities to have their pictures with Hollywood A list actors taken in the city’s backyards cue Bourbon Coffee.
(In my unofficial survey, this joint could rival Hollywood cafes in the statistics for hosting celebrities, but this another topic.)
The 2009 photo albums so far posted on facebook have appearances from Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Brian Lara-a cricket legend and many more.
It is possible that Damon was attracted to Rwanda by his close friend and former campus roommate Ben Affleck a frequent visitor to Rwanda.
To this cast you can add Ewan Mcgregor, Ashley Judd, Natalie Portman and so much more who have packed up and made the great trek to Kigali. And while you’re still talking movies, it is important to note that some from Europe’s major entertainment industry-soccer-have also visited-cum the All Europe star team that was at Amahoro just recently to make their contribution to the One Dollar Campaign including Samual Eto’o, Didier Drogba and others.
While each of these superstars has had very noble reasons for visiting, I cannot attempt here to have explanations for the pulling power of Rwanda.
After all, the county has been described as a model for rebuilding and stability from near annihilation and as one European journalist recently stated, “Kigali is the poor man’s version of a civilized city.”
For all these accolades, visitors have become a common feature, coming along with brief cases to start projects aimed at humanitarian work or better-still a video crew to make a play or documentary about reconciliation and or orphans of the Genocide.
And based on the ORTPN’s awards at Berlin’s tourism Rwanda could be one of the best summer destinations in Africa these days.
The most recent project coming out of such visits and inspiration is NBC’s prime time series The Wanted. The Wanted, which premiered on Monday in the US, is likely to resemble or attract the same audience as the once Kigali favourite Kigali The PrisonBreak.
The Wanted is about the work of investigative journalists from the US who follow international criminals wanted for committing crimes against humanity in their countries of origin but living well off in other countries mainly in the west.
Some of these alleged criminals are Rwandans, suspected and wanted for perpetrating and participating in the Genocide.
One such suspect set to appear in the series, a former lecturer in a major US college is currently under investigation.
Therefore, many of you adrenaline filled people hungry for some action in the mould of Michael Scoffield, will get that and the added advantage is that you will understand some of the script as it is about people and issues you understand very well.
The first two episodes will track fugitives living in Norway and Germany and even if the episodes are not about Rwandans, the two countries are reportedly harbouring or have in the past hosted wanted suspects of the Genocide in Rwanda.
It is ironical that the show premiered just a day after President Paul Kagame appeared on CNNs GPS and discussed the ‘selective’ and cheeky nature of international justice in pursuit of war criminals.
Don’t wish or count on the temptation that the show will improve or do better than a whole UN funded worldwide search for the same fugitives, but the power of commercial television will go a long way in exposing that it is easy to track these suspected criminals with less dollars than the Arusha based ICTR has done.
(On a separate note, I call for the privatization of the ICTR and hiring bounty hunters. This way, it will take less than a week to capture Felicien Kabuga.)
It is my opinion that the show will damage the public relations gibberish of the ICTR. It is possible that the hypocrisy and lies of the ICTR’s tracking team will need more public relations funds to cover up their incompetence.
Such is the irony of public relations that even if the movie Hotel Rwanda had flaws in its version of events in Rwanda during 1994 and thereafter, the interpretation of events in Rwanda under the leadership of Kagame by Paul Rusesabagina, it helped many in the west to get a glimpse of Rwanda and its story.
Rusesabagina then got over excited and sold his story in the west and actually attempted to accuse the RPF government of the genocide it prevented. This gave a background to the infamous French and Spanish arrest warrants.
A Hollywood picture now became a major influence on the political face of Rwanda. Such is the power of celebrity culture and television in the west.
Whatever fact or fiction history writers make of Rwanda 50 years from now, one thing that will stick out is that it is a beautiful and wonderful country tacked in the middle of Africa both physically and politically, on top of being at the cross section of Africa’s political economy of the past and new.
A combination of that and other factors have made Kigali an attraction for both touring and development work by international movers and shakers. We could have our prized gorillas, the supposed source of River Nile, a picturesque countryside and a clean city but our humble ability to attract major figures in the world to contribute to the country’s growth today.
It is very difficult to attract these people.
Ends
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