Parents have been called upon to always resolve their conflicts amicably for the good of their children. The message was delivered by the Police while meeting over 100 couples, all members of a Pentacostal church – Communaute Évangélique de Pentecote L’ Espoir (CEPA), in Kamonyi District this week. The meeting was organised by Police and CEPA to sensitise couples about domestic conflicts as well as bringing them on board to fight and prevent the vice. AIP Augustine Mbonyumugenzi said when a family riddled with conflicts hurts the children, as the latter also find themselves divided in support of either parent, resulting into violence. He urged the congregation to be ambassadors against domestic wrangles. “When families are living in harmony it is easily reflected in the upbringing of their children and development of a family,” AIP Mbonyumugenzi said. “Effects of domestic misunderstandings go beyond homes and that is why you should strive to ensure that differences are solved amicably either internally or with the help of those concerned.” Mbonyumugenzi urged the group to help families in their neighbour to resolve their conflicts. Knowing about a conflict and you do nothing to help makes you an irresponsible neighbour, Mbonyumugenzi said, urging the group to be an ‘eye for their neighbours’ by reporting families that could be embroiled in domestic disputes. According to Mbonyumugenzi, most of these wrangles are caused by drunkenness and drug abuse, which requires collective efforts to combat. Pastor Augustine Bizimana of CEPA thanked the Police for enlightening the church members about effects and causes of family wrangles and asked the congregation to take the message seriously. Last month, the Police reconciled and reunited 21 families in Kamonyi that had for long been wrecked by wrangles. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
