We should not see ourselves through ethnic lenses

Editor,Reference is made to Lonzen Rangira’s article, “An idea to end wars amongst cousins in the Great Lakes region”, published in The New Times on January 20.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Editor,Reference is made to Lonzen Rangira’s article, "An idea to end wars amongst cousins in the Great Lakes region”, published in The New Times on January 20.It’s ripe time we started opening our eyes to realise that what we call ethnicity (either makes sense or not) doesn’t have to bring wars to the people of the Great Lakes of Africa. It becomes lethal only once it’s used as a political tool to divide and rule.I thank the Government of Rwanda for having sidestepped this syndrome which plagued much of the region. People should share every fruit produced in the country to live in peace and harmony, and we shouldn’t see ourselves through the ethnic lenses. There is need for mutual respect if we want to achieve prosperity as a nation.We should remember that we are one people, regardless of where we came from, our physical features or other differences that those behind conflicts tend to create. Thank you.Mutara Intore, Rwanda