‘Ndi Umunyarwanda’- A Journalist’s tale of bigotry

Seasoned journalist Cleophas Barore

His complexion can not exactly tell you his real age. But a closer look at him, you may think he is a 35-year-old. However, Cleophas Barore, a seasoned Rwandan journalist, working with the state owned media house (RBA), formerly Orinfor, is 44 years old.

He has seen it all. His words simply spit half a bank of experience about Rwanda’s history, right from the 70’s to date. As a journalist who has been in the profession since the aftermath of 1994 genocide against Tutsi, he harbours a lot to share with the youth, ranging from his own story as well as the country’s ‘horrible’ history characterized by hatred, sectarianism and indeed ‘Bigotry’ which was mainly brought up by colonialists.

As part of the ongoing ‘Ndi Umunyarwanda’ campaign being conducted country wide, Barore was among the invited guests to give his testimony about his experience about Rwanda’s history prior and after the Genocide, to thousands of University students in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province.

When he took to the podium to give his testimony, the audience cringed in silence! They eagerly waited for words from a journalist whom many had never met or physically spoke to; only listening to as a news anchor on state radio.

Born in former Bicumbi commune, now part of Rwamagana District, Cleophas Barore grew up in a Hutu-family. He attended his Primary School like other Children and later enrolled in secondary school.

Affected by tribal conflicts

When Barore joined secondary school in 80’s, he was welcomed by a storm of tribal hatred against fellow Tutsi students.

“It was disastrous to see teachers forcing us to present our identity cards to discover every student’s tribal identity. Because Hutus were not in question, Tutsi students were the main target. It was horrible,” says Barore.

Whenever such bigotry happened in his class, Barore could go back home and narrate the ordeal to his parents and relatives, but no one could give him a vivid answer.

“This put me on intense pressure to even ask my fellow students and staff what was going on. I later learned that the only Rwandan to be eliminated was a Tutsi,” says a regretfully-looking Barore.

Nepotism in school

Addressing the students, Barore told them how he himself witnessed one of the then Burgomaster of a commune addressing residents where he made a statement that it was a taboo for a child of a leader to miss enrollment in school when those of peasants are studying.

“This statement made me think twice. This is how the former regime acted. I was very disgusted by what was going on.” He said.

Adult life    

In late 80’s, Barore had grown up. During this period, the entire Tutsi race was targeted for extermination systematically, despite having started as early as 1959, 1967, 1973.

“All this was being planned by the state.”

Limited mode of communication ruined people’s time to think and analyse

According to Cleophas Barore, having only one state-controlled Radio,  made it easy for the genocide to happen.

“Everyone in the country had only access to the national radio. There were no private radios in the country. This became easier for the government to champion its weird propaganda and spread it throughout the country. We developed a sense that the only enemy to the country was Tutsi. That’s why everyone started the war against Tutsi.” said Barore.

Barore told the gathering that included University students and staff that he remained in that darkness even after the genocide in 1994.

“In late 1994, I heard an opportunity for a job vacancy at Orinfor. I applied and went for an interview but sarcastically I knew I would not get a job because the new government was almost fully-Tutsi led. Days later, I was surprisingly informed that I passed the interview. I started work immediately but still harboured mistrust and fear that any time I would be harmed by Tutsi workmates.”

Inferiority complex at work

Barore, who currently doubles his journalism duties with pastoral work, could not associate with Tutsi workmates.

‘’I thought that they were not happy with me at all. This remained inside me until early 2000 when I was offered a chance to go abroad with President Paul Kagame. This time, I stared sensing something different. I started to think otherwise. I started thinking that the new government was far different from the old regime that promoted sectarianism and racism.” says Barore.

After being offered a couple of official missions outside the country, it is from this time that Barore started to feel full citizenship in his country.

His advice to the youth

Pointing out the ‘Ndi Umunyarwanda’ initiative which is a means of national cleansing where those who know what happened during genocide tell it all, as it happened, and assume responsibility for their omissions or even commission for this heinous crime against their compatriots, Barore told Students that Ndi Umunyarwanda is not a judgmental process, nor a means to caution a section of our people, but healing medicine to the wounds carried by many Rwandans as a result of colonialism.

He calls on Rwandans to support Ndi Umunyarwanda as a way of building and equally enjoyed and developed Rwanda.