EASTERN PROVINCE

GATSIBO – Under the scotching sun yesterday, scores of residents of Kiramuruzi in Gatsibo District flocked the Kiramuruzi market for Liberation Day shopping.

"Normally this market takes place on Saturdays but we have decided to hold it today (Friday) in order to prepare for tomorrow’s historic celebrations,” one of the residents identified as Eric Murenzi said.

To Murenzi, Liberation Day is one of the memorable days in his life. Having survived the genocide, Murenzi says he will never forget the time when RPA soldiers rescued him from a trench near his home.

"It was a double tragedy and the memories are still fresh after 15 years. Imagine spending nights being hunted amid starvation. I cannot forget the RPF’s kind intervention to rescue us during that period,” he said.

Epiphanie Mukakarisa, a resident of neighbouring Kiziguro Sector who also thronged the market says liberation means a lot to her family.

"I am also a survivor of this area… but what happened here during the genocide is horrible. We were left naked by the former Burgomaster Gatete’s administration. No single Tutsi child could go to school but today, it’s wonderful and we attribute all this to the current government that is treating us equally,” Mukakarisa said.  

In separate interviews with The New Times, other residents said that they have liberated them selves in different ways.

Leonidas Bizimana, a resident of Kiramuruzi said he has liberated himself from the bondage of poverty.

"I have three Friesian cows as a result of one Cow per Family project; my children are drinking milk and going to school. Then how can one decline to greatly celebrate such a day like this?” he said.

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