Rwanda owes its development to stability, says Rev. Jesse Jackson

Renowned American civil rights activist, baptist evangelist and politician Rev. Jesse Jackson has said Rwanda’s revival from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, to emerge as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is down to the country’s stability. Jackson made the remarks in an interview with The New Times shortly after paying a visit to Bralirwa, a local beverages company, on Tuesday. Jackson is in the country having accompanied Muhtar Kent, the chairman and chief executive of The Coca-Cola Company to the launch of a solar-powered flagship Ekocenter site in Rwamagana District. Bralirwa has the local franchise to produce Coca Cola products. “We are seeing a Rwanda that’s growing and attracting investments, that’s what happens when a country is stable. Rwanda continues to make strides in all possible ways,” said Jackson, who is visiting with his two children. “The spiritual revival of Rwanda is just amazing, given what happened; to see that people are still living together it is just amazing. It (What happened here) must not happen again.” Rwanda has come from the darkest period of its history, Rev. Jackson said. “The world should have been more mindful of what was about to happen (in 1994) and what happened. So there is some burden on the world to help revive Rwanda and the civil society,” he said. Jonathan Hall, Bralirwa’s managing director, said Jackson’s visit to Rwanda and the company is a great honour. “We brought him on a short notice, it is fantastic. Jackson has a special relationship with Coca-Cola, and particularly Coca-Cola in Africa and in the US,” Hall said. At Bralirwa, Jackson had a specific interest in clean water, and gender equality in terms of human resource at the brewer. He visited Bralirwa water treatment plant and soft drinks manufacturing unit. “I am impressed by Coca-Cola’s investment in the development of Africa. Coca-Cola is the largest employer in all of Africa, from South Africa to Egypt, and it commands super farmers to have bigger market for their produce,” Rev. Jackson said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Rwanda owes its development to stability, says Rev. Jesse Jackson