He won the stage clocking 3 hours, 28 minutes, 45 seconds. Boileau also won the 2nd and 3rd stages of this year’s edition.
Eritrean Eyob Metkel has taken the yellow jersey from Colombian Sánchez Vergara Brayan.
Byukusenge Patrick from Benediction Ignite is the top performing Rwandan at stage 5 becoming 20th followed by his teammate Manizabayo Eric ‘Karadiyo’ (21), Uhiriwe Byiza Renus (23, Team Rwanda) and Habimana Jean Eric (25) of SACA.
On the general classification, Muhoza Eric is the top performing Rwandan coming 28th followed by Nsengimana Jean Bosco (30), Manizabayo Eric (31), Nsengiyumva Shemu (35), Gahemba Barnabé (36) and Mugisha Samuel (40).
Tour du Rwanda 2021 will continue on Friday 7th May with riders setting off from Kigali heading to Rulindo and Gicumbi and return to Kigali covering the total distance of 152,6 kilometers.
Classified under UCI 2.1 category, the 13th edition of Tour du Rwanda runs from 2nd to 9th May 2021.
Abdelkerim Déby Itno came to Rwanda as the special envoy of his elder brother Maj Gen Mahamat Idris Deby Tchad who is the interim President of Chad.
Abdelkerim Déby also oversees foreign relations whereby he led the delegation of envoys that met with Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020 discussing how to open embassy in the country.
In addition to potentially exchanging envoys and Chad opening an embassy in Jerusalem; they also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including the war on terrorism, cyber, water and agriculture.
Chad is among countries faced with insecurity due to the presence of rebel groups against established leadership which triggered the death of President Idriss Deby Itno who recently died on the battlefield after three decades in power.
Abdelkerim was born in 1992. In 2015, he graduated from the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point.
Kagame receives Kambanda, five months after he was installed Cardinal by Pope Francis.
Antoine Cardinal Kambanda was officially created on 28 November in the Vatican.
As he attended the first mass read by His Eminence Antoine Kambanda since he was installed Cardinal towards the beginning of December 2020, Kagame expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for trusting Cardinal Kambanda to be amongst the Pope’s closest advisors.
At the time, Kagame said that the trust is founded on the wise judgement and proven commitment throughout Cardinal Kambanda’s service to the Church in Rwanda who also showed that he is able to contribute to the Church on the global stage.
“Today, all of us Rwandans have great joy because the Catholic Church of Rwanda has a Cardinal. It’s the first time this has happened in the last 120 years,” said Kagame.
“When a Rwandan rises through the ranks because of his or her proven courage and commendable performances, be it in Rwanda or on the international stage, we are all happy. The trust and dignity that the Pope has given you is also ours as Rwandans,” he added.
Speaking at the mass organized to celebrate the first-ever Rwanda’s Cardinal at Kigali Arena, Cardinal Kambanda expressed delight for joining Christians after his new special appointment to comfort believers.
Following his installation, Cardinal Kambanda was appointed to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP), responsible for coordinating the Catholic Church’s missionary work globally.
Originally published in German language in November 2019, the book which is titled “Ein Zerbrochenes Leben” recollects horrible memories of the dark times Kayitesi and her two brothers endured.
As she explained, Kayitesi and her two brothers are the only survivors out of the family of seven which lived in Cyuga, former Rutongo commune, currently in Gasabo district, Kigali city.
The mother of three has been living in Germany since 2010.
Kayitesi decided to write the book as a testimony of the cruelty that characterized the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and convey a message to the world to strive for humanity.
“During the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, I was hit and seriously wounded with a machete on my head. It erased my memory and I was dumb for a long time. Little by little, I got my memory back. When someone spoke to me, I heard what he said but I was unable to answer,” she said.
“I had lost the capacity of using my tongue. I made the decision to write my story showing what my family and I had suffered during this period of Genocide against the Tutsi. The fact that I was dump, had frightened me to the point that I thought I would leave this world without being able to speak again. Years later, I was able to regain my voice and speak again,” added Kayitesi.
