Regional
Kwibohora27: Homework for Rwandan youth
The history of Rwanda’s liberation by the Rwandan Patriotic
Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) remains captivating just like it was some 27 years ago.
It can be told in different dimensions and will be found fascinating
irrespective of whether you have heard it before. It is the history of the
youth that surrendered their lives and aspirations to liberate their country
from the extremely bad state it was in.
As we celebrate Rwanda’s liberation, on July 4, one
thing is clear - liberation is still an ongoing process and the one question
our liberators ask themselves is: are today's Rwandan youth up to the task to
carry on their legacy? The RPF-Inkotanyi liberated Rwanda from a genocidal
political system. Military force was never the first choice for RPF-Inkotanyi.
It was the last option, after all peaceful means had been flatly rejected by
the then regime in Kigali.
As per Rwanda’s liberators, right from their commander and
current President of the country, H.E Paul Kagame; liberating the country is
still an ongoing struggle. The focus today has shifted to developing the
economy and the social welfare of the nation. The Head of State has
emphasized this much at every opportunity, saying that the work is cut out for
Rwanda's contemporary youth to lead this struggle. It
is a struggle that requires equal dynamism, more focus and determination than
the armed struggle.
While most Rwandans grasp the fact that liberation is still
an ongoing process, this is not yet digested by some youth who, with time,
developed a worrying attitude. The latter are living in a special comfort zone
of sorts, fully enjoying the gains of Rwanda’s liberation. Their
attitude is not only counterproductive. It threatens the sustainability of the
liberation journey and efforts to build on the youth to accomplish even more
positives or the future. The
indifferent behavior calls for pressing strategic engagements with the youth on
Rwanda’s liberation and its stages.
To address this, we have to start somewhere. And, like the
old adage goes, charity begins at home.
Parents should comprehend the fact that introducing and
educating their children about Rwanda’s liberation history is not only a civic
duty that helps shape their children into informed and responsible citizens. It
is also a sure way of assuring their future in a country that is
prosperous. In our context, liberation is like a relay game. One
generation will give you a head-start and pass onto the next one. The duty
of keeping that legacy and sustaining it belongs to the youth just as much.
Many Rwandan youths have come across the topic of the
History of Rwanda’s liberation, at least, once. At different youth forums,
the topic has been the most attractive because it is predominantly a story of
the youth who succeeded in liberating the nation and set it on the right track.
The youth need to understand that in this relay game, they
are not spectators but the main players.
They should develop the sense of urgency to develop all the
indispensable skills and capacity to take over the baton and perform better
with it. They must-have the right attitude so as to accomplish this challenging
task. It requires discipline, patriotism, hard work, teamwork and a continuous
pursuit for excellence.
My last plea, on behalf of the youth, is that the history of
Rwanda’s liberation be an academic topic taught in schools, just like most of
us spent hours trying to memorize all the details of the French Revolution or
the American History. This would develop the youth’s awareness of
Rwanda’s liberation. It will help them to pinpoint and understand their role
and expectations in sustaining the country's liberation process.
I wish you all a Happy Liberation Day. A time to celebrate
our heroes, those who passed away at the battle fields and after and to those
still alive and serving their nation. Let us honor their sacrifice by keeping
their legacy alive and building on it to achieve more.