Japan lawmakers honour Genocide victims

Two legislators from the Japanese House of Representatives yesterday visited Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi to honour victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Asahiko Mihara and Dr. Daishiro Yamagiwa were accompanied by officials of the Japanese embassy in Kigali and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Japan, Dr Charles Murigande. The lawmakers, who also serve under Rwanda-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, were in the country to witness progress made by Rwanda since the Genocide and the contribution of the Japanese government to Rwanda’s economic development. The delegation travelled to Uganda yesterday. Murigande said the visit consolidated existing partnership between the two states. “Visiting the Genocide memorial site helped them understand that the country was actually destroyed and also appreciate what the government has been able to do in 20 years. “We have been informing them about the progress Rwanda has made in the last 20 years, but they decided to come and see for themselves; so that they can understand what happened, and better continue to support our development agenda,” Murigande said. The Japanese government through, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provides technical cooperation and other forms of aid for economic and social development to the tune of $20 million every financial year. Some of the projects supported by Japan include Rusumo bridge on Rwanda-Tanzania border and Tumba College of Technology. Murigande revealed that Rwanda would soon host a delegation of private investors from Japan. “The trade organisations will come to interact with private and public sector to understand the investment climate in Rwanda, and hopefully some of them will start investing in Rwanda,” he said. The delegation will include major Japanese companies such as Mitsubishi, Toyota and Itoshu.