We shall get dignity from telling our own story

Editor, I don’t agree with some readers who think that Sunny Ntayombya’s article, “We all have a role to play in order to leverage Rwanda’s soft power” (The New Times, October, 16), lacks substance and deeper research.For me, the article reveals the story about the development strides both China and Rwanda are trying to let to the world. It’s true I witnessed unprecedented economic transformation of China from mid 90s and of Rwanda in the last 18 years, but as you rightly put, it is still not easy to tell our success stories even at the price of billions of dollars as in the case of China, because there is always the developed against the developing economies.The developed never want to let out the truth about positive changes being made in other parts of the world. You’ve said it well, whether China or Rwanda, there is evidence that they have been trying their best, but the degree of success, in as far as making the rest of world know, is still not so significant.The reason is because the collaboration between the strong organisations and the very powerful media houses of the world are determined to give the image they want the world to perceive us as. In my mind, I see that what you’re suggesting to be done to improve our visibility to the world is already being done – to a good extent. Probably we may do things differently, and the ball is the hands of you journalists.I was so shocked to hear from President Kagame a few days ago (during his press briefing with the media) that some stories told on Rwanda are actually concocted by the most respectable world bodies, and obviously it is so easy for whole world to believe them. When I heard the story, and one or two journalists concurring with the President, I felt that should have been a very good opportunity to discredit their monopolistic influence.The revelation of this shameful connivance, you our honourable journalists, should be told for the world to know the truth and probably start to doubt their long claimed infallibility. Then maybe our humble efforts would start to make sense to the others outside our circles.Donart, Kigali, Rwanda

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We shall get dignity from telling our own story