CIMERWA, the country's main cement manufacturer, on Sunday April 16, 2023, remembered its 58 former employees who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as part of the 29th commemoration of the Genocide.
Three members from the families of former CIMERWA employees killed during genocide were also given cows to improve their welfare and resilience.
Some victims are buried at Muganza Memorial Site in Gakoni Cell, Muganza sector in Rusizi District while others were thrown in River Rubyiro and have never got a decent burial since they were washed away.
The information about bodies thrown in River Rubyiro was shared by a genocide perpetrator in 2019 during the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.
On Sunday, the management and staff of CIMERWA, genocide survivors, community and friends around CIMERWA as well as government officials laid wreaths on the waters of River Rubyiro where Tutsi killed in CIMERWA and vicinity were dumped.
The commemoration on Sunday was preceded by night vigil on Saturday evening where they learned about genocide history before, during and after colonial period that led to 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
"The events that transpired here in CIMERWA and across the country were a harrowing reminder of the depths of human cruelty, bad leadership and the devastating impact it can have on individuals, families, and entire communities,” said James Oduor, the CEO of CIMERWA.
He said that despite the tragic history, it also showcased the unwavering resilience and strength of the Rwandan people, who have shown remarkable courage and fortitude in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
"We regret the role of the company’s bad leadership led by Sebatware Marcel during the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi. 58 CIMERWA staff members lost their lives, leaving behind an irreplaceable void in their families, the company and the wider community,” he noted.
Oduor reminded people that they must never forget the lessons of the past and the need for tolerance, respect and compassion towards each other.
"At CIMERWA, we are committed to upholding these values in everything we do. We strive to create a workplace that is inclusive, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We firmly believe that it is our collective responsibility to remember the lessons of the past, honor the victims of violence, and work towards a more just and peaceful future for all.
Today, we stand in solidarity with the people of Rwanda and extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” he added.
He called for unity to strengthen the country by building a brighter future for all Rwandans and renew the pledge –to ensure never again genocide.
Former manager of CIMERWA roaming abroad
Yohani Bapfakurera, a genocide survivor who worked at CIMERWA since 1983 said that 1994 genocide against the Tutsi happened when he had five children and three of them together with their mother were killed.
He witnessed that at work Tutsi were usually harassed and during genocide, some employers such as Marcel Sebatware who was the General Manager of Cimerwa and Ndorimana Casmir who was in charge of production at CIMERWA plus others employees were the ones who guided Interahamwe militia to kill Tutsi.
Ndorimana is currently in Cyangugu prison while Marcel Sebatware is roaming abroad in Belgium.
"With the role of Sebatware, Tutsi-former CIMERWA employees and other Tutsi around-were killed on April 16 and on April 17, they were loaded in a car and thrown in River Rubyiro. In 2019, we then discovered that they were dumped in this river 25 years after genocide happened thanks to information from one genocide perpetrator. No one including perpetrators had disclosed the whereabouts,” Bapfakurera said.
The factory’s top leadership comprised mainly of people from former Ruhengeri and Gisenyi prefectures who were also members of Coalition for the Defense of the Republic (CDR) and Mouvement révolutionnaire national pour le développement (MRND) according to Alex Muhirwa, an employee of the ministry of justice in Rusizi district.
In terms of political affiliation, Marcel Sebatware was a member of the extremist Coalition for the Defense of the Republic (CDR) in 1994.
Sebatware who spearheaded torturing before genocide and killings during genocide in CIMERWA is from former Ruhengeri Prefecture, as was the then powerful Minister of Commerce and Industry, Joseph Nzirorera, who appointed him to this prominent post.
Sebatware is also the brother-in-law of General Nsabimana Deogratias who was chief of staff of the former Rwandan armed forces, who signed a hateful document on September 21, 1992 in which he identified the Tutsi as enemies of the country.
Since his exile in Belgium, Marcel Sebatware has been one of the extremists who hide behind political actions to hide his criminal role in the genocide committed against the Tutsi. He is one of the founding members of a radical FDU-Inkingi group in Belgium, whose president Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza was sentenced in Rwanda for genocide denial and incitement to hatred.
"Sebatware provided equipment to train Interahamwe militia in 1993 and he also organized killings in 1994. We thank the current CIMERWA leadership that is contributing to rebuilding the country by also supporting genocide survivors in different ways,” Muhirwa said.
Olivier Niyonzima, the president of Ibuka-the umbrella body for Genocide survivors' associations commended current CIMERWA leadership for both continuous support in healing both physical and moral wounds of genocide survivors.
"CIMERWA did a lot and played a role in constructing Muganza memorial site. However, more work is still needed so that we accord the victims a decent burial. Good preservation of genocide evidence is a weapon in fighting denial,” he said.
According to Mayor of Rusizi district, Anicent Kibiriga, they are going to work with CIMERWA to revamp Muganza Genocide Memorial Site.
"The memorial site has to remain here despite genocide memorials consolidation across the country. That is why we are required to revamp it to be up to standards required at national level,” he said.
Jean Paul Nyiribakwwe, an employee who represented Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) at the commemoration event said that genocide ideology is still being spread saying, "Therefore we have to continue to remember as a tool to combat genocide ideology and denial. Youth are obliged to play a big role and also sustain what we have achieved in rebuilding the country.”