The fact that her children repeatedly wanted to learn more about the tragedy that befell Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is among reasons that inspired Kayitesi to write her story which also conveys a message to the strive for humanity.
[The English version of her book “A broken Life” released on 3rd May 2021 is available->https://tredition.de/autoren/judence-kayitesi-38000/a-broken-life-paperback-156885/] for young people and others of different age brackets to learn from history not to fall into the pitfall of hatred.
These Rwandans have arrived today through Kagitumba One Stop Border in Nyagatare around 12h:00 onboard a Coaster accompanied by immigration and emigration officials from Uganda.
As they arrived in Rwanda, all protocols to reinforce COVID-19 preventive measures were observed including hand washing and testing temperature among others.
Rwanda recently received more nine Rwandans, most of whom were pastors of Association of Pentecostal Churches of Rwanda (ADEPR) in Uganda deported on 3rd April 2021.
Most of them were detained in Mbuya and other detention facilities of Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
Since 2017, Rwandans have been abducted by Uganda’s CMI accusing them of being Rwanda’s spies.
Abduction of Rwandans living or traveling through Uganda is linked to CMI’s close collaboration with Rwanda National Congress (RNC), a rebel group against the Government of Rwanda led by Kayumba Nyamwasa with intentions to destabilize Rwanda’s security.
Through the cooperation, Rwandans on Uganda’s land denying cooperation with the rebel group are arrested; tortured in CMI prisons while others are taken in Minembwe of DRC to be tortured.
Uganda has been arresting Rwandans since 2017 in different operations. The Government of Rwanda has since 2017 been condemning such arbitrary detentions and advised Rwandans not to travel to Uganda in March 2019.
Later on, Angola launched discussions to mend Rwanda, Uganda relations which led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Angola, Luanda known as Luanda Agreement in 2019.
The memorandum was signed on August 21st 2019 in a bid to solve conflicts between Rwanda and Uganda.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state. CMI continues arbitrary detention of Rwandans who endure torture in its facilities.
The veteran leader had been weakened after suffering a stroke in 2013, which diminished his mobility and forced him to work from his residence in Zeralda, west of the capital Algiers.
He had since travelled abroad several times to undergo medical treatment in France and Switzerland.
During his tenure, he used to make rare public appearances, during which he was usually seen sitting in a wheelchair.
Rumours often swirled in Algeria about the state of the president’s health. In 2019, he was 82-year old when he announced plans to run another term despite his health condition that sparked protests.
Melissa Tenkhi, is an Algerian who grew up in France but currently living in Dubai since seven years ago. She followed the revolutionary protests from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Tenkhi is a patriotic Algerian even though she has spent many years in foreign countries. Her love for the nation pushed her to abandon work at a company she worked for in Dubai to join Algerians during revolutionary riots.
Considering efforts of the youth to bring political transformations in Algeria, Melissa Tenkhi came up with an idea to produce a video documentary showing youth’s potential to bring positive transformations.
Melissa Tenkhi reflected on what was happening in her mother country and produced two episodes of video documentaries on the situation.
She released the first two parts on YouTube in December 2019 showing youth’s aspirations on the future of their country.
During her first documentary, Tenkhi shows the youth talking about the revolution needed in Algeria to drive the country into a new political agenda.
The second documentary released in February 2020 features different artistes in Algeria talking about their contribution to the society relating it to what happened in their country during the revolutionary period.
Melissa Tenkhi believes that no one is in a better position to narrate another person’s experience highlighting that Africa doesn’t need BBC and other media houses telling Africa’s narratives.
This prompted her to tell Africa’s narratives starting with her country.
Using her stories on a platform dubbed ‘BESMA’ Arabic word translated as ‘Laugh’, Tenkhi toured different African countries to depict different realities.
She visited Ivory Coast where she produced two documentaries, an addition to one produced on Rwanda dubbed “Agaciro: The Rwandan spirit”.
