It is no sin to exhibit some dash of patriotism in a business story, but that must be done with sanctioned facts and figures.
The government and captains of industry expect –every so often- that ‘feel good’ effect in copy as a way of inviting some degree of confidence to existing and potential investors and roping in more establishments to spur national economic growth and provide job opportunities.
However, in pursuing patriotism in economic reporting, all efforts must be made to present latest convincing, approved and provable statistics that go beyond bended political intentions and machinations. Accurate data, they say, don’t lie.
On Monday, November 17, 2025, New Times of Rwanda went to town with a promising story titled, ‘Rising investor confidence fuels expansion of 10 industrial parks.’ Ideally, discerning readers would have expected reporter Michel Nkurunzinza to nose off his story by providing a raft of measures President Paul Kagame’s government had implemented to entice those with money to put it in the country’s manufacturing sector. That, also, needed sanctioned and credible data, including voices from some of the investors themselves. He didn’t do that.
Instead, the story began with a long and winding intro that promised more only to, later, deliver on so little. Here: “The government is intensifying efforts to attract more investors to its network of industrial parks as part of a broader push to spur job creation, boost exports, and strengthen the country’s position as a competitive investment hub.” It sent that high expectation in readers to wait for the measures the government was making to attract investors.
However, that didn’t happen. The next para took a detour, and listed areas where 10 industrial parks and special economic zones existed: Kigali, Bugesera, Musanze, Rubavu, Muhanga, Rusizi, Huye, Nyabihu, Rwamagana, and Nyagatare. In short, the story offered a yawning intro, one that promises what it does not fulfil. Different studies have listed a number of factors as magnets for investors into Rwanda, including; pro-business policies and ease of doing business, political stability and security, consistent and resilient economic growth, sound fiscal discipline, a healthy banking sector, infrastructural support and access to local and sub-regional markets.
Reporter Nkurunzinza’s story then moved on quickly to talk of more than 320 factories having been established in the industrial parks and special economic zones. When were the factories set up? What are they producing, and for what target markets? The story didn’t say. Instead, readers were told that about $130 million was required to develop infrastructure in all the industrial parks and economic zones. Now, “infrastructure” is a noun meaning the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. What wings would the proposed budget be spent on? Reporter Nkurunzinza didn’t say. He also didn’t disclose the source of that figure.
The story spoke of a “10-year Rwanda Industrial Policy, which sets out five pillars to drive export-led industrialisation, innovation, and green growth.” When was the policy launched? What years does it cover? What are the five pillars, and, pray, what is green growth? Reporter Nkurunzinza didn’t say. A snappy online research returns that the cabinet approved the Rwanda Industrial Policy (2024-2034) on August 23, 2024. It has five pillars, namely; improving industrial capabilities in export-oriented industries, increasing the level of investment and access to finance, developing technology, science, and innovation capabilities, building the required infrastructure and spatial planning, and supporting environmental sustainability.
Lesson learnt? Attributed sanctioned data is the lifeblood of business and economic reporting. Without it, the beat is reduced to a journalistic orphan, amenable to abuse through rumours and political rhetoric.
