Just before I left Rwanda for my trip to Europe, I was able to distribute farm tools to our pomegranate cooperative. Not only did the gum boots arrive, but I was also able to distribute other tools such as shovels and pangas (machetes).
When I first arrived in Rwanda, I cringed in horror every time I saw a machete. They were the weapon of choice during the 1994 genocide – every genocide book and movie ingrains in your mind the sound of machetes at work and the appearance of bloodstained handles. However, pangas are still an important tool in rural Rwanda, so I had gotten used to farmers carrying them and I had figured that the same was for most Rwandans.
The distribution of machetes did not go unnoticed. As soon as the bag got dumped at the project office in preparation to count out the 64 needed for the farmers, project staff began to make several comments. Our driver said to us in Kinyarwanda, “I do not allow pangas in my truck.” Most of this was all said in good spirits and with a laugh, but there was a definite undertone of seriousness and respect for the country’s history.
When we arrived at the farm and began distributing to the coop members, there were more jokes and comments, but in the farmers eyes you could see a painful past, a sincere
thankfulness and a hopeful future all in one moment. One middle aged woman walked up to accept her tools and said, “Every time I see pangas I am frightened” and in the same breath she said, “Murakoze cayne." Thank you very much.Photos: #1 is of the distribution of tools to the group #2 is of me, Chantal (a member of my team), and the oldest of the farmers (he is over 80) whom we call "muzee" - grandfather.
