News in brief

Farmers decry payment delays Rice farmers in Bugarama sector in Rusizi district have complained about payment delays and said they had incurred losses. They raised the issue during the meeting that was held on Wednesday with the chairpersons of the cooperatives and district officials. The cooperative head attributed the delays to the long procedures in banks during transactions of transferring the money. Bugarama rice plantation has over 5,721 farmers cultivating 1,304 hectares of land. Genocide perpetrators seek forgiveness Several perpetrators in Rusizi district who participated in the 1994 Genocide on Wednesday asked for forgiveness from the victims in prayers organized by Mushaka parish priest. According to the priest, the prayers were aimed at strengthening unity and reconciliation. The Executive Secretary of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, who presided over the event, hailed the residents for promoting reconciliation in the area and added that it reflects a better tomorrow. Two men arrested for conspiracy to murder Police in Ngoma district are holding two men identified as Ezekiel Bikorimana and François Mugiraneza for allegedly planning to kill a man only identified as Mukeshimana. It was revealed that the suspects wanted to kill Mukeshimana over a previous misunderstanding that emanated from land wrangles. According to Mugiraneza, who was caught by the residents in the night while trying to break the door of Mukeshimana’s house, he said that he was hired by Bikorimana who gave him Rwf80,000 to carry out the assassination. Ends