{{His love for the land of Thousand Hills}}
Tenkhi was inspired by Rwanda’s fast progress after overcoming the dark past and its resilience under the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame to produce a documentary on the country.
Speaking to IGIHE, Tenkhi said that she conceived an idea to visit Rwanda inspired by Rwandans spirit to strive for ‘dignity’ (Agaciro) and the leadership of President Kagame.
“I am impressed by Rwanda’s leadership and I am a big fan of President Kagame for many years. Rwanda’s reputation and Rwanda’s value of dignity are among other things which prompted me to make a documentary about Rwanda,” she said.
Tenkhi said Agaciro is a great concept that needs to be emulated to the entire African continent.
She described President Kagame as a hero having rebuilt the country from ashes which makes him a reputed person on African continent.
Tenkhi said that Rwandans’ heroism, unity and reconciliation gives her hope for a bright Africa’s tomorrow.
Usually, visitors coming to Rwanda are interested to learn how the country stopped the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and its fast development.
This is what inspired Tenkhi to produce the documentary “Agaciro: The Rwandan spirit”.
The documentary features people of different age brackets including those who were still young and others born after Genocide. They reflected on a brief history of the country and future aspirations.
Hope Azeda Kigaragaramo, the founder of Mashirika; singer Ariel Wayz, Sonia Mugabo fashion designer, Ivan Mugemanyi, a photographer & Makeup artist, the CEO of AC Group, Patrick Buchana; Aphrodice Mutangana of Digital Africa; Faith Keza, the CEO of Irembo and Raoul Rugamba , the founder of Africa in Colors.
Faith Keza said that Rwanda is registering fast development because of ambitions to build a unique identity.
“Rwanda strives to build a unique identity. The Government works hard to achieve its ambitions which give optimism that a lot of things will be done in the near future,” she said.
Female artiste, Ariel Wayz said that all the country’s achievements are fruits of unity.
Aphrodice Mutangana, the Chief Operations Officer of Digital Africa also highlighted that Rwanda’s unique aspect relies on consolidating efforts for common goals.
“ What they are doing is to have a strong ecosystem to have all players working together. When you have the Government putting in place all policies, academies producing talents , investors , well-structured private sector and donors associating with what you are doing everything goes smoothly. This is what Rwanda is doing and becoming the land of opportunity,” he noted.
Raoul Rugamba explained that Rwanda is a composition of a lot of things mainly drawing inspiration from good leadership and assured his contribution to make Rwanda a great country.
Hope Azeda observed that Rwanda’s past should leave a lesson that much attention should be drawn to strive for a better future instead of sinking into past horrors considering Rwanda’s experience.
After releasing his documentary, Ranjit Menon got inspiration and expressed willingness to visit Rwanda.
Melissa Tenkhi worked with Samuel Ishimwe in producing the documentary on Rwanda.
As part of the May 4th listing by introduction, Crystal Telecom Limited’s shareholders now hold a direct 20% stake in MTN Rwanda and can trade their MTN Rwanda shares directly on the RSE. These shares were previously held by Crystal Telecom PLC.
MTN Rwanda CEO Mitwa Ng’ambi said the listing is good news for MTN and Rwanda: “We are honoured to be the first telecommunications network provider in Rwanda to be listed on the RSE. We are committed to further establishing our presence, expanding our connectivity, driving digital inclusion and contributing to the sector and economy.”
She said MTN was proud of its journey in Rwanda in the past 23 years: “We are grateful to our customers, partners and stakeholders and look forward to this new chapter. Listing on the RSE is a major milestone for us and the platform for even better and bolder things to come.”
MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said the listing demonstrated MTN’s commitment to Rwanda: “This listing will assist in deepening the Rwandan capital markets by broadening public ownership over time and will also establish the basis for a new and emerging telecoms and technology asset class on the exchange.”
This listing by introduction is part of MTN Group’s work to continuously promote local ownership and participation in MTN businesses across its markets and provides an opportunity for Rwandans to invest directly in the country’s leading network operator.
