Governor commends youth solidarity camps

WESTERN PROVINCE RUBAVU — The governor of the Western Province Celestine Kabahiza has said that organizing solidarity camps for the youths was one of the ways to fight against the genocide ideology and a way of helping them become responsible future citizens of the country. Kabahiza said this December 29 while officially opening a four day program for solitary training-Ingando for over 200 youths from various cells of Rugero sector. The youth camp included students, heads of cooperative unions, and leaders at both cell and sector levels. ‘Rwandan youth were misled by politicians and as such they played a big role in the implementation of the 1994 genocide. Rwandan youth should say never again to such acts and should foster unity towards using their youthful energy to rebuild the country’, said Kabahiza. Emanuel Mazimpaka Rugerero the sector coordinator said that the training was organized to educate the youth from various cells of Rugerero sector on various government policies such as unity and reconciliation, fighting the genocide ideology, prevention of the spread of the HIV/AIDS, participating in community work (Umuganda) among others. Mazimpaka said that the four day Ingando will be concluded by visiting Gisozi memorial site to give the trained youth an opportunity to witness what happened during the 1994 genocide. ‘The western province and Rubavu in particular was one of the most affected districts due to the genocide ideology and this is the area where EX-FAR and Interahamwe operated last before being defeated by the government troops prior to their crossing to DRC. That’s why the youth need to know the truth in order not to be contaminated by some of their relatives that still have the ideology’, explained Mazimpaka. Jose Twizereyezu a member of parliament who presented a discussion on unity and reconciliation told the youth that unity and reconciliation are characterized by trust, love for one another, forgiveness, equality, nationalism, and other positive attributes. ‘It’s high time we looked at one another as Rwandans and brothers and sisters irrespective of the so called ethnic groups, origins and physical differences. Unity and reconciliation should be each one’s responsibility. As youths you should be instrumental to preach the gospel of unity to your parents, relatives brothers and sisters’, explained Twizereyezu. Participants promised to share the information and knowledge attained with other youths. They were also encouraged to fight poverty through joining cooperative unions. The participants were urged to form unity and reconciliation clubs to foster a culture of love for one another in society. Ends