Forgiveness conference opens tomorrow

The Executive Secretary of National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) Fatuma Ndagiza has called on people to promote unity and reconciliation. Ndangiza was commenting on the upcoming Forgiveness Conference organised by the US based Rwandan artist Jean Paul Samputu which is expected to take place in Kigali this week. “Forgiveness helps in the process of reconciliation, it helps the perpetrators of 1994 Genocide against Tutsis reconcile with the survivors of the Genocide,” Ndangiza said. She added: “Our perspective is whether one is fully committed and aims to contribute towards unity and reconciliation, even foreigners.” She added that the conference of this kind is needed since it is a contribution towards the development of the country. “Samputu is an artist who told us his intentions, he has a testimony that he has forgiven those who killed his beloved ones, he has a testimony and the voice, we cannot deny him a chance because what he is doing is of national interest,” Ndangiza explained. She remarked that the global conference which is expected to attract different participants from across the world will showcase the progress Rwanda has made in 15 years after the Genocide. The conference scheduled to begin tomorrow at La Palisse Hotel Nyandungu, will be held under the theme ‘Forgiveness; a step to Reconciliation’. Joseph Habineza the Minister of Sports and Culture is expected give the opening remarks while other keynote speakers will include Dr. Alfred Ndahiro the Presidential Advisor on Communication and Public Relations. It has also attracted about 10 investors from USA and Britain who are expected to meet the different leaders in the country to discuss on how best to invest in Rwanda. The investors include Johann Christoph Arnold author of ‘Why forgive?’ which he will launch here in Rwanda. Arnold is the senior leader of the Bruderhof Communities a small Germany-based Christian denomination devoted to living simple Christian lives in their communities. Ends