Imberakuri leaders trade Genocide ideology accusations

The Senate yesterday turned into a battlefield for top officials of the controversial Parti Sociale-Imberakuri (PS-Imberakuri) with counter-accusations of Genocide ideology. The saga unfolded during the second appearance of the members of the party’s leadership before the Senatorial Standing Committee on Political Affairs. The Committee, chaired by Senator Joseph Karemera, had summoned party leader Bernard Ntaganda and other members to explain in detail his utterances in the media which the Senate equated to promoting divisive politics and spreading the Genocide ideology. Unlike the previous appearance, the committee summoned former members of the party’s Executive Committee who had lodged complaints of divisionism within the party to the Senate. During the meeting, Karemera read out allegations levelled against Ntaganda; including his utterances that are likely to cause harm and divisionism within the society. Karemera asked Ntaganda to substantiate one of that statements he made when he said “Guverinoma y’Ubumwe bw’Abanyarwanda ntabwo ari iy’ubumwe ahubwo ni Guverinoma ya bamwe kuko idahagarariye abanyarwanda bose” loosely translated as ‘the government of national unity is actually not a government of national unity but a government of the unity of ‘some’, because it does not represent all Rwandans.’ In his defence, Ntaganda said that the utterances were based on the fact that his party is not represented in the current cabinet. Drama ensured when the former Secretary General of the party, Pastor Noel Hakizimfura, slammed Ntaganda’s response saying that he was lying to the House. “He personally told me that Hutus do not see themselves as being represented in this government; he should not lie to you. He is trying to confuse the Senate,” said Hakizimfura. After Hakizimfura’s intervention, Ntaganda hastened to accuse Hakizimfura of harboring the Genocide ideology. During the six-hour heated session, the two founders of PS Imberakuri party continued blaming each other of spreading the Genocide ideology. Ntaganda fell out with Hakizimfura in October last year, and according to the former, he does not intend to befriend Hakizimfura again. Ntaganda said that upon his return from Europe sometime last year, Hakizimfura circulated rumors that he had returned with US$50m. “This why we are fighting, he wants a share on the US$50m that does not even exist; in any case, if I even brought money, its money for the party, not for individuals,” he said. Ntaganda is also on record attacking government initiatives like the promotion of English as the language of instruction in schools, saying that those who studied in French are being regarded as illiterate. He is also accused of abusing and blackmailing other political parties in the country. Towards the end of the session, Senator Karemera said that his committee would compile a report that will be tabled before the plenary session. Ends

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Imberakuri leaders trade Genocide ideology accusations