The memorial site comes as a response to bodies which were buried in unsafe graves in sectors of Muyira, Kibirizi, Busoro, Ntyazo and Kigoma.
Over 100,000 Tutsi were killed in these sectors formerly known as Amayaga region.
After the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, some bodies were found and buried in different graves across different sectors.
In Muyira sector alone, there are two graves with each having remains of over 26,000 victims. Another grave is in Nyamure Sector with over 22,300 bodies.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Executive Secretary of Muyira Sector, Valens Murenzi said that in the post genocide period, the government had no means of constructing memorial sites, but today it has started to construct it to accord decent burial to genocide victims.
“In Muyira Sector alone, over 52,000 Tutsi were killed during the genocide. Remains of over 89,000 victims bodies who were killed in Amayaga region will be interred in the memorial which will be completed at a cost of Rwf400 million,” he explained.
He said that construction activities are ongoing and the memorial is expected to be completed by 2019.
“The memorial has two phases, the first phase is construction of mass grave which has started and the second phase is the construction of a history gallery which will be funded and constructed in next year’s budget,” he explained.
Genocide survivors welcomed the memorial saying that their slain families will be rested in a dignified place.
“Having genocide victims rested in a safe and dignified place makes us happy, it comforts us and then we work towards development,” said André Ntambara a genocide survivor from Muyira Sector.
The reforms are part of the government’s reforms to improve the business climate in the country.
According to RDB, currently, exporters are able to obtain certificates of origin online. And also are able to apply for the phytosanitary certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry online, a move that has facilitated businesses that export tea, coffee and other agricultural produce.
In terms of electricity provision, Rwanda Energy Group (REG) has introduced a client charter, ensuring that investors are connected to the national grid in not more than 20 days, down 34 days. Also, REG customers can apply online to get connected to the national grid.
In addition, in order to simplify the purchase of the equipment needed for electricity connection such as transformers and cables, REG works with authorized suppliers to reduce the import costs of the equipment while ensuring the quality of equipment.
Alongside the introduction of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) guidelines governing electricity outages to industry, which place sanctions on electricity outages that last more than ten minutes, the automation of System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) and System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) systems, will allow REG to better monitor the frequency and duration of electricity outages.
RDB statement says that in order to ease the challenges in the construction sector, Rwanda has introduced various reforms to reduce bureaucracy in obtaining construction permits.
Today Rwanda utilizes a risk-based approach in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of projects. In addition, specific construction projects will be exempted from carrying out geotechnical studies before construction commences.
In a new move, businesses will be no longer mandated to indicate the commencement date of construction before obtaining construction permits.
RDB says that these reforms will reduce the cost and duration of construction projects in Rwanda.
Commenting on the reforms that the Government of Rwanda has instituted, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, Clare Akamanzi said the new reforms will improve services delivery.
“This year we will introduce new reforms in addition to the ones that are being announced today. These reforms will include revised insolvency laws, improved contract enforcement and credit monitoring mechanisms,” she said.
Ease of doing business is aligned with the government’s policy of transforming Rwanda into a private sector-led country.
She said that these business reforms are a significant tool in improving and promoting the business environment in the country through the shared effort of all institutions involved.
“We need to continue working hard to improve our business and investment climate so that Rwanda continues to enable the growth of our private sector and increase foreign direct investment”, she said.
Rwanda was ranked the second easiest place to do business in sub- Saharan Africa and the 41st globally out of the 190 economies assessed in the 2017 World Bank Doing Business report.
Last year, the World Bank Doing Business report revealed significant improvements in a number of growth indicators compared to the previous year. According to the report, Rwanda recorded its biggest improvement in the area of property registration as it is ranked second in the World.
Despite witnessing the slaughter scenes of his family and relatives, spending days amid dead bodies and blood during the genocide and post-genocide hardships, Gasore has managed to overcome the past and committed to change the lives of the community he survived from.
Currently he’s married and has three children; he has regained the hope and works towards the bright future of the country.
{{How he survived the genocide}}
Ntarama is among the regions where the genocide plan was experimented before 1994. Though he was too young, Gasore says that he started facing discrimination in school back in 1992.
