[PHOTOS]: Kwibuka 22: Former govt workers remembered

Government workers killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi were remembered in an event jointly organized by the ministries of Internal Security, Public Service and Labour, and Local Government on Friday. During the event it was noted that unlike under the Genociedire regime, Rwandans today have equal opportunities to transform their lives. The Minister of Internal Security, Mussa Fazil Harerimana said that currently, social protection programmes such as Girinka (One Cow per Poor Family), Ubudehe (social strata categorisation) as well as education opportunities are equally enjoyed by all Rwandans. Mourners observe a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “The Ministry of Local Government caters for all Rwandans. When you for example go in the countryside, you find a vulnerable Genocide convict who served his sentence accessing Gir’inka and other social benefits,” he said. For the ministry of public service and labour, Harerimana reminded the mourners of the pre-1994 policy that stated that Tutsi should not go beyond 10 per cent of the public workforce. “But now, the candidate is recruited purely on merit; not his or her ethnic background, religion or anything but merit; to secure a job in the public sector, there is a competitive process and candidate who emerges the winner gets the job,” he said. Minister Uwizeye lights the flame of hope during the commemoration event. While giving testimony, Marie Chantal Twagiruwaremye, the representative of the families of the victims, said that they were persecuted and oppressed at work, always working in fear before being killed during the genocide against the Tutsi. Her father, Deon Twagiruwaremye worked first in the public service ministry and later was moved to the then ministry for social works before getting killed during the genocide. Officials chat after the commemoration event. (Photos by Emmanuel Ntirenganya) She said Tutsi were deprived of their education rights and some were unfairly sacked. Despite improvement in the efforts to ensure the welfare of genocide survivors, survivors said there are still some who need decent housing and income-generating jobs. Minister Harerimana said the government is committed to offering support to vulnerable Genocide survivors through various means, citing the Rwf30 billion budget under the Ministry of Local Government in the upcoming fiscal year, which will go towards supporting vulnerable survivors. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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[PHOTOS]: Kwibuka 22: Former govt workers remembered