ED: Zimbabwe Could Learn From The Rwanda Post-Genocide Reconciliation Model

President Mnangagwa has said that Zimbabwe could learn from Rwanda’s reconciliation story. He said these remarks in an interview at Kigali International Airport after attending the Rwanda Liberation Day at Amahoro National Stadium.

President Mnangagwa said that Rwanda is now one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, enjoying unity and peace despite the genocide that left about 800 000 dead 25 years ago. The president said:

It’s an exceptional experience of reconciliation. Twenty-five years ago Rwanda could have been torn to pieces. But then President Kagame rescued the situation, and has built a proud, united and integrated Rwanda. This should be a lesson to the rest of African Union (AU) member states.

We still have member states of AU with such internal problems. So, the experience of Rwanda could be a classic lesson with regards to how you can integrate our nation to speak with one voice, to become sisters and brothers and move forward and put the experiences of the past which are divisive behind. Rwanda has totally succeeded in that regard.

He added that the Rwanda experience reminds him of the Zimbabwean situation. Mnangagwa said that broadcasting President Kagame’s statements in Zimbabwe could help the country to transform into a united nation.

The President recently met with Midlands and Matebeleland traditional leaders to discuss Gukurahundi. During the meeting, the chiefs asked for leadership roles in solving the issue saying that it was their subjects who were affected by Gukurahundi. The series of massacres culminated in the death of about 20 000 people between 1982 and 1987.

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