The Permanent Secretary in Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John Haule, on Thursday, called for the improvement of early warning mechanisms on Genocide, adding that such tools would prevent it.

Haule made the remarks during the 17th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at Milimani City Hall in Dar es Salaam.

"The early warning mechanisms have to be improved to allow timely and accurate responses to any threats of acts of Genocide,” Haule told hundreds of mourners who included heads of diplomatic corps and the Rwandan Diaspora in Tanzania

The official commended the government of Rwanda for showing the world that it is possible to confront the reality of a preventable tragedy.

Haule observed that, after the Genocide, Rwanda embarked on a development path that has benefited its population.
He added that it is through this that Rwanda has attracted many investors, something that has fast tracked development across various sectors, including health, education and infrastructure.

"The establishment of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission proves the determination of the Rwandan Government towards lasting peace and healing the wounds of history,” Haule added.

Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Fatuma Ndangiza, lashed out at the international community for having kept total silence, despite the killings being broadcast in international media.

"If we are to commemorate the Genocide in any meaningful manner, we must ask why the international community maintained a thunderous silence when 50 years earlier, the world had said ‘’never again’’ following the Holocaust of the Jews,” she said.

She added that Rwanda has come to terms with the ugly past and at the same time, devised innovative home-grown solutions to address the situation.

Among the activities held during the event were candle-lighting, observation of a minute’s silence and reading of 100 names of some of those slain in the Genocide in remembrance of the Genocide victims.

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