WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — Church leaders in Rubavu district have vowed to fight against the genocide ideology.

Pastor Ananiya Munyampeta of ADPR in Kyanzarwe sector said this recently that it was so unfortunate that the church played a role in the 1994 genocide.

Pastor Munyampeta said this while discoursing on the church’s role in the reconstruction of the country which was torn by the 1994 genocide.

"Some church leaders behaved like wolves in a ship’s skin supported and some practically cooperated with the killers. It’s high time the church restored its name by taking the first initiative to spread unity and reconciliation among Christ’s followers," he said

He said that ADPR Kyanzarwe has laid down strategies to fight against the ideology since one or only two people with the ideology can spread the disease to hundreds of people.

He added that to avoid such problems the church had design periodic workshops bringing together church leaders like Deacon and choir members who are always reminded of the dangers of the Genocide ideology. In these engagements church leaders are encouraged to be ambassador to others.

He said that churches in Rubavu have decided never to tolerate any leader or any one with the ideology to play any role in church to avoid its spread to other people

"We have decided to always talk to any individual or group of people in our churches who appear to have the ideology if need be take them to the authority to avoid any thing that could bring back the hatred that was planted into Rwandans by malicious politicians before 1994.

Pastor Munyampeta further said that the church was also taking part in other developmental activities such as building houses for the survivors and the disabled people.

He called upon Christians to take part in Icyunamo activities and to pray hard God to comfort the survivors in this period.

In the past church authorities are said to have contributed to the spread of racist theories mainly through the schools and seminaries over which they exercised control.

The elite who ruled the country after independence according to Munyampeta also trained in these schools.

According to Rubavu district vice Mayor Evariste Bizimana, the present church leaders can be instrumental in teaching and spreading unity and reconciliation due to the fact that they interact with many people who always consider them as opinion leaders.

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