As the nation celebrates 24 years of liberation, Egide Mutabazi, 42, who lost his father and other family members in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, is all praises for the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
These gallant soldiers, then Rwanda Patriotic Front, not only stopped the Genocide but have also continued to play a central role in the transformation of the country, through their different socio-economic programmes.
During an interview, Mutabazi, who currently lives in Ngoma District, told The New Times, he particularly appreciates the RDF’s past and present efforts on Rwanda’s transformation.
Mutabazi said that at the onset, the forces were critical; right from resettling those that had returned home from neighbouring countries where they lived as refugees for decades, and those that had remained in the country who had been internally displaced after the Genocide.
"They did a lot, including providing housing and medical treatment to survivors all over the country, in the Army Week programme. We are thankful that at the end of the war the RDF begun a war of socio-economic transformation and development where soldiers team up with citizens and build roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and many other important things. These are things that really help fast track our country’s development.”
Liberation would be meaningless, according to the RDF, if survivors of the 1994 Genocide continue to struggle with basic needs such as housing.
Meanwhile, during the 2017/18 financial year alone, a total of 1,324 houses for genocide survivors were built by the army – in a period of six months at a minimal cost of Rwf15.5 billion – and will benefit 1, 324 families.
The armed forces continue to support government efforts aimed at ensuring that Rwandans live in planned and organised settlements – that ease access to services – by the implementation of the Integrated Development Programme (IDP) model.
This year, the RDF has already constructed 22 model villages which consist of modern housing units, multipurpose halls, classrooms, early child development units, health posts and art and craft shops, among other facilities. In general, the homes constructed benefit 2,080 families.
Indeed, yesterday, as part of celebrating the 24th Liberation Day, in a remote Rongi Sector of Muhanga District, President Paul Kagame, inaugurated two model villages, will modern infrastructure, all built by RDF at a whooping Rwf19bn.
The villages that will accommodate low income families have among others; a 12 year basic education school, an Early Childhood Development Centre, a health post and a multipurpose centre among others.
After inaugurating the two villages and the different facilities built by RDF, President Kagame, who is also the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, said that housing in a human right to which all citizens must have access.
"We are not building to see it falling apart in a year. Giving citizens a home is about providing a foundation build on and transform your lives. It is not about citizens becoming eternally dependent on government,” the President told the recipients yesterday.
Earlier in 2016, the President had rationalized the efforts by the RDF to transform the country during a speech he gave at the launch of another model village in Rweru, Bugesera District.
"The first phase of liberation struggle was meant to remove bad leadership that led to suffering and genocide in Rwanda. The next phase that we undertook is to engage in activities geared towards liberating Rwandans from another evil, poverty and social distress.”
Right from the onset, the President has made it clear what the RDF’s role will be – the bedrock of national transformation and development of the country.
Apart from safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the RDF philosophy has always been that liberation would be meaningless if it does not translate into the sustainable wellbeing of the citizens. Therefore, socially and economically transforming the country remains their mission.
For the past two decades the RDF has undertaken annual citizen outreach activities - provision of healthcare services for Rwandans, infrastructure development, supporting the agriculture and education sectors, among others – that collectively contribute to national economic transformation.
Just last year, over 74,500 patients with different medical complications were treated, more than 860 kilometers of roads constructed, over 3,400 homes built for Rwandans all over the country, and 19 bridges constructed, among others.
In the entire exercise, Rwf14.2 billion was saved as the army’s massive effort allowed the government to focus and invest in other areas of priority. In the financial year 2017/2018 the activities doubled compared to previous financial year.
More than 85,000 modern houses have been constructed for vulnerable people since 2009.
Human security, basic foundation
According to Minister of Defence James Kabarebe, July 4 also marks the beginning of yet another era of "ensuring and consolidating a real sense of liberation of our nation.”
"The Ministry of Defence recognizes that human security forms the basic foundation of the entire national defence and stability. This forms the rationale for the Defence intervention in various areas of human security that continue to pose life threats to people and impede the entire human life advancement.”
Besides being at the forefront of the government initiative to eradicate grass thatched houses, locally known as ‘Nyakatsi’ the RDF continues to build and rehabilitate houses for ex-combatants, especially those who lost their limbs and other body parts during the liberation struggle.
This year, 1,324 vulnerable families have so far benefitted from housing projects implemented by RDF citizen outreach program.
Under this year’s RDF support to the education sector, 203 classrooms are in place in different parts of the country, benefiting 9,135 students.
The RDF injected Rwf19.86 billion and effort into the areas of agriculture, livestock and environment sector, in areas including crop production, soil erosion control and livestock distribution.
More than 74, 500 people have benefited from medical services provided by RDF since April 2018. The latest citizen outreach programme is expected to provide free medical services to an estimated 113,000 patients by the time it concludes this month.
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