MUSANZE - A prominent businessman in Musanze town stunned local residents when he argued that the 1994 Genocide was committed by the former government and those in power, with no involvement of the residents, during the commemoration activities this week.

According to residents, Faustin Musanganya, infuriated survivors at a local meeting held in Gikwege settlement, saying that the former regime was solely to blame for the Genocide and no resident should be held accountable.

Everybody listened in disbelief, when he said that no Hutu killed the Tutsi, that the victims of Genocide were killed by Habyarimana’s people, Ramlati Sembagari, Gikwege village leader told The New Times. 

"When he requested for a point of order, we allowed him. He started by accusing the previous speakers of telling lies. He then spoke highly of his education, claiming he had read widely about the Genocide. He concluded by denying that there was a Genocide against the Tutsi,’’ Sembagari said.

It took the intervention of sector authorities and police to calm the situation after residents almost pounced on him, accusing him of distorting facts on the causes, and effects of Genocide.

He reportedly uttered the comments after a presentation by one of the speakers on the role of cooperatives in poverty eradication.
"All people wanted to respond to his comments.

We grilled him on who killed the Tutsi in our local areas in 1994, whether it was the government forces or fellow neighbours. I reminded him of an order which asked everyone to kill or risk being labelled ‘Inyenzi’ cockroach,’’ said Piero Seruhungo, who intervened to calm residents.

Police said that the controversial man had been arrested and detained at Muhoza Police Station for further investigation. 
 

According to the organic law relating to the crime of Genocide ideology, a person who trivialises or negates the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi faces a jail term of 10 to 25 years once convicted.

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