With heavy hearts, the family of Straton Nsanzabaganwa announced the passing of the former government worker, aged 79, on May 12 at Kanombe Hospital after he suffered a stroke. His burial ceremony will be held today, May 13.
Before retiring, he held the positions of Coordinator at the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture (RALC) and Chancellor of the National Heroes and National Orders and Decoration of Honour (CHENO) in the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MNISPOC) from 2006 to 2011.
Education
Nsanzabaganwa was born on October 5, 1945 in Kabirizi Village, Jenda Cell, Musange Sector in Nyamagabe District, Southern Province.
From 1952-1957, he attended the Primary School of Kaduha, where he received awards such as ‘Les aventures de Mboumboulou’ and more.
He attended Seminars (Kabgayi and Kansi) from 1957-1965 in the Latin-Greek Section, obtaining a Certificate in Latin-Greek Humanities.
From 1966-1969, he pursued his undergraduate studies in French Language and Literature, History of Rwanda at the National University of Rwanda, with a written paper on ‘Le Petit Prince de Saint-Exupéry’ and pedagogic training.
In 1975-1977, he studied at the National University of Zaïre, Lubumbashi Campus in DR Congo, Faculty of ‘Lettres’, earning a Degree (Ao) in French Language and Literature. His dissertation focused on the psychoanalysis of Magamou, the hero of Malick Fall. He also completed psycho-pedagogic training for teaching at the Upper Secondary School level and obtained a Certificate in English/Level C.
In July 1997, he attended the International Literacy Institute at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education in Philadelphia, USA, where he obtained a Certificate in Literacy and Mass Education.
From 2007-2010, he enrolled at Kigali Independent University (ULK, Rwanda), pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Law.
Career journey
In 1969-1973, he taught French, History, and Kinyarwanda at Rwesero Seminar and later at Nyanza Christ-Roi College. He also organised sports and cultural activities in schools near the college. Additionally, in 1965-1966, he taught at Save Seminar. From 1977-1994, he taught French and History at Kanyinya Secondary School in Burundi, overseeing sports and cultural activities in Kirundo province.
Between 1994 and 1997, he served in various roles at the then Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, starting as the Director of Mass Education and later becoming the Director General of Labor and Social Affairs.
From 1997 to 1999, he worked at the Ministry of Information as Director of Public Press, concentrating on media regulation laws in Rwanda. He also served as a Board Member at ORINFOR - Office Rwandais de l’Information, which included the former Rwanda Broadcasting Agency from 1997 to 2005.
Between 1999 and 2005, he served as the Director of Social Affairs at the Ministry of Local Administration, Community Development, and Social Affairs. In 2005 and 2006, he was appointed as the Director of Culture at the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture. From 2006 to 2011, he worked as the Coordinator of Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture (RALC) and Chancellor of National Heroes and National Orders and Decoration of Honour (CHENO) at the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MNISPOC). Lastly, from 2012 to 2016, he acted as an Advisor to the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture (RALC).
Related missions and fields
From 1979 to 1994, he was Chairman of the Provincial Football Team of Kirundo in Burundi, representing Kinyarwanda speakers in the Committee of Students of Eastern Zaire (now DR Congo) from 1976 to 1977, and serving as Treasurer of the Executive Committee of AGEUNR (UNR/Butare) from 1968 to 1969.
In 1996, he took part in the Geneva Round Table. In 1995, he joined the preparatory phase of the World Summit on Social Development in New York and the Summit in Copenhagen. From 1991 to 1994, he served as a member of the Human Rights League (Iteka) in Burundi.
In 2005, he co-founded Editions Bakame, a publisher of children's books. Prior to that, from 1997 to 2000, he was involved in various national initiatives such as the task force for democratic decentralisation, the Electoral Commission, and the Media High Council.
From 2013 to 2021, he was a member of the Rwanda Bar Association, from 2006 to 2011, he served as vice-chair and member of the District Council in Nyamagabe District, and from 2001 to 2006 as a member of the Consultative Council of Kaduha District.
Nsanzabaganwa was a specialist in culture, specifically in history and Genocide, patriotism, particularly in liberation and the culture of peace, social harmony, social justice and social protection, and International Penal Law.
He was proficient in Kinyarwanda, French, English, and Kiswahili.
The late Nsanzabaganwa is survived by his wife and five children. He resided in Taba Village, Rukatsa Cell, Kagarama Sector, Kicukiro District, in Kigali City.