Charles Murigande

Charles Murigande (born August 15, 1958) is a Rwandan political veteran (currently in retirement) who served in the government of Rwanda as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2008, as Minister of Governmental Affairs from 2008 to 2009, and as Minister of Education from 2009 to 2011. His last position was a Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Institutional Advancement of the University of Rwanda. Prior to being appointed to his current post, he served as Ambassador of Rwanda to Japan with concurrent accreditation to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and the Philippines from August 2011 to April 2015. Murigande is the Chairman of the Kepler College’s Governance Council. Quotes At that time in 1995, over three million Rwandans were still in refugee camps outside Rwanda, but now they have returned home,” he said. “That time, households with telephones did not reach ten thousand. Yet nowadays, almost every household has a phone, and some have more phones than family members. That is something we thank God for. No one thought Rwandans could reunite and reconcile. Students fought and even slept in the same beds without talking to each other. The things that divided Rwandans back then have been overcome today; they get along well, collaborate to build Rwanda, and that is why the country is progressing. Since 1994, when the RPF was able to stop the genocide and drive out of power the government that was carrying out the genocide, it did something contrary to human nature. And perhaps that is why people have refused to accept it. It isn’t natural for a party to win power and then invite other parties to share it. The RPF having as a primary goal the unity of the country, the RPF refused to be bound by human nature. Rwanda had a history of non-representative government. We put into place a broad-based government made of six political parties and put into place a transitional parliament of eight parties. It is difficult to understand why people refer to the RPF as the party in power, when you consider that in the government, all decisions are taken by consensus. I urge young Rwandans to live for others, ready to sacrifice and driven to positively impact the lives of all Rwandans, including themselves and their families. They should always ask: How does what I'm doing transform this country for the better? Life as a refugee is filled with hardship. You constantly question your circumstances. At our refugee-run secondary school, for example, we often asked why we could not attend the schools designated for Burundians. Why were we treated as second-class citizens? In an interview Mobilisation began with building an organisation. Civilians played a crucial role in laying the foundations of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi). Cadres, especially civilians, worked tirelessly to raise awareness among Rwandans about the country’s dire situation and the possibility of change. In an interview Mobilising Rwandans was not easy. We had spent nearly 30 years in exile, and many had lost hope of ever returning. Some told us, “You’re just dreaming. Why not focus on getting citizenship where you are? And if you can’t, just accept it and move on.” They didn’t believe the effort would lead anywhere. In an interview As Pan-Africans, we must also redefine our relationships with other nations, especially within Africa – engaging with the world as sovereign equals. We must move beyond the legacy of colonial influence and reclaim full agency over our destiny. In an interview The youth must protect and build on these achievements by preserving their dignity – avoiding drugs, alcoholism, and immorality, and focusing on improving themselves, their families, and the nation. Rwanda’s future is in their hands: they have the power either to destroy or to prosper this country. In an interview External links Category:Politicians from Rwanda Category:Government ministers Category:1958 births Category:Living people