Speech Delivered by the Director of Radio TV Inkinzo, the Voice of the Great Lakes, on the occasion of our fifth anniversary

Speech Delivered by the Director of Radio TV Inkinzo, the Voice of the Great Lakes, on the occasion of our fifth anniversary

Honorable guests, Our dearest friends, you who love and follow us faithfully every day, And all of you who have made Radio TV Inkinzo your media, the vessel of your truth,

I stand before you today, my heart filled with immense joy and great honor, to share with you the happiness of the journey we have traveled together over these past five years. Five years already! When one says five years, it may sound like a short time, but for us, these five years represent a lifetime. They are years of struggle, years of joy, years of tears, and years of hope. Since September 18, 2020, the day we officially launched this project, we have committed ourselves to a single, unique mission—a difficult but noble one: to be the “Shield” (Inkinzo) of the truth, and to be the “Voice of the Great Lakes.” We pledged to be the voice of the voiceless citizens, the voice of a forgotten history, and the voice of a truth that many fear to speak.

Part 1: Our Mission and Our Journey – Excavating the Truth from the Darkness

Brothers and sisters, We began this journey in difficult times, at a moment when our country needed the light of truth more than ever before. We saw that much of the media had become content with reporting the news of the day—superficial information, like the leaves of a tree that never reach its roots. We therefore decided to take a different path, a path that is arduous but honorable: the path of investigation, of analysis, of looking back into history in order to illuminate the future. We accepted the role of being excavators of truth, even if it lay buried in the deepest darkness, because we believe that “a bird that does not fly will never know where the grain has ripened.”

Over the past five years, we have remained faithful to this mission. We did not come merely to tell you what happened; we came to tell you why it happened. We have strived to offer you in-depth analysis through various programs you have come to love:

• In the program “ICO UTARI UZI” (What You Didn’t Know), we delved into the history of Burundi and the region, unearthing files that had been ignored, to show how the consequences of past mistakes continue to haunt us to this day.
• In the program “TUVAHE TUJAHE” (Where Do We Come From and Where Are We Going?), we analyzed current politics, seeking to understand the intentions of those in power and their opponents, so that we may know clearly where our country is headed.
• In our “NEWS” broadcasts, we did not just report events; we also tried to analyze them, to give you the story behind the story, so that you could fully understand what the news truly means.
• And in the program “KUZIKO” (Around the Fireplace), we sat down with various guests to discuss the issues facing them, searching together for solutions to our nation’s challenges, because we believe that “two simple minds are better than one general.”

In all these programs, our goal has remained the same: to give you the truth, to give you analysis, and to help you understand, so that each one of us can be an enlightened citizen, not a citizen led like a puppet.

Part 2: To Be the Voice of the Oppressed and the Voiceless

Brothers and sisters, Our first duty, the one with which we began, was to be the voice for those who had lost even the strength to cry out. We committed ourselves to being the voice of the dispossessed widow, the unjustly imprisoned inmate, and the forgotten refugee in a camp. We could not stand to see injustice become the norm and remain silent. We therefore decided to be their voice.

Over the past five years, we have received numerous files on people who were abducted, killed, or oppressed in other ways. We spoke their names, we told their stories, so they would not be forgotten.

• We spoke for the abducted: We took the names of kidnapped individuals, we shouted them out, and we demanded that the government and security forces tell us where these people were. We believe that when one person is abducted, an entire family is abducted, and an entire nation is destabilized.
• We spoke for those illegally imprisoned: We condemned and exposed how people are arrested and jailed for their opinions, or for nothing at all, without due process. We became the voice for those in prison cells without a defender.
• We helped save those who were about to be unjustly killed: By sounding the alarm and issuing alerts, we thwarted evil plans against those who were to be killed for their opinions or their ethnicity. Our voice became a shield for some, warning those in danger so they could flee before harm befell them.

We believe that when a single voice is extinguished, darkness begins to fall. We, therefore, became a light in that darkness. We did this because we believe that “he who does not defend the oppressed is himself an oppressor.” We chose to be on the side of truth and justice, even though we knew it was a path fraught with peril.

Part 3: To Be a School of History and Politics – Reading the Forgotten Books

Brothers and sisters, A wise man once said: “A people who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.” We saw that many of our country’s problems stem from one single thing: ignorance of history or, worse, its deliberate distortion. We saw that there is one history taught in schools, another taught in families, and yet another taught in political parties, which divides Burundians, each with their own truth. We therefore decided to be a school open to all, a school without walls, where we can all read together the history books that had been forgotten.

