Preserving the memory of the Genocide against the Tutsi is everyone's responsibility

The decision by Liquid Intelligent Technologies to commit Rwf130 million towards digitising Genocide memorials is a commendable demonstration of corporate responsibility that deserves to be emulated by other private sector players. Beyond the financial contribution, the initiative sends an important message: preserving the memory of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is not, and should never be, the responsibility of government alone. For more than three decades, Rwanda has invested considerablely in documenting the Genocide, preserving memorial sites, educating younger generations and ensuring that the truth about what happened is never lost. These efforts have been instrumental in rebuilding a nation that was brought to its knees by one of the darkest chapters in human history. However, the responsibility of safeguarding this history belongs to every Rwandan and every institution operating in the country. There is also an urgency that cannot be ignored. Close to 32 years have passed since the Genocide against the Tutsi. With every passing year, survivors and eyewitnesses grow older, and some pass away, taking with them invaluable firsthand accounts of what transpired. Unless deliberate efforts are made to document and preserve these testimonies, photographs, records and other historical materials, future generations risk losing access to critical pieces of their country's history. Technology presents an opportunity to address this challenge. Digitisation can ensure that historical records are preserved beyond the lifespan of physical documents and made accessible to researchers, educators and generations yet unborn. But such undertakings require resources, expertise and sustained commitment. This is where the corporate sector must come in. Banks, telecommunications companies, insurance firms, manufacturers and other businesses should identify practical ways to contribute to preserving this national memory. Their involvement need not be limited to financial donations. Companies can provide technology, professional expertise, equipment and other resources to support documentation, conservation and public education initiatives. Such contributions should become an integral part of corporate social responsibility, rather than occasional gestures associated with annual commemoration activities. Preserving the truth is particularly important at a time when Genocide denial and revisionism continue to find platforms, especially online. The strongest response to attempts to distort history is a well-preserved, credible and accessible historical record. Liquid Intelligent Technologies has demonstrated that the private sector has a meaningful role to play in this endeavour. Others should follow suit. The generation that witnessed the Genocide will not be with us forever. We have a responsibility to ensure that their stories, and the lessons they carry, outlive them.

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Preserving the memory of the Genocide against the Tutsi is everyone's responsibility