President Paul Kagame yesterday thanked men and women who took part in the liberation struggle. 

The President made the remarks while addressing women from different parts of the country who had gathered at Petit Stade, at Amahoro National Stadium to thank the men and women who ended the Genocide against the Tutsi.

The event also launched an initiative aimed at providing housing to members of the Rwanda Defence Forces, in particular those who were hurt on the battlefield and are now handicapped. 

The event was part of the series of activities organised to celebrate the 20th liberation anniversary, Kwibohora20. 

"Liberation continues today. We are one family where those who get tired along the way are lifted up by the stronger ones” he said. 

Kagame further equated a nation to a family set up, saying that when one person does something good, the entire family benefits while when someone errs, the entire family takes the blame or is affected in one way or another. 

"Our nation means all of us together; it does not refer to a single individual. No one can benefit from placing themselves and their interests above that of the nation and its people,” President Kagame said.

He said the country will always stand by its people to ensure they move as one, but whenever an individual persistently errs and shows no signs of coming around, the country will have to move on. 

He said that much as a country is made up of people, there is no single person that is greater than the state and anyone who thinks so will never succeed in their endeavors. 

"This is something that should easily be understood by everyone; but sometimes we need to be reminded.” 

Speaking on the role of women, President Kagame added that gender equality is not about giving women dignity, it is about recognising what has always been there:

"We did not give dignity to women. It was always theirs. All we did was bring it to light.”

He advised women to pursue further their dreams and ensure they set the right precedence for future generations by being rightful role models. 

The Chairperson of the National Women Council, Beatrice Mukasine shared the organisation plan to spend Rwf350 million before the end of this year, on activities to avail the former fighters with electricity and water in their homes and also give them cows. 

Clad in military their uniforms, the disabled ex-combatants were also present at the colourful event that was characterized with singing and dancing. 

In her testimony, Immaculee Kayitesi, a Genocide widow who was a teacher before the genocide, testified of how she built her business from just five litres of milk to a fully-fledged milk processing plant that has a capacity of processing 2,000 litres a day. 

"I want to advise fellow women that investment is not just money, it is about having the right concept and perseverance,” said Kayitesi, who hails from Nyanza District. 

For his role in leading the liberation struggle and championing women emancipation after the liberation, the women presented to President Kagame with an award made of a skillfully curved sculpture of a man with a bow and arrow with a map of Rwanda in the rear. 

It was also engraved with Kwibohora20, signifying the 20th liberation celebrations.