Members of the Lower Chamber of Parliament yesterday challenged the National Commission against Genocide (CNLG) to step up efforts to ensure survivors acquire full housing benefits. The request was made yesterday as the Executive Secretary of CNLG; Jean de Dieu Mucyo and two of his Commissioners, appeared before parliament to update the lawmakers on preparations for the 16th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. MP Jean Damascène Gasarabwe expressed his worry on standards and quality of life led by the survivors which he largely blamed for their current trauma issues. “While we would want to concentrate on trauma, we need to also understand that these trauma cases are boosted by the bad standards of living that the survivors have. Most of them still lack shelter, I would like to know the percentage of people who have been helped to acquire shelter and those who are on waiting lists and whether there is a timeframe when you hope to have provided shelter for all,” he said. MP Fortunee Nyiramadirida also pointed out the same issue and questioned the reasons behind the lack of solution to survivors’ housing needs. “The question I have concerns the housing problems that survivors are still battling with. Why do we still have that problem? Why is it that it has not been given first priority after all these years?,” she asked. Aimable Nibishaka appealed for a clear action plan that will see the issue of shelter resolved once and for all. “It has been 15 years since construction of these houses started, despite knowing the stories surrounding shoddy work in the process. What is the plan of action that has been put in place to take care of the housing issue once and for all?,” he asked Mucyo explained that the government was doing everything possible to rectify the issues, promising a viable solution soon. He also reminded the lawmakers that a lot of progress had been made in terms of people’s views on the Genocide commemoration week, which begins tomorrow. “We used to have people with the mentality that the Genocide commemoration week only concerns survivors and the government, but as of recent, it’s good to know that the rate of involvement has increased to admirable levels,” he said. Ends
