Commemorating the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi is an opportunity to tell Rwanda’s history to those who continue to distort it. François Kanimba, the minister for Trade and Industry said this during a commemoration event to remember employees of the ministry who were killed during the Genocide last week. “Our history was told in a wrong way by those who had their target to seize power over Rwandans. Even in schools our history was taught in a way that nurtured genocide ideology and hate that culminated into the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi where over a million lives were claimed in three months. Commemoration, therefore, should be used to tell our right history so that people can understand,” Kanimba said. The commemoration was preceded by a visit to Ntarama Genocide memorial in Bugesera District to pay tribute to thousands of Tutsi who were killed there. Edward Mfizi, a Genocide survivor and son of one of the 27 former employees of MINICOM killed during the Genocide said the fight against genocide ideology and denial should be enhanced to avoid recurrence of the Genocide not only in Rwanda but also elsewhere on the globe. Remy Gakuba, a board member in Ibuka urged survivors to exploit existing opportunity granted to them and all Rwandans in general to strive for resilience. “Do not let yourself be held down by the heartache caused by the loss of your beloved ones. You need to use existing avenues to renew hope for a better future and use existing opportunities so that you can achieve what those people we lost would have achieved,” he said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
