One dollar campaign short of Rwf720m

GASABO-The Minister of Sports and Culture, Joseph Habineza yesterday lashed out at Rwandans who pledge to donate towards urgent projects but never fulfil their promises – a stumbling block to implementation.

This was during a ceremony that was held in Kicukiro to mark the end of the 100 days of mourning of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

With reference to the one dollar campaign, an initiative that was launched in April, to build houses for children orphaned by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Habineza stressed that it is not necessary for one to promise what they can not give.

"The campaign is for a good cause and we all know that these children need the housing facilities and parental care so each one of us should give generously,” he said.

Citing wedding ceremonies, where people simply pledge for the sake of it, the minister strongly advised that people should desist from this behaviour especially since the issue concerning orphans is urgent.

"Do not be like those who promise cows as they give wedding speeches but never send them as promised but be responsible,” he emphasised with a serious face.

According to the Director General of the Rwanda Diaspora Directorate, Robert Masozera, campaign which was supposed to end yesterday will continue for an unknown period of time until the set target of Rwf1.5 billion is raised.

"So far we have collected Rwf780 million as cash and a number of other donations in kind. These range from furniture, transport and we are optimistic that once construction kicks off at the site, more people will join us and offer some labour too,” he said.

According to Habineza, once all those who pledged manage to fulfil, then the planned amount will be acquired immediately. Officials from the campaign said that about Rwf529 million is still in pledges.

The initiative was mooted last year during the Diaspora Retreat that was held towards the end of last year, after it emerged that hundreds of do not have shelter 15 years after they lost their parents.

It is expected that about 600 will acquire accommodation.

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