'Kagame mania' strikes on final day of Rwanda vote campaign

Vast crowds of people turned out in Kigali on Saturday for Rwandan President Paul Kagame's final campaign rally ahead of next week's election that is expected to see him extend his grip on power.

"He's the one, there's no-one else," declared one fervent supporter.

Kagame and his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) are assured -- as usual -- of a crushing victory on Monday, with only two candidates approved to run against the iron-fisted leader in the presidential race.

Before dawn, hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the rally site in Gahanga in the south of the capital Kigali, a sea of flags in the RPF colours of red, white and blue.

Performances by Rwandan music stars electrified the throngs, made up of mostly young people -- the "Kagame generation" in a country where two thirds of the  population is under the age of 30 years and has known no other leader.

Kagame has been de facto ruler of the small Great Lakes nation since the 1994 genocide, before being elected president by parliament in 2000.

Since then he has won three times at the ballot box, always scoring at least 93 percent of the vote and a whopping 98.79 percent at the last polls in 2017.

He is facing the same challengers again this year -- Democratic Green Party leader Frank Habineza and independent Philippe Mpayimana -- after several prominent anti-Kagame figures were barred from standing.

- Climate of fear -

The 66-year-old is credited with driving the recovery of a nation left in ruins after the 100 days of savage killings in 1994 orchestrated by Hutu extremists against the Tutsi minority that claimed 800,000 lives.

But critics say Kagame rules in a climate of fear, silencing the media and the opposition with a brutal campaign of arrests, forced disappearances and extra-judicial killings.

Those at the rally, many wearing caps and T-shirts emblazoned with the initials "PK", could only sing his praises.

"I don't know any other candidate but Paul Kagame," said Fabrice Nkurunziza, 19, who left his home in a Kigali suburb at midnight to attend the rally.

"The president has made many achievements, there's equality, development, knowledge... He is the one (to whom) we attribute all the achievements, that’s why I'll vote for him."

His comments were echoed by 42-year-old hairdresser Jean-Marie Munyarukiko.

"He's the one, he's the one, there's no one else," he said. "The other candidates are just campaigning for show."

Shortly after midday, after the vast crowds had waited hours in the blazing sun, Kagame finally arrived, welcomed like a messiah.

From the top of a car, red cap on his head and hygiene mask partly covering his face, he greeted the crowds as songs blared.

- 'Gift from God' -

Before such large numbers of ardent believers, Kagame used his platform to take aim at his many critics, particularly those abroad, and insist the support was real.

"You can't fake unity, you can't fake excitement, you can't fake a turnout like this," he declared.

"There are many who don't understand this, especially foreigners who are not Rwandan, those who speak ill of Rwanda."

Without naming them, Kagame pointed to countries where the political system enables just two parties to dominate.

"But when it comes to Africa, when it comes to Rwanda, they tell us that we must have many political parties. Yet they only have two," he charged.

"We will continue with good security, development and good governance based on a real democracy."

Marita Mukadidiye said the only thing that worried her was that one day Kagame will no longer be at the helm.

In 2015, Kagame oversaw changes to the constitution that allow him to potentially rule until 2034.

"I am so happy that we can still vote for him. He is a gift from God... He brought us out of misfortune, gave us houses, electricity, water and food, health care," said the septuagenarian, dressed in a red and blue umushanana, a traditional outfit of skirt and long shawl.

"We voted for him and we will do so again."