Some guests will, of course, take a stride outside Kigali, including visits to museums, panoramic sites, and Rwanda’s forte, our unique crafts.
The country is getting ready. The Government, through Ministry of Infrastructure [MININFRA], has upped the game, allocating over Rwf10 billion for upgrading a number of peripheral roads so that when the traffic flow at the center of CHOGM activities is diverted, alternative routes can easily be put to use to ease the jam and avoid the unnecessary delays of nationals and guests.
The new Mulindi Road, Kabeza-Alpha Palace Road, Rwandex Network Road, Nyabisindu-Nyarutarama Road and Migina Network Road connecting Gasabo district headquarters to Sports View Hotel, are such will serve a great deal in decongesting traffic.
Kigali International Airport is also undergoing several modifications to increase parking space for aircraft and passenger lounge at the terminal.
As the government is doing all this, members of the public should as well get involved in the pre-preparations. Are we having cooperatives of farmers that will be supplying food-stuffs to the hotels and restaurants in Kigali during the time? Or we shall let that opportunity slip out of their hands and we instead let the international hotels import stuffs?
Are we having our entertainers-traditional and hip-hops included in the party?
Are we polishing the skills and best practices of our hospitality and protocol staff so that as they interact with the over 10,000 guests they leave an impression of impeccable professionalism and turn those guests into tourism ambassadors of Rwanda? We need to.
Creating ambassadorship through eloquent services is quite inevitable as the guests will come from 53 countries with a combined population of about 2.4 billion, many of who are potential tourists. Using the opportunity to position Rwanda as a competitive MICE power must be mustered so that we get the world thinking more of Rwanda, attracting more and keeping the flag high.
And in all this, where are the youth in the CHOGM equation? Where are the school and university debates on topical issues as will be discussed in the main event by the Heads of Government–fundamental political values; gender equality and inclusion; peace promotion, among others? Are we leaving the youth out or just on the margins of this significant and historical meeting?
This is a very salient question because during the 2018 CHOGM: “Heads agreed to mainstream youth priorities into national development policies and plans, and to promote the participation of young people at all levels of decision making.”
It is therefore not preposterous to say that at least the youth in the academic world, in business and governance should have, by now, been drawn into a number of pre-preparatory activities, and be seen to be active and passionate.
We are hosting a historical event. The government is ready and doing all that is necessary for a successful CHOGM, but it is better we get a majority of Rwandans in the loop? And it is important we plan for the benefits to be reaped from CHOGM to permeate to the ordinary person, both in the short and the long run.
Here in Rwanda, especially, known for supporting youth-led mechanisms that enable meaningful participation of young people in building social cohesion processes in communities, we should give youth a high-table position in the CHOGM arrangements.
This has involved Rwanda’s commitment to inch out of the shadows and emerging from the isolated isle that it was prior to 1994 liberation. Rwanda has joined regional and international blocs that have since contributed to the transformation of her geopolitics.
Since Rwanda joined the Commonwealth group in November 2009, the country has been committed to the core values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter. This has seen her gaining much trust, that she has been entrusted with hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June 2020.
For Rwanda to play host for the 26th CHOGM is a vote of confidence from the 54 member states and the Commonwealth Secretariat which presents us with a rare opportunity of bringing the world to Rwanda, tell and show the world our story, our journey and opportunities Rwanda has for the world.
We need to tell our story that bespeaks of a people that have decided to define themselves with something beautiful; where there were destruction and poignant hurt, you now discover peaceful, built-up spaces with a vibrant undercurrent, economic activity, and social cohesion. Reaching this stage has been a journey.
The Rwanda Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat are already working together to share the experience of hosting a CHOGM. Rwandan Ministers and officials are enthusiastic and already have preparations well underway, demonstrating their commitment to ensuring a successful CHOGM in June 2020.
We have the opportunity of telling our thrilling story in more ways than one. As we do prepare for between 8,000 and 10,000 delegates who will attend the different segments of the CHOGM, (the Summit where the Queen and other leaders will converge, Business Forum, People’s Forum, Youth Forum, and Women’s Forum), we need to refine our services and protocol, right from the time they begin making online inquiries on visa requirements and other travel arrangements, to giving them an enriched experience, a good impression of whatever they’re exposed to in the country up to the time of seeing them off.
In a way, we are presented an opportunity to create a huge breed of goodwill ambassadors that will speak well of Rwanda when they get back to their respective countries, in effect inviting the entire world to experience our country’s fascinating beauty.
Besides, hosting CHOGM is a vote of confidence in Rwanda’s commitment to democracy, freedom of expression and human rights as spelled out in the Commonwealth Charter 2012 in addition to the country’s impressive economic growth and recovery from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi; real gross domestic product (GDP) growth has been around 8% between 2001 and 2017, falling poverty and inequality and most Millennium Development Goals were achieved by 2015.
We are hosting CHOGM at a time when our development blueprint ‘Vision 2020’, is also coming to fruition, a time that should be used to reflect and correct.
