BY JEFF OTIENO – IN KIGALI RWANDA
After loosing over 1 Million people in the 1994 Genocide pitting HUTU and TUTSI’s tribes Rwanda is bracing the odds to once again redefine its destiny.
During the genocide, all the key sectors like Health, Judiciary, Education, Transport among others crumbled.
The government of President Paul Kagame has flexed its muscles and opened doors for foreign investors to invest freely in his country without coercion or intimidation.
During a visit to Rwanda of Kenyan youths and journalists which was sponsored by PEACE and HOPE FOUNDATION which is a brain child of former foreign affairs Minister Raphael Tuju who was also in attendance, it emerged that over 49 journalists were massacred.
The foundation aims to promote peace and hope among the youths across the continent and to empower them to face the future with glimmer of hope.
Also in attendance at the foreign affairs conference hall to grace the occasion were Minister of youths affairs and the Permanent secretary for East African Community.
Post genocide media industry has however given hope and sigh of relief to many practicing journalists in Rwanda. The country has 20 radio stations, 70 prints (1Daily Newspaper) and 1 TV station which is state owned but the figures are set to skyrocket, thanks to article 34 which underlines the freedom of press and information.
There is also an I.C.T bill in parliament which if approved will ensure that hate speeches in the country is curbed or curtailed.
Rwanda is going to the general elections in August 9th and according to a senior foreign affairs official who talked to the press on a condition of anonymity, all the mechanisms have been put in place by the government to ensure that the whole process is free and fair.
In a bid to restore order and give justice to genocide victims, the government in 30th August 1996 formed GACACA courts. Its other objective is to disclose the truth of the genocide events, speed up trials, to eradicate the culture of impunity, to recommend and strengthen unity and to show that Rwanda can solve their problems on their own.
GACACA judges are called “INYANGAMUGAYO” meaning people of integrity and they are elected by the people. GACACA has so far investigated and prosecuted 6000 files out of 120,000 files which the majority feels is below expectations but the judges interviewed are optimistic.
The magnitude of Rwanda genocide is manifested in Kigali memorial hall which was established in 1999. It is home to over 258,000 unclaimed remains from various districts in Rwanda. Inside the magnificently built centre are chambers of heavily battered human skulls, video footages of harrowing encounters at the height of war among other related archives.
Its interesting and imperative to note that majority of the population feels strongly that the church was to blame for some of the animosity and brutal deaths.
They gave an example of a priest of a local church who ordered for the killing of over 2000 people who had taken refugee in the church precincts. Rwanda has a population of about 11,000,000
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Mr. Otieno,
Thank you for exposing the true story of Rwanda.
The only small detail that may appear inaccurate is where you say that the 1994 genocide “pitted Hutu and Tutsi tribes”.
Actually, Bahutu, Batwa and Batutsi are the same tribe, a reason why the official policy is to call them all Rwandans. And in the 1994 genocide, the then government organised it by mobilising Bahutu to wipe out Batutsi.
Otherwise, the whole story is generally accurate.
BP
The Rwandan leadership should be emualted by Kenyan leaders.
This is a horrible tell tale and it pleases that Rwandese have risen to the occasion and embraced unity and togetherness after the massacre.It is a path that no country should follow and no leader should direct its people to.Lets learn from the genocide and the PEV and appreciate the role of unity.