Genocide survivors asked to champion for better life

OFFICIALS IN HUYE district have urged survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi to work hard for better life.The call was made yesterday as Rwandans and friends of Rwanda all over the world joined hands in commemorating, for the 19th time, the Genocide in which over a million Rwandans were killed.This year’s commemoration week is held under the theme: “Let’s remember the Genocide against the Tutsi as we strive for self-reliance.”The ceremonies to mark the beginning of the commemoration week in Huye town started with a Walk to Remember from the city centre to Ngoma Memorial centre, where thousands of mourners from all ages held prayers and laid wreaths on graves to pay their respect to the Genocide victims buried there.The mourners marched silently and slowly until they reached the memorial.Commemoration ceremonies were also organised in several parts of the district, with residents gathering in their villages to mourn the victims of the Genocide.Speaking at the commemoration event, the Executive Secretary of Ngoma sector, Arsene Kabalisa, urged survivors to keep championing for better life by working hard.“It requires survivors to make two steps forward to accomplish what others can do in one [step]”, Kabalisa noted.He said that the journey to self-reliance requires determination, courage and a lot of joint efforts.“Self-reliance requires hard and team work and the contribution of each and every citizen – men and women, young and old, disabled and able bodied,” Kabalisa observed.“[Being self-reliant] is a hard but possible task that we must strive to accomplish”.Huye vice mayor in charge of social affairs Christine Niwemugeni commended the massive turnout, especially the many young mourners who participated in the commemoration event.She urged them to keep participating in all the commemoration activities to be held throughout the week.Niwemugeni noted that the high turnout is an indication that the youth are now feeling responsible and own the commemoration activities.

National

Genocide survivors asked to champion for better life