{"id":37675,"date":"2023-03-18T15:05:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-18T15:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/my-husband-died-a-happy-man-says-gen-gatsinzi-widow"},"modified":"2023-03-18T15:05:30","modified_gmt":"2023-03-18T15:05:30","slug":"my-husband-died-a-happy-man-says-gen-gatsinzi-widow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/my-husband-died-a-happy-man-says-gen-gatsinzi-widow","title":{"rendered":"My husband died a happy man, says Gen Gatsinzi widow"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Retired Gen Marcel Gatsinzi was a loving husband and father who died a happy man, his widow has said.<\/p>\n

Irene Mukanaho, who was eulogising his late husband during a requiem mass at Regina Pacis Catholic church in Remera, Kigali, Thursday, paid tribute to the late General who she described as a humble family man with strong Christian values.<\/p>\n

She said the former Defence minister was also a patriot who loved to serve, was thoughtful, and was never in a hurry to talk.<\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout his life, Marcel had many happy moments,\u201d she said. \u201cBut, like any other human, he had his own problems and trying times. Yet, in all of these, he remained humble.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gen Gatsinzi, who served as minister for defence and disaster preparedness as well as several other top military positions both before and after the Genocide against the Tutsi, died on March 6 in Belgium where he was undergoing treatment for cancer. He was 75.<\/p>\n

Gatsinzi, who retired from the military in 2013, was laid to rest at the Kanombe Military Cemetery in the capital Kigali on Thursday, March 16. The ceremony was attended by his family, senior military and government officials, including Defence minister Maj Gen Albert Murasira, Senior Defence and Security Advisor to the President, Gen James Kabarebe, and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Jean-Bosco Kazura.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ<\/b>: Gen Gatsinzi served Rwanda selflessly \u2013 President Kagame<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always took pleasure in serving the common interest, instead of his own,\u201d Mukanaho said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was never led by emotions and was always understanding, considerate and caring,\u201d she said of her husband who had a stellar career of 45 years in the military, ultimately becoming the first Rwandan to become a four-star general.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe spoke when it was the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n

ALSO READ<\/b>: The life and times of Gen Marcel Gatsinzi<\/p>\n

Even in retirement, his widow said, Gen Gatsinzi remained ready to serve his country.<\/p>\n

Mukanaho expressed gratitude to the country\u2019s leadership, notably President Paul Kagame and the RDF, for standing by the family during the General\u2019s illness and after his death.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thank the President and Commander-In-Chief of the RDF, who bestowed trust upon Marcel and gave him a chance to make his contribution to the building of our country,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven in his illness, Marcel did not lack anything. He got all the help he needed and in time. To the ones he has left behind, his colleagues and the President, Marcel passed on with a satisfied heart. When Marcel left us, he had a joyful and happy face.\u201d<\/p>\n

ALSO READ<\/b>: A General\u2019s memories of 45 years in the army<\/p>\n

Gen Gatsinzi, who\u2019s survived by his wife and six children, held different high-profile military positions over the years, including Deputy Chief of Staff of the former Rwanda Patriotic Army (now RDF, from 1995-97), and Chief of Gendarmerie (equivalent to present-day Rwanda National Police) from 1997-2000.<\/p>\n

Later, he served as Secretary-General of National Intelligence Service (2000-2002) before he was named Defence minister (2002-2010) and then minister for disaster preparedness (2010-2013).<\/p>\n

Before joining the RPA in 1994, he had previously headed E\u0301cole des sous-officiers (school for non-commissioned officers) in Huye.<\/p>\n

He also served in the African Union Neutral Military Observer Group under the then Organization of African Unity, which was meant to monitor ceasefire during the period of negotiations between the then government of Rwanda and the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) during the liberation war.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ<\/b>: RDF mourns Gen Marcel Gatsinzi<\/p>\n

In the early days of the Genocide against the Tutsi, Gatsinzi was named as Chief of Staff of the Forces arme\u0301es rwandaises (FAR) only to be removed 11 days later (April 6-17). He was then replaced by a hardliner, Gen Augustin Bizimungu, who actively involved the army in the killings. More than a million people were killed in the Genocide before the RPA forces of the RPF took Kigali, with the bulk of the genocidal forces fleeing into the neighbouring DR Congo.<\/p>\n

Daniel, Gatsinzi\u2019s son, said of his deceased father: \u201cOur father taught us to love people and to always be thankful. He told us the good things about our country, and especially taught us to serve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shall try to walk in his footsteps,\u201d he pledged. \u201cAlthough his are too big shoes to fill, we shall work selflessly like he did. He has left us with a big family. I know that if my father was here today, his word would have been \u201cThank you.\u201d\r\n