Birth of Another Heroine

© 2019 Olivier Sempiga. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/07/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8222-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8221-0 (e)

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To my lovely wife Nadine

and my son Olinade.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I began writing this book in 2016 when I was studying in South Korea. Because I was also working full time, I used my time to and from work – on the bus or train – to write the bigger part of the book. Months after I moved to France in 2017, I resumed the writing of the book. This book would not have been completed without the support of many people. First of all, I would like to thank my wife Nadine for her unwavering support. I am grateful to my professors Dr. Anand Ruchi and Dr. Douglas Yates. I thank Charmant Sengabira and Theogene Ngirinshuti for their encouragement. My gratitude goes to my fans who recommended my first book. I will always be grateful to my late father Christophe Hakizimana who encouraged me to write books. Words would not be enough to thank Prof. Anthony Chennels who guided me into the world of telling and writing stories. It is twenty five years since my late mother Dative Nyirandegeya was killed. She was never blessed to see how much we have grown as her kids. She should be proud from where she is in the land of the living dead. Last but not least, I thank my son Olinade who accompanied me day and night as I wrote the book. He is always fascinated by my laptop.

M ukamurekezi looks exhausted after a busy week of teaching primary school children. It is a Friday, around six o’ clock in the evening and the sun is slowly going down and she is walking home. The weakening sunrays look so beautiful; those who like nature cannot afford not to gaze at it. It takes Mukamurekezi one hour to reach home by foot. She has been teaching in Rembo School for over twenty years. All the pupils who have passed through her hands have gone on to become important people in the country and abroad. When she sees them on national television or reads in newspapers what they have accomplished, she can only be proud of how she moulded them. Some people have become medical doctors in the best hospitals in the country; others are senators and members of parliament and ministers in the government. She feels happy that she has contributed a great deal to the development and betterment of humanity. But at the same time she feels sad that some of those she taught have caused division among people and are animated by hate speech.

Mukamurekezi has remained the same simple woman in the city and the lowest paid of all civil servants. The government claims that there are too many teachers and that increasing their salary even by 1 percent will be detrimental to the country’s economic growth. But she is never discouraged by this situation. She believes that by educating kids, she is serving the nation and preparing them for a better future. She claims that even in a new world, she would still choose to become a teacher. She feels fulfilled by what she does. But she hopes that all the simple teachers at least will be respected by people in the society for the invaluable contribution they have made.

As she keeps walking fast so that she can prepare food for her children and grandchildren, she slowly observes day becoming night. She finally reaches home and finds Nkubito, her husband, waiting for her. The husband is drinking his local brew in a calabash. He does not have habits like so many other men who go to the bar to drink in the evenings. He recalls that the first time he went to the bar, people talked about politics and liked to gather in groups according to ethnicity or region. Most people in the city have come from rural areas. Some despise others depending on where they come from. Those who come from the south are convinced that they are the ones leading the country. When they get drunk discussions turn ugly and are division oriented. Nkubito was once insulted for having married a Tutsi, and from then onwards he never went back to the pub. Mukamurekezi is indeed one of the few Tutsis to be teaching in Rembo School. Other teachers have been kicked out because of their ethnic background. Definitely it is written nowhere that these teachers were chased away because of their ethnic background, but they were always persecuted and teachers from the same ethnic group were fired. Mukamurekezi is only lucky that the inspector of education in that region is a good friend of Nkubito. The latter has pleaded with the inspector to let his wife continue to work in the school. The education inspector has done all that is within his power to prevent the firing of Mukamurekezi. When some teachers were kicked out because of their ethnic background Mukamurekezi wanted to quit in protest, but she thought that she would be doing a disservice to her country if she abandoned education. Teaching has become like a vocation for her. It is the only and easiest way she can set a good foundation for tomorrow’s Rwanda. Those who were kicked out from the school advise her to take advantage of that chance of not being dismissed to represent them in education and urge her to remain a model teacher.

Following the dismissal of some of her colleagues, Mukamurekezi decides to fight even harder anyone who has extremist views against students or teachers of another ethnic group. But it has been a long fight; most teachers have been traumatising her because of her positions on different issues. The previous week, a number of extremist teachers wrote tracts and threatened her. They called her all sorts of names, like cockroach, and accused her of not teaching the Hutu manifesto like most teachers do. They feel she betrays the nation. They told her that if she continues in the same way they will protest until she gets sacked, and if possible, jailed. Mukamurekezi was never distracted by the tracts for it was not the first time it has happened to her. Besides, she stands for what she does, for it is morally correct.

Every evening after work, Mukamurekezi extensively talks to her husband to find out how he spent the day and to tell her own stories and experiences of the day. She knows that communication is a key pillar for any couple to succeed in their endeavours.

- ‘Hello my dear husband. How has been your day?’ Mukamurekezi asks her husband.

