NAEB honours staff killed in Genocide

National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) staff, on Thursday, visited Gikondo Genocide Memorial site in Kicukiro District to honour victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The victims interred in at the site include 330 former employees of the institution. Together with friends and families of victims, the employees conducted a walk to remember from the institution’s offices at Magerwa to Gikondo memorial, where they were briefed on how the Tutsi were killed in Gikondo parish. Besides laying of wreaths, lighting the flame of hope and paying a minute of silence in honour of the victims, participants watched a documentary film that narrates the history of the former workers killed in 1994. Amb. George William Kayonga, NAEB chief executive, noted that remembrance should go beyond weeping to joining efforts to uproot genocide ideology for a bright future. “The battle to stop genocide was won, thanks to RPF. However, we still have another one, of uprooting the roots of genocide ideology, which requires standing up and joining our efforts to do so. Perpetrators are proceeding to spread genocide ideology and denial through different social media platforms,” he said. NAEB CEO, Amb.George William Kayonga, together with the permanent secretary at Minagri lit the Flame of Hope. (Frederic Byumvuhore) He called on everyone to strive for unity to build the country and show the rest of the world the current image of the country. He thanked NAEB employees for the support and comfort they provide to Genocide orphans whose parents lost their lives while working for the institution. In her testimony, Immaculee Uwizeye, who represented the families of victims, thanked NAEB for the comfort, paying school fees and providing shelter to orphaned children. Uwizeye promised to emulate patriotism that characterised the youth of RPF in liberating the country. “During the Genocide, we were babies. No one had hope in this country. I am happy that I am now educated in spite of having lost my parents. We pledge to use our knowledge to develop the country,” she said. Lt Gen Fred Ibingira, the RDF Reserve Force commander, urged Rwandans to uphold patriotism, heroism and national values. Innocent Musabyimana, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, said Rwandans should weaken Genocide perpetrators and deniers by remembering innocent victims. “The achievements of the country are our foundation. Today we commemorate but also celebrate the current unity. Divisionism is not part of the country’s vision,” he said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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NAEB honours staff killed in Genocide