Youths speak out on unity and reconciliation week

Call for forgiveness of genocide criminals EASTERN PROVINCE NGOMA — The youths in the Ngoma district have called upon genocide criminals to seek forgiveness for their past crimes in order to ensure total reconciliation in the country. They were commenting on the unity and reconciliation week that was launched country-wide on Monday November 17, under the theme “Fight for unity and reconciliation in your performance contract.” In Ngoma district, the week was launched in the Remera Sector, where various leaders called on all Rwandans to play a significant role in fostering unity and reconciliation among citizens. A number of youth who talked to The New Times said forgiveness was the way forward. “I think its time we forget the past and focus on the present,” says 22-year-old Patrick Kwizera, who works at a car washing bay in Kibungo town. Kwizera, is an orphan whose parents were killed in the 1994 Genocide. He has been washing cars for the past four years. “Our parents, friends and in-laws were killed and there is no way they can be brought back to life. The only way forward is for those who killed them to express remorse and confess their crimes so that they can be forgiven,” Kwizera said. “I am ready to forgive those who offended me if they admit their crimes,” he adds, calling on all those who were offended to forgive, because ‘nothing can be done to reverse what happened.’ “They should forgive them if they come seeking for forgiveness,” Kwizera says. 19-year-old Claris Uwamahoro, a student at Mutendeli Secondary School says, “Unity and reconciliation can be achieved only through forgiving those who offended us.” “But the youths have a lot to do to champion this,” she adds. For 17- year old Dianne Umuhoza, a student at Kabale Secondary School, the youths can achieve total unity and reconciliation in the country if they can fully participate in the various reconciliation drives. “During such a week, I think there should be some arrangement to bring together those who killed with those whose people were killed so that they can ask for forgiveness,” Umuhoza says. Theogene Bayingana, a student at the Teachers Training Centre (TTC) Zaza says, “Such a week should be highly respected and given value more than other things because it is where the future of Rwanda lies.” He urges his fellow youths to be ambassadors where ever they go and in whatever they do so that total unity and reconciliation can be achieved in the country. Ends