This should as well be a time to override the lurking anxieties from self-appointed pundits on issues Rwandan and human rights purists. The decision to offer Rwanda play host to CHOGM was, of course, reached after interrogating Charter commitments to democracy (Chapter 1), human rights (Chapter 2) and freedom of expression (Chapter 5) which Rwanda passed and thus seizing the opportunity.
In terms of strengthening international relations, Rwanda straddles Anglophone and Francophone Africa—the Commonwealth and La Francophonie. Some commentators have suggested that CHOGM should be used as a good opportunity to bring the two organizations more closely together, urging the Government of Rwanda to use their best endeavors to encourage the organizers to do just that.
In Rwanda, we are known for leaving indelible marks whenever and wherever we get involved in defining and refining international and regional geopolitics; peacekeeping, La Francophonie, Africa Union reforms, among others. We should be getting to work now, getting ready to, yet again, impact international thinking through CHOGM. We can. And we should.
The annual activity is very important in the sense that it gives the President an opportunity to meet and interact with citizens first hand, and get to see what has worked and what hasn’t, as well as seeking solutions to the challenges the respective communities face.
The message during the three-day tour evolved around consolidating what the country has built over the past 25 years, finding solutions from within ourselves, self-worth, ownership and inculcating the belief that Rwandans can solve any problem they face without looking elsewhere.
As someone who grew up from a background of being a refugee and then returning home to witness how Rwanda as a country has been able to defy odds and turn things around even when others have written us off, I can’t help but agree that there is no challenge that is insurmountable for a determined people and nation.
To affirm this, I want to reflect on the work Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has been doing over the last 25 years to confirm indeed that when people are determined, there is a lot they can do together, not only to seek solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges but to also rebuild a country with the dignity it deserves.
When what was the Rwandese Patriotic Army (RPA), the armed wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi), evolved into what is RDF today, the men and women in uniform did not forget the same principles that guided them during the Liberation struggle.
Rather than being comfortable in their role of safeguarding the sovereignty and securing the borders of the country, RDF knew that there was no one else to look up to, to rebuild a country which has limited resources, for it to attain its development goals.
Rather than letting the country be at the mercy of well-wishers and donors, the RDF took it upon itself to be part and parcel of the developing process, by going beyond the core mandate of the armed forces, to aggressively engage in development activities.
I recently followed the launch of the RDF Citizen Outreach Programme, the armed forces own version of citizen outreach, to support socio-economic development in the country.
There is no doubt that the RDF borrows this kind of approach from the Commander-in-Chief himself, who believes that the fate of Rwandans is in their own hands and that they have what it takes to solve any kind of problem they face.
When you see what goes on during the RDF Citizen Outreach, right from the time it was called the RDF Army Week, you notice a trend of activities and discipline with which the RDF has been involving itself in development activities and you are simply left in awe.
Whereas elsewhere we are used to the military terrorizing citizens and creating a barrier between the people and the army, RDF has changed this notion. I can’t count how many times I open a newspaper and see high ranking RDF officers together with citizens building a school, a road, a hospital or army medical doctors treating hundreds of patients for free.
This is something you can’t take for granted. Where else will you find military personnel building a dam to serve communities often affected by drought, restoring marshlands, planting trees or even growing food to feed populations?
Where else will you find the army giving away a part of their small salary to buy hundreds of cattle to be given to the needy under the One Cow per Family programme? It is not because they earn a lot or they ‘loot’ from the public as some armies we know.
It is also not because the army has such a huge budget that they use the surplus to support development. In recent years, we have seen cases where the army or the RDF reserve force has saved government billions by taking on vital infrastructure projects such as hospitals, roads and bridges which would have otherwise cost government much more if they were implemented by other contractors.
For a country that is still on the development path with many priorities compared to the available resources, one cannot emphasise what RDF’s contribution has been over the last 25 years. It can’t be quantified in real terms and neither can we estimate how much RDF has saved for the government by taking on otherwise costly ventures.
These resources saved are channeled into other priorities.
To understand what role RDF has played, one has to look back at President Kagame’s tales of the liberation struggle, where the soldiers had to work within very limited resources to achieve a lot. One has to understand that to achieve more, it doesn’t take a lot of resources alone, but rather the will and determination.
Over the years, RDF has proved that Rwandan armed forces are driven by sacrifice, determination and a desire to see the country develop, even with the meager resources. For a force with a background of accounting for every bullet during the liberation struggle, it is not surprising therefore that accountability remains a key factor in RDF’s traditions and principles.
Indeed as Gen. Jacques Musemakweli, the Reserve Force Chief of Staff, put it, RDF learned from the Commander-in-Chief to be selfless and put country above everything else and also to believe that creating a wealthy and healthy nation is the best way to ensure stability.
From 2009 when the Army Week was launched, we have seen a steady increase in numbers, right from the patients treated, acres of land reclaimed, trees planted, schools, hospitals and roads built, among other things, RDF has been involved in.
It is believed that the third phase of actual liberation is development, which at this point involves no guns but rather actual development activities. One can comfortably say that 25 years on RDF has mastered the art of being part of the development process.
