Editor,

Refer to Benon Talemwa’s article, "Positive discrimination: A thorny path to gender justice” (The New Times, March 2).

I thank Mr. Talemwa for this wonderful article. I agree with him on many aspects brought forward in the article, but I also beg to I disagree with the writer on the names which he said symbolised the great value attached to boys, according to the quote below:

"In Rwandan culture, some names given to boy children such as Mugabo (Man), Ntwari (Brave), Manzi (Hero), and Shema (Pride) symbolize the great value attached to boy children, compared to girl children whose names include; Mukobwajana (One who will bring home one hundred cows as a bride price), Muteteri (One fit to be pampered), envisaging girls as future wives and a weaker sex.”

I say that girls too were given those names you point out. We have Mukantwari, Mukamanzi, Akamanzi, Mukamugabo and others which signified that girls were also given the same names as boys but in their female nature.

Franklin