Kwibuka: Eight things to know ahead of commemoration week

Rwanda, and friends of Rwanda across the world, will on Sunday, April 7, begin week-long activities to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed one million lives in just 100 days. This is the 30th commemoration to be held since the massacre. More than a million people were killed in the carefully planned killings that lasted from April through July 1994. ALSO READ: Kwibuka30: Former South African president Thabo Mbeki confirms attendance This year’s commemoration will run under the theme Kwibuka Twiyubaka, loosely translated as Remember-Unite-Renew, but also focus on key achievements registered through Rwanda’s 30-year journey to attain unity and sustain growth and development. Here is what you should know, according to guidelines released by the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement. 1. National commemoration day The commemoration is expected to start with a lighting of the ‘Flame of Remembrance’ at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi most likely by President Paul Kagame, which will burn for the next 100 days. The Head of State has always led the country to kick off the commemoration activities, which are observed by laying wreaths in honour of not only the 250,000 victims interred at the memorial, but also all victims of the Genocide. On the same day, a national event is scheduled at the BK Arena and will bring together different officials including cabinet members, members of the diplomatic corps, international organisations, Genocide survivors, and youth, among others. Several global leaders including heads of state are also expected to attend. At the event, President Kagame will deliver a keynote address and this, like all scheduled activities, will be aired on national television and live-streamed on other social media platforms. Similar activities at the district level will be held at district Genocide memorial sites, according to the guidelines. The commemoration vigil is also expected to be hosted at BK Arena. 2. Visiting Genocide memorials The public will continue to access different Genocide memorials across the country during the week-long activities and beyond to mourn their loved ones. Also, the remains of Genocide victims that were discovered throughout the past year will be laid to rest in different areas during the 100 days of commemoration in different parts of the country. 3. Walk to Remember This year's Walk to Remember will be held on the evening of April 7 towards BK Arena where a night vigil will be held on the same day. ALSO READ: Rwanda turns 30: Why it matters for all of us The activity conceived in 2009 by the youth under their organisation Peace and Love Proclaimers (PLP) aims to, among others, empower the youth of Rwanda and around the world to take a stand against genocide. By using the walk as a platform to educate the youth about genocide, PLP uses knowledge as a means of prevention. Usually, the Walk to Remember attracts thousands of Rwandans, diplomats, and friends of Rwanda. 4. Kwibuka30 international conference As part of the 30 Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, an international conference is set to take place on April 5. The even will be an opportune moment to hear from and pay tribute to professionals who have made an important contribution towards preserving memory, healing trauma, delivering justice and ensuring historical clarity. The conference will bring together local and international authors, journalists, lawyers and activists among others and it will take place at Intare International Arena. ALSO READ: Unity minister urges youth to learn Rwanda’s history ahead of Kwibuka30 5. Nine politicians to be honoured The closing date of the official commemoration week, April 13, will see the nation honour nine politicians who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The politicians, who opposed the Genocidal regime, will have their names and deeds added to the dedicated Genocide Memorial at Rebero. In an earlier interview, the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), Jean-Damascene Bizimana, emphasised the importance of commemorating not only the atrocities committed by some politicians but also the heroic actions of those who fought against them. Specifically, this year, nine more politicians will have their names inscribed at the Rebero memorial which has been preserved for politicians who did good deeds before and during the Genocide against the Tutsi. These politicians include; Boniface Ngurinzira, the former Foreign Affairs Minister, who advocated for Rwandan unity during the Arusha peace talks, Godefroid Ruzindana, the former Kibungo prefect, who stood against the genocidal politics at the cost of his life and that of his family and Jean Baptiste Habyarimana the former prefect of Butare who was killed in the Genocide. Prof. Jean-Gualbert Rumiya, an academic left MRND, the genocidal party after castigated the incendiary speech made by Leon Mugesera his fellow faculty member at the National University of Rwanda who called for the extermination of the Tutsi in the early 1990s and Vincent Rwabukwisi, a journalist and politician who used his platform to promote peace and reconciliation. There is also Dr Theoneste Gafaranga, a private medical practitioner who was a member of PSD political party. In addition, there were three bourgmestres: Calixte Ndagijimana for Mugina, Narcisse Nyagasaza for Ntyazo, and Jean Marie Vianne Gisagara for Nyabisindu commune. They bravely fought against the Genocide in their respective areas and saved Tutsi lives. However, they were killed in horrific ways for their courageous acts of resistance. ALSO READ: With Kwibuka30 approaching, how is it possible that no lessons have been learnt? 6. Hospitality facilities to remain accessible Restaurants, bars and hotels will be operational during the week-long national commemoration period. On April 7, all businesses will open after midday,. However, during the memorial week, as has been the norm, entertainment activities, including sports betting, will be prohibited. Also to remain open are public offices. Employers have also been encouraged to permit their staff in the event they want to go to given places to pay tribute to their loved ones who were killed in the Genocide. 7. International community to remember Commemorative activities involving members of the diplomatic corps and international organisations in Rwanda will be conducted between April 8 and 19 June to remember and reflect on the role of the international community. As has been the norm, each entity will pick a day to pay tribute to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi. 8. Unesco to recognise Rwandan memorials During this year's commemoration, UNESCO is expected to hand over certificates of recognition to the four memorial sites for the Genocide against the Tutsi which were last year named to the global body's heritage list. The memorials are; Kigali Genocide Memorial, Nyamata Genocide Memorial located in Bugesera District, Bisesero Genocide Memorial located in Karongi District and Murambi Genocide Memorial in Nyamagabe District.

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Kwibuka: Eight things to know ahead of commemoration week