Forzza staff, cycling team honour Genocide victims at Nyanza Memorial

The management and staff of Forzza (Baron Sports Gaming Ltd) joined the nation on May 20 in the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, paying tribute to the victims. The event took place at Nyanza Genocide Memorial in Kicukiro District. It brought together company staff members and Les Amis Sportif, a cycling team sponsored by Forzza, to honour Genocide victims. Held during the ongoing 100 days of remembrance, the event included a guided tour of the memorial, where participants learned about the atrocities committed in the area. The victims buried at the site include more than 3,000 people who were killed after being transferred from the former ETO Kicukiro establishment following their abandonment by United Nations peacekeepers. Participants observed a moment of silence and laid wreaths, in tribute, at mass graves at the memorial in which more than 100,000 victims are laid to rest. Call for accountability Eric Rutayisire, Managing Director of Forzza, underscored, in his opening remarks, that commemoration remains an important moment to reflect on the Genocide, ensure it is never forgotten, and continue rebuilding the nation. “When we gather during this commemoration period, it is to remember a time when people in this country lost their humanity and turned against their neighbours. It was a painful chapter in our history and a lesson for the youth to learn from. This is an opportunity to reflect on the past and shape a future of becoming better Rwandans,” he said. Rutayisire also dismissed the common excuse made by some members of the post-Genocide generation who claim they were not present when more than one million people were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “Never tell yourself that you were not there. Learn from memorial sites and become someone who can never stand by while human rights are being violated. That should be a core value not only for the Forzza family, but for every Rwandan citizen,” he stated. Jean Nicolas Sugira, a Genocide survivor who works at Forzza, gave a testimony about losing six siblings and both parents during the Genocide. He said, while the memories remain painful and vivid, the responsibility of raising his own family has helped him find renewed purpose in life. “Back at home, we were 10 children, but now only four remain. When I returned to school after the Genocide, it was difficult to go back home knowing there was no father nor mother to share stories with or witness my growth. But hope never faded away in my heart despite such tragedy. Now, being a father keeps me moving forward,” he said. Addressing the younger generation, Sugira urged them to protect the peace Rwanda enjoys today. “To the youth, I always say that every community we belong to is our home. Never allow anyone to take away this peace,” he added. Blaise Ndizihiwe, a representative of Ibuka, umbrella organisation representing Genocide survivors in Rwanda, stressed that the plane crash involving former president Juvénal Habyarimana was not the cause of the killings, warning that Genocide deniers often use such claims to distort history. “There is no single reason that can be used to claim that the Genocide was not planned. It is our duty to say ‘no’ to anyone who continues to deny what happened,” he said. Leaders commit to supporting survivors Faustin Musare, a former diplomat, encouraged young people to continue learning from Rwanda’s history and use its lessons to build a better future. “I want to request the youth present here to keep learning, not only from ordinary classes but also from life lessons left by our country’s history, so that we continue sharing these memories with future generations,” he said. Through continued support for survivors and a sustained commitment to unity, Forzza pledged to support survivors by paying health insurance for 1,000 families.

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Forzza staff, cycling team honour Genocide victims at Nyanza Memorial