The Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, has said Rwanda’s recovery from its tragic past was achieved through faith, courage, and visionary leadership. Speaking at the Leaders Prayer Breakfast held in Kigali, on Friday, November 7, Mukazayire said the gathering reflected the power of prayer and fellowship in transforming people, communities and nations. ALSO READ: White House faith advisor shares moving testimony at Leaders Prayer Breakfast in Kigali The event brought together faith leaders and government officials, including American Pastor Paula White, who heads the White House Faith Office, and her delegation of faith leaders. White also gave a sermon at the service. Mukazayire noted that Rwanda’s transformation began with deep reflection after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which she described as the result of bad governance that “fostered poverty of minds and hearts, divisionism and hate.” Mukazayire recalled that colonial ideologies and divide-and-rule practices had robbed Rwandans of their culture, values, and identity, leading to persecution, killings, and destruction of the nation’s social fabric. ALSO READ: Prayer Breakfast: Make right choices and refuse inequality – Kagame To rebuild, she said, Rwandans made “tough decisions” at all levels and chose life over despair. “We did not accept to die. We chose to live and make worth the lives of our loved ones who had left and were no longer with us, as well as making worth the sacrifices of those who fought to liberate us,” she said. She added that the process required justice, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation, underpinned by the principles of inclusion, equality, and the rule of law. ALSO READ: First Lady talks unity, reconciliation at US National Prayer Breakfast According to her, the government of national unity became the foundation of the rebuilding process. Mukazayire shared a personal testimony, saying her own story reflects the country’s reconciliation journey. “Being a child of a genocide perpetrator, and at the same time being a cabinet member, minister of sports, it is a testimony of that leadership of equal rights and opportunities to all Rwandans,” she said. She described Rwanda as a nation that turned tragedy into triumph, built on the spirit of collective achievement and resilience. “Indeed, Rwandans, we are overcomers. We are winners,” she said. Mukazayire praised President Paul Kagame’s leadership, saying his guidance helped the country transform pain into power and fear into strength. “With God's hand upon him, he turned bones into armies. We are the armies that are standing here,” she said. She urged leaders and citizens to remain mindful of their legacy and roles in sustaining the country’s progress. “We should always be mindful of the legacy we want to leave, and this will enable us to stay on track towards the sustainable development we aspire to,” she said. Mukazayire concluded by calling on everyone to make choices that go beyond self-interest, guided by faith and responsibility. “It is never all about you. It is also beyond you, and we have as leaders, as Christians, as parents, to always be mindful of that,” she said. Paster Antoine Rutayisire, one of the founding members of Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, said the prayer breakfast was a special occasion, especially with the presence of a faith advisor from the White House. “When we learned about her visit, we took the opportunity to organise the breakfast and invite various partners from the sectors we work with,” he said. “We reflected on how far God has brought Rwanda, but we also recognised that the journey ahead is still long, Rutayisire said. God has not yet finished writing our nation’s story, and with every new chapter, greater things continue to unfold.”