“MTN Rwanda joining the Rwanda Stock Exchange as we celebrate 10 years of operations as an Exchange is another big milestone for our market. We hope that the powerful brand recognition brought by MTN Rwanda on the market will attract more private sector companies both locally and internationally to join the market and enjoy the benefits of listed companies,” said Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba, CEO of the Rwanda Stock Exchange.
Ahead of its listing by introduction on the RSE, MTN Rwanda changed its status from a private company to a Public Liability Company (PLC) effective December 2020. The full company name has therefore been changed from MTN Rwandacell Limited to MTN Rwandacell PLC.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana who was the guest honor of the event that took place at Marriot Hotel Kigali , observed that the listing of MTN Rwanda PLC will contribute to the growth and deepening of Rwanda’s capital market, provide Crystal Telecom shareholders direct ownership of MTN Rwandacell and reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to continue providing conducive business environment.
“Rwanda has made good progress in improving investment environment and is well ranked on the continent and globally in easing business. The Government of Rwanda will continue to improve further business environment to support both local and foreign investment in line with its National Strategy for Transformation and its Vision 2050,” he said.
{{About MTN Group}}
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code ‘MTN’. Our strategy, Ambition 2025, is anchored on building the largest and most valuable platform business, with a clear focus on Africa. www.mtn.com
{{About MTN Rwanda}}
MTN Rwandacell PLC (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, we have continuously invested in expanding and modernising our footprint and are the country’s No 1 network. MTN Rwanda offers various innovative services to consumers and enterprises, including personalised voice, data, home and fixed connectivity solutions. The company is also the front runner in Mobile Financial Services in Rwanda delivered through its FinTech subsidiary, Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd.
David Lappartient is among dignitaries that attended Tour du Rwanda 2021 presided over the launch of the tournament on Sunday 2nd May 2021 where Colombian, Brayan Sanchez won the first stage.
Topics of discussions have not been revealed but Kagame receives Lappartient at a time when Rwanda is competing with Morocco to host the 2025 UCI Road World Championships.
As the race kicked off, Lappartient commended preparations of this year’s edition running from 2nd to 9th May 2021.
Tour du Rwanda 2021 was initially scheduled in February 2021 but was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
David Lappartient came to Rwanda with UCI technical team that will assess Rwanda’s capacity to host 2025 UCI Road World Championships.
Rwanda submitted a bid for the races in September 2019 after the UCI invited bids from African nations, with Morocco also bidding. If either nation wins the hosting rights it would mark the first time the continent would host the Worlds, and only the 11th time a nation outside of Europe has done so.
David Lappartient also visited Rwanda in 2018 attending Tour du Rwanda. At the time he visited Kigali Genocide Memorial and Musanze Cycling Club.
Kagame revealed this on Saturday 1st May 2021 at the second day of the RPF extended National Executive Committee meeting held at RPF Inkotanyi headquarters in Rusororo.
Despite the fact that he lived in the country and worked with its people and leadership for long, Kagame explained that he has failed to understand the root cause of their problem with Rwanda up to now.
The President said that Rwanda shall draw emphasis on living freely, wish others peace and freedom noting that whoever ‘recklessly relates with us’, shall be dealt with in the most appropriate way.
“Therefore, to end on that note, my focus shall remain on putting a proper roof on top of our house to protect us from rain. I shall install strong burglar-proof on our doors to keep off anyone who would have intentions to invade us and disrupt our peace, or unilaterally grab our valuable possessions. If the worse came to the worst and I find the intruder already in my house, I will certainly kick you out,” he noted.
{{Full speech: }}
In winding up I would like to thank you all for your significant role in the good meeting we have had thus far. Your contribution to the discussions has been quite vital, including those who have been keenly following throughout. The rest is all good, and we should not even be repeating ourselves that often, because we have said these things and emphasized them strongly time and again that I feel enough is enough. What remains is to always scrutinize our own individual and collective performance levels with a view to improve to make sure what we agree on in such meetings is exactly what we go out and implement.
