How Faith helped me survive the Genocide – Mukantagara

HUYE–In a relatively modern house in Cyarwa Cell, Tumba Sector, Marita Mukantagara sits calmly after a fairly busy morning. A few minutes before, she had been cleaning her house. The house looks quite small but very orderly. From time to time, she moves from one room to another. When she speaks, she chooses her words carefully.In 1994, Mukantagara survived the machetes as Interahamwe militias raided her home. Other family members were not so lucky. They were all killed on this day.Eighteen years after the Genocide against the Tutsi, Mukantagara still remembers that incident like it happened yesterday. She remembers running and asking her sisters and brothers to run.Mukantagara says all survivors have the responsibility to contribute to national development of this country. She thinks it is her obligation to do something good for her country.She always asks herself many questions. She says people who survived never bribed God. “I think God gave us a chance to survive and do something special for this country,” says in a quiet voice.“Sometimes, I sit down and ask myself, why not my younger sister, why not my brother, and I say maybe God has something that he wants me to do, that is why He helped me survive,” says Mukantagara.Her faith has helped her move forward to forge a way to a better life. Currently, Mukantagara, who is better known in area as a woman whose prayers have been answered by God, says she is determined to change her country for the better.The 56-year old has invested in processing and packaging of banana beers and wines. Today, she has established her ‘Ineza Breweries’ in the nearby Mukura sector where she processes a variety of beers and wines.“Shortly after the Genocide, life was very difficult and I could not figure out how to get out of poverty,” she recalls. She says it was double tragedy to lose all relatives and live in abject poverty at the same time!At first, she started venturing in various activities, including selling construction sand. It was tough,” she says with a tinge of bitterness. She started her brewery in 2004, with only Rwf 130,000.“When I started it, I thought it was not going to work. “Just a woman, poor, survivor without skills1 Well, I tried it,” says Mukantagara, happily.Her business has grown and prospered. She currently produces a variety of alcoholic drinks, including, Akiwacu banana wine and Ishema fruits Wine. Mukantagara even dreams of producing a coffee wine, which, she says, will name Igitangaza wine.“Today, I have means to live a better life”, she proudly says. “My life has changed for the better”, she explains.She has another dream; “I want my business to grow so that I help Rwandans,” she says. She now employs six people. “I think all this achievement is because I respect God. I know God has a hand in everything I do.” Mukantagara describes herself as “a Genocide widow, who lives alone but who has managed to live better on her own and who helps others live well”.She is part of the current generation of Rwandans who have hope and the opportunities to pursue their dreams.Mukantagara says she sells her products mainly in hotels and explains she has never faced a problem with a market. She appeals to her fellow Genocide survivors to take advantage of the prevailing peace and engage in self help projects.“Everything is difficult in life. It requires a very determined soul,” she says. When I first met her, she smiled easily and exuded a kind of calm that felt parental. And Mukantagara’s path to this point has been difficult but faith has helped her find a new life.