The request was made on 28th April 2023 as BRD remembered for the 29th time its former employees and others from the Caisse Hypothécaire du Rwanda (Mortgage Bank of Rwanda) killed during Genocide against the Tutsi.
The event was characterized the laying of wreaths at the memorial monument, lighting the flame of hope , reading names of slain victims including former employees and clients of the two banks as well as testimonies.
The CEO of BRD, Kampeta Sayinzoga said that commemoration is a moment to honour victims brutally killed over innate personality, stand in solidarity with Genocide survivors and strive to prevent reoccurrence.
“It is a moment to reflect on unity and reconciliation of Rwandans and national development as well. We lost employees and clients who contributed to national development. This event serves as an opportune occasion to comfort those who lost relatives and continue to walk together as we remember and rebuild ourselves,” she noted.
Kampeta assured BRD’s commitment to continue standing in solidarity with Genocide survivors and disclosed plans to provide them with green cooking stoves under ‘Tekera Aheza’ campaign.
Faustin Mafeza, Research Analyst at MINUBUMWE requested BRD to lend a hand in writing history of Genocide against the Tutsi with a view to shun trivialization.
“Public, private institutions and banks need to take the leading step to write about history of Genocide against the Tutsi to shun misinterpretation, prevent denial and trivialization,” he said.
“Let us commit ourselves to have produced a book compiling history of Genocide against the Tutsi with a focus on BRD. It is possible,” added Mafeza.
Kalinda Ndabirora, a Commissioner for Justice at IBUKA, umbrella organization of Genocide survivors who delivered a talk at the event stressed the need to draw much attention on fighting propagandists denying and trivializing Genocide against the Tutsi.
“We need to devise strategies to fight them because they also change tricks overtime,” he advised.
Kalinda explained that reducing the number of slain victims, changing its appellation and undermining the essence of commemoration are among tools used by propagandists noting that fighting them is possible.
Maimuna Mukamana one of relatives of former BRD employees killed during Genocide against the Tutsi narrated her ordeal and journey to survival when RPA Inkotanyi soldiers stopped the Genocide.
Despite the bitter history, Mukamana disclosed that she has regained strength along with her children who survived and thanked BRD for having walked with her along the resilience journey.
Today, 13 former BRD employees, 7 employees of Caisse Hypothécaire du Rwanda and 15 clients have been identified among victims of Genocide against the Tutsi.
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