- ‘It has been pretty tiring,’ Nkubito replies. ‘I worked in the field the whole day, and today the sun has been out all day long. But I am glad together with our workers we have covered the entire field. Initially, we planned to finish tomorrow, but the team has been amazing and faster than anticipated. They all work as if it is their own field. I have never seen workers like that. Even when I was not there, I realised that they worked hard. They are different from those I am used to. When I normally go to sort out something else, I come back only to realise that they have moved a lot compared to when I was present. Other workers I worked with before even rested for a long time only to get up quickly when they saw me coming. Those are the people who cannot do much once I am not there. I hope time will come for our country when workers will learn to finish their work even in the absence of the boss. We need to create such a kind of culture. Today’s team is a glimpse of that. To them, it does not make much difference whether I am present. What they want is to finish the task that is assigned to them.’

- ‘We have teachers like that who cannot do their work conveniently when the school director is not around,’ says Mukamurekezi. ‘It is like they do the teaching work because of the director. Similarly, many pupils nowadays do not seem to work hard. They only learn when someone is supervising them. Otherwise, they keep making noise and disturb those who would like to study. Anyway, I am glad that you finished the entire field. You can rest tomorrow. But please do not drink all day long. You may just do light work at home.’

When Nkubito hears the exhortation of not drinking he laughs and says,

- ‘How many times have I drunk during the day? Is it because you are now seeing me with this calabash? Do you want to taste it?’

- ‘No, dear. It is not today that I am going to taste beer. You know I have never taken a sip since I was born. I always pity poor colleagues who keep complaining about hangovers at work and being broke because of beer. The funny part is that they never stop drinking, no matter how bad the effects alcohol has on them,’ Mukamurekezi tells Nkubito.

- ‘Let us stop talking about alcohol, or you will have to send one of the kids to buy me another bottle. I should have asked you how your day was. Instead, I got carried away by our discussion. How have you been, my sweetheart? I know every Friday you look exhausted after a hectic week in and out of the classroom. But your hard work always inspires me. Sometimes, I wonder where you get energy. I hope your pupils and colleagues are inspired by your work ethic. Very few people work as hard as you do. Fewer would work as hard if they learned that you are paid a salary as low as you get.’ Nkubito says.

- ‘Thank you for the compliments. It was a busy day indeed. It is the first week of the term for this school year. We have been trying to make new pupils feel at home. Some are slowly seeing the difference between their former school and ours – or at least my class. Last week, one pupil came to me and said she feels like in our class pupils are equally treated, whereas in her previous class, they were taught how different they are ethnically and were treated accordingly. When I heard this information that I knew all along, I fought my tears. Without assimilating pupils and indoctrinating them I always try to focus on the values that they share rather than on their physical appearance, their social, religious and economic background. As for the salary I hope the teacher’s efforts will one day be recognised and teachers will be treated fairly.’ Mukamurekezi replies passionately.

- ‘Yes I have already received some echo about the fact that you are making a difference at school.’ Nkubito murmurs to his wife so that no one else can hear him. ‘However, I fear for you because you keep aggravating the situation. You know that in the first place you are not supposed to be teaching at Rembo school and now you do not follow the rules of the institution You are not a teacher of politics or history of our country. It is not up to you to show pupils that they are the same. Let them find it out through other means without putting yourself on the spot line. You make yourself a target of extremists of this nation. You are putting us in danger. I am proud that you are a model teacher but I do not like it when I always have to be told that you are deviating from the purpose why you were hired in Rembo School. When will you learn that we are in a world where everyone spies on everyone, a war against all, endless competition for power and self-interest? All people do is monitor you. Even your pupils may be the ones who report what you do. So be careful.’

- ‘I get some of your points,’ Mukamurekezi answers. ‘But I will always stand for values that I believe in. I will keep fighting for what is right and just. I am convinced that in this world of selfish people, there have to be some people who fight for those vulnerable, who speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. In fact, this is exactly the only reason I am still teaching at Rembo School. Very few teachers would stand the difficulties that I go through. Sometimes I am also tempted to quit but the other half of me always convince me to remain for the sake of the kids I teach and the future of the nation. I know it sounds crazy and even stupid. I am in a constant fight of the brain and the heart. The brain tells me to quit because I am fighting a lost battle but the heart urges me to carry on. I feel I should keep following my heart because all those who exploit others and divide us are heartless. A teacher does a difficult job of moulding kids who come from different background and by so doing forming a nation that is built on unity and companionship. A divided nation has no future. I cannot therefore put my interests ahead of the nation’s interests. Many teachers will keep despising me because of that attitude and eventually I may be kicked out of the school. But that is better than giving up. I can only give up because my physical and mental energy have exhausted but not because others are discouraging me of doing the good that I stand for. When I leave the school or this world I will go with a clear conscience and a happy heart that I have taught so many kids and laid a solid foundation on which the nation will be based. It will be a difficult task because few teachers think like that. Some of my colleagues are like mercenaries whereas others are party partisans. They do not care much about values that we should impart on kids. Many have instead become partisans to the extent that they seem to be teaching manifestos of the party and their ethnic group. We need to go beyond that for the interests of the party are subordinate to the interests of the nation.’