“Ntarama is among places where genocide plan was experimented from, with different discrimination activities but in 1992 murders started and people were killed from their homes,” he recounts.
Some members of Gasore’s family had been living in Kigali, but, he and grandmother had been living in Ntarama. When the genocide started, Gasore and his grandmother sought refuge in Ntarama Catholic Church where his grandmother was murdered before his eyes.
Gasore and some Tutsi who had survived the murder at the Church sought refuge at a nearby primary school where they used to spend nights and spend daytime in papyrus swamp at River Akanyaru.
When perpetrators found their whereabouts, they launched attacks on them and killed some but Gasore survived. He says that attackers had arms and traditional weapons which Tutsi failed to resist.
Luckily, Gasore and some people who were still in the papyrus swamp were saved by former Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), a force that stopped the genocide.
{{Healing journey}}
Like other survivors, the genocide left Gasore with emotional and physical scars.
“It was not easy in the post-genocide period as we had lost our beloved parents and friends, we were scattered, traumatized and bereft of human emotions,” he explains.
Gasore was supported to resume school. In 2002, when he was in senior two, he reflected on all hardships he faced and how he survived the genocide and decided to shape his future.
He later found that he was talented in athletics which he carried on in high school; the sports won him a scholarship and earned him some money which he used in supporting other vulnerable children.
“After realizing that I’m passionate in athletics, it helped me to regain the hope. I played for my then school and won different competitions to the national level,” he recalls.
“After completing high school, different universities offered me free scholarship so that I would play for them. I chose to join Abilene Christian University in USA under a scholarship thanks to sportsmanship in me,” he adds.
At the university, Gasore raised his bar in athletics and networked with many people of different backgrounds.
In 2008, Gasore started different activities to support Rwandan community starting from his home area, Ntarama.
“I thought that I should take my activities in Ntarama, a region where I survived from. Then I started with small activities like donating domestic animals to people and paying their health insurance among other activities,” he said.
He said that after marriage in 2010, he started to think widely and establishing sustainable activities in Ntarama and across the country.
{{How Gasore’s activities impact the community }}
In 2014, Gasore published a book dubbed ‘My Day to Die’ and sold many copies which earned him money to buy a plot which he used in constructing a Centre for his foundation ‘Gasore Serge Foundation Community’.
Through his foundation in 2016 he started to construct different houses and currently has 15 houses for different purposes.
They are used for nursery schooling, teaching children from poor families in the community, health post and people use houses as a centre for reconciling families and teach handcraft and tailoring to women from the community.
As children in the school are from poor families, he started different programmes like serving them with porridge, food and milk.
In the Centre he rears domestic animals which he donates to vulnerable people.
Gasore Serge Foundation Community has 34 permanent employees and 150 part time jobs.
{{Future dreams}}
Gasore said that he plans to construct a primary school as part of taking development activities close to the people.
“I think that I will stop at that primary school and concentrate on my family as I will have provided possible contribution to the lives of the community. Those activities will go in hands of people for their management,” he said.
In February this year, Gasore was awarded by Abilene Christian University as a person who has established activities that impact the society. Also his wife Espérance Gasore who manages the health post, was in March awarded by the USA embassy in Rwanda as an outstanding woman.
In a statement, RDF said that the officers crossed the border while on patrol.
Those involved are a Lieutenant and one Private, from the 11 Infantry Battalion.
Both soldiers were arrested by the soldiers of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) deployed along the border.
RDF said that the incident occurred in the general border area at Karundo Village, Mbungangali Cell, Gisenyi Sector, at around 10 meters from Rwanda-DRC border.
“This incident was caused by the lack of clear border demarcation between Rwanda and the DRC. It is a regrettable but common cross-border incident as on several occasions we have returned FARDC soldiers who had accidentally crossed to our side. For instance, 34 FARDC soldiers have been returned to DRC between 2016 to 2018,” Lt Col Innocent Munyengango, Defence and Military Spokesperson said in a statement.
He said the RDF and FARDC, together with the Great Lakes Region Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, handled the incident amicably and the two (RDF officer and Private) were handed over back yesterday to RDF authorities in Rubavu.
The event took place in Kabirizi Cell of Rugerero Sector last week.
At the event, people gathered for a walk to remember procession which reflected the suffering Tutsi in the region faced.
