Staff from Rwanda’s Ministry of Local Government and ten other institutions that work with the ministry visited Kigali Genocide Memorial on Thursday, 14 April 2016 as part of Kwibuka22 commemoration activities. The hundreds of staff came to pay respect to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi by laying wreaths on the mass graves. They also followed a talk given by the Executive Secretary of Rwanda’s National Commission for the Fight against Genocide, Dr. Jean-Damascène Bizimana.
The institutions that visited include the Rwanda Governance Board, the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, Rwanda Electoral Commission, National Council of Persons with Disabilities, Media High Council, National Itorero Commission and others.
During their visit to the memorial, they began by laying wreaths on the burial place where more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide are laid to rest. While touring the historical exhibits, the guests had the opportunity to learn more about the Genocide against the Tutsi and other genocides that have taken place around the world.
Dr. Alvera Mukabaramba, Minister of State in Charge of Social Affairs, led the visit and said that even though genocide ideology is on the decline, poison doesn’t need to be in a large quality, so it has to be totally eradicated.
“Poison doesn’t need to be in large quality. That is why we have to make sure it reaches zero percent. Local leaders must use their positions to teach and visit genocide memorials so that no Rwandan harbours genocide ideology,” she said.
In his talk at memorial, Dr. Bizimana said that in 1994, leaders are the ones who participated and encouraged Rwandans to take part in Genocide against Tutsi. He said this is a lesson we must heed and should encourage leaders today to be the ones rebuilding and ensuring a bright future for Rwandans.