Preparations for the upcoming Genocide commemoration week in the Southern Province are at an advanced stage, according to province governor Alphonse Munyantwari.

While addressing a news conference on Tuesday, Munyantwari said authorities have been meeting with all stakeholders to ensure that commemoration activities go smoothly and warned the public  against trivialising the Genocide against the Tutsi or engaging in actions that might depict genocide ideology

"Measures have been devised  to deal with such individuals,” Munyantwari said.

The week-long activities will focus mainly on remembering and honouring the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, supporting vulnerable survivors as well as holding public lectures on the Genocide, its causes, consequences and reflecting on how to avert such a tragedy from happening again in the future.

"Vulnerable survivors, mainly orphans and widows, will get livestock to support their income,” he said, adding that efforts to help survivors get decent houses will remain on course.

Munyantwari urged the population to actively participate in all planned activities, including, among others remembrance vigils, commemoration at memorial sites and other venues as well as public lectures, as a way of honouring the memories of those who perished during the Genocide.

Starting Sunday, April 7, Rwanda will begin the 19th Genocide commemoration week, which will be marked under the theme, "Let’s remember the Genocide against the Tutsi as we strive for self-reliance.”

Also for the first time, the commemoration events will be held with a new mourning colour. A recent cabinet meeting changed the colour from the usual purple to gray, a decision officials said was dictated by the fact that gray, colour synonymous with ash, is attached to the Rwandan traditional mourning rituals.