Africa-Press – Rwanda. The Governor of Western Province, Jean Bosco Ntibitura, on Wednesday, June 25, condemned violent acts against survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This was during a genocide commemoration event held at Bigogwe Genocide memorial in Rubavu District.
Addressing Private Federation Sector (PSF) members in Western Province who organized the commemoration event, area residents and leaders, Ntibitura commended the private sector for commemorating the 1994 Genocide, and its contribution to national development.
He also condemned the involvement of some business people in the 1994 Genocide, when they provided vehicles to transport killers and offered financial support to the genocide perpetrators.
“This is a time to value your role in the country’s development rather than its destruction, as happened in 1994 when business people killed their clients,” he said.
During the commemoration ceremony, cows were donated to former RPA soldiers who were disabled during the liberation struggle.
“We must fight for ‘Never Again’ and fight everyone who attempts to disseminate Genocide ideology and stop people who commit violence against Genocide survivors.”
Speaking about PSF’s support to genocide survivors and former soldiers who liberated the country, Ntibitura underlined that such activities “testify and correct the mistake made during 1994 by the private sector, ensuring that it never happens again.”
Gerard Mbarushimana, the head of the genocide survivors’ association, Ibuka, in Rubavu, applauded the support by PSF in Western Province, as a significant milestone in improving the lives of genocide survivors.
Mbarushimana condemned the genocidal regime for involving the private sector in killings rather than engaging them in national development programmes.
“The bad regime killed its taxpayers who were also stakeholders, but we thank the RPA [Rwanda Patriotic Army] forces who liberated this country,” he added.
He also expressed profound gratitude to the former RPA soldiers, who were also at the commemoration, for their priceless contribution during the liberation war.
“We all survived bullets,” Mbarushimana said. “We acknowledge your contribution towards stopping the Genocide; we thank you.”
During the commemoration ceremony, 37 cows were donated to 12 former RPA soldiers who were disabled during the liberation struggle.
“As private sector, we thank genocide survivors for their resilience and we commit to continuous support for improving their livelihoods,” said Ernest Nkurunziza, the PSF Chairperson in the area.
Zella Nyirasiyoni, a 65-year-old lady from Kanzenze Sector who was among the survivors who received a cow, expressed her gratitude for the PSF’s contribution towards supporting genocide survivors Bigogwe region.
“I will drink milk,” she beamed. “I could not have afforded to buy a cow on my own.”
Local leaders at the genocide commemoration event at Bigogwe Genocide memorial in Rubavu District.
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