Rwanda is a shining example and a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa, Nancy Tembo, Malawi's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on Friday, July 29.

She was speaking in Lilongwe, Malawi, during celebrations of Rwanda’s independence and liberation anniversaries, which fall on July 1 and July 4, respectively.

In Rwanda, the biggest celebrations are on Liberation Day, on July 4, when Rwandans pay tribute to the men and women whose selfless efforts helped liberate Rwanda. It is the day when the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) stopped the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

In commemorating this day, Tembo said, Malawi would like to congratulate Rwanda on the progress it has made in various sectors of the country.

Tembo was in Kigali during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June. Her visit, she said, was "an eye opener as it allowed me first-hand experience on Rwanda’s success story.”

She noted, with admiration,” that Rwanda has made tremendous progress in economic development, public sector reforms, and service delivery.

"Rwanda’s progress is impressive not only because it has taken place within a relatively short time but also because it has happened despite the tragedy of the 1994 Genocide. This remarkable progress would not have been possible if it were not for the sterling leadership of His Excellency Mr Paul Kagame and the patriotism, unity of purpose and strong sense of responsibility of the people of the Republic of Rwanda,” she said.

"Rwanda is a shining example and is a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa. Rwanda has demonstrated that with focus, unwavering commitment and home-grown solutions, economic progress is possible in Africa.”

Rwanda’s promotion of international peace and security

Tembo as well noted that Malawi would also like to recognize Rwanda’s contribution to the promotion of international peace and security.

"Rwanda’s role in the fight against Islamic insurgents in Cabo Delgado in Mozambique cannot be overemphasised,” she said.

She noted that Malawi, as chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and as a neighbour of Mozambique, "would like to express gratitude to Rwanda” for contributing efforts towards the restoration of peace and security in northern Mozambique through the deployment of troops which are working alongside the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and the Mozambique Defence Force.

On July 9, 2021, at the request of Maputo, Kigali deployed troops to the latter’s northernmost Province of Cabo Delgadoto help fight the Islamic States-linked terrorists, stabilize the area and restore state authority.

Barely two weeks after landing, Rwandan and Mozambican forces were circling major bases of the terrorists,capturing them, one after a time. In less than three months, the terrorists were dislodged from all their strongholds in areas where Rwandan forces operate. 

Tembo added that Rwanda also plays an active role in continental and international affairs.

"This has allowed her to prevail in the bid for hosting of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) during the recently held Executive Council of the African Union in Lusaka, Zambia, this month,” she said.

"The agency is one of the key pillars of the continent’s integration process as it will provide for unified continental regulatory framework on production and procurement of pharmaceuticals on the continent. Malawi congratulates Rwanda on this achievement.”

 Amandin Rugira, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Malawi, noted that Rwandans both home and abroad remain indebted and eternally grateful for the heroism and courage of the country’s liberators.

"The Liberation struggle was ignited by decades of divisive politics initiated by the colonial administration and subsequently perpetuated by the pre-liberation regimes who between the periods of 1959-1994 were complicit in institutionalizing ethnic oriented politics and discrimination towards its own citizens and amplified the abuse of fundamental human rights in the form of cyclic ethnic mass killings,” the envoy said.

"In the aftermath of the genocide, Rwandans made three important choices: To stay together, to be accountable and to think big. These decisions have been at the core of the country’s ongoing renewal and efforts to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.”