Rwanda: Twenty-Two Years Later, Rwandans Talk of Liberation Fruits

Twenty-two years ago, Consolate Mukampabuka wouldn't be allowed by banks to withdraw more than Rwf3,000 from her own account without the presence of her husband because, she says, "no one trusted women to think well or put resources to good use." Today, such a testimony sounds like a badly-conceived fiction, thanks to the Liberation and its transformation of the socio-economic fabric of the Rwandan society.

City of Kigali (file photo).

When 57-year-old Consolate Mukampabuka joins other Rwandans today in marking the Liberation Day, it won't be mere reflection on history.

She won't be only celebrating the historic time when the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) through its military wing, the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

She will also be celebrating the fruits from good governance that was ushered into the country following the liberation.

Mukampabuka's most enjoyable fruit from the liberation campaign at the moment is women empowerment that was spearheaded by the post-Genocide government to-date.

Twenty-two years ago, Mukampabuka wouldn't be allowed by banks to withdraw more than Rwf3,000 from her own account without the presence of her husband because, she says, "no one trusted women to think well or put resources to good use."

Today, she can withdraw millions of francs from her shared family account without the bank tellers contacting her husband given women's emancipation.

"I would need the whole day to talk about what we have achieved in the last 22 years. Our leadership has given dignity to women. Our husbands and brothers no longer have to decide alone; we have to decide together," Mukampabuka says, taking a short break from her busy work in a family supermarket in Kigali's budding suburb of Remera to tell her story.

"Husbands used to sell off family property while drinking in the bar without asking for the views of their wives but today they can't since we have equal rights on family property," she adds.

Today, July 4, 2016, there is a sense of celebration in the country and among Rwandan Diaspora for the good things that Rwandans have achieved in many areas of their lives since the end of the liberation war 22 years ago.

Post-Genocide

Ever since the end of the Liberation War on July 4, 1994, the country has achieved a lot in many areas and people can now look back and recall how things have changed for the better with a sense of optimism for the future.

Among other areas of improvement include stable security for residents as the rule of law was established and maintained in the country, economic development as poverty levels have been significantly dropping, unity and reconciliation among Rwandans, and exemplary policies for women empowerment.

"The most important thing that was achieved, which is very critical for the country's life and wellbeing of Rwandans, has been unity and reconciliation. Rwandans have gotten together and have been working for their own development," said Senator Jean-Nepomuscène Sindikubwabo, chairperson of the senatorial Standing Committee on Political Affairs.