Kagame in SA for ANC Centenary celebrations

Yesterday, President Paul Kagame arrived in South Africa to attend the 100th Anniversary celebrations since the founding of the African National Congress (ANC). Along with other high profile dignitaries, President Kagame is scheduled to attend a Dinner for Heads of State as well as a national event that will, today, take place at Bloemfontein Stadium. “Rwanda and South Africa have enjoyed warm relations from the time ANC took power in 1994,” a statement released by the President’s Office indicates. The ANC was founded as the South African Native National Congress on January 8, 1912 in Bloemfontein with the aim of fighting for the rights of black South Africans and was renamed ANC in 1923. The Centenary is a milestone achievement for the ANC as a liberation movement. It seeks to celebrate the organisation’s proud traditions, values and principles that earned the movement an indelible place among the people of South Africa and many others in liberation movements around the world. President Kagame is accompanied by Ministers, Louise Mushikiwabo of Foreign Affairs and Aloisea Inyumba of Gender and Family Promotion. Abdul Karim Harerimana, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly is also part of the delegation. South African President, Jacob Zuma, will pay tribute to Nelson Mandela and other heroes of the anti-apartheid struggle in a speech at the city’s football stadium where more than 100,000 people are expected to wrap up the three day festivities. The celebrations include a traditional ceremony, a golf tournament, concerts and gala dinner. Zuma is also expected to light a centenary flame, which will tour South Africa as a symbol of the resistance against apartheid. A Sunday service will be held in the Wesleyan church building where the movement was born. The South African post office will also release a commemorative stamp to celebrate Africa’s oldest liberation movement. edmund.kagire@newtimes.co.rw