Mbeki, while acknowledging South Africa’s role in Rwanda’s recovery, said the country’s rise from the ashes of the 1994 atrocities inspires the rest of the African continent on its development potential.
“I think the government and the people of Rwanda have done very well in terms of the recovery from the genocide, development of Rwanda. I am very happy that South Africa made its own contribution as President Kagame was saying yesterday,” Mbeki said during an interview with SABC News on Monday after Sunday’s commemoration of 30th anniversary of the genocide.
“I think they demonstrate that if Rwanda can come from the genocide like that and achieve the kind of progress and development that it has achieved, it says that all of us on the continent, whatever our own problems nationally, if we do the right thing, we can also recover,” he added.
South Africa was among the countries recognized by Kagame on Sunday for their solidarity with the people of Rwanda during the challenging period.
The Rwandan Head of State said South Africa, which had just ended apartheid, offered to pay for Cuban doctors to help rebuild Rwanda’s shattered health system and opened up its universities to Rwandan students, charging only local fees.
“Among the hundreds of students who benefited from South Africa’s generosity, some were orphaned survivors; others were the children of perpetrators; and many were neither. Most have gone on to become leaders in our country in different fields,” Kagame stated, adding, “Today, they live completely new lives.”
During the event, President Kagame, who has predicted a fivefold growth for Rwanda in the next 30 years, also expressed his gratitude to Kenya, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for hosting and giving a home to large numbers of Rwandan refugees.
He also recognized Tanzania for its role in hosting and facilitating the Arusha peace process and being a productive partner in the rebuilding process.

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