• We revisited the Arusha Accords: We did not just speak of them as a political document; we analyzed them article by article. We showed why they were created, their purpose, and their importance in building a new Burundi. We also showed how they have been violated and how ignoring them has plunged the country back into darkness.
• We scrutinized the Constitutions: We read every constitution Burundi has ever had, from the monarchy to the present day. We compared them, highlighted the changes, and showed where things improved or worsened. We did this so that every citizen could understand that a constitution is not just a piece of paper, but the very foundation of a nation’s life.
• We spoke of the civil wars and genocide: We were not afraid to speak of our country’s wounds. We spoke of the massacres of 1965, the genocide perpetrated against the Hutu in 1972, the massacres of 1988, and the civil war that followed the assassination of President Ndadaye in 1993. We did not do this to reopen wounds, but to heal them. We believe that “it is the hidden wound that festers.” We gave a voice to the survivors, and we also gave a voice to the perpetrators so they could face judgment, so that we all might understand that the path of hatred is the path of death.
• We exposed the role of the colonizers: We went back in time to show how the German and Belgian colonizers came and divided Burundians, creating traps of ethnic division that still ensnare us today. We did this so that we would know that our enemy is not our neighbor, but the traps of division set for us long ago.

We did all of this so that the youth of today, the country’s future, would not fall into the same mistakes as their ancestors. We did this so that all of us together might know where we came from, where we are, and where we are going, because a person who does not know where they come from cannot know where they are going.

Part 4: Analyzing the Nation’s Life in All Its Facets – A Person is Not Only Politics

Brothers and sisters, We knew very well that a person is sustained by good politics, but that it is not the only thing that sustains them. We knew that a citizen needs security, but also needs to find food, to get medical care, and to properly educate their children. We could not, therefore, ignore the daily life of the citizens to focus solely on political analysis. We committed ourselves to being the voice for all aspects of Burundian life, because we believe that a developed country is one that stands firm on all its pillars.

• On the Economy and Development: We conducted in-depth discussions on the national economy. We asked the hard questions: Why does a country with such fertile land and abundant water like Burundi remain in extreme poverty? Where do the country’s riches from coffee, tea, and precious minerals go? We analyzed how the national budget is used, we spoke of the unemployment challenges facing our youth, and we showed how corruption and the squandering of state assets are the main obstacles to development. We were not afraid to speak of the termites eating away at the nation’s economy.
• On Education and Culture: We produced programs on the education of our youth, the future of the country. We talked about the problems in schools: the shortage of books, overcrowded classrooms, and the declining quality of education. We asked ourselves: “Are we raising the Burundians of tomorrow who will build the country, or are we raising those who will look for a place to flee?” We also spoke of how to strengthen our culture and traditions, so that we do not become like a tree without roots, toppled by any wind.
• On Health: We went into the hospitals and spoke of the difficulties citizens face there. We talked about the lack of medicine, about mothers dying in childbirth, and about children dying from curable diseases. We showed that good health is not a gift, but a right for every citizen. We believe that a country made of sick people is itself a sick country.
• On Religions and Beliefs: We gave a voice to different religious leaders to discuss the role of churches in building peace and reconciliation. We asked whether religions are a solution to the problems of Burundians, or if they too have become part of the problem. We believe that faith should be a light that illuminates people, not a darkness that leads them astray.

In short, we have tried to be a mirror of the lives of Burundians, reflecting both the joys and the sorrows, so that together we can seek solutions to our problems.

Part 5: The Voice of the Citizens – Your Messages are Our Strength

Brothers and sisters, Our achievements are not self-praise, nor are they medals we wear. No, not at all. Our true achievements, our strength, and our spirit, are you, the citizens. It is your voices that reach us, your messages that we receive every day. When we sit in our offices, sometimes discouraged by the difficulties and threats, we receive a message, and it immediately gives us new strength. Let me share with you some of these messages, so you can understand what you mean to us:

