Rwanda: A model Africa?
One million Hutu & Tutsi’s killed in three months in one of the worst genocides this century. In happened in 1994 and what did the world do about it? Nothing! The infrastructure was largely destroyed along with the agriculture which bought famine and disease. In a population of six million between one and two million were killed.
I have just returned from Rwanda and can only marvel at the progress that has been made. It reminds me of what happened in Singapore in the 70’s and 80’s. How do you get people to live together in harmony, who must have such hatred for each other? With approximately 130,000 held after the civil war and no chance of cases making through the normal judicial system the Rwandan government introduced the Gacaca courts. This are a method of transitional justice designed to promote communal healing and rebuilding in the wake of the Rwandan Genocide. Rwanda has especially focused on community rebuilding placing justice in the hands of trusted citizens. The emphasis was to convince Hutus & Tutsi’s alike that they are now Rwandans.
President Paul Kagame is hailed by allies as a visionary leader, but his opponents fear him. Time will tell but compared to many of its African counterparts it appears to have minimal corruption. Start from the bottom and it is mandatory for all children to have an education.
When you enter Rwanda just about all people are checked for illegal items. Drugs, firearms maybe but high on the list is plastic bags. The seemingly harmless plastic bag. Couple this with the whole population one Sunday a month does a clean-up. It includes the President himself. If you don’t do a clean-up you can do community service, like ploughing a field for someone who may be sick or widowed. The result is the cleanest country in Africa, even the slums are clean. Slums are too harsh a word as they are habitable. The spin-off is healthier people who have a pride in the appearance in their country. I was at a roadside stop and a paper bag was illegally parked on the driveway. A security person left his spot, walked over to the bag, picked it up and put it in the bin even though I am sure it is not in his job description.
It is Kagame’s intention to build a nation with a national pride like Singapore and South Korea however the root cause of the genocide was tribal. However Rwandans are getting healthier in body.
Rwanda is very fortunate to have very rich soil and a climate where you can grow almost anything any time of the year. Markets are laden with potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes and so many runner beans, cabbages, celery etc. etc. Also tea. All the labour is done by hand as it’s too hilly for tractors. Cows, sheep, pigs are all sustainable plus a multitude of chickens. You know how 3rdworld countries have those mangy stray dogs that you fear may carry rabies. Well dogs are not allowed out in.
However this small nation sits alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo which has more than its fair share of problems. Whatever happens there will effect Rwanda. To the east is Burundi which was also caught up in the Hutu & Tutsi genocide but has not had the leadership to progress out of economic and social misery. Neighbours like these are not ideal.It’s a brilliant place to visit, considered very safe and of course you have wonderful wildlife like the Mountain Gorillas and the Golden Monkeys. The landscape of the Volcanoes National Park is like a world that you imagine dinosaurs would roam. Talk to Nadine at Jones & Co Collection as she has organised many of my African trips. nadine@jacctourism.com.au
