First Lady urges leaders on unity

KIGALI - First Lady Jeannette Kagame yesterday said that Rwandans are enjoying peace and security, but that leaders need work harder to promote truth and tolerance in the country The First Lady was addressing members of Unity Club in Kigali. She said that the history of Rwanda was common knowledge and reminded the cross section of leaders from various institutions to avoid anything that could take the country a step back. “We all know where Rwanda has come from, and it has not been a simple journey, and yet we have managed to achieve many good things,” she noted. “We should not relax, we need consistency, zeal and sacrifice so that the culture of tolerance and truth can spread all over Rwanda”. Discussions centered on the theme; “The Role of Leaders in Emphasising the Culture of Tolerance and Truth, Towards Uniting Rwandans,” and are the third to be held since the Club was established in 1996. The First Lady reminded the leaders of the importance of undertanding issues before desseminating them to the public. “We are here to go back to the basics of loving the truth, to discuss, to understand and to make others understand the truth that we wish for all Rwandans,” “We came here so that we start with ourselves, as leaders, and then as individuals, as members of this club, so that we understand the meaning of mediation and tolerance in a country like ours, and to understand it as individuals before we preach it to those we lead,” she said The Chairman of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (UNRC), Bishop John Rucyahana, told members of the club that there was still a long journey to achieve total unity and reconciliation. He took the stage after the screening of the Documentary, “My Neighbor, My Killer.” “This documentary is an exposition of who and what we are. We still have a long journey,” Rucyahana said of the documentary that depicts the difficulties that survivors go through on their road of recovery. He pointed out that forgiveness is vital and asked the leaders to use their calling to preach the gospel of forgiveness. “Gacaca courts are closing soon. Right now, the Unity Club is going to take over the responsibility of the repurcussions left by the courts,” he said Unity Club was formed in February 1996 to bring together current and former Cabinet Ministers and their spouses, and Mrs Kagame is its President. Ends