21 years on, what they say about liberation

The liberation of Rwanda in July 1994 did not just mark the end of the Genocide and the regime that perpetrated it; it also marked the beginning of a long journey that would change the social, economic and political landscape of this country. In interviews with different Rwandans across the country, they said that the liberation ushered in many opportunities for them. Emmanuel Uwariraye Emmanuel Uwariraye, motorcyclist, Huye District. Thanks to the liberation, security is guaranted in all parts of the country. All Rwandans feel protected. Particularly for me and my colleagues, this allows us to do our transport business even during the night, hence making more money. We are enjoying peace, which is the enabler of development, thanks to the Liberation struggle. Ildephonse Ntagungira Ildephonse Ntagungira, farmer, Muyira Sector, Nyanza District Which other leader in this country’s history could ensure that the poorest citizen is given a cow not only to get milk for our children but also to get manure for our farms? None, it has never happened before even in pre-colonial times, the cow was a preserve of the wealthy! Again, which leader could get Rwandans out of thatched houses (‘Nyakatsi’) and enable them to live in decent housing. Now, we are going about our farming activities and enjoying good yield thanks to good agriculture policies that have enabled us to access fertilisers, seeds and market for our produce. All these achievements are as a results of good leadership we get from liberation that was spearheaded by President Paul Kagame. Jeanne Mukagasana Jeanne Mukagasana, Genocide survivor, Huye District As survivors, we were left traumatised by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, so much so that at the time, we never felt we would even get back on our feet. However, this government that was ushered in by the Liberation has given us hope, which enabled us to pick ourselves up and life has continued to improve. RPF Inkotanyi army saved our lives. We would have been completely exterminated. Now, thanks to iberation, we are living in harmony with the perpetrators; they have genuinely asked for forgiveness and we have forgiven them. We have hope that the good governance we have will keep making this country better forever and ensure no more atrocities in generations to come. Carine Ingabire Carine Ingabire, S.3 student at Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare. We are happy with our education system which gives each student equal rights to study without discrimination of any nature. We come from different backgrounds and we harmoniously go about our studies without any form of discrimination, based on sex or regions from where we come from, or ethinicity. The girl child is particularly enjoying the fruits of liberation because what we hear from our mothers is that, in the past, some Rwandans were discriminated against in their families and denied rights to education among other benefits, which this government changed after the liberation. Evaliste Maniragaba Evaliste Maniragaba 25, barber, Musanze town I was only four when Rwanda was liberated, growing up, I enjoyed all the benefits of the liberation like equal opportunity to access all public amenities like schools. I managed to attend primary and secondary education before I could venture into vocational training. I have been a barber for five years and this has improved my life. I bought a plot of land and I am planning to build a house and start modern farming. I am optimistic about the future given the support from the government. Valens Nemeyintwari Valens Nemeyintwari, 30, driver, Cyabingo, Gakenke District I have achieved a lot in the past 21 years. I never had chance to attain formal education but I have a driver’s license and I am employed as a driver, I started off as a porter in the market and worked hard to get where I am now. I have a wife and two children and we all live a decent life, I have managed to build my own house and I am planning to buy my own car and continue to educate my children because this is an opportunity that I missed. I would say, being where I am today despite not having formal education, is thanks to the enabling environment that was brought about by the liberation. Louise Mukeshimana Louise Mukeshimana, mother of six and farmer, Busengo, Gakenke District, I have lived in Rwanda all my life but I hadnever lived a life I that I lead today. It was until after the liberation struggle that we started having decent livelihood. Before, I had no access to clean water and used to travel long distances to fetch water, I employed rudimental methods of farming which is different now. I have modernised my ways of farming and the production has increased. I have two cows I got through Gir’inka (the One Cow per Family Programme under which govt has donated more than 100,000 cows to vulnerable households) and now feed my family sufficiently, all my children have medical insurance and I have also started saving some money with a bank. I think the liberation of our country did not only rid us of bad leadership, it also empowered us in many ways. Etienne Rutayisire Etienne Rutayisire, a builder, Kimihurura Before the 1994 Genocide, not everyone had access to education. It was the preserve of the few. Today, I am sure everyone knows about the Education for All Policy. Growing up, we missed out on education because of the conditions that prevailed at the time, and not because we were not bright, but because we did not have the right to education. Currently, our children have equal opportunity to school, I can say that we are free, we were liberated. Jean Pierre Havugimana Jean Pierre Havugimana, technician, ITC Imbaraga Technical Services, For me, I view the liberation through the lenses of fighting ignorance and poverty, after our liberators stopped the Genocide. We have inclusive initiatives aimed at helping and empowering all Rwandans to overcome ignorance and poverty and I am happy for what has been achieved so far on this front.

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21 years on, what they say about liberation