Stort by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Editor
RWANDA says the maintenance of peace within Africa and beyond is a key deliverable in achieving sustainable growth.
July 4 each year marks Rwanda’s Liberation Day, commonly known as Kwibohora, it celebrates and honours the historic win by the Rwandese Patriotic Front in ousting the genocidal regime in 1994.
Marking the day, Rwanda’s top envoy to Zimbabwe, His Excellency James Musoni said the visionary leadership in Rwanda has vested efforts in the development of cooperation and partnership, celebrating the cordial relationship with Zimbabwe.
“Under His Excellency President Paul Kagame’s inclusive politics and policies, Rwanda has made a remarkable transformation into a united, peaceful, democratic, and prosperous nation. Rwanda’s life expectancy for 2024 was at 70 years where as the average life expectancy in Africa is 64 years.
“The increase in life expectancy is a direct result of the ongoing socio-economic progress being achieved in Rwanda, especially advancement in healthcare access and initiatives promoting overall well-being in Rwanda. The visionary leadership in Rwanda has vested efforts in the development of cooperation and partnerships and promotion of a peaceful world,” he said.
Ambassador Musoni also highlighted Rwanda’s growing footprint in global peacekeeping, currently ranked the fifth-largest contributor to UN missions and second within Africa.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, praised Rwanda’s resilience and transformation into a leading African economy, ranked 38th globally and second best place to do business in Africa.
“Today’s occasion reminds us of the strength and resilience of the people of Rwanda, who have chosen to move forward in peace after the genocide in 1994. Thirty-one years down the line, Rwanda has made significant developments toward economic transformation. Led by His Excellency Dr Paul Kagame, the country has made remarkable success on its flagship programmes such as the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy and the National Strategy for Transformation.
“All these initiatives, and many others, have seen Rwanda rise to be ranked 38 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business and second best place to do business in Africa. Your Excellency, economic and social development thrive where there is peace and tranquillity, and we are glad to observe that our Rwandan brothers and sisters have succeeded in forging ahead in an environment of peace. This is the legacy that must be cherished, guarded with pride, and passed on to future generations – the legacy of one vision, one destiny, and one nation,” he said.
Zimbabwe and Rwanda are expected to convene their third Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation, a move aimed at deepening bilateral trade and diplomatic ties.
At multilateral fora, the two nations continue to support each other’s candidatures, including Zimbabwe’s bid for a UN Security Council non-permanent seat for 2027-2028 and international environmental agreements like CITES.
As Rwanda celebrates 31 years of liberation, its story remains a compelling example of how peace, unity, and strategic partnerships can power a nation’s rebirth.
