Genocide survivors, residents pay tribute to genocide victims

NYANZA/NYAMAGABE – The Governor of Southern Province, Fidel Ndayisaba has urged residents of Cyanika sector, Nyamagabe district, to live peacefully and harmoniously with their neighbors. Governor Ndayisaba was speaking last Sunday at Cyanika memorial site in Cyanika sector, during the commemorations of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. “Genocide was possible because the previous government taught Rwandans to hate each other. We need to change such negative teachings because any one who still harbors hatred for his or her neighbors, will never escape the effects of the genocide,” Ndayisaba said, citing desperation, anxiety, solitude, among others, as the effects of the genocide. Tom Ndahiro of Ibuka; an umbrella organization of genocide survivors, told mourners that remembering the genocide is a way of paying respect to its victims and noted that it is also a way of keeping part of the dark history for future generations. “There is a need to remember the past of our country even though it was bad. Today we remember the horrific times the country went through in order to inform our children what happened while being vigilant to take measures so that genocide never happens again”, Ndahiro told mourners. In a related story, Genocide survivors and residents in Mukingo sector on Saturday gathered at Gatagara genocide memorial site to commemorate and pay respect to the victims of the tragedy. Legislator Fortunée Nyiramadirida, urged mourners to support genocide survivors and help them improve their living standards. Nyanza district vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs Appoline Kambayire reminded residents about the importance of according decent reburial to victims of the Genocide. She urged people with information as to the whereabouts of genocide remains to contact local authorities so that victims can be reburied. She told mourners that genocide survivors will remain traumatized until all victims are given a decent burial. More than 3,500 bodies are buried at Gatagara memorial site. Ends