{{Rwanda desires only peace}}
Now I do not even know how much I should reiterate some of these things. See in all these matters, be it the (Genocide) reports, or the countries we are up against – the neighbors, the superpowers, others who are ordinary like us, all of them – this is my message. That one, as a country our priority is us. We desire peace in the context which allows us to continue our development path. Our objective is to live peacefully with everybody. We do not intend to be a security threat to anyone, and neither do we expect anyone from out there to be a security burden to Rwanda.
Secondly, in confronting all these challenges, to maneuver through them and live unharmed, the best approach is to look at us in the mirror internally. If someone wishes to live comfortably in their own house, free from rain, with sufficient security for their cows and granary, instead of staying awake all day and night, it is better to construct a strong home with an impenetrable wall around it. Build an unshakable house with a gate and entrance to the main house constructed in with material for burglary prevention. This will make life difficult for thieves and put off any raiders.
That is where you start from. Same thing with protection from the rain. Simply do your roofing properly with good and lasting material. That way when wind and storm come, your house will withstand these pressures.
It is for this reason that we shall look at ourselves as a people exposed to all this kind of risks. Rain, storm, thieves, all of them, if or when they come and find you weak, they will overwhelm you and take your valuable belongings or destroy them easily.
And that is where we need to start from. Building a formidable house, home, with strong doors and quality roofing so that whenever rain comes our sleep is not disturbed due to possible leakages. You can as well view your country from that perspective. Let us burglar-proof the entrances to our home, lay strong a foundation and roof the house properly. This is primary. (Sounds like Matthew 7:24-27).
{{Good service to Rwandans is our first line of defense }}
I tell you all these people, Rwandans, young and grown, including those of you who are here, starting with leaders, what we do and the way we do it is our most reliable first line of defense against the enemy. It is what comes first. No matter the lies people might peddle about, or any number of insults they hurl, and what have you, whenever what we do as a leadership is right and approved by our people, we shall always remain immune and safeguarded to a great extent. Forget those who baselessly allege that so and so is a killer who has finished people in his own country. There is always an effective way to respond to that.
You can for instance counter the accusations by saying that wait a minute – ‘let us first ask you and us this important question’: who in the first place has died from exactly which area? With this approach you might likely witness an interesting scenario like was the case with the other Human Rights Watch story which you may have heard of. Do you remember when they accused us of having killed our people? They went to the extent of issuing a cooked list of so-called victims. Some people had to go out running around the country to prove the claims, trying to find out from which place, district these people could have died and what could have been the cause of death.
All the people who HRW had alleged dead, I think the number was eleven or there about, I do not remember well, it turned out they were all alive and well. None of them even knew that they had somewhere been reported dead somehow. The lie had backfired.
Assuming these people had been found dead, that would have been unfortunate. It would have confirmed the accusations against us being killers. Probably we would have had difficult time explaining away the circumstances. That was not to be though, because it never was. Gladly the fabrications left behind an open answer for all to plainly see that nothing of the sort had ever happened.
{{When we were accused of killing our people, it backfired}}
And that was not all. Things took a turn, because now, the people initially reported dead were the ones asking tough questions like, ‘why would you expect us dead – and died of what anyways?’
That they were found to be not only alive but thriving as well, the one who told lies about it all faced strong questions from the very people who were in the first place supposed to have died, asking the liars to prove their false claims.
In the same way when anyone says Rwanda’s leadership is terribly corrupt, people embezzle public funds left, right and center, with detractors echoing the allegations, just give it time. The noise will be loudly made and for long, but in the end, we shall ask questions like: ‘what was stolen from who? What exactly happened.’ Ultimately it will wind down to sober assessments which lead us all towards the truth.
The funders will be like ‘where are the funds which we gave you say for education? We have been told that you misused the money.’ And we shall say to them – ‘please come and see where the money was spent and how. Here are the school classrooms we constructed, the teachers who were trained, and all the logistical and operational costs involved. Feel free to hold us accountable on the transparence of methods of expenditure used. Ultimately truth will be plainly uncovered, and all sides will be satisfied.
