Rwandans commemorated, for the 22nd time, the National Heroes Day in their neighbourhoods with a focus on educating the youth on the values of nation building.

While launching the Heroes Week, last week, Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi urged Rwandans to embrace values such as patriotism, integrity, sacrifice, humanity, love for work, accountability that have characterised Rwandan heroes.

"Commemorating the Heroes’ Day is a way of reminding the youth to always strive for heroism and own that culture,” he said.

However, it seems Rwandans have found more ways of honouring their heroes weeks after they approved a revised Constitution that calls for all-time remembrance of heroes and ancestors in its preamble.

Speaking to The New Times, Senator Laurent Nkusi, who was previously tasked with giving public lectures on heroism in some institutions, explained that Rwandans naturally reconnect with their history while seeking answers.

"They find a way of linking history to the current world and address current affairs and challenges, the recently revised Constitution even provides it better, heroism is very key in daily lives of Rwandans,” Nkusi said.

"This means that it is through upholding such values that Rwandans, through struggles ranging from expansion wars or liberation struggle, thrive to live peacefully together,” he added.

In the revised Constitution, its preamble states among other things, that people of Rwanda honor their valiant ancestors who sacrificed their lives to find Rwanda and the heroes who struggled for security, justice, freedom, and the restoration of our national tranquility, dignity and pride.

"I would be grateful to see some of our streets named after heroes. It would be a way of cherishing their sacrifice, we think it is the easiest way of locating places other than memorising street numbers,” said Chantal Murorunkwere, from Kicukiro District.

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Heroes categories

Rwanda has classified its national heroes into three categories; Imanzi, Imena and Ingenzi.

Imanzi comes first and features people who demonstrated utmost achievements at the expense of everything else, including own lives. They include Maj Gen Fred Rwigema, who died on the frontline a day after the launch of the Liberation War and the ‘Unknown Soldier’ who represents all soldiers who who lost their life fighting for Rwanda.

The second category, Imena, is for heroes remembered for their extraordinary acts for the country marked by sacrifice, high importance and example.

They include King Mutara III Rudahigwa Charles Léon Pierre, Michel Rwagasana, Agathe Uwilingiyimana (former prime minister), Félicité Niyitegeka, a Catholic nun who was working at a parish in Rubavu and Nyange Secondary School students.

The last category Ingenzi is comprised of heroes who are still alive, but the list of these is yet to be published as the Chancellery of Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honour is undertaking credible research to find out who merits the award.

Nearly 200 people have been undergoing vetting.

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