Editor,

Last week, I read a story in your newspaper about a woman whose arm was chopped off by her spouse for allegedly demanding money to register for health insurance to treat their son! Did such a request warrant maiming thewomen?.

Women are definitely victims of circumstances. 

According to local leaders, the said family had a rocky relationship. If only local leaders had intervened earlier, such quarrel would not have degenerated into such a gruesome incident. It is important that measures are instituted to protect women across Rwanda.

It is also necessary to resolve family conflicts at the village and local communities’ levels. Available information indicates that it is normally simple feuds that degenerate into violence. Village leaders should pay attention to what is going on among people residing in their respective areas.

And every individual in ‘Mudugudu’ (village settlement) should take interest in everything about their neighbours. Women should alert authorities about any brewing conflicts.

Joan Zaninka

Nyarugenge