Rwandans urged to tell their own stories

The Minister of Sports and Culture, Protais Mitali, has called on Rwandans to develop the practice of telling positive stories about their country.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Justine Mbabazi the author of This is your time Rwanda. The New Times / File.

The Minister of Sports and Culture, Protais Mitali, has called on Rwandans to develop the practice of telling positive stories about their country. Mitali made the call Sunday evening while addressing guests at the launch of a new book on Rwanda’s development path and recovery from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.Commending Justin Mbabazi, the author of launched book titled; This is your Time, Rwanda Genocide is over, we have overcome, the minister said that in order to tell the world about the new Rwanda, citizens themselves need to develop patriotic spirit to inform the world other than relying on foreign media that don’t know deeply the rebirth of the country."It would be better if we adopt a culture of writing books on our country, other than letting the outsiders do it for us,” he said, adding that his ministry would support whoever, comes up with such developments.Mbabazi, who is also an international law expert, said she will mostly embark on marketing her book in various Western countries with the aim of exposing what she called ‘a new Rwanda.’"Our country has registered tremendous development in every sector and it’s so amazing; the world, especially the Diaspora, lack information about the country’s progress,” Mbabazi noted.She said the 253-page book will soon be launched in Canada, Australia and the US. The book talks about the need to stop looking at Rwanda in the context of the Genocide, but as a re-born purpose-driven nation.