Back home and abroad, there are elements which are bent on upholding values that gave rise to the blood that flowed in 1994, when about one million Rwandans were killed in all sorts of hideous manner. The ultimate purpose of this propaganda is to gain political power, but also to inculcate these murderous values into their children, even unto generations, that the power to lead is theirs by right and was just grabbed from them.

It is satisfying that such talk is being rejected and firmly fought here and abroad. The main weapon that anyone can use to fight successfully is truth. The adversary may have all sorts of arsenal superior and otherwise, but ultimately the only might comes out of being right. Rusesabagina and his cohorts will deploy millions of dollars – some smuggled out of Rwanda and hoarded in foreign bank accounts during the pre-Genocide era, some wheedled out of ignorant foreigners – but the government and people of Rwanda, without boasting such resources, will stick to doing the right things and being right, and both will ultimately win the war against the genocidal forces that still walk this suffering earth.

If in Europe and the Americas people are now fighting them successfully and exposing them as the charlatans they are, how shall we back home defeat them by doing right? By living principles and values of fairness, of justice, of equality; and by being all-inclusive and non-segregationist, we shall win the war hands down. When their own children go to same schools and hospitals and get services without discrimination, then they will later on see their parents’ empty words and revolt. When opportunities are given to each due to competitiveness and not based on any silly idiosyncrasies, everyone sees this and notes it for what it is.

The government of Rwanda currently has programmes for all these and more, and when the economy does better and more people become economically empowered, then talk of genocide ideology will fade.

Ends