NURC constructs houses for the needy

RWAMAGANA - The National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) through its district forum, yesterday, constructed two houses for two needy families in Fumbwe sector. The two houses well worth over Rwf 500.000 were given to single parents who were historically marginalised. The Mayor of the district, Nehemie Uwimana, who is also the Chairman of the District Reconciliation Committee, said that several other needy families were set to benefit. He however warned residents of Fumbwe not to seat and wait to be given houses for free. “It is imperative that as we talk about reconciliation, we also address the issue of poverty. It is absolutely difficult to push people into peace and harmony when they live in perpetual poverty,” he said. The mayor further urged residents to utilise every piece of land for crop growing and farming. “At least every family owns a domestic animal...the needy ones are listed so that we can give them either cows or goats. The main purpose is to provide you with enough manure for your crops...so our approach to reconciliation at this point is through poverty alleviation”. Emmanuel Rukera, the Vice Chairman of the District’s Unity and Reconciliation Committee, advised grassroots leaders to end community conflicts in impartial ways. He said that one of the challenges of reconciliation was poor conflict management, adding that a post conflict society should be handled in a more informed way. “There are some grassroots based cases that go against the principles of justice. If somebody wronged a community you must seek restorative justice...Don’t go for another wrong, for two wrongs will never work,” he said. Valentine Mukandutiye, 36, said that reconciliation in the sector was at its peak after the district forum’s continuous sensitization. “This is a sector that was greatly affected by the genocide...so many Tutsi were killed here. But, today, no one mentions or even shows signs of hatred, well it could still be in minds of very few, but that won’t affect us,” she said.The reconciliation committee will continue its campaign next week in schools. Ends