Rwandans should celebrate their shared aspirations

Editor, RE: “Diaspora voter turnout dispelled ‘climate of fear’ claims” (The New Times, August 5). Can’t we take a moment, a breather from these rants at imaginary foes, and simply enjoy the victory? Davy *** ‘Imaginary foes’, ‘rants’, huh. Do you live in the same universe as the rest of us, Davy, or do you have your very own? Should we assume that, for you, the smears, the insults, the deformation of reality about our country and the outright racism from those who love to give lessons to uppity darkies, should be considered as acceptable? If you are Rwandan, as I assume, are you one of those who accept that we must accept such lectures from these racists, and genuflect and kowtow before ‘our betters’? For, if dear Davy, that is your view, it is out of line with our New Rwanda. We don’t take kindly to lectures, much less orders from foreigners on how we should organise our own affairs. Rwandans are determined to trace and follow our own path to the future we want for ourselves and to build a foundation for an even better tomorrow for the next generations. And even as we express heartfelt gratitude to those of our non-Rwandan friends and well-wishers who have supported and continue to wish us well in different ways on our journey, we also are determined to ensure this is a journey traced and walked or run by Rwandans themselves. You may accept the lectures from Western lesson-givers, who are themselves no paragons of what they preach. That is entirely your business. But don’t presume to think you speak for the rest of us who refuse these hypocrites that right. As for enjoying the victory, you can be sure I am! The victory of my country that is healing itself under the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame and the excellent team he has put together to guide the rebuilding of our country. It is also a resounding victory over the attempts of today’s neo-colonialists to supplant our own free-will with their own illegitimate choices and end up ravaging our country as their predecessors managed to do with the Rwanda of old, or even many of today’s other African and developing world countries, where the writ of these sorcerers’ apprentices runs amok. The cost of basing the organisation and running of your own affairs on what foreigners want instead of what is best for your people can sometimes be as high as what we saw in our country from the late 195os-1994. We learned our lesson, and in voting so overwhelmingly to return President Kagame to the helm, we Rwandans have emphatically told everyone who cares to listen instead of trying to lecture: “We want to remain the course we are on. And we don’t outsource decisions concerning our welfare or our future”. If you Davy can’t grasp that fact, there is probably very little one can do to salvage you from those who have captured your essence. But you can at least enjoy the benefits of the public goods generated by a vibrant society of a country on a rapid upward trajectory in development. Let’s at least join to celebrate that shared certain hope. Mwene Kalinda

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Rwandans should celebrate their shared aspirations