This weekend my spouse and I, with our infant in tow, traveled to Rubavu to enjoy the sights and sounds of the beach town. To our delight we found, at the hotel we were staying in, an expatriate family that we are close to who have children our son’s age. After settling into our rooms, we then sat under the large beach umbrellas we found there, set ourselves up with cold drinks, and tried to enjoy the views of Lake Kivu as much as the four children would let us.
Not having ever been to Rubavu they were amazed when I pointed out that less than three kilometers away, was the DR Congo town of Goma. Why amazed? Because all they had ever digested about the Goma-Rubavu region was filtered through the lenses of Western mainstream media. They probably expected the ‘boom’ of mortars landing and the ‘rat-tat-tat’ of AK-47s to be the song that lulled the children to sleep, rather than the gentle sound of the waves washing over the beach. So, imagine their surprise when all that we heard was the latter and none of the former.
Driving alongside the new Rubavu town-Bralirwa factory to enjoy the grilled fish at the Paradis Malahide hotel which, if you ask me, is Michelin Star worthy, I was left in awe as the entire expanse of Lake Kivu magically appeared on our right. It felt like, instead of a lake, we were looking over the ocean. I would have parked the car for a few minutes to drink in the views but I was worried that we’d get rammed by one of the many trailers, some of them with Congolese plates, that were plying the route.
While digesting the scrumptious meal of grilled whole tilapia that we ordered, and staring off into the distant blueish hills of North Kivu, I felt a wave of melancholy assail me. It hit me that just across the waters, instead of citizens enjoying the natural beauty that was bestowed unto us, like we were doing, women were being raped, civilians were being forced to flee militia groups like the genocidal FDLR and natural resources that could have been used to build their country were being trafficked out of the country by shadowy international players in cahoots with corrupt politicians.
The melancholy eventually turned into anger that evening as we drove back to town and the twinkling of Goma’s lights. Why anger? Because while politicians back in Kinshasa (over 2,000 kilometers away) made Rwanda out to be DR Congo’s mortal enemy, the border between Rubavu and Goma was overflowing with citizens from both sides trading with each other and trying to prosper. So, despite the rumbles of war, all emanating from Félix Tshisekedi’s government, his citizens didn’t see Rwanda (and Rwandans) as their enemies but rather neighbours to do business with.
Unfortunately, the good sense that his countrymen and women have shown hasn’t infiltrated the psyches of the political elite that comprise Tshisekedi’s government. They’ve demeaned Rwanda’s leaders, threatened to invade our country, and created such an atmosphere of rabid hate that even members of the Congolese parliament have fallen foul of the anti-Rwanda hysteria.
The case against Edouard Mwangachuchu, an MP from North Kivu, represents this hysteria the best.
Arrested earlier this year on charges of illegal possession of firearms, participating in a rebel group, and inciting soldiers to commit acts contrary to their duty, the evidence against the Rwandaphone parliamentarian is largely his business dealings with Rwandans. While acknowledging that his nationality was Congolese and not Rwandan (which was a fight for him in itself) a judge of the military court on May 26 accused Mwangachuchu of having "a Rwandan soul,” due to the choices he made in business.
Mwangachuchu, through his lawyer, has pleaded innocent of all the accusations.
Whether or not he is found guilty is beside the point (the charges against him are quite serious). What I have an issue with is the attempt of DR Congo’s security apparatchik to criminalize legal commercial activity between the citizens of both countries. I mean, if a powerful MP could be accused of being a fifth columnist, what chances do less-monied Congolese citizens have? Never mind being against the letter and spirit of the East African Community, this negative attitude is against the best interests of both Congolese and Rwandans. But I guess, the politics of Rwanda-phobia trump all else, unfortunately.
The writer is a socio-political commentator.