FLASHBACK: An interview with Col (rtd) Dr Joseph Karemera

Former Cabinet Minister and Senator Col (rtd) Dr Joseph Karemera passed on Friday, October 11, after he spent years battling cancer. The respected military officer-turned-politician and diplomat held high-level positions in the years that followed the country's liberation in 1994, including ministerial roles (health and education), ambassador, senator, among others. A medical doctor, Karemera, 70, was part of the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) that ended the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, forces that were led by now-President Paul Kagame. The New Times dug deep into our archives to reproduce an exclusive interview with Dr Karemera back in 2009, which touched various issues around the liberation struggle and the subsequent task of reconstruction and nation-building. Excerpts: TNT: What was it like for a small rebel group fighting a Government with a well-equipped army and foreign backing? Karemera: The beginning was very difficult. We were fighting a bush war where there were no bushes actually. Fighting a Government armed with powerful weapons like mortars and tanks. We were using small weapons but the Government was using long rage gun power. But because we had powerful souls, high level of determination and strong will to end the dictatorship in our country, we managed to defeat the enemy. We also had President Paul Kagame as our leader. He is very good. We decided to move closer to our enemy and fight face to face, so their long rage weapons become useless. We defeated them because we had a cause and better organization. They didn’t have same determination like ours. TNT: What lessons did you learn from the situation where a small army defeated an entrenched dictatorship? Karemera: Leaders must be honest, accommodative, and accountable to the electorate. You cannot force your people to live in exile on the pretext that the country if full. When people are oppressed, no matter how long it takes, they will fight to liberate themselves. TNT: What does liberation day mean to you as a person? Karemera: I remember this day with a lot of joy. Before 1994, Rwanda was a failed state. A country with no identity. Corruption and nepotism was the order of the day. Rwandans were still in political bondage. Jobs were allocated to particular people instead of basing it on merit. It was a terrible situation and it called for change. We have largely achieved our objectives. We fought so that we build a country based on democracy and fairness. We have done it ourselves and not by other people from outside. We also fought so that corruption becomes a thing of the past. This corruption disease was so entrenched in the country and it had become a cancer which was tearing our country apart. Corruption has characterized African States, where instead of helping people, leaders build castles for themselves. Today, Rwanda is well known for her zero tolerance on corruption. Our economy is growing steadily. Government has reduced external dependency by 56 % something which had never happened in the history of this country. Malaria prevalence is at 60 %. Education enrollment has gone up and government has introduced Universal Primary Education for all our children. Before we came into power, there was one university, as I speak now, we have eleven universities. Today, every Rwandan has got access to a healthcare insurance opportunity. Even the “doubting Thomas’s” have now accepted because the reality on the ground speaks for itself. TNT: When you look back, fifteen years down the road, do you think you have achieved a lot in a short period of time? Karemera: You know we spent much time fighting insurgents who had fled in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They kept launching cross border attacks but we stood firm because we had support from the population. The achievements we have registered I can say were done within five years. We were also busy trying to manage the aftermath of the Genocide and shattered economy. But on the whole, I think we are ahead of schedule and the future is bright. We have been able to return nearly all the refugees. We still have about 50,000 refugees outside but these are either economic refugees or those who don’t want to return because of their role in the Genocide. The army is very much disciplined. There is peace everywhere. We have managed to uplift the livelihoods of our people The relationship with our neighbors has improved. We are now members of the East African Community and we shall enjoy the benefits that come along with joining the EAC. TNT: How does it feel when the country’s achievements are denied by a section of people abroad, like the French Government? Karemera: The French government was supporting a dictatorial regime of Juvenal Habyarimana, but RPF defeated them. But many other people in the world appreciate. Our president has made many friends outside Rwanda and because of his clean leadership, he has won many hearts. TNT: How would you want people to remember those who sacrificed their lives to have a better Rwanda? Karemera: I can state this without fear that if our fallen comrades resurrect today, they would celebrate, because what we have done is what they fought for. We have not betrayed them. Their struggle was not in vain because since then, Rwanda has had tremendous progress.

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FLASHBACK: An interview with Col (rtd) Dr Joseph Karemera