NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI — Church leaders have been rapped against false ideologies that led to the 1994 Genocide.

Senator Jean Baptist Bizimana, who was the chief mourner during the closing of the mourning week in Mutete Sector, Gicumbi district lashed out at church leaders who actively participated in the Genocide by killing their fellow Christians, saying God shall punish them ‘heavily.’

"Those false priests shall regret their sins because their hands are stained with innocent human blood," said Bizimana.

One person broke down wailing loudly on Sunday,

At the same ceremony remains of at least six Genocide victims were also given a decent burial at Mutete Genocide memorial site. The site accommodates 816 other remains.

Bizimana told the audience that Genocide started in Mutete Sector way back in 1960. Citing his own example, Bizimana said as a child he nearly lost his life when men armed with machetes attacked him on the way to visit his mother during the early sixties.

"I was saved by good Samaritans who stopped the men from hacking me to death," he recalled.

The lawmaker urged residents to adhere to government development programmes aimed at uplifting people’s economic status and to embrace love, unity, peace and reconciliation.

Claude Zimurinda, of IBUKA said the official mourning week was over but IBUKA would continue mourning until end of July.

"Genocide commemoration is not for Rwandans only, but for the entire world," said Zimurinda.

He hailed government for the effort being made to apprehend revisionists targeting Genocide survivors. "There is no profit in killing a person basing on his or her ethnic background because we were all created by God," added Zimurinda.

Jean Marie Rudibiri who represented provincial governor Boniface Rucagu, appealed to residents to assist vulnerable groups such as Genocide survivors and disabled persons by building houses for them. He further urged residents to join cooperative societies in order to uplift their economic welfare.

The Mayor of the district, Bonane Nyangezi, appealed to residents to follow the constitution which requires all citizens to fight Genocide ideology and foster unity of all Rwandans. "Those who are bent on Genocide ideology are deceiving themselves because Genocide will never occur again in Rwanda," said Nyangezi.

In Rutare Sector, also Gicumbi district, five Genocide remains from Muko Sector were given decent burial at Rutare Memorial site. Beatrice Nirere, the chairperson of Gicumbi district Advisory Council, and the district Executive Secretary, Maximilien Niyonzima officiated at the function.

Ends