It was on the 4th of July in 1994 that the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) liberated the capital Kigali from dictatorship and demonic murderous acts. It was also on this day that Rwanda for once had a sense of freedom. It’s remarkable to see how Rwanda has transformed its economy, education system and improved health care system that every Rwandan citizen has benefited from. Considering the transformation 15 years down the line, then we can only imagine where Rwanda will be on the30th anniversary of Liberation day. If I were to bet on it, I am sure it will be a nation totally transformed by then. From the tourism to agriculture to almost every sector there is now something to be proud of. Most recently the naming of a new baby gorilla ceremony “kwita Izina” attracted people from all over the region and world. The gorilla naming ceremony was initiated in 2004 to put the country’s biggest tourist attraction, the endangered mountain gorillas, in the spotlight. It was later branded Kwita Izina after the traditional child-naming ceremony. 15 years ago, Rwanda was a tattered and hopeless nation so to speak. An ignored nation it was. Remarkably, the citizens of Rwanda have worked hard towards peace and reconciliation. They have worked together in unison towards the rebuilding of a one forgotten “small” country in East Africa.Rwanda realized that the first step towards recovery was not to dwell on the past but by acknowledging and accepting it. As this year’s liberation day’s theme, Dignity is our Strength; Rwanda has kept its dignity as a country as well as her individuals. The new Rwanda prides itself in good governance under the leadership of Paul Kagame. He has been consistent in ensuring the stability, the ongoing fight against corruption, and maintaining a policy of zero tolerance on corruption. The transformation of education system has seen record numbers of students attend secondary school and university. At all levels, Government policies are implemented efficiently. Rwanda, as many African countries, still has a long way to go, but signs are clear that Rwanda is no longer living in a dream but a reality. Just like many African countries, Rwanda celebrated her independence on Wednesday but independence did not necessarily come along with Liberation but we must say that the month of July seems to a blessed one for Rwanda. It symbolizes the beginning, a whole new start and the power of unforgettable scenes being the sole reason of rebuilding a nation. Rwanda has set examples in so many areas world wide. A few days back, I wrote about the role of women in the liberation of this country. I will stress it again and again that Rwanda is special. Special in the sense that it would not be where it is now if the women were excluded in the peace and reconciliation process. Women in sub-Saharan Africa are most negatively affected by discrimination in issues of property and inheritance and suffer excessively from the effects of discriminative and oppressive laws, customs, and traditions, especially regarding access to and sometimes control of housing and land. The Parliament has passed bills related to women like the gender based violence bill and women are now included in inheritance. The government of Rwanda reformed the Property Law in an effort to guarantee both men and women equal access to land and ensure equitable inheritance rights. If we decided to numerate the development projects and nation transforming deeds that have taken place since liberation, then we will need a another day to talk about it. Just like the past years, let tomorrow be a reminder of where we are coming from and where we are headed. Let it be like a new dawn in our hearts. karuthum@gmail.com