Also people were explained about sites where mass murders took place. These include where teachers from Collège Inyemeramihigo and their families were murdered from.
The mourners paid tribute to the victims by laying wreaths at the banks of Sebeya River.
Speaking at the event, Innocent Kabanda, the President of Ibuka, a survivors’ umbrella in Rubavu District urged residents to shun genocide ideology.
“There are problems that continue to appear among some residents. Tutsi had lived for many years without any right in the country, and today, 24 years after the genocide some people still have genocide ideology. Why don’t they completely shun it?” Kabanda questioned.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of Community Development and Social Affairs in the Ministry of Local Governance, Sheikh Hassan Bahame, said that countrywide they registered 14 cases of genocide ideology and urged people to shun it.
He said that the genocide is an act against humanity and emphasized that it was systematically planned before being executed.
Commemoration activities continue across the country up to July.
In a statement released by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Sirleaf will receive the award in a three-day event dubbed ‘Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend’ which will convene prominent African political and business leaders, representatives from Civil Society, multilateral and regional institutions as well as Africa’s major international partners to debate issues of critical importance to Africa.
The weekend will be concluded with a public concert highlighting some of the best performers on the continent.
Among officials who have confirmed their attendance include, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara who will be in the country from 25th to 27th April. It is expected that Ouattara will have discussion with his Rwandan counterpart, President Paul Kagame.
{{How Sirleaf was chosen the awardee of the Prize}}
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served two terms as President of Liberia from 2006 to 2017. She is the fifth recipient of the Ibrahim Prize, which recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership.
In its citation, the Prize Committee praised her exceptional and transformative leadership, in the face of unprecedented and renewed challenges, to lead Liberia’s recovery following many years of devastating civil war.
Announcing the decision, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Chair of the Prize Committee, said “Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took the helm of Liberia when it was completely destroyed by civil war and led a process of reconciliation that focused on building a nation and its democratic institutions. Throughout her two terms in office, she worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Liberia. Such a journey cannot be without some shortcomings and, today, Liberia continues to face many challenges. Nevertheless, during her twelve years in office, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf laid the foundations on which Liberia can now build.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became President of Liberia on 16 January 2006, after winning the 2005 national elections. She served her first term 2006-2011 and was then successfully re-elected for a second term, serving in office 2012-2017.
Since 2006, Liberia was the only country out of 54 to improve in every category and sub-category of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance. This led Liberia to move up ten places in the Index’s overall ranking during this period.
On hearing the outcome of the Prize Committee’s deliberations, Mo Ibrahim said “I’m delighted that the Prize Committee has decided to make Ellen Johnson Sirleaf an Ibrahim Prize Laureate. In very difficult circumstances, she helped guide her nation towards a peaceful and democratic future, paving the way for her successor to follow. I am proud to see the first woman Ibrahim Laureate, and I hope Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will continue to inspire women in Africa and beyond,”
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf joins Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014), Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde (2011), Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008) and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique (2007) as an Ibrahim Prize Laureate. Nelson Mandela was made the inaugural Honorary Laureate in 2007.
{{About Ibrahim Prize}}
The Ibrahim Prize aims to distinguish leaders who, during their time in office, have developed their countries, strengthened democracy and human rights for the shared benefit of their people, and advanced sustainable development.
The Ibrahim Prize is a US$5 million award paid over ten years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation will consider granting a further US$200,000 per year for ten years towards public interest activities and good causes espoused by the Ibrahim Laureate.
The candidates for the Ibrahim Prize are all former African executive heads of state or government who have left office during the last three calendar years, having been democratically elected and served their constitutionally mandated term.
According to FERWAFA, they received the resignation notice this Monday, 16 April, 2018.
In a statement, FERWAFA said that the Executive Committee will sit in its next session to assess Habineza’s resignation letter.
“The decision of the FERWAFA Executive Committee on this matter will be communicated thereafter,” the statement reads.
Habineza became FERWAFA Secretary General in February this year replacing Tharcille Latifah Uwamahoro.
He resigned 16 days after FERWAFA got new leadership headed by Rtd Brig Gen Jean Damascène Sekamana who was elected last month.
