Reach out and touch

Twenty years ago there was carnage in our beloved country. We remember with sadness all those who perished during that very ugly period in the history of Rwanda. As we go through the month of April, we look back and search our souls. How could a Government sit down and spend endless hours planning on how to exterminate one group of its citizens? Instead of mobilising the masses towards developing their country, the Government was just instigating fear and brutality among its people. The consequences were devastating. The whole country was shattered. We lost faith in life. We lost faith in religion. We lost faith in humankind. The challenge that the new Government faced was enormous. How would faith be restored? How would the livelihoods be re-built? How would reconciliation be achieved? And what about justice? Where was justice? Why were most of the Genocide masterminds being protected by powerful nations around the world? But even when everything seemed lost and astray, our beloved liberators continued to pick up the pieces. They kept focusing on rebuilding the nation. They made a decision to strive for rebuilding with or without the intervention of foreign countries. Besides, were they not looking on as the Genocide spread like a bushfire? With all the alarm bells ringing and yet no response whatsoever! It had to be the gallant RPA forces that performed the multi tasks of pushing the evil forces and at the same time saving the innocent people from the mass killing. It was with this spirit that the liberators moved on to set up structures, re-build capacity, maintain security and foster justice and reconciliation. While all these tasks were being implemented, the liberators also embarked on repairing and reconstructing infrastructure. Roads were paved, buildings were erected and ICT was put at the forefront. As a result of this stability, tourists flocked in big numbers. New hotels had to be built across the country in order to cope with the increasing number of international conferences. My fellow Diaspomen jumped into this vehicle. They repatriated hard earned dollars back to Rwanda. They bought houses. They started businesses. One of my good friends who lived with me in the Diaspora was amazed when he visited Rwanda last week. He had lived in the Diaspora for more than 17 years. I took him on a tour in and around the city. He was at a loss of words. He could not believe his eyes when I took him to Nyarutarama. He had to rub his eyes when I took him to Gikondo. Where was that horrible dusty road? Then we drove to Kimironko. It was simply unbelievable. We crowned our tour at Kicukiro. It was at this place that my guest became emotional. The visit to this place brought back very sad memories. He recalled how at ETO, the UN forces had abandoned them at the last hour. They had taken refuge at the ETO campus under the UN protection. As marauding militias threatened to barge into the compound, the refugees felt confident that the UN forces would protect them. But alas, it was not to happen. It is told that when the UN forces decided to vacate this site, the refugees begged and pleaded with them. They knew that their end was nigh. And indeed, when the UN trucks drove out through one of the gates of ETO, the killers moved in through the next gate. An estimated 2,000 lives were butchered within hours. It was a sad story and it demonstrated to us that no one cared about us. We had to take care of ourselves and protect our people. As I listened to my guest narrate to me the stories about ETO, I could not help but feel angry. The international community had abandoned Rwanda. Now, we had to do whatever it took to move forward. Even as we drove past the ETO campus, a sense of optimism began to creep through. The street lights along this road were brightly lit with bustling traffic. It was simply magnificent. The strides taken over the last 20 years are incredibly unbelievable! Destiny is in our hands. All we have to do is just reach out and touch it…