Africa-Press – Rwanda. After the liberation of Rwanda, many cadres returned to their homeland. Among them was Marie-Immaculée Ingabire, whose vocation lay in mass communication, a field she embraced with professionalism and dedication. She promptly joined Office Rwandais d’Information (ORINFOR). She worked under Press Écrite et Cinefoto (PECIFO). Later, she became one of the reporters for Imvaho Nshya.
She was an activist always ready to intervene where she sensed any kind of injustice. She was the kind of a person who could not tolerate any form of injustice, she was an advocate of gender equality, and her works talk volumes.
Immaculée was a remarkable civil society activist whose work and advocacy are still a recognizable milestone in Rwandan Civil Society Organizations. She was an inspiration to the youth as well as to other community members. Vulnerable groups found solace in her. Many people resorted to her when they thought that they had nowhere to turn to. And indeed, she managed to find solutions to many people’s problems.
Ingabire was an advisor to many; she always listened to whoever wanted advice from her. She was a wise reasonable woman whose time was always dedicated to listening to those who wanted help form her. She was not discriminative; she received all types of people. People came from all the corners of the country to come and tell her their problems. I remember a someone who came to me and told me that it was only Immaculée that could solve his problem.
At Transparency International Rwanda, there were queues of people waiting to see her and talk to her about their various problems. There was a given moment when a person who had come to see her and was advised to see someone else because Immaculée was not available. This person refused to see someone else and went back and returned when she was told that Immaculée was present in person.
A board member of many organizations; Ibuka, Haguruka, ARFEM, Transparency International Rwanda (TIR), LandNet Rwanda, Rwanda Women Network (RWN), and Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), to mention but a few. She was a very hard working and selfless individual who was ready to confront challenging tasks whenever they occurred.
At international as well as regional level meetings she was always ready to defend Rwanda whenever issues concerning Rwanda came up. I remember at one OECD meeting she advised Evode Imena who was a government representative to challenge them to conduct the next annual meeting in Rwanda and it took place in Rwanda in 2008.
Immaculée will be remembered for her constructive opinions regarding Rwandan society. She never shied from what was right and was never offended for opposing an erroneous opinion. Her fight against corruption will always resonate in the ears of the non-corrupt. Her voice against corruption was heard all over the world, she never said yes to any corrupt opinion.
Her home became a refuge for the homeless, and she herself was a mother to the motherless. Immaculée cared for orphans, and even children who had parents found a home with her. She provided the love, guidance, and attention every child need for a proper upbringing.
Gone is the voice that aired transparency, equity as well as equality. She never entertained deceit and hypocrisy. She had an unbeatable commitment to ensure that justice was done in all aspects. She will be deeply missed by many Rwandans especially those who benefited from her advocacy.
She was a humorous individual who was always jolly and argumentative for the right cause. Even if you were not of her opinion, she was always ready to listen and debate over diversity in opinions. Memories of her humorous conversations will remain in the minds of her close friends.
Since her tenure of office as chairperson, Transparency International Rwanda has always been ranked as the best in the fight against corruption in the great lakes region. Ingabire is gone but her transparency voice against corruption will stay. She was unchallengeable when it comes to fighting corruption. She will be missed by Transparency International on the global stage and Rwanda in particular.
Her legacy will live forever; she will be remembered by the voiceless. And the justice system in Rwanda to which she greatly contributed will miss her. She was a relentless fighter against all kinds of injustice and a patriot.
She will be deeply missed by the struggle against corruption. She will be missed by the world of journalism, by other gender activists, by human rights activists, by the voiceless, by civil society organizations to which she contributed greatly and, she will be missed by social media.
Although no one is truly irreplaceable, the void Immaculée has left behind will be hard to fill. She will be deeply missed, yet fondly remembered for her kindness and the many good deeds that defined her life.
Immaculée was a woman of great depth and character. I am certain that many will write about her remarkable qualities. She once said that when she died, she would go to heaven — and indeed, the kindness and good she brought into this world will surely open heaven’s gates for her.
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