Every year these days are celebrated on the 1st and 4th of July respectively and it evokes the old memories about the hard work and struggle to break the chains of colonialism and oppression.
We must not forget however that the attainment of our flag independence from the Belgian colonial masters on 1st July 1962 was to say the least a difficult moment in our country’s history. Hundreds of thousands of Rwandans had suffered untold misery from 1959 with their property and lives at stake. Many unceremoniously fled their motherland to neighbouring countries.
Liberation on one hand demonstrates the significance of freedom, and reminds us of the sacrifices made to attain the good we enjoy today, and on the other hand it unites the whole Rwandan nation flowing what we all went through as a people and nation with a shared past, present and future.
The euphoria of independence did not come along with tangible results for the benefit of the people. Using tactics of divide and rule, Rwanda’s colonial masters, the harbingers of the nation’s misfortunes, had introduced the infamous "quota system”, in which leadership, as though by divine providence, was allocated to a section of the population, who were so chosen on grounds of their ‘features’, and the number of cattle they owned.
These archaic practices made it difficult for independence to bring tangible fruits.
In addition, the post-independence leadership did little to emphasize what united their people. It is not news that they preached and practiced divisive politics.
They fell in the trap of their colonial masters and mentors who chose to see the people of Rwanda as different and preferred to propagate the use of spectacles of ethnicity.
This was quite ironical, because the same people who took the mantle were the same ones who rose to demand for independence, encouraged by the experience Africans had acquired during the Second World War.
They had promised to bring better livelihood, leave alone, the liberty and freedom that Africans had yearned for. Unfortunately, we found ourselves in the same situations with the much-anticipated liberty becoming a rumor.
The challenges of a divided nation grew further and the consequences of the divisive politics of post-independence Rwanda affected all Rwandans and brought this country to the horrendous Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994--one of the most horrendous experiences of the 21st century human history.
Perpetrators of the Genocide caused an indelible mark on the psyche of the Rwandan people. It left us in tatters!
It required an immeasurable effort to put this nation of a thousand hills back on its feet, which required lots of courage and resilience. Brave sons and daughters of our land rose to the occasion and finally, once and for all, brought us the lasting peace and tranquility that we are now enjoying. Impunity that had successfully been fine tuned into a culture in the past was dealt with.
The liberation brought rule of law and reforms that touch on nearly all aspects of public life ranging from education, health and justice, to social affairs and other areas of human endeavour, were introduced.
Rwandans managed to surpass ‘differences’ they may have had and came together stronger to rebuild their shattered lives and nation. Our people became and will continue to be one and the same. They have shared the same hills, intermarried and lived side by side in good and difficult times.
From all these, the over two decades, therefore, have been, to a great extent, a tale of determination to rise from the ashes of history. We must not be bogged down by the dark parts of our past by caused poor ideologies; the liberation reminds us to move forward together as one people towards a brighter future.
Today, the new flag is up comprising of three horizontal bands, which symbolize unity, new hope and light that clears ignorance and spreads enlightenment. We pride ourselves for the achievements our country has attained in slightly more than two decades.
However, we must not lose sight of what it took to be where we are, and at the same time continue holding a tight grip on our peace and unity. Liberation day, which was celebrated yesterday on July 4th, gives us a chance to become more educated about the history and enhances our understanding of the many struggles that were put to attain what we have today.
Thus, our identity must become the foundation of our independent consciousness and the purpose to live up to the values that our country has been founded on. Long live Rwanda and the Rwandan people!