Still, to us that is not the most important aspect. What matters most is that we put the funds to proper use, period. Children went to the schools which were constructed for them, and that is all that we should care about. That is why I insist on what we must do primarily in our interest. That is Rwanda’s uniqueness. Because our challenges are different – the point I was trying to hammer down your spine yesterday – we should do things uniquely.
{{We are not to compare Rwanda’s problems with others}}
As it is, our problems are more insurmountable in comparison to the rest around the world. For that reason, it so follows that the approach to resolving them, in the face of limited resources, requires us to religiously adhere to our unique and proven methods. This must be the case if we are to ever have a chance of overcoming them and make headway. That is the way it should be. There is no way around it.
Otherwise, if you want to be like others, yet you are not, in the first place, you will have chosen to deviate from the RPF principles which have thus far served Rwanda well.
Let me end by emphasizing the point I started on – that the reason we strive for peaceful coexistence is because we want to pursue our development goals unhindered. I am happy to report that we are well with all our four neighbors except one. We used to have problems with two, but today only one remains.
Particularly let me mention the country south, Burundi precisely, and say that we are moving together on the path to reconciliation. They are serious and, on our part, we are good to go as always (applause). We are good with the Democratic Republic of Congo as well, since the differences we earlier had with them are being jointly tackled in a genuinely amicable way. And with Tanzania, we have never had issues, we live together in bilateral harmony.
The neighbor north is the one who still has a problem with us. Up to now I have failed to understand the root cause of their problem with us. I lived in that country and worked with its people and leadership for long, but still it has not helped matters in finding our way through.
Therefore, to end on that note, my focus shall remain on putting a proper roof on top of our house to protect us from rain. I shall install strong burglar-proof on our doors to keep off anyone who would have intentions to invade us and disrupt our peace, or unilaterally grab our valuable possessions. If the worse came to the worst and I find the intruder already in my house, I will certainly kick them out.
Ultimately, we shall continue to leave freely and wish others peace and freedom too.
But whoever will recklessly relate with us, we shall deal with in the most appropriate way. It is how we live and what we prepare for.
Thank you very much
{{Twitter: @KabagambeI
Ignatius R. Kabagambe, is the Head of Corporate Communications at the University of Rwanda (UR).
Kagame delivered the message on Friday 30th April 2021 at the RPF extended National Executive Committee meeting held at RPF Inkotanyi headquarters in Rusororo.
The meeting held in compliance with ongoing COVID-19 preventive measures, brought together over 650 members.
It was also attended by various guests including top Government officials and youth representatives.
Kagame also urged Rwandans to strive for inclusive development and stand against whatever tends to separate them.
Regarding efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the President told gathered cadres that there are some achievements not only commendable at national level but also internationally.
He highlighted that RPF Ikontanyi has responsibilities to uphold its fundamental doctrines to build around discipline which has been the key enabler for the political party to achieve its agenda.
Kagame also talked about other issues of national interests, urged Rwandans to strive for common goals, identify priorities, make right choices and avoid whatever that tends to turn them against each other.
{{Full speech: }}
Good morning everybody,
RPF Leaders, Vice Chairman, Secretary General, Commissioners, leaders here present, cadres and invited guests from other organs of our country, who we always invite to such meetings. I am excited about this meeting, the first of its kind this year 2021. Today we intend to revisit our responsibilities, examining how we have fared lately, especially in view of the current global challenges, though what mainly we need to focus on are particularly what directly concern us.
You realize that you are wearing face masks. They are a symbol of what we have been dealing with. And I take this opportunity to emphasize the need to wear them properly. Some people cover only the mouth leaving out the nose. The name ‘agapfukamunwa’ (mouth cover) has been taken literally to carry the meaning that only the mouth is to be covered, leaving out the nose. That is not the case. If it were possible even the eyes would be covered.
Starting with the pandemic, historically both our word and our action are equally important. What we say and how we conduct ourselves should always feed from good discipline.
