Do not despair, survivors told

RUBAVU – Thousands of Rubavu residents and local authorities on Wednesday held a peaceful march in remembrance of Genocide victims who were dumped in Lake Kivu and other water bodies. The 2.5kms march started from Gisenyi Tax Park to Sebeya River. Addressing the mourners, the acting district Mayor, Evariste Bizimana, urged survivors to embrace government’s development initiatives designed to help them out of poverty. “We are here to encourage the survivors not to be overcome by despair but sustain hope for the future,” Bizimana said at Tam Tam ground on the shores of Sebeya River. “We have achieved a lot in terms of supporting survivors to acquire education, shelter and health insurance. Gacaca courts, which helped in finding the truth, is also winding up.” MP Charles Kamanda, who led a team of six other legislators to the commemoration, said that since the end of 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the government has done a lot for the country. “The President said you are heroes and you need to remain heroes in your everyday activities. There is need to work hard while embracing government’s development initiatives,” Kamanda told survivors who laid wreaths along the banks of River Sebeya. Meanwhile, 39 people who were traumatised during the commemoration were rushed to Gisenyi Hospital for treatment. Ends