WESTERN PROVINCE

KARONGI — The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Dr. Jean d’Arc Mujawamariya, has castigated local leaders who divert funds meant for Genocide survivors.

She was on Monday reacting to reports which showed that money from the Fund for Assistance of Genocide Survivors (FARG) in the province, was being swindled.

This was during a meeting to assess the progress of activities meant to help vulnerable Genocide survivors in the area.

"It is so shameful to see you smartly putting in your stomachs what would help these survivors,” the seemingly angry minister said.

She added that a person who attempts to eat orphans’ bread is more dangerous than that one who killed their parents.

"If you cannot feel guilty of embezzling funds provided to help an orphan, then you are more dangerous than those who killed his or her parents. In my opinion, such a person should face trial accordingly,” she said, calling on the government to arrest the culprits.

"This is why we have invited the police and army in this meeting. We have already been working together but they are going to step up and hunt down those engaged in the scam,” she said.

Maj. Gen. Caesar Kayizari, the head of the Rwanda Defence Forces’ Fourth Division that operates in Western Province, reaffirmed their readiness to stop illegal activities.

"The issue of genocide survivors is not only meant for the government but for every Rwandan. It is for all of us and we shall give a helping hand to government in cracking down those found culpable,” he said.

Ten years after FARG was set up, most of the resources meant for survivors were reportedly diverted and scores of leaders have previously failed to account for the funds.

At the same meeting, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Eugene Barikana who represented the ministry, said more than 90% of local leaders could be held liable for the financial scam.

"If the government is to summon leaders on this issue, I am sure most of you will face trial,” he said, adding that local leaders have for long failed to give proper accountability.

"Districts have been presenting wrong data on survivors’ activities. They always keep on inflating numbers after adding their relatives on the list,” he said.

Similar meetings have been held countrywide ahead of the national validation exercise of genocide survivors slated for January 10, according to Barikana.

The meeting was attended by different dignitaries including army, police, district Mayors in the Western Province, Sector Executive Secretaries and other local leaders.

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