• One person wrote: “Radio TV Inkinzo, thank you. My family had lost a brother who was abducted. We had cried out everywhere in vain; we had even begun to mourn. The day you told his story, people woke up, the information spread, and today we have hope that we might see him again. You were our voice when we had lost even the strength to cry.” When we receive a message like this, we feel that our work is not in vain, that speaking out has a purpose.
• Another said: “I am a youth born abroad. I knew my country’s history like a myth, like one of Canke’s tales. But since I started following your programs, my eyes have been opened. I have understood the roots of the problems, and I have learned my role in the country’s future. You have shown me that I am Burundian, not just on paper, but in my heart and in my blood.” A message like this shows us that we are building a bridge between the Burundians of yesterday and those of tomorrow, between those in the country and those abroad.
• There was also an elder who said: “You have given us a voice, we the elders, who know the evils that took place but had nowhere to speak of them. When you broadcast a program on the events of 1972, you are healing wounds that are decades old. You are building a memorial for us so that it does not die, so that our children will not fall into the same mistakes we did.”

These voices, and countless others, are our breath. They are our sustenance for the journey. They are what make us continue this fight, despite the many difficulties, because we know we are not alone, that we are with millions of Burundians who want truth and justice.

Part 6: The Wishes of the Citizens – What You Ask of Us is Our Command

Brothers and sisters, We have never claimed to be all-knowing or saints. We are human beings like you, we make mistakes, and we need advice. That is why we have listened to your wishes, because we believe that a media of the people should do what the people want. You have written to us, you have called us, you have advised us, and we thank you. Let me mention some of what you have asked of us, and how we are committed to implementing it:

• You said: “We love your analysis, but sometimes it is too dense and too long. Please prepare short programs, of a few minutes, that explain one topic at a time, so that even those without much time or education can follow.”We agree. We are committed to starting to produce short videos, which we will call “Inkinzo in Brief,” that will explain key history and news in a simple way.
• You asked: “Please find other experts, especially women and youth, to give them a voice as well. We want to hear more diverse voices, not always the same people.”That is right, and it is true. We are committed to broadening our platform, to giving space to women leaders and to youth with new ideas, so that the debate becomes richer and more constructive.
• You pleaded with us, saying: “Do not get discouraged. The government and the enemies of truth will fight you, they will slander you, they will sow discord. But we, the citizens, are behind you. Do not abandon us, because if you abandon us, we will be orphans of a voice.”That, we will never do. Your words are what strengthen us. We will never abandon this fight for truth and justice, because to abandon it would be to betray the blood of our fallen and the hope of our children.

Part 7: In Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, We are at the end of our speech, but we are not at the end of our journey. Before I conclude, allow me to take this moment, this special and precious moment, to thank from the bottom of my heart all the people who have made this journey possible, all those who have been the pillars of Radio TV Inkinzo.

• I thank most sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart, our supporters, who sustain us financially and otherwise. You who have agreed to give the little you have, who have agreed to forgo a soda or something else, so that this voice does not die out. Your courage in supporting us discreetly, even knowing it could bring you trouble, is what allows us to continue our work. Your money is not just money; it is a symbol of the trust and love you have for us.
• I thank our contributors, the experts, the researchers, and the wise elders. You who have agreed to share your knowledge without fear, who have agreed to step into the light while others hide in the darkness. You have sacrificed, you have given your time, you have put your lives at risk, to share the truth with Burundians. You are heroes of the intellect, and history will not forget you.
• I thank the staff of Radio TV Inkinzo, my comrades in this struggle. You who work day and night, who seek information, who prepare programs, who spend your days on the technical side to ensure our voice reaches the people. Your job is not easy, it is full of many dangers, but your love for the country is what keeps you strong. I thank you for your courage and your perseverance.
• And finally, I thank from the bottom of my heart, and words cannot express it, all of you who follow us, the citizens at home and in the diaspora. You who have trusted us, who have listened to us, who have shared your ideas with us, and who have been our protective shield. When they have insulted us, you have spoken for us. When they have attacked us, you have defended us. This work is yours, not ours. We are merely the instruments; you are the owners.

Brothers and sisters, Radio TV Inkinzo, in five years, has become your media, a media of courage, of intellect, and of vital importance. We thank you for the journey we have traveled together. We promise you that we will not lay down our bow. Even if the difficulties multiply, even if the threats intensify, we will not retreat. We will remain the “Shield” (Inkinzo) of the truth, the shield of justice, the shield of history, but also the pillar of peace and reconciliation in the years to come. The struggle is still long, but with you, us and the people, we will win it. Because “truth may cry, but it never dies.”

Thank you.