Rwandans have in the past never experienced this kind of thing. The army under previous governments was seen as brutal agents of torture and repression, unlike today where men and women in uniform are harmoniously seen working together with citizens to develop the country.
This year alone, RDF will provide free medical services that will benefit at least 137,900 patients and construct 1,141 houses for vulnerable families. The army also planned to build soil erosion control terraces on 453 hectares and reclaim some 1,114 hectares of land for agriculture production among other things.
There have been numerous attempts by western human rights watchdog to soil RDF’s image with unfounded reports and allegations but the truth on the ground, speaking as a Rwandan, is that there is no better relationship between armed forces and the people you can find elsewhere as there is in Rwanda.
For an army that does less talking and manifests itself more in actions, it is fair to say that the last 25 years have seen RDF evolve from what was then referred to as a ‘rebel force’, to one of Africa’s most professional forces. This can be attested by RDF’s peacekeeping record.
As RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Patrick Nyamvumba put it to citizens while launching the citizen outreach programme, the well-being of the people is one of the key priorities of the military.
It is fair to say that the last 25 years have seen RDF immensely contribute to the development of the country and they are not seeking medals for it because it is in their philosophy but one has to at least recognize the efforts of the army. Well done! 25 years stronger!
{{The author is a publisher and commentator on socio-political affairs
The views expressed in this article are for the author}}
At a juncture like this, world media descends on Rwanda to cover the bad, the ugly and the unacceptable that befell humanity as the world looked the other side. A few journalists, however, deliberately take time to visit communities and mingle with individuals, people who survived the wrath of genocide and document how they have picked pieces, held together and moved on, living with others confirmed to have visited that vindictive anger on them and their families.
In my deliberation today, I only wish to reflect on how institutions in Rwanda, just like individuals, are getting their act together in the midst of a plethora of challenges.
Bad as our history has been, culminating into the 1994 pogrom, Rwandans have refused to be hostages of that dark history. Under the visionary leadership of president Paul Kagame, we have instead mobilized our inner strengths, rediscovered our energy towards building the foundations that had been so much shaken by the hate-governments and we are, eventually, building the walls that bind us as a people, focusing more on what benefits and unites us than what divides us.
It begins with restoring our dignity. The Rwanda despotic regimes of yester-years, prior to1994, were bent on keeping a section of Rwandan people ostracized. Kagame’s leadership has reversed all that and, instead, has succeeded in taking good where it had never stepped before, talking to all people with one mellifluous educated voice of looking to the future with steadfast focus, empowering and actually giving them (all) the torch to light in the darkest of corners so that they do not stumble, nay, fall again.
Kagame has been leading from the front, telling and showing the followers, Rwandans, how possible it is – to live, to school, to work, to play and to develop together.
The Rwanda government is now using poverty alleviation as a creative path towards the destruction of genocide ideology and hopelessness. The Girinka, for example, where one gives a calf to a neighbor (even when one is a former enemy) with contagious passion is something that ignites love. It is, of course, a direct agent against poverty, but an indelible and underlying symbol of reconciliation.
Some of the practices that Rwanda has come to be ubiquitously known for, including zero tolerance to corruption, are deliberately crafted and followed to the dot, to demonstrate to the world that even when, prior to 1994, individual leaders’ inner parts of the hearts were corroded by corruption and hatred, we in this generation, are building an incorruptible breed of servants, servants that are standing tall, serving our country with dignity, commitment and love.
On the surface, one may think that the Rwandan Government intolerance to corruption stops at that per se. No, it is more than that. A mind built to be incorruptible, resisting to be tempted by a few dollars to deviate from the norm for personal gains; such a mind can hardly be tempted to betray the cause, the nation, and humanity. These are the foundations of patriotism that we, in this generation, wish to consume and nurture.
These have been spread, and should be deepened, in other areas as; universal medical insurance, through which the government is telling every Rwandan, that you can be treated socially and medically with all the dignity that you deserve; universal access to good farming practices, physical and soft infrastructures and a host of other .
For individuals, near and far, that have been trying to tell Rwanda’s story with bigotry mendacity, we do not wish them luck, that’s why we’re committed to continuing hardworking, telling our story, as it is; for we are experiencing it, and we can tell it all.
Your slipshod perception of Rwandan issues is neither disappointing nor discouraging us; instead, it is giving us reason and energy to commit to changing things for the better of every Rwandan and prove you and your ilk wrong. We have overcome imbecility, there is no way we can fail to triumph and flourish in the midst of tranquility.
The government of Rwanda has got its priorities. Today, the killers live in the same villages as the survivors, they go to the same churches, fetch water from the same springs, attend the same village meetings. Reconciliation has been a strong RPF tenet. And, mind you, here is a very sensitive issue. Bringing the killers and survivors (orphan s, widows, widowers) back together is not something you easily attain in 25 years. The delicate balance between justice and healing, remembering and ‘moving on’ is supposed to give effective reconciliation.
