This week on The Long Form, Sanny Ntayombya sits down with Ivan Murenzi, the Director General of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), for an unfiltered conversation on data, development, and the truth behind Rwanda’s numbers.

📊 Ivan Murenzi, a seasoned expert in research, data collection, and analysis, took the helm of NISR in 2024 after serving as its Deputy Director General since 2017. In this episode, we unpack the findings from the newly released 7th Integrated Household and Living Conditions Survey (EICV7)—a pivotal report that tracks poverty rates, inequality, and overall living standards in Rwanda.

👀 What to Expect in This Episode:

• Are Rwanda’s statistics credible—or are they politically motivated?
• Why did the Financial Times accuse Rwanda of manipulating poverty data?
• What surprising insights emerged from surveying over 15,000 households across the country?
• How does Rwanda’s definition of extreme poverty compare to global standards like the World Bank’s $2.15/day benchmark?
• What does the Gini coefficient reveal about inequality in Kigali and beyond?
• Will Rwanda realistically achieve its Vision 2035 goal of becoming an upper middle-income country?

🔍 We dive deep into numbers that matter—beyond GDP—and ask the hard questions about trust, transparency, and truth in national data.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with more thought-provoking episodes from The Long Form.

📢 Join the conversation in the comments:
 Do you think national statistics reflect the lived reality of ordinary Rwandans? Why or why not?

#Rwanda #IvanMurenzi #PovertyData #EICV7 #NationalStatistics #DataTransparency #Development #EconomicGrowth #LongFormPodcast #Vision2035 #Inequality #TrustInData #WorldBank #AfricaDevelopment #Kigali

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In this compelling episode of The Long Form podcast, we sit down with Dr. Charles Murigande, a key but often overlooked figure in post-genocide Rwandan politics, to unpack pivotal moments in Rwanda’s history. 

A former Rwandan ambassador and cabinet minister, Murigande shares rare insights into the early struggles of the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF), the 1998 Kicukiro cadre revolt, the political crisis surrounding President Pasteur Bizimungu’s fall, and standing for president against Paul Kagame in 2000. 

This exclusive interview offers a deep dive into the political dynamics of post-genocide Rwanda, the rebuilding of the state, and what lies ahead for the country and the Great Lakes region. A must-watch for anyone interested in the Tutsi Genocide aftermath, the evolution of the RPF, and the untold stories behind Rwanda's political transformation.

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As we begin the national commemoration period today, remembering the innocent men, women and children we lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, I want to highlight some of the conversations we had during the 30th commemoration last year. 

LISTEN THE ENTIRE EPISODES BELOW

1. Meet The American Who Stayed When the World Left w/ Carl Wilkens: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qDulMSNdax0yLD2TpX4oa?si=cBpyDkq3QmeZdpTaChRhAw 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/rw/podcast/meet-the-american-who-stayed-when-the-world-left-w/id1669879621?i=1000656095669 

2. The Truth about the 'Akazu' & France's Role in Genocide w/ Andrew Wallis 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hRO3Bebnvmb1waph8RXBk?si=90d36303aa4b4262  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/rw/podcast/unveiling-the-truth-about-the-akazu-frances-role/id1669879621?i=1000653863947 

3. Dele Olojede, Pulitzer Prize Winner, on Reporting the 1994 Tutsi Genocide  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MVluWznTJH5yNXsbt5Stc?si=8c3a4330387a4b47 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/rw/podcast/kwibuka30-dele-olojede-pulitzer-prize-winner-on-reporting/id1669879621?i=1000653180158 

4. Ex-ICTR Prosecutor Dr. Charles Adeogun-Phillips on trying genocide crimes 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/76yyW1dkME3WWwVapufpNm?si=90700f9b45544173 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/rw/podcast/kwibuka30-ex-ictr-prosecutor-dr-charles-adeogun-phillips/id1669879621?i=1000652449326 

5. Christian Intwari, Founder of Our Past Initiative, Shares his Story

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/15bHIF3MEVWb9bm9b5PrgR?si=62018cd1c5cb4922 

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Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

My guest this week on The Long Form podcast is Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba. An investor himself, Pierre Celestin is the CEO of the Rwandan Stock Exchange.

We shall discuss Rwanda’s stock exchange, its challenges, the power of money markets in funding national investments and share practical steps in building wealth from scratch.   

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Our guest this week on The Long Form podcast is Christian Sellars. An economist by training, Christian is the CEO of T.E.S, a company he founded to help organisations and businesses improve by enhancing thier leadership practice and organisational culture.

We dissect what makes a good leader, how leadership manifests today, how to unlock emotional intelligence in the workplace and answer the question, is a good leader born or made? 

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Our guest this week on The Long Form podcast is Dr. Vincent Biruta. Dr. Biruta is not only the Minister of Internal Security, he is also the President of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD as it is more commonly known.

We discuss his early life, the genesis of involvement in Rwandan politics, the basis of PSD’s political and governance ideology and undertake to understand the role the PSD plays in Rwanda’s overall governance model.

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Our guest this week on The Long Form podcast is Josh Doctson. A former NFL star, Josh relocated his entire family to Rwanda and now plans to open the first ever high-end vegan restaurant in Kigali.

We shall discuss his early life and sports career, the challenges he faced managing the millions of dollars he earned from the NFL, why he chose to leave the US permanently and settle in Kigali and also why he believes that veganism can work in Rwanda.

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Our guest this week is Rutendo Matinyarare. A renowned Zimbabwean activist and online voice in the Pan-African space, Rutendo is is the Chairperson of Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement (ZASM) and founder of Zimbabweans Unite Against US War Sanctions (ZUAUWS).

We shall discuss his past views on Rwanda and the leadership of President Paul Kagame, Pan-Africanism, the power of media in creating narratives, the truth of what is happening in Zimbabwe and his thoughts on the ongoing crisis in the DRC and Rwanda.

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Our guest this week on The Long Form podcast is Dr. Richard Sezibera. A former minister, Dr. Sezibera’s long public career has included stints in the military and global diplomacy.

We shall discuss his ideological fervor, how Africa can navigate new global realities, and whether the East African Community will reach its potential or fall on the wayside. 

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Our guest this week is Marc Hoogsteyns. Marc, a veteran Belgian journalist, has just returned  to Kigali from a five day trip to Goma, the M23 held capital of North Kivu Province DRC. 

We’ll discuss what he saw in Goma and the state of the M23 after its recent victories as well as what the rebel’s aim to do moving forward. We’ll also try to predict what the future holds not just for the M23 and the peoples of Eastern DRC, but also the leadership in Kinshasa as well as Bujumbura.

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com