From Despair to hope

Rwanda’s people share a common history, language and religion, yet during the past century, ethnic divisions were fostered and entrenched with terrible consequences. The slaughter that occurred in Rwanda in 1994 was not a product of ancient tribalism, a shooting of a plane or civil war. It was 100 days of genocide against Tutsi. 100 days that saw the international community indecisive on how the genocide should be called; 100 days of cry, rape, cruelty, sorrow, destruction of government machinery and massive displacement.These 100 days were a consequence of more than 35 years of extremist indoctrination among Rwandans. The divide-and-rule, imported by colonialists, led Rwandans to forget that they had one language, one land shared by Hutu, Tutsi and Twa, and one culture. From the Independence Days to before the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the indoctrination brought by colonialists was embraced by other Rwandans in a bid to satisfy some ephemeral thirst of political power. Leaders and the media played a leading role in that.18 years down the road, memories of chaos, efforts of patriotic Rwandans to stop the killings and the subsequent massive return of Rwandan refugees from neighbouring countries few years later, are still vivid in the mind of Rwandans and the international community.Today the Rwanda of Horror has become a country of success and hope. The secret has been a bold and visionary leadership that succeeded to contain people’s thirst for revenge and instead promoted unity and reconciliation. Healing the wounds, restoring mutual trust and a new strive to rebuild of a nation with determination has been the Moto of this journey of success. In Rwanda, today, the focus is on development. Cooperatives and associations composed of survivors and forgiven perpetrators are part of the economic life in areas which were, in the past, famous for the horrible stories of cruelty.As a result, Rwanda shifted from 77 per cent of people below the poverty line in 1995 to 45 per cent, today, with a track record of lifting from poverty a million people for the last 5 years. Malaria incidence dropped by 60 per cent, HIV/Aids dropped from 11 per cent incidence, ten years ago, to 3 per cent today. Economic growth has been at an average of 7 per cent for the past decade. All this has been backed by the promotion of a valued system aimed at creating a dignified nation.Rwanda is now burying its dark past of horror and it is heading into a better era of hope. The scars of the past remain but efforts and resilience to overcome the pain are kept burning. This April 2012, Rwanda remembered for the 18th time the horror of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, with the aim to draw lessons to craft a better future and hinder all avenues for the country to fall back.The cruelty of the Genocide against the Tutsi has taught lessons to Rwandans and its leadership. Rwandans can proudly say that the despair of the past has been turned into hope, thanks to the resilience and determination of Rwandans. We have learnt from our history to shape a better future. We have learnt to use concretely NEVER AGAIN.The author is the High Commissioner of Rwanda in South Africa.

Opinions

From Despair to hope