{{Discipline as bedrock of RPF ideology}}
The RPF ideology is only applicable where there is discipline. When it is lacking a lot gets lost along the way and only so little is achieved. This is true to the extent that people even get so used to scoring minimum percentages. Instead of aiming higher to achieve best results possible, say 90%, people tend to settle for as little as 30%.
This I am saying as way to remind ourselves of our values so that we can move on fast and tackle other issues.
RPF must be characterized by focusing on the need to solve general issues for the general populace. With us there should never be discrimination based on religion or region, or whatever else you may use to define unhelpful differences. RPF is a unifying factor, never to separate or divide Rwandans. That is why I just said our performance against the pandemic shows how far we have gone. Let us celebrate our respectable achievements because they have been laudable in Rwanda, the region and around the world. We all share the credit as it has been a collective effort.
Having said that, we also know well that where we took one step forward, we could as well have possibly taken two or even more. And if that was potentially the case, why was it not possible to do better? For example, why would we wait for a whole year to solve a problem which could have been handled in say a month? If we could have saved 1000 people, why save only 100?
In dealing with the pandemic, our ways have stood out and our resolve has been clear. Confidence in self plays a big part. We put into practice what we believe in, beyond mere talk. That there are some few Rwandans not in conformity with the rest of us who are focused, that is ok, because society is like that. People do not move on the same pace. We do not share similar convictions.
{{The sham claim about lack of space}}
For example, out there we have detractors who claim baselessly that in Rwanda it is only misery. That no one opens their mouths or freely associates politically. They claim lack of freedom of speech and other freedoms in an anarchical atmosphere, and so on. Let them say whatever they want to because when they do, truth comes out. Uttering irresponsible falsehoods is a sign of freedom of speech being in place. It only is being misused and abused by the very people who allege it is not in place.
It is important that we speak out against lies. Keeping quiet is not an option.
Because when we do, the ones who smear Rwanda will be believed by the innocent and uninformed.
It is now time to look at how we have behaved during the pandemic. First, I apologize for those who have been inconvenienced as dealt with the pandemic.
Including the people who were apprehended at a so-called wedding ceremony. Part of the noise made was that how could authorities arrest brides, instead of wondering why the honorable brides chose to violate the covid rules. In the first place it was evident that the wedding was only a cover up, otherwise they had been engaged in some other altogether. Unfortunately, even leaders have let us down by getting involved in such misbehavior. They often get distracted from their duties and deviate into flimsy things. Yet we should always be mindful of our unique situation, because as RPF and Rwanda, we cannot afford to do things ordinarily, including saving resources. We must sacrifice.
Take the example of the vaccines that are this little (400) so far against a population of almost 14m. How many people would we save if we did not approach things from the RPF point of view of fairness? Problem is that people simply sit down there and wait to be reminded of doing right thing at the right time. It should not be like that.
{{Genocide was a result of political bankruptcy and madness }}
In this month of April, we always Remember. One, we Remember the innocent masses who perished because of who they were. We also bear in mind all the time that the cause of death to these innocent souls was bad politics. We must never forget that all these people should never have died.
Which brings us back to the pathetic politics of destroying a people. How and why did we accept to be divided, to the extent of family members turning against each other? It was an unbelievable level of madness, which we should not lazily attribute to external factors. We need to come to terms with the truth that we are entirely responsible for the madness.
So how do we address this problem? First, we must identify who we are, what is in our interests and what serves our best interests. Are we a people who cannot identify who we are, what our best interests are and how to fight for and achieve them?
Failure to identify the three has contributed to the indiscipline we talk about every day. If we are not disciplined now, it will be difficult to identify who we are and what serves our best interests. When we have failed to understand who we are, what we want and how to achieve it, that is when the external people and factors have ago at us, because we have given them opportunity by losing focus on what is important.
