Lessons learnt from Rwanda’s liberation experience
The guest Assoumpta Mugiraneza said that shunning the Independence Day is deliberate as it brings back memories of division that left many Rwandans in exile for over three decades and which was the root cause of the problems that led to the Genocide against the Tutsi.
"Rwanda's independence didn't seem like independence as it came with serious problems for one group of Rwandans.” She said
She said Rwandans prefer celebrating Liberation Day because it preaches unity, and how laws govern all Rwandans without discrimination as opposed to Independence Day, which came with ethnic divisions.
Moreover, she talked about how RPF Inkotanyi mobilized and joined forces which led to the liberation struggle that started on October 1 in 1990 and stopped on July 4 in 1994 when they finally reached their goal of reviving Rwanda.
Assoumpta said that Rwandans especially youth should adopt the values that characterized RPF Inkotanyi during the struggle which include: dedication, loving their country and sacrificing themselves for it, discipline, knowing the reason to fight and what they wanted, foreseeing, unity, fighting corruption and violence, enhancing foreign affairs, self-reliance as well as dignity.
Hon.Frank Habineza said that in Rwanda and the region there are still barriers to liberation. He argued that countries of this region should learn from Rwanda to avoid hate speech because it can lead to genocide
He said that true liberation should start from the mind set and go hand in hand with the well-being of the citizens but there are still many challenges in their daily lives.
“We are still at the battle. People shouldn’t underestimate what RPF has done. They should preserve what has been achieved and fight for their country to enhance Rwandans’ welfare in terms of education, economy, justice and other aspects of life.’ He said.