April 28 was the last Saturday of the month. In Rwanda the last Saturday of each month brings the Umuganda - a national communal labour system which has grown into a Rwandan tradition. On that day, everyone in Rwanda is expected to participate in community work.
From early in the morning till about noon no one is allowed to drive their vehicles and businesses are expected to stay closed. Police scan the streets to make sure everyone contributes to the country’s Umuganda. Citizens are given a card to be signed by the authorities to indicate their participation. For the most part, there are no sanctions imposed for absences – the community spirit and the comfort of being part of a larger team appears to be sufficient.
From early in the morning till about noon no one is allowed to drive their vehicles and businesses are expected to stay closed. Police scan the streets to make sure everyone contributes to the country’s Umuganda. Citizens are given a card to be signed by the authorities to indicate their participation. For the most part, there are no sanctions imposed for absences – the community spirit and the comfort of being part of a larger team appears to be sufficient.
So, people bring their tools and do their share. They sweep the streets, cut the grass, plant the trees or repair the roads. Throughout Rwanda groups of people meet to do their community work. It is said that this practice promotes unity, pride, development and nationalism. On March 1st, residents of Nyankenke Sector in Gicumbi District have even converted their Thursday afternoons dedicated to their recently completed Gacaca
But it’s not all about doing the work. Tuesday May 1st is International Labour Day; a day to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the working class and labor movement. In Rwanda, national celebrations will be held at the Amahoro Stadium[3] in Kigali. It begins at 8:00 o’clock with the arrival of the population and ends at noon with the presentation of certificates and speeches. Everybody is invited to this event. All national celebrations are well attended.
Rwandans value community involvement. It seeds new relationships, ideas and opportunities – concepts that are well understood by the agrarian society. This cultural mindset is well summarized in the country's national motto:
UBUMWE-UMURIMO-GUKUNDA IGIHUGU
Unity, Labour and Patriotism
[1] A form of volunteer based community justice system inspired by tradition to accelerate the adjudication of crimes against humanity arising from the Genocide.
[2] The Times News, Kigali, March 5, 2007.
[3] According to LGen Roméo Dallaire this Stadium held over 12,000 people under his protection during the Genocide.
Photo: Farmland just outside of Kigali, Rwanda. 11.06
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