{{We should not be like grasshoppers}}
There is this story about grasshoppers which I am sure you have heard about before. When they have been collected into a container before being fried, they fight each other fiercely, forgetting the common threat awaiting them outside. Imagine they get on each other’s throat even as they await their death sentence. We should not be like grasshoppers who forget they will end up in a single saucepan to be fried. They go for each other’s legs, necks, feathers, and so on, before their final verdict. That is characteristic of a society that is defective. People turn on each other before the external enemy finishes them off.
Thankfully, I was long liberated from their grip, and I speak my mind freely, without any harm done to me. The question is by the way, if I did not do it like that, how would you advise me to go about it? Give me the better way to live with them and I follow it if it serves us well. My point is that even if you stooped too low for them, you would still end up in a hot pan where they will fry you. And there are lessons around us, all over the place, to learn from. You know I had the opportunity to remind them recently at Kwibuka27 on April 07.
The other day I was listening to a conversation between Gen. Romeo Dallaire and Gen. Henry Kwami Anyidoho of Ghana. They were addressing the subject of denial, reflecting with regret how they could not do much to stop the Genocide denial. What is not debatable though, is that we have the capability on our own hands, in our limited means. The abundant truth which we know should be applied without being bothered by what is beyond us, to challenge the denial narrative. There is no excuse for not confronting these Genocide deniers to engage them in a battle of truths. This they would lose hands down. And it can be done in various ways.
{{Thankfully our tormentors are human too}}
Fortunately, and you people need to remember this because it is crucial, the people who torment us are also human. I have often said it to you and to them. They are not God, but humans made of flesh and blood like you and me. I will listen to them whenever they unilaterally must read the riot act to us, and still go on to do what I must do in my country’s interest.
Secondly, if we commit wrongs as a country, is there anyone in the world who is innocent or angelic? There is no country, even the so-called superpowers, who is not handicapped in several ways. COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses of all of them, although even before it came nobody was perfect. Look at how for example they are challenged by racism. They kill black people at will by shooting them anyhow, on the streets in broad day light, and it has been like this for ages. I know the Genocide happened here. But do you not see a similarity here? Or when national forces randomly and openly on the streets shoot at people during elections because of political party differences. It shows how such challenges can be beyond individual nations’ capacities and become of an international nature.
When a superpower gets that challenged, people need to stop and ask questions related to the magnitude of the problem. I understand that there are security and criminal matters a country can and should resolve internally through own capacities and resources. Yet when it comes to Rwanda and Africa, little chance is given to us to resolve our problems. They desire to micromanage us, telling us what to say and do all the time, including trying to decide for us who should lead our governments. It looks like they delight in derailing our progress, since it has not been possible to stop us completely.
{{Not even a shirt or a pair of trousers is given to the sell outs}}
I see our people who they manipulate, their collaborators. They are all over the place on YouTube making noise on behalf of their masters out there. What shows you the futility of their sinister marriage of convenience, is that those who abuse and tell all sorts of lies about us on their behalf, not even a shirt or trouser is given to them. Nothing. It is total exploitation based only on verbal pampering as the sparrows endlessly sing.
And I say this mainly to our young people here, the many of you who are and will be here long after our generation has gone. Please listen and take heed now. You should not require any body to repeat this message to you in future. There is no better preparation for you to be able to take the mantle tomorrow than what I am telling you now. Let it be up to you to decide what you want to be and who you want to follow, for your own good and the good of this country. It will help you in mastering the management aspects of society. Listen and make a choice – whether you choose to behave like the grasshopper, it is all up to you.
Let us learn how to make the best out of the little that we have. It is possible to listen, learn, master, and apply these lessons in normal life. There is no shortage of examples that have worked for us to serve as clear reference. We need to fast get used to these good practices, including what we work on jointly with our foreign partners, in national interest. In everything we do, we must know how to survive in this unkind world, how to maximize dividends from our limited resources through innovation and by working in unconventional ways. We need to know who we are, identify our interests and define how to attain them. Lastly, we must look far ahead as opposed to seeing only what lies immediately before us.
Thank you very much!
{{Ignatius R. Kabagambe, is the Head of Corporate Communications at the University of Rwanda (UR).
