A physically happy man with an ever-smile on his face, Willy Manzi Ngarambe exudes warmth, strength, and a sense of optimism that instantly captures the hearts of those who meet him.
But behind that smile lies a reservoir of pain and resilience — scars carved deep into his soul by decades of conflict, displacement, and the brutal reality of ethnic cleansing against his Tutsi ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Among the most searing memories he carries is that of witnessing his uncle’s brutal arrest, which later led to his death. He also holds a haunting memory of never seeing his father again — a man who vanished moments after leaving to find a vehicle to help them flee their home in South Kivu.
Today, Willy Manzi Ngarambe is the Deputy Governor of North Kivu, a province that has teetered on the brink of collapse from endless wars, but he stands tall as a warrior, one determined to turn despair into development.
This week, Manzi sat down with Sunny Ntayombya on The Long Form podcast to reflect on his first 100 days in office. What unfolded was not just a political evaluation, but a deeply emotional journey that traversed a boy’s trauma, a refugee’s struggle, and a leader’s unbreakable hope for a better future.
A Childhood Torn Apart
At just eight years old, Willy Manzi’s world turned upside down. His family was forced to flee their home in South Kivu, part of the broader exodus of Tutsis from Eastern Congo targeted in ethnic purges that mirror some of the darkest chapters in African history.
“I was just a boy. I didn’t understand why people hated us,” Manzi told Ntayombya, his voice cracking. “But I knew we had to run.”
That journey into exile would define the next two decades of his life. Following multiple tortures by DRC soldiers, several arrests, and repeated persecution of his family, Willy and his family’s journey to flee Congo was orchestrated by a man who was their father’s friend. This man first hid them in his home, but later advised them to flee, forcing them to roam through the bushes until they eventually found themselves at the border with Rwanda.
Manzi and his family settled in a refugee camp in Rwanda. Later, he moved to Cyaka II refugee camp in Uganda, where he endured a horrible life filled with hunger, trauma, and despair. Eventually, his journey took him to Canada, where the reception house facing the Ottawa River gave him a moment of peace. But even in that serenity, his thoughts remained tethered to Congo — the beauty of the river flowing through Ottawa reminded him of the DRC’s majestic landscape and fueled his dream of one day contributing to its security and stability.
A New Life in Canada — And the Activist is born
There, he married a Canadian woman and started a family. They now have three beautiful children who serve as a living testament to his resolve to rewrite his story.
But even in the safety of North America, Manzi’s soul remained anchored to the hills of Eastern DRC. He became an activist, raising awareness about the plight of Congolese refugees and the persistent instability in his homeland. His work caught attention, not just in diaspora circles, but also among policymakers who began to understand that Manzi was not just another refugee voice — he was a visionary.
A Return with Purpose
Returning to the DRC was never a matter of if, but when. When opportunity and duty called, Manzi answered without hesitation. His appointment as Deputy Governor of North Kivu marked a powerful homecoming — not just for him, but symbolically, for every refugee who dreams of reclaiming dignity and agency.
“I had travelled to the United States of America when I received a call from the General himself,” he said, referring to Gen. Makenga, M23 commander. For Manzi, Eastern DRC is still bleeding in many ways, but he didn’t come back to complain, but “to rebuild.”
Leading with a Kagame Mindset
Willy Manzi doesn’t hide his admiration for Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whom he sees as a transformative figure in post-genocide Rwanda.
“Kagame turned pain into progress. He took a country broken by genocide and made it one of Africa’s success stories. That’s the leadership model I admire,” he says. “I want to copy-paste that into North Kivu.”
But Manzi knows he’s not Kagame — and North Kivu isn’t Rwanda. The challenges are different, the wounds still raw. However, his approach reflects a blend of Kagame’s discipline, strategic planning, and zero tolerance for corruption, infused with the compassion and empathy born from personal suffering.
100 Days of Hope
In his first 100 days in office, Manzi has prioritised security stabilisation, reconciliation initiatives, and laying the groundwork for development. One of his earliest moves was to hold town hall meetings across volatile places, speaking directly to ordinary people, from war widows to ex-combatants.
“They need to see their leaders. To hear us say, ‘We are with you. We will not forget you.’”
Under the new M23’s 100-day leadership, new infrastructure projects are ongoing, including road construction and the restoration of clean water pipes.
“This is a province of riches, of resilience. We have minerals, fertile land, smart youth — what we need is peace, and leadership with integrity,” says Manzi.
The Warrior Within
Despite his professional progress, Willy Manzi’s personal strength leaves the most lasting impression. His life is a powerful narrative of survival against all odds—a man who once starved, who once had no country, who once watched his family tortured, now rising to a leadership position in the very land that tried to erase him.
Manzi’s visits and physical meetings with residents of North Kivu signify to many that he is more than a governor, but a man living proof that healing is possible, that returning is possible, that rebuilding is possible.
A Legacy in the Making
Willy Manzi doesn’t claim to have all the answers. He, however, believes that it is exactly that humility, combined with an unshakable drive, which sets him and the M23 leadership apart.
His dream is for North Kivu to become a beacon of development in the Great Lakes region — a place where former enemies rebuild villages side-by-side, where schools replace rebel camps, and where young girls no longer have to run from gunfire but run toward their futures.
As Manzi completes his 100 days and looks to the future, one can’t help but feel the tide turning in North Kivu. Not through weapons or walls, but through the will of a smiling warrior who dares to hope, and who invites an entire people to do the same.
“This is only the beginning,” he says. “The real work has just begun.”
And to the world, he now vows: “Goma is more than safe today. Everyone should come and enjoy security and stability. Please come and enjoy food grown from Goma,” he said during the podcast interview.
You can watch full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzepogzHFY4
