I think in the year 2011 the most popular word or phrase in Rwanda has been Agaciro. If you lived in Rwanda during the last year and you did not hear this word then probably you have a hearing problem. The word has been rolling off tongues of local leaders and anyone given a chance to offer ijambo before an audience.

The fact that some Rwandans have the President’s speech on the theme of Agaciro as a ringtone on their mobile phones could imply the source or resurgence of the word which I meant to understand represents the concept of dignity and respect. President Kagame has used the word several times to inspire pride and dignity among the Rwandan people.

The President argues that the inherent value, respect or dignity of the Rwandan people should not be sought from outside the country’s borders but from inside people’s hearts and reflected in all they do. I totally agree with him because many a time, we seek recognition from the people who would only cherish an opportunity to patronise us and make us feel less important.  

To understand the impact of the Rwandan concept of Agaciro you have to think of how proudly Americans talk (or used to) of the American dream. When it comes to Rwanda, people who know less are fond of talking much more than those who live here and know what it means.

It is against that background that the president saw it fitting to encourage people to cultivate their dignity without aiming to please those outside the country’s borders. With Rwanda in the East African community, I think Tanzania’s President, Kikwete would be happy to listen to what his counterpart, Paul Kagame has to say about Agaciro.

A diplomatic spat has developed between Tanzania and Israel after Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak implied in a speech that Tanzania is not important. To make it worse his statement had a tinge of ignorance all over it.  

"Germany, France and England are not Tanzania, Mauritania or Tripolitania (a region in Libya),” said Barak. Tanzania raised the issue with Israel claiming the statement was indeed belittling Tanzania. Tanzania’s honorary consul in Israel, Kasbian Nuriel Chirich, wrote a letter to the Israeli Foreign Avigdor Lieberman condemning the remarks by Barak and inviting a representative to visit his country.  

I think it was really careless of Ehud Barak to belittle East Africa’s biggest and apparently most stable nation, Tanzania and even going ahead to lump it with things like Tripolitania an ancient Libyan province. I am sure he could have made his point without seeming to insult the people of the country that gave us Julius Nyerere.  

It also not true that Tanzania is totally irrelevant to Israel or to the world in general. It is true that Tanzania is a developing nation but since when did economic strength alone become a measure for any country’s importance? North Korea is poor but can never be counted as irrelevant.

At the end of last year, Pres. G.W Bush was in Tanzania on a visit. I really don’t think his handlers would let him visit an irrelevant country. Mr. Barak may not know that just until recently the deputy UN Secretary General was Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro a Tanzanian citizen. Would Ban Ki Mon have chosen a lady from an irrelevant country?

More importantly, if Ehud Barak in his capacity as Israeli Defence Minister thinks Tanzania is just irrelevant then he is simply practicing selective amnesia. In 1976 when Palestinian terrorists hijacked an Air France plane from Athens to Paris, they chose to land at Entebbe counting on Idi Amin’s cooperation.

On 4 July Israeli commandos stormed Entebbe airport to rescue the Israeli passengers and one French citizen. During the rescue named Operation Thunderbolt that lasted only 90 minutes, five Israeli commandos were wounded and one, the commander, Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, was killed. Lt. Col Yonatan Netanyahu was the older brother of Benjamin Netanyahu the current Prime Minister of Israel.

If Barak remembers that bit of Israel’s history, he might as well add the fact that it was Tanzania Defence Forces not Israel Defence Forces who eventually got rid of Idi Amin. So who needs to respect the other?  

Tanzanians do not need to validate their dignity (Agaciro) from Tel Aviv. History is on their side and Ehud Barak could use a history book right now. And if ever he wants a Tanzanite gemstone he should remember that it is only Tanzania that has such gems!

Email: ssenyonga@gmail.com
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