The United States Embassy in Kigali has honoured embassy staff that were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The commemoration was held Thursday at the US Embassy in Kigali.
It was noted during the 18th commemoration that good governance is one of the ways to prevent genocide.
A man has been reported dead in Muhanga District after he allegedly drunk large quantitites of alcohol causing him to vomit blood.
The victim has been only identified as Kanyamibwa 55, a resident of Kinini cell, Shyogwe sector in Muhanga district. The incident happened on Tuesday.
Kanyamibwa was also found in possession of a crate of beer that he had purchased from Silas Udahemuka, the proprietor of a local beer deport. He had been sent by Jean Pierre Biziyaremye, a local bar owner to purchase the beer.
Police sources in the area say that Kanyamibwa was known for taking large quantities of an illicit brew commonly known as Muriture and rarely ate food.
Muhanga District Police Unit Commander Superintendent Roger Sezirahiga urged the local population to stop consuming illicit brew saying it is costing them their lives.
Superintendent Sezirahiga warned illicit brew manufacturers and consumers that Police would not turn a blind eye on their activity.
The public has been urged to share information on those manufacturing illicit drinks so that Police can put a stop to it.
At a time when Rwandans recall the genocide of 1994 that forever changed their lives, it is important to draw attention to the miracles of post-genocide Rwanda.
The will to live and, yes, to thrive –to create a post-genocide culture that acknowledges the past and yet chooses its future is Rwanda’s important gift to the world.
It speaks to the honor and integrity of its people and its leaders—and reminds all of us that recovery and renewal are the hallmarks of a healthy and hopeful society.
I have been to Rwanda six times in the past four years and have visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center each time. The fact that it records and memorializes not only its own tragedy but the tragedies of all genocides speaks volumes to the humanity and wisdom of the Rwandan people.
Genocides are unspeakable and incomprehensible—and yet they must be put before the people so that they can understand how they happened in order to ensure that they will not happen again. Rwanda has taken charge of its own destiny and therein lays its success.
Through old and new traditions they have shaped the post genocide world, determining to restore normalcy– or more accurately– create a new normalcy—built on the infrastructure of sound judgment with regard to guilt and innocence—delivered in a system at once pragmatic and just. Their unique approach to truth and reconciliation, the Gacaca Courts, serve as a model to the world.
However, dealing with the past is essential but not sufficient. It is the foundation on which the future is built. Rwanda’s future is dependent on self-reliance, education, good governance, entrepreneurship and vision. Vision acknowledges that the nation, as all free nations, is a work in progress—never a finished and closed system.
There is always room for improvement—and that requires the energy and ingenuity of the people—and the sense that the people are the responsible parties.
The people live in two worlds—the private world of family and friends and the public sphere—where they assume responsibility for the public good—for the future of their community and their nation.
That responsibility, I believe, is the greatest privilege a person can have—and informed and engaged citizens are the most important “insurance” a nation can have that it will not slip back into an unacceptable reality, but rather create its own reality—a reality that calls for freedom and justice for all.
Mr. Jean Philbert Nsengimana has been appointed as new Minister of Youth, and Information, Communication and Technology.
Subject to the provision of Article 116 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, President Paul Kagame appointed Mr.Nsengimana to head the new ministry.
Minister Nsengimana said via Twitter,”absolutely, so much potential at the intersect. Between ICT and #youth 4 #Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation.”
Dr. Ignace Gatare, is now the Director General of Information Technology Commission. Prior to this appointment Dr. Gatare has been Minister of ICT in the President’s Office.
Rwandans have honoured over 5000 genocide victims that were slaughtered at Nyanza site in kicukiro district while UN troops refused to protect them.
During the genocide on 11th April, thousands of ethnic Tutsis had taken refuge at ETO school in Nyanza Kicukiro district. The site had been protected by UN soldiers.
However, the UN troops connived with the Interahamwe militia that later killed over 5000 Tutsi hiding at the site. Before their murder in cold blood, the Tutsi at the site had pleaded with the UN troops to protect them from Interahamwe militia but in vain.
The 18th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi at Nyanza yesterday was an emotional evening punctuated with commemorative songs, testimonies and speeches- all in line with this year’s theme ‘let’s learn from our history to shape a bright future’.
The Minister of Culture and sports honourable Protais Mitali was the chief guest at the commemoration event. He said, “We should keep remembering our history. The truth is bitter but we must speak up.”
Two men in Kirehe District have been arrested in possession with 300 Kilograms of Cannabis.
Police identified the suspects as Jean Paul Ndarifite 26 (a.k.a Murera) and Jean Marie Vianney Shyirambere 30. The suspects were arrested at Minini Cell, Mahama Sector in Kirehe District while attempting to cross over into Rwanda from Tanzania.
Police sources also said, after crossing the border the two hid the narcotic in the bush while they solicited transportation.
They eventually convinced a motorcyclist to transport the cannabis until they switched to a vehicle that would get them to Kigali.
The two men were later arrested while soliciting for transportation from Kirehe to Kigali thanks to the timely information from the local citizens and Community Policing Committees in Kirehe district.
The two are detained at Kirehe Police Station.
Two men identified as Bizimana Faustin 27 and Simbankabo Jean de Dieu 24have died in a gold mine where they were illegally mining the precious gem in the wee hours of the night in the district of Burera.
The victims were resident at Nyarusebeya,Mbuye in Rukozo sector of Rulindo district. They died on Tuesday night deep in the mine due to suffocation. The mine had been closed and all mining activities suspended.
Musabyimana Ferdinand the Rukozo sector executive secretary told IGIHE, “The deceased had illegally entered the mine past midnight to extract gold and later lacked enough oxygen and suffocated to death.”
Musabyimana said the local authorities had sensitized local miners to form Associations and conduct mining activities legally with proper equipment.
The 88-year-old Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe was said to be close to death. He is believed to be suffering from prostate cancer.
His wