July 1, is observed every year in Rwanda, as the day that the country gained independence from Belgian colonial rule in 1962. Though it is a the public holiday, there are no national celebrations held to mark the day. The reason, according to different sources who spoke to The New Times, is mainly because Independence Day takes place only three days before Liberation Day, which is celebrated on July 4. Thus, if the government allocates funds towards organizing two public functions, it would be expensive. “It is a matter of prudence. If you have two public holidays, which are all in the liberation sense, organising celebrations for only one is okay,” said Protais Musoni, the Chairperson of the Pan-African Movement (PAM-Rwanda). He pointed out that while Independence Day is important, to Rwandans, Liberation Day is more meaningful because it anchors nationalism due to the achievements registered after it, mainly in terms of unity. “We mark Independence Day and we value what our forefathers fought for. But we should note is that after the colonial rule, the same philosophy of divisionism persisted through the post-colonial era. And therefore, the liberation anchors nationalism more into the picture,” he said. Dr. Canisius Bihira, an Economist also told The New Times that it would not be very prudent spending if the country organized two public fetes in three days. It is better to mark the one with stronger meaning for the country, and to me, It is Liberation Day, Bihira said. Both Bihira and Musoni reflected on the journey that the country has been on since independence: the achievements registered, and the gaps that need to be addressed. On his part, Musoni said a lot has been achieved politically, saying Rwandans are in control of their country. He, however, pointed out some gaps which the country should try to address going forward. “Since independence, we are setting the standards of our governance, and improving the systems of our governance. You would say Rwandans are in charge politically,” said Musoni, who has held different leadership positions, including in cabinet. “Economic transformation will lead us to economic independence, for example in terms of fully meeting our national expenditures without foreign assistance. “If you followed the national budget through the recent years, you can see that we are having higher and higher percentages of internally generated resources,” he added, saying that the ambition is to make it fully funded internally. He also reflected on culture, saying some achievements have been registered, as people are embracing their identity as Rwandans. However, Musoni noted that the journey to true independence is a work in progress. “It is a continuum. We need to constantly ask ourselves: what else do we need to liberate ourselves from. Is it the shortage of infrastructure, is it poverty, or is it the need for a voice on the global arena?” he said. Bihira told The New Times that there is a need for a more independent mentality for Rwandans, where, for instance, they will take big steps towards making the most of their resources and ingenuity. “I can give you an example, there are companies that make juice here. But, they import raw materials from abroad, yet we can use our own,” he said. “Some people think that things that are made in Rwanda are not good, and this is not a right mentality,” he added. Belise Uwase, a youth in Kigali said that she is proud of the achievements that the country has made, but noted that independence is a journey that is continual. “I am proud of the leadership, the security in general. I think more can be done in the sector of education,” she said.
