Cheetah Cement staff gain deeper insight into Rwanda’s history at Kigali Genocide Memorial

A delegation of more than 20 employees from WHI Rwanda Cement Company, the producer of Cheetah Cement, on Friday, July 10, visited Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and learn more about Rwanda’s history. The delegation toured the memorial museum, laid wreaths at the mass graves in honour of more than 250,000 victims laid to rest at the site, and made a financial contribution to support the preservation of Genocide history and memorial activities. The visit brought together employees from different departments and nationalities working at the Muhanga-based cement manufacturer, including Rwandans, Chinese, Burundians, Congolese, Tanzanians and Kenyans. ALSO READ: UNESCO-listed memorials to play key role in educating youth Mussa Mutsinzi, the company’s Assistant Managing Director in Charge of People and Business, said the initiative had been planned since the company began operations in 2023 and reflects its commitment to helping employees better understand Rwanda and the values that have shaped the country’s recovery. “As a foreign investment operating in Rwanda, we felt it was important for our employees to understand the country’s history firsthand,” he said. “We wanted both Rwandans and foreign nationals working with us to learn about the Genocide against the Tutsi directly from the memorial because some people come to Rwanda having heard different and sometimes inaccurate accounts of what happened.” ALSO READ: Rwanda: Four Genocide memorials added to UNESCO World Heritage List Mutsinzi observed that understanding the country’s past would help employees appreciate the foundation of Rwanda’s unity, reconciliation and development, while encouraging responsible conduct in the workplace. “We hope they will be more mindful of the language they use and avoid expressions that can trivialise the Genocide or promote genocide ideology. We also believe this experience will strengthen values of unity, forgiveness and working together,” he said. Tang Shenghui, Managing Director of WHI Rwanda Cement Company, described the visit as emotional and educational. “After visiting the memorial, we feel saddened by this history,” he said. However, he held, “it is important to remember what happened,” pointing out that the lessons from the memorial reinforce the need to promote unity and reconciliation. “History has already passed, but we should focus on building the future together. We should move forward with reconciliation and prosperity alongside the people of Rwanda,” he said. ALSO READ: What Kigali Genocide Memorial taught me Tang added that the experience also carries important lessons for the company’s operations. “We should treat everyone equally and ensure all our employees have good welfare and a good working environment,” he said. Explaining why the company organised the visit, he noted that understanding Rwanda’s history is essential for any business operating in the country. “As an enterprise based in Rwanda, we believe everyone should promote love, unity and respect for one another,” he said. Supporting Rwanda’s construction drive WHI Rwanda Cement Company was officially inaugurated in August 2023 at Muhanga Industrial Park, about 50 km southwest of Kigali, with an annual production capacity of one million tonnes of cement. The company, which manufactures Cheetah 32.5N and Cheetah 42.5N cement has become one of the country’s major cement producers since entering the market. Assistant Director of Supply and Sales Abbie Zhao Yan said the $50 million investment company is intended to support Rwanda’s growing infrastructure needs. “Our purpose is to produce top-quality cement in Rwanda to help the people here build their homes and support the country’s development,” she said. Zhao noted that although Cheetah Cement has been on the Rwandan market for only three years, it has steadily gained customers’ confidence. “Many end users are now familiar with the brand. After using it, they tell us Cheetah Cement is good,” she said.

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Cheetah Cement staff gain deeper insight into Rwanda’s history at Kigali Genocide Memorial