- ‘Actually when I think about it too I feel for our kids. I feel for our nation and generations to come. It is like they are brainwashed. But what is even threatening and alarming is that most parents condone the kind of education that is taking place in our schools.’ Nkubito says.

- ‘Umwera uturutse i bukuru bucya wakwiriye hose, as the Rwandan proverb suggests. You know that it all started from above. Anything that is emphasised by the top quickly becomes the way of life for those at the bottom. People no longer think for themselves they just follow what authorities tell them even when it is not the right thing. The way we are heading in the wrong direction, it looks like only a miracle will save our country. Yet we should not wait for miracles to happen. We should also do the little we can ourselves even if we may be in the minority or part of the bottom and non-partisans. But we should be aware that our battle will be long and at times we will be discouraged by there being no much change or no change at all.’ Mukamurekezi reiterates.

- ‘I admire your courage even if I fear I may lose you. Why don’t you realise that our country is corrupt? You may be a victim because of what you believe in and stand for. Is it really worth it? Why don’t you pretend that you have grown old and are no longer able to teach? Then you will come home and live in peace. Both of us will make a living from our farm. In fact, we could be better off. You suffer for nothing. The salary they give you is too little and will not even allow you to get a good retirement package. The social security fund to which you give your money for retirement package is busy doing business with your money but will give too little to survive.’ Nkubito suggests.

- ‘Do not worry nothing will happen to me,’ Mukamurekezi says passionately. ‘As I always tell you it is not because of the salary that I work as a teacher otherwise I would have looked for another job. Teaching is my passion; it is like a vocation. I just love it. If they sack me we will work together on our farm and will continue to feed our children. You may be right that it would be more economically beneficial to work on our big farm but I have always believed that education is also a crop worth cultivating. I only feel sad when I see some kids I taught who have changed for worse once they access positions of power as if to confirm power corrupts. Some of them were good kids and wonderful pupils but once they entered politics it is like something blinded them. Anyway we should not be talking politics all the time I come home. We should talk about our private life as well. For now let me go to cook for our little ones. Soon they will be arriving from where they went to play with neighbours’ kids.’

- ‘Ok my dear. If you need a hand let me know’, says Nkubito.

When Mukamurekezi comes from teaching, she is almost always tired but as a woman she feels it is also her responsibility to prepare food for her kids. She cannot afford a maid like those women from rich families. She has to do everything herself. For now she is lucky to still have children who are not married with their own families to take care of. As such these children help her to fetch fire wood and water. Time may come when she gets all these herself. The irony is that the electricity cable and water pipe that supply the area pass just a few meters from her home to supply the rich. As a poor teacher she cannot afford all this basic needs which has become a luxury for many. When some people see how teachers remain poor for many decades while those they taught do not cease to climb the ladder of development, they wonder whether those rich people should not start an association to help teachers develop as well.

Mukamurekezi has given birth to 8 children. Five of them have got married. Once in a while they also send money to assist her in some basic needs. Like many other parents in this country she once believed that one should give birth to as many children as she can. Even the government seems to have encouraged that. The identity card in which new born babies are registered contains 12 slots for names which means it is usually not a problem to give birth to up to 12 children. Simply because the mortality rate is high one is not sure who will survive and hence parents decide to give birth to a higher number so that at least they are left with some if death strikes. Many people believe that children are an economic investment as well since when one reaches old age without having saved income, these children will support their parents. Parents also think that God is the one who raises and gives birth to kids as names like Harelimana and Habyarimana imply. But most of these beliefs are encouraged by religion which seems to encourage people not to embrace family planning and the use of contraception. Although Mukamurekezi has given birth to many children, after attending some seminars on family planning, she believes that it is high time the government puts more efforts on educating people’s mentality on family planning. But of course the government will have to work hard to reduce child mortality so that parents get assured that it is not a big problem giving birth to few children. She is convinced that when children are few one is able to give them better education and better health. This in turn sets a better foundation for the country and puts an end to the vicious cycle of poverty and high mortality.

The food Mukamurekezi has been preparing for her kids is now ready. She prepared sweet potatoes, rice and beans. Kids have come as they have been smelling the usual nice taste that their mum’s food comes with as it signals that the food is ready. Kids are all anxiously waiting for Christmas which comes in a few weeks’ time when they will have to eat meat. Meat is a delicacy that many families only afford on Christmas and Easter. Kids always look forward to those days.

- ‘Did you behave well with other kids? No fights today?’ Mukamurekezi asks her children as she hugs each one of them.

- ‘Yes mum we behaved really well as you never cease to tell us.’ The 3 boys answer at the same time.

- ‘Come and eat food I prepared for you before it gets