HARARE – The Liberation Day celebrations will this year be held in Zimbabwe for the first time, as Rwanda marks the silver jubilee after its liberation 25 years ago. The celebrations to be held in the Zimbabwean capital Harare are slated for Thursday next week and, according to sources, President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to grace it. Mnangagwa was among the heads of state who attended the national celebrations yesterday at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali. Rwanda’s ambassador to Zimbabwe James Musoni told journalists in Harare on Wednesday that all is set for the Harare maiden Kwibohora celebrations. Musoni said the people of Rwanda and Zimbabwe share a similar history of suffering from oppression and waging liberation struggles. “President Paul Kagame supports the Government of Zimbabwe’s effort to have sanctions against Zimbabwe removed so that Zimbabweans can be allowed to realise their aspirations.” Musoni explained to the Zimbabwean journalists the history of Rwanda’s liberation saying the extremist government that planned and executed the Genocide against the Tutsi had entrenched a governance system of sectarianism. “After Rwanda gained its independence in 1962, the regimes that took power up to 1994 decided to carry on the segregation legacy of the colonial masters and the problems were compounded further.” He said the RPF-Inkotanyi was formed with the objective of liberating Rwanda from the dictatorial regime in order to build a nation that abides by law and upholds democracy, peace, security, justice, fights corruption, promotes social economic development, and eliminates all causes for fleeing the country and return all Rwandan refugees back into the country. Amb. Musoni said that, since Rwanda gained its liberation on July 4 1994, the country has recorded successes in socio-economic development. He attributed the significant progress to the sound leadership of President Kagame. “I am happy to say that Rwanda is fast growing. It has the second fastest growing economy in Africa per annum since 2007,” Musoni said. “Rwanda is the most improved nation in human development in the world. It has a young and growing population (70 per cent of population are under 30). It is also secure as it is the fifth safest country to walk at night worldwide.” He said Rwanda has the lowest debt ratio in region and most stable credit ratings, adding the country’s currency is stable against the greenback and other major currencies in the world. Rwanda has a business-friendly environment, he added.. He said: “It is ranked number two in Africa for the ease of doing business and it is ranked number one for government transparency in Africa. Rwanda has the biggest number of women in any Parliament.” Musoni said Rwanda and Zimbabwe are taking their relationship to higher levels by encouraging and facilitating movement of investors from both countries as well as exchange of experience and technical assistance between government institutions.
