Upcountry insight: What Liberation should mean in our daily lives

SOUTHERN PROVINCE Rwandans today celebrate Liberation Day. To some it may pass as just another day off from a prying boss but to others it may pass as a nostalgic reflection of the liberation struggle, understanding the present and planning for the future. Liberation is a process therefore that cannot pass for a mere day’s celebration. As this year’s Liberation Day celebration theme indicates. Liberation should inspire Rwandans and lead to mindset change and change of attitudes for development to take place. A Liberated Rwandan should observe the working ethics. By taking the Hippocratic Oath, a doctor commits never to break the medical ethics, teachers are entrusted with modeling the young into responsible citizens. All Rwandans at their different work stations should strive to uplift the moral principles that guide their work. It is after achieving this that all will join the chorus and sing Liberation. Integrity comes in here for a truly liberated Rwandan. It is not everyday that you will find someone to trust. Rwandans should build a reputation for strong moral principles and most importantly honesty. This should be the guiding principle. Liberation should also mean accountability or responsibility to self, neighbour and country. Accepting ones’ mistakes and learning from them is a noble act. Conjuring up excuses, shifting blame and always portraying oneself as victim are acts of irresponsibility and it is not an ideal for people with liberation spirit. Liberated Rwandans should be characterised by respect of law and regulations. This can be manifested in simple ways like the way we handle ourselves in public. Why would one skip the queue in the bank, hospital and any other public place? Why would you block the way for other people say in a parking yard? These are simple freedoms but with a lot of meaning when denied. Rwandans should be characterised by respect of the rights of others. Why should you demand for your rights when you are infringing on the rights of others? Respect is a give and take situation. Liberation should translate into a passion/love for work. Many times you will enter an office only to find the front desk manager talking endlessly on the company telephone, or jacket left behind, a waiter/waitress who has no savvy of why he/she is employed, the list is endless. This is a clear manifestation of lack of passion for work. Liberation should mean people working hard and not just to be seen to be working. They should believe in what they are doing and truly appreciate the fact that they are employed to offer service to others. Rwandans should be ambitious to excel to greater heights. Complacency should be avoided. Liberation should also mean proper time management. As the saying goes, ‘time waits for no man,’ we can also comfortably add that ‘time and money wait for no man.’ No one can underestimate the importance of time management in whatever sphere of life. Liberation should be seen at a personal level and then it can have a national dimension. Liberation should not be celebrated out of routine but should be a moment of reflection on how we can liberate ourselves as individuals then as a nation. Ends