Why I will not celebrate July 1

Editor,Sunday, July 1, will remind us of the tragic events that took place in Rwanda 50 years ago even as Rwanda was being declared independent from the Belgian colonialists. Yet, that is around the same time thousands of Rwandans were being attacked, killed and violently driven away from their country. Independence only ushered in a leadership whose only objective was to divide the nation, pit one section against the other, and commit mass murder of those they depicted as ‘invaders’. Yesterday, your newspaper ran an article titled, “Independence Day is neigh; but so is Liberation Day” by Pan Butamire. I enjoyed reading it, but honestly did like the title (Independence Day). For years, I have refused to call July 1 Rwanda’s independence day because that is the same day my parents were exiled because of who they were! For me, I consider it a doomsday. Instead, I always look forward to celebrating the Liberation Day every July 4. That is the day all Rwandans regained their right to nationality, and started to be treated equally before the law. Most importantly, that is when Rwandans started to embark on the true journey of independence as a people. Happy Liberation Day. Vincent Nkurunziza

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Why I will not celebrate July 1