MUHANGA - Rwandans should work towards peace and unity to attain sustainable development, the Mayor of Muhanga District, Yvonne Mutakwasuku, told residents on Monday, at the launch of the Unity Week in Shyogwe Sector of the district.

The event will be marked by various activities under the theme-"Upholding self respect, voicing our views through building peace, unity and reconciliation”.

The Mayor pointed out that the activities were launched in Shyogwe due to its notoriety for insecurity.

"The residents should be involved in more activities of fostering unity because peace is the foundation of everything,” Mutakwasuku said.

The Mayor joined residents in planting a symbolic tree of peace, unity and reconciliation. Residents initiated the idea as a sign of a new beginning to peace-building in the sector.

Residents also gave various testimonies on reconciliation efforts between genocide survivors and perpetrators.

A survivor, Jean de Dieu Rwiziyaremye, said despite finding it difficult to forgive those who murdered his kin and kith, he has since managed to reconcile with himself.

"It was not easy to forgive, but ever since I forgave those who killed my parents during the Genocide, it has given me peace of heart and mind,”  he said.

Released after serving his sentence, genocide convict, Emmanuel Hakili, said he felt relieved after the community and government pardoned him of his genocide-related crimes.

The Executive Secretary of Shyogwe, François Xavier Ndejeje, said the area had registered a bad record in criminal activities and assaulting local leaders.

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