Asked whether he would keep the Secretary General in the docket shortly after being elected, Sekamana said that he would first evaluate his performance.
The project was launched on Saturday by Thibault Relecom, the Chief Executive Officer of the Brussels-based UNIBRA SA, the parent company of Skol.
The project will be implemented by FXB, a local non-government organization whose mission is to address the root causes of poverty as a means of securing children’s rights to survive, grow and develop by striving to be a catalyst for long-lasting positive change in low and moderate income among vulnerable families.
The three-year project is part of Skol’s corporate social responsibility activities.
As part of the project, 460 families from Nyamirambo Sector will be facilitated in creating income generating activities, paying health insurance to poor families and paying children’s education costs among others.
Skol’s Thibault hailed attained development in Rwanda and said that Skol, as an industries operating in the country has the responsibilities to participate in welfare of Rwandans.
“Beside commercial activities in Skol, we perform different activities like supporting welfare of people. It is not long period since we started operating in the country, but Rwanda is among best countries we have invested in, it has fast-developing economy due to good leadership, so, we also understand that we should participate in that development,” he said.
The project activities started in October 2017 and were fully financed by Skol.
FXB Executive Director, Emmanuel Habyarimana said that their mission is to support children from vulnerable families having good health as well as facilitating their parents to get occupation.
Habyarimana is optimistic that the year-year project will be successful.
The event took place yesterday and coincided with the remembrance day of over 15,000 Tutsi who were killed inside the Anglican Church that was constructed in there.
Buried remains were found last week in a pit where many bodies were dumped during the genocide.
According to Gasabo District officials, more 40 remains were found in Gatsata Sector and 12 in Bumbogo.
Gasabo District Vice-mayor in charge of economic development, Raymond Mberabahizi encouraged people to reveal where more bodies of genocide victims were dumped.
“The most terrible thing is that these bodies were found in a home of a person who has been living there before, during and after the genocide, but, he did not want to reveal the pit had bodies of victims until we were informed by a tenant,” he explained.
“And I wonder why people do not understand why they should reveal where bodies were dumped yet the government pardoned perpetrators. Revealing the places where victims were dumped is the only relieving gesture you can do for a genocide survivor,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Marie Solange Kayisire comforted survivors and hailed people who revealed the whereabouts of bodies of genocide victims for them to be accorded decent burial.
She encouraged Rwandans to tutor children on uprightness values.
“Let’s not allow people who need to take us back in past; we call upon parents to tutor children to uphold values of uprightness so that they cannot be influenced by negative forces,” she said.
Ruhanga Genocide Memorial Centre has been an eternal resting place to 36,549 victims before adding the 157 who were buried there yesterday.
Rugirangoga was speaking Sunday in a yearly ‘Healing Mass’ at Amahoro National Stadium.
The mass also aimed at commemorating the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
He urged people who committed the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi to seek for pardon and also urged survivors to forgive. He said that a country without forgiveness becomes ashes.
He said that for a person to live peacefully they should forgive and the sinner should seek for forgiveness.
“When we don’t ask for forgiveness or forgive from the bottom of our hearts we can’t get eternal life. Seeking for forgiveness and forgiving is the knot of peace,” he said.
Rugirangoga is also a pact protector. He forgave the killers of his parent and supported their children’s education.
“Both perpetrators and survivors have one another’s keys to heaven; no one should blame another. Whoever opts to seek for pardon should do so and the other side should forgive. We are like being burnt in a house that is open; for us to get out from that house, we need one another,” he said.
Speaking at the Mass, the Minister of Sports and Culture, Julienne Uwacu said that Christians really know that the death is not the end of life based on Jesus’ history.
She said that remembrance of Jesus’ death should bring people to honor and remember the death genocide against the Tutsi victims succumbed to.
“It would be a shame to see people remembering Jesus’ death which they didn’t witness and forget the death of children, parents among others who died the similar death as Jesus,” she said.
She urged Christians to sacrifice different necessities during the commemoration period. She stressed on role of forgiveness as a weapon towards a secured country.
“The country, peace and security we have today are the price of forgiveness. The country has pardoned and put forward the unity of people,” she added.
The healing Mass was organized by Catholic Church’s Regina Pacis Parish Remera.
