Editor,

RE: Army Week: over 900 Genocide survivors to receive treatment in Ngororero District (The New Times, February 16)

History has taught us that every country needs a strong, vibrant and resilient military and Police forces equipped with requisite training and logistical capabilities to ensure sustainable peace, security and sovereignty.

It is very true that Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and other security organs have played a pivotal role in national development. They have been exemplary not only in delivering good services to the people but also in saving lives in Rwanda, the region and beyond.

RDF was previously a liberation force known as the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA).

No doubt about their feat, therefore, for these same selfless liberators, the majority of whom were youth, sacrificed their lives, education and lots of opportunities and decided to forego all they had for the love of their country.

When the current leadership headed by President Paul Kagame halted the massacres in July 1994, the country’s economy was on its knees, infrastructure had been destroyed, citizens were scattered, most of the educated people had died and others were in exile, the world had abandoned us, there was no hope, no vision and seemingly no future.

But guess what, that was not the end, it was rather a new beginning – the country has been experiencing steady progress since 1994. The poverty rate has decreased by 5.8%, from 44.9% in 2011 to 39.1%.

Extreme poverty rate also dropped by 7.8% since 2011 to 16.5% by 2016.

All these achievements, mainly thanks to home-grown solutions, are what has characterised the current Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) and Rwanda National Police (RNP).

They also championed the promotion of unity and reconciliation and gender equality, thus eliminating all forms of discrimination among Rwandans.

It is now our task as citizens to make use of this good foundation and achieve sustainable development by following in the footsteps of our heroes.

Dokta