Twenty-three years ago, the Rwanda Patriotic Front set the ball rolling when it launched an armed struggle to liberate this country.The struggle was not a walk in the park; many lay down their lives or lost their limbs. October 1, 1990 opened a chapter of self reliance, not waiting for someone to solve your problems and instead relying on the little at hand.Rwanda’s socio-economic miracle was based on reality and driven by a force derived from a harsh history that cost the lives of over ten per cent of its population in a mere one hundred days.The lessons learnt have been put to good use and are today the catalyst that, hopefully, will propel this nation to a middle-income country in the next few years. An utopia programme, some might say, but so was the case two decades ago when the first shot rang out in Kagitumba.The 1990 spirit has been the driving force in transforming this country, the never-say-die attitude in the face of adversity has been the vital shot in the arm that has seen remarkable change, socially and economically.Rwanda’s road is not paved in gold, but the sweat of its people, the sacrifices of its sons and daughters will make for a smooth sailing journey. The targets it has set itself are achievable because the will is there, all the country needs is to stay the course. RELATED: Rwanda today: Fruits of real patriotism
