EASTERN PROVINCE: RWAMAGANA — The court case against Genocide suspect Ilidephonse Munyambo is the talk of the day and has virtually dominated discourse in Rwamagana this month.Appearing for the first time customary pink prison clothes, he felt relaxed and introduced himself to Gacaca court officials as well as the General Assembly, saying in Kinyarwanda “Abantanzi nijye Munyambo mwajiye mwuma”—for those who did not know me before, I am called Munyambo, the one you have always heard about.Normally, Gacaca courts in Rwamagana take place on Thursdays; however Munyambo’s complicated case has led to introduction of an extra Tuesday as another day for quickening of the trial. Munyambo has been appealing before the Kigabiro Gacaca court for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time, meaning other cases have been suspended and delayed for upwards of a month.The trial is that serious.Though the category is not yet decided, he is accused of being a ringleader of the Genocide. Major leaders in the area and the country have already testified against him, but he is yet to admit to any of his roles. The freely-relaxed Munyambo reveals to court and General Assembly that he only had a gun illegally. He says he joined others on the roadblocks and he agrees that he was a member of the MRND ruling party, which prepared the 1994 Genocide. He however denies having participated in genocide himself. According to one resident who prefers to remain anonymous, Munyambo was a ‘fierce person’ to whom even colonels, burgomasters and MRND officials could report to because of his influence and amassed riches in the area.As an experienced retired army corporal, Munyambo is said to have been linked to training Interahamwe on how to administer grenades and handling guns, the reason to why high ranking officials would report to him during Genocide.Munyambo is currently detained at Nsinda prison. Updates will follow.Ends
