Africa’s Journey; 50 years after Independence
By Bonny Mukombozi
Rwanda’s journey of resilience, especially in the last two decades, rotated on the commitment to strengthen governance and democracy, to restore a bond of unity and reconciliation, respect rights of the citizens, but above all set up a trend of economic recovery
If this journey is compared side by side, to other post conflict states in Africa, Rwandans have reasons to be proud, and to offer lessons on how to face trauma, reconnect a divided people for a common destiny, and look back into the national values
It is what Wole Soyinka, speaking at the sidelines of the International Conference on Governance and Democracy, held in Kigali, called ‘Renaissance truly visible on the African horizon, rise of a phoenix, from the ashes, and it stands, at the very least, as a symbol of rebirth, and a model of emulation for a continent’
For Rwanda, a bad ideology in the post independence period, which divided the socio fabric and a regime which committed the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, is one of the political legacies of the colonialism, the economic stamped, and the social breakdown, remains big challenges to even future generations
‘’We dare not view her as a sentimental space of forgiveness and reconciliation, but as a dynamic model of recovery against agonizing odds, drawing on hidden strengths, exhuming structures of national healing that had long been abandoned. Let Rwanda serve as the syntax, indeed the very language of Renaissance. As one nation space that reversed the bloodied tide of exclusivity, it has enlarged for us the vision of oneness even for the most disparate entities that express the riches of a continent’’ Wole Soyinka,
There are detractors in the course of reconstruction, while others thought it was impossible, the spirit of ‘never say die’ remains, now the values of integrity, patriotism are some of the rich sources Rwandans are deriving their strength
For three days, in the Lower Chamber of Deputies, high profile diplomats, academicians and politicians, from across the world, grappled with the Africa’s shadow independence, nation building, democracy and development, and why the debate now
The debates at the Conference on Governance and Democracy; an African Perspective held at the end of last month, shed light on African renaissance, regional integration and the future priorities
‘‘There is a need to revisit and re-examine the theoretical discourse regarding democracy in Africa and its interface with institutional building and development. The process of establishing an African architecture for governance is therefore a relevant and timely initiative’’ noted
Prof. Anastase Shyaka, CEO, of Rwanda Governance Board,
As part of a process of state formation, and gain nationhood, many African states, underwent various political reforms, some of which were watertight while others mired by destructive strives before eventually beginning to rebuild their political and economic systems
The path to democracy for most African countries continues to be blurred and complex. It is tinted with ethnic partisan politics, third-termism, coup d’etats, and above all, the poverty status among the people still remains big challenges
‘’every global policy started as an indigenous practice, Gacaca, which dealt with the complexity of genocide, can also become a global practice, Africa should learn from Rwanda, especially in developing home grown initiatives’’ Dr. Frank Okuth, from ICGLR’s Lusaka Centre for governance and democracy
To ensure Africa’s rightful place within the international setting, Policy makers, have to champion approaches addressing the local problems, and a form of democracy, which captures the socio-cultural aspirations of the people, there should be no one approach fits all, we can borrow ideas but not copy-paste style in dealing with African problems
Experience has shown that Rwanda’s home grown initiatives such as Gacaca, one cow per family, monthly community work-umuganda, education for all, are some of the key pillars, which are helping in transforming the Rwandan society
Whereas steady democracies, around the world have similar characteristics, each has included their own domestic ideas, which suit the aspirations and the needs of the people,
In reference to Rwanda’s recent tragic history, and the significant progress in reducing
Corruption and improving the business environment, Brian Tamuka Kagoro, a pan-Africanist, observed that, it is important to assess the contribution of the reform policies in consolidating democracy, effective institutions, and overall good governance.
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