In a candid and reflective interview on Sanny Ntayombya's "The Long Form" podcast, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement (ZASM) and founder of Zimbabweans Unite Against US War Sanctions (ZUAUWS) revealed a dramatic shift in perspective after visiting Rwanda for the first time, confronting his own ignorance and seeking reconciliation with a leader he once vilified.
'I'd apologize for my misguided words, born of ignorance, jealousy, and tribalism,' Matinyarare said when asked what he would say if he met Kagame. 'I'm here to learn from his leadership, admired yet envied across Africa.'
The activist, known for his outspoken Pan-African advocacy, admitted to previously pushing narrativesâ€"such as claims that the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) caused the 1994 genocide against Tutsisâ€"that he now acknowledges were rooted in 'helicopter journalism' and misinformation from books, exiled friends, and unverified reports.
'I was no different from the Western media I hated so much,' he confessed, citing a personal awakening spurred by Rwandans who approached him 'without anger' to share their side.
Matinyarare's apology comes amid a broader exploration of Rwanda's role in the region. His visit, part of a documentary project on the Congo conflict, led him to reassess long-held beliefs about Rwanda, its president, and the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
M23 rebel group and the Congo crisis
Matinyarare offered a striking take on the conflict in eastern DRC, particularly regarding the M23 rebel group, which he met in Goma.
Far from seeing them as terrorists or Rwandan proxiesâ€"a narrative often perpetuated by the DRC government and other criticsâ€"he referred to them as 'freedom fighters.'
'These are people separated from their land,' he said, tracing the conflict's roots to colonial borders drawn at the Berlin Conference that split the Rwandan kingdom and fostered tribal divisions.
'They're fighting for political, social, cultural, and human rights because colonial constructs persist under Black leadership.'
He recounted meeting M23 President Bertrand Bisimwa, first in Addis Ababa and later in Goma, debunking claims of their Rwandan origin.
'They're Congolese people,' he insisted, noting their diverse tribal makeup and retreat to Uganda, not Rwanda, under persecution.
In Goma, he said he observed a vibrant city, not a war zone, with M23 patrolling the streets professionally, cleaning up, managing traffic, and earning public acceptance.
'The public didn't seem intimidated,' he said, challenging the idea of coercion.
Visiting Nyakabande refugee camp in southwest Rwanda, Matinyarare said he was moved to tears by Congolese Kinyarwanda-speaking refugees, like a widow with eight children who claimed deep ancestral ties to Congo, not Rwanda.
'People are playing chess with people's lives,' he lamented, rejecting narratives that these refugees are Rwandan imposters. He argued Rwanda, a small nation with limited resources, cannot sustainably absorb them, urging resolution over displacement.
Rwanda's leadership and standards
Matinyarare revealed that his first impressions of Kigali, which he described as 'a mind-blowing experience', shattered his belief that its orderliness was a facade.
'I thought President Kagame was a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat,' he admitted. 'Only when I got here did I realize the meticulousness is real.'
Comparing Kigali's manicured streets to Harare's 'shabby' decline, he attributed Rwanda's success to disciplined leadership, contrasting it with Southern Africa's 'corrosion of corruption.'
He also debunked claims that Rwanda lacks resources, citing visits to mines like Trinity Metals' tungsten operationâ€"Africa's largestâ€"and Gatsibo's cassiterite mine.
'I saw it with my own eyes,' he said, describing 15km underground shafts and rigorous regulation, refuting accusations that Rwanda steals Congo's wealth through M23.
Defending his change of heart, the activist denied receiving payment from Rwanda to change his stance, saying, 'My taxes would flag that immediately.'
He framed his journey as atonement and a push for African unity.
'I cannot fight to be right if my rightness means destruction,' he said, urging peace in Congo through negotiations that M23 claims to welcome.
Zimbabwe's struggles and resilience
Addressing Zimbabwe's current state, Matinyarare blamed 24 years of 'illegal economic sanctions' since 1998 for its decline, freezing IMF loans and blocking trade, leading to brain drain and corruption.
Yet, he highlighted recovery: 'We're wheat self-sufficient, with the best tobacco, cotton, sugar cane, and Africa's biggest steel plant.'
He criticized the West for targeting nations like Zimbabweâ€"and now Rwandaâ€"with sanctions to suppress African potential, drawing parallels to his own past disinformation.
Watch the full interview below:
Wycliffe Nyamasege
