MUSANZE - Religious leaders in Musanze District have been challenged to play a fundamental role in promoting unity and guide their followers towards productive work.

The call was made by the president of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Bishop John Rucyahana, while addressing over 170 religious leaders under their inter district religious association, during a one-day workshop on their  role in unity and reconciliation.

"Religious leaders have a national role and a divine calling to change the history of Rwanda. Let them carry out an analysis of the past, present, and project into the future,’’ Rucyahana said.

Clerics from various Christian denominations and Muslim leaders held discussions on their significance in strengthening unity and reconciliation.

Rucyahana noted that religious leaders have to redeem the church from its past association with a bad history.

"If they don’t do their job properly, religious leaders will pile on guilt upon guilt,. Unity and reconciliation is not only a government program, it’s a divine calling, it’s a life they have to live,” he said. 

 "We can’t be pastors who look at themselves as Hutu or Tutsi”

The meeting also recommended that religious leaders intervene in solving conflicts among their followers.

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