Fallen politicians honoured

Politicians who were killed during the 1994 Genocide were honoured yesterday during a ceremony that was held at Rebero Hill in Kigali City. During the function that was presided over by Senate president Dr Vincent Biruta, various speakers said that it was because of people them that the country had got where it was today. Biruta encouraged Rwandans to always cherish this cause saying that it would make them proud. The minister of sports and culture said that current politicians should work hard in honour of these politicians. We have to work hard to get where these people were or even do better. This means that we have to diligently serve the population because they are our employers, said Minister Joseph Habineza under whose ministry the commemoration of the Genocide falls. Some of the prominent politicians who were honoured included former Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana. She was an extraordinary lady. She helped us especially in giving us guidance when multi-party politics was introduced in 1991. We truly honour her on a day like this despite the fact that she is not buried here, said Henriette Sebera, a member of parliament. Uwilingiyimana is buried at Remera heroes’ corner next to Amahoro National Stadium. Sebera paid special tribute to other slain politicians including the former president of the constitutional court Joseph Kavaruganda. This man demonstrated absolute courage when he refused to legalise Habyarimana’s (Juvenal, the former president) oath which was in contradiction with the Arusha Peace Accords, said Sebera. She explained the history of multipartism in the country right from 1959 saying that other parties were only allowed to operate in 1991. Initially there was only Habyarimana’s MRND ,and when other parties started to operate, he worked hard to divide them. PAWA factions broke away from parties like MDR (Mouvement Democratique Rwandais) and PL (Liberal Party), said Sebera. The Hutu Pawa factions were extremist groups that acted in league with both MRND and CDR. Other politicians who were honoured included Landouard Ndasingwa, commonly known as Lando, Fréderick Nzamurambaho, André Kameya, Jean de la Croix Rutaremara, Augustin Rwayitare, Faustin Rucogoza, and Aloys Niyoyita. Others are Vénantie Kabageni, Félicien Ngango, Charles Kayiranga and Jean Baptiste Mushimiyimana among others.Ends