The Minister of Youth and Culture Rosemary Mbabazi on Sunday reminded Rwandan youth that they are rooted in the country’s dark history and that they have been entrusted with the mandate to sustain unity among Rwandans as a catalyst for development.
Mbabazi, alongside other officials, was speaking at a virtual event held under the theme: ‘No to double Genocide deniers’, organised by Peace and Love Proclaimers – a youth-led organisation – as part of the efforts to preserve the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Also present during the discussions was Jean-Damascene Bizimana, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Col (Rtd) Jill Rutaremara, the Director of the Rwanda Peace Academy, and Abdul-Karim Harelimana from the Rwanda Elders Advisory Forum among others.
The event was mainly attended by young Rwandans from within the country and in the diaspora.
Mbabazi told the youth that they have a responsibility to drive Rwanda’s development both socially and economically, citing a foundation of unity as a major ingredient.
"You have no excuse,” she said "You have the task to build from what you have, at the same time preventing whoever might want to regress those efforts or even those that want to derail the country’s development.”
Consequently, Mbabazi highlighted that the youth should find pride in preventing it from falling into the darkness of Genocide, promoting the country, as well as denouncing those who slander or want to delay its progress.
"Challenge those who deny and belittle the Genocide against the Tutsi, using all means at your disposal, especially social media because we cannot allow the Rwandan dissidents to continue to spread divisions and hatred.”
She added, "Condemn families in which ideology is still rooted.”
Bad leadership blamed
Asked about the main challenges that led to the divisionism among Rwandans, Bizimana explained that there was poor leadership, which among others instilled ideology and ethnicity among Rwandans.
He gave an example of the Parme Hutu political party that was legally established in February 1959, as a strategy to entrench the Hutu Power ideology.
"It was based on hatred and divisionism. It was hard to secure a job or any other qualification if you were not part of them,” he added saying that similar circumstances prevailed until the Genocide in 1994.
According to Rutaremara during the 1990-1994 liberation struggle, there were instances, especially with the loss of key commanders like Major Fred Gisa Rwigema, and other commanders that RPA soldiers were greatly demoralized.
In addition, he said, that they are days when there was no food, clothing, medication, among other basic needs, but they persevered whenever they thought of the cause for which they were fighting.
He however pointed out that when there was a sigh of relief when President Paul Kagame, re-built the army and strengthened its relationship with the population.
"A battle is never hard when you are fighting for the people who trust and believe in you,” Rutaremara said.
"President Kagame’s command, re-organisation and structuring, were key factors in ensuring that regain momentum."
Youth speak out
"Commemorating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi reminds us of our responsibilities," said Naswiru Shema, the executive director of PLP.
He added, "The responsibility to love one another, to fight what will unite us and to rebuild our country."
Shema called on his peers to utilise the foundation they have been given and fight for the country's development without sparing their efforts.
"So as young people first and foremost we have a great responsibility to rebuild Rwanda among ourselves. We should also take enough time to study the history of our country for the purpose taking lessons from it will help us make sure that the tragedy never happens again in Rwanda and elsewhere."
Meanwhile, Minister Mbabazi encouraged the youth to play an active role in the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, urging them to present their contribution to this struggle.