Gitwe Adventist leaders re-appear in Gacaca

SOUTHERN PROVINCE RUHANGO — Barely weeks, after three former leaders of the Adventist church in Gitwe ,were acquitted of Genocide charges, Jyoma Gacaca court on Thursday summoned the trio, following an appeal of the case. The leaders, Thaddeo Mukezabatware, Elizafani Nzaramba, Anon Ndahiriwe had been acquitted of the charges on November 27 by the same court. They had been jointly sued with other former security guards, Gaspard Hakizimana, Kazungu Samuel Sindayingaya and Paul Muzindutsi who also appeared in court. Another security guard, Gerald Ndagijyimana, skipped the trial. The guards had earlier acknowledged their involvement in the killing of Petero Muliganda, but have since denied the charges. Isidore Mulinda Byuma, the plaintiff accused the three leaders and the guards of masterminding the death of his brother [Mulingande]. He claimed that the accused organized meetings to plot the killing of Muligande and several other Genocide victims. “I am sure that the death of my brother was organized by the three leaders above, and during the earlier trials they [accused] were declared innocent yet there was no explanation given to the deaths of over 100 residents killed at College de Gitwe, including my brother,” Byuma told court. “My witnesses on these massacres were not heard and I would like this court to consider their evidence,” he added and stated that Gitwe experienced numerous killing orchestrated by the guards under the orders of the then [Adventist] leaders, claims denied by the accused. Court heard the evidence of the witnesses, but dismissed the allegations as lacking credibility, and clarity on how and when the meetings were held to organize the death of Muligande. “The court analyzed the evidence and found it not credible and the testimonies of various witnesses were uncoordinated. There is no evidence to implicate any of the accused,” a court ruling stated. However, Byuma still contested the verdict saying that “many people were killed under the orders of the accused much as none has ever acknowledged the massacres.” Another witness, François Mutangana, argued that “the case will have to be forwarded to the higher levels until court finds some one responsible for the deaths of the innocent victims.” This case has acquired prominence in Gitwe, and has attracted the attention of residents and local leaders in the Adventist strong hold. Following the earlier ruling, the case sparked off wrangles among Adventist Relief Agency [ADRA] leaders in Kigali and Rwamagana, reportedly leading to the sacking of one senior staff, called Katende, who was working in Nyagatare. Ends