Employees and franchisees of JIBU, on April 12, committed to renovate homes for vulnerable survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Simbi sector, Huye district.

They made the commitment as they visited the area in line with the 28th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

JIBU is a franchise company that launched operations in Rwanda eight years ago which capitalizes and equips emerging market entrepreneurs to create affordable access to drinking water and other necessities.

Kudzai Munyavi, The JIBU Global Chief Financial Officer speaks to the media.

The company which operates in Rwanda, Uganda, DRC Goma, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Burundi, offers bottled water as its anchor consumer product, and essential products such as nutritional dry foods and cooking gas.

Speaking after laying foundation stone ahead of the construction works in Rugarama village, Mugobori cell in Simbi sector, Rehema Uwamahoro, the representative of JIBU franchisees told the media that they had contributed Rwf4 million to renovatehouses of vulnerable genocide survivors.

"The support is part of commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. We have to remember while striving for the welfare of vulnerable Genocide survivors. We commit to continue collaborating with the district and government to improve their welfare. Some of our members also committed to help two children of a genocide survivor afford basic school materials,” she said.

JIBU staff and franchisees listen to a genocide  survivor who delivered testimony  on  Genocide against the Tutsi in Huye district . Courtesy 

She said that most of the JIBU franchisees are youth adding; "We have to inculcate good values in our youth such that they are able to build a peaceful and prosperous country. This is the reason why they committed to support genocide survivors in Simbi sector as they have previously done in other districts.”

Jacqueline Mukamwiza, 45-year old woman with five children is one of the genocide survivors whose the old house will be renovated.

She commended the company for the support saying that she lived in fear that her house would collapse.

"I am happy with the support to get a decent house and a kitchen considering that the house was very old. Whenever it rains, she has to wake up because of the leakage of her roof. It means we cannot sleep because we need to salvage household items,” she said.

JIBU Staff lay a wreath at Simbi memorial site to pay tribute to the victims of the Genocide Against the Tutsi.

Annonciatha Kankesha, the Vice Mayor in charge of social affairs in Huye district lauded JIBU staff and franchisees for the support.

She said that the houses were constructed in 1998 and were very old.

"Renovating shelter for genocide survivors is a continuous work and therefore the support from JIBU is timely,” she said adding the houses will be constructed in 100 days of commemoration and be inaugurated as part of liberation day.

In Rugarama village, at least 12 houses need renovation.

"Four of them are to be renovated by JIBU and we hope that the remaining eight houses will also be rehabilitated soon. In the whole district, at least 150 houses of genocide survivors are being renovated in Tumba, Mukura, Mbazi, Huye and Isimbi sectors although more than that need renovation. The houses are being built in the form of two-in-one houses to accommodate two families at once,” she said.

Visit to memorial site

Before laying a foundation stone to renovate houses of genocide survivor, at least 40 JIBU staff and franchisees also visited Simbi memorial site laid wreaths on the graves that are housing over 40,000 genocide victims resting in peace.

Kudzai Munyavi, The JIBU Global Chief Financial Officer  and Franchisees representative and  Rehema Uwamahoro observe a moment of silence to honor the victims at Simbi genocide memorial site in Huye District.

The remains in Simbi sector are part of 414, 989 genocide victims buried in 17 genocide memorial sites and other five graves that are not housed in Huye district while more are being exhumed to get decent burial during 100 days of commemoration.

"Genocide in Simbi sector escalated and became atrocious after Théodore Sindikubwabo, the then interim President of Rwanda launched the killings,” testified Judith Mutamuliza, a genocide survivor and president of Ibuka in Isimbi sector.

She said that the memorial site was set up in the area because of the genocide particularity where Tutsi sought refuge but didn’t survive.

"The remains were scattered in various areas where they were killed in health facilities, churches, schools, hills and others but have now got a decent burial in this memorial site,” she said.

Kudzai Munyavi, the JIBU Global Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who was leading JIBU team that visited the memorial site reiterated that commemorating 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a great tool that will help JIBU staff, franchisees and other people in general to learn lessons and join fight to ensure genocide never happens again.

Annonciatha Kankesha Vice mayor in charge of social affairs in Huye speaks to JIBU staff and franchisees during the event (1)

"It was quite a touching moment to visit the memorial site to experience what happened in Rwanda, a situation where even people forgive and continue to live together and build one another as a community. I really got to learn the history about genocide against the Tutsi in Huye district during 100 days,” he said.

JIBU also committed to support Mukamwiza's two children to afford basic school materials

Staff lay a wreath at Simbi memorial site to pay tribute to the victims of the Genocide Against the Tutsi.

Jacqueline Mukamwia a genocide survivor whose house will be renovated by JIBU