Scandal of the month; cow cut twice on the back

EASTERN PROVINCE RWAMAGANA— Last Sunday a scandal of the month occurred in Rwamagana. Unknown thugs attacked a cow belonging to Mzee Isias Gashumba, a resident of Rubirizi Umudugudu in Ntsinda cell, cutting it twice on the back before leaving it for dead.

Friday, November 02, 2007

EASTERN PROVINCE
 
RWAMAGANA— Last Sunday a scandal of the month occurred in Rwamagana. Unknown thugs attacked a cow belonging to Mzee Isias Gashumba, a resident of Rubirizi Umudugudu in Ntsinda cell, cutting it twice on the back before leaving it for dead.

The cow was found the next morning lying in the grass unconsciously.

"On waking up Monday morning, I saw my cow lying unconsciously with blood flowing from its back,” Mzee Isias Gashumba said.

"To my surprise no investigations have been made to bring the wrongdoers to face justice yet I reported to local officials. I tell you my cow has been cut, so I am the next target,” the worried Mzee observed.

Living in the area for the past 13 years, Gashumba returned to Rwanda after years as a refugee in Burundi. He said he has been living happily with neighbours and has "never wronged anyone” in his life. Associating the scandal to continuity of Genocide ideology, he says the elements still exist.

"Maybe they are targeting me because I am one of the Gacaca persons of integrity. But being on the Gacaca jury is all about uniting people, and I see no reason why I should be targeted,” he said.

Residents amazed: "What a shame!,” a resident of the area, Pastor Lordgard Samulenzi, said after hearing about the attack. "This thing is wrong. It means, there is something bad behind it.”

Residents have expressed a lost trust in their local leaders for not acting quickly to launch investigation into the saga. Apart from one resident who splashed medicine on the wound, the cow has not been treated and is likely to be infected.

Ends