Staff membersand management of Access Bank Rwanda on Friday paid tribute to victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, mainly those killed in Rubavu District. The gesture was part of the ongoing commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The event was held at Gisenyi Genocide Memorial, commonly known as Commune Rouge, where thousands of the Tutsi were killed after they were brought there by the leadership of the time, who lied to them that this was where they would be safe from the Interahamwe militia. The memorial is home to 4,613 Tutsi victims. After touring the memorial, the bank employees donated cows worth Rwf1.5 million, to five vulnerable Genocide survivors in Gisenyi Sector. Prior to the commemoration, Vedatse Uwimana, the Executive Secretary of Gisenyi Sector, thanked the bank management for choosing the for the commemoration event. “We continue to condole with Genocide survivors, they are not alone. Most of them had cows before they were taken away during the Genocide. I, therefore, urge them to take care of these cows given to them to uplift their welfare,” he said. Jotham Bizimana Mukiza, the Access Bank branch manager in Rubavu, said that it was their duty to be part of the solution to the country’s problem and must always strive to play their role to ensure ‘Never Again’ to Genocide. “Although our bank started operations in Rwanda after the Genocide, it is our belief that remembrance is everyone’s responsibility and the best way to honour those innocent people is to ensure good welfare of the relatives they left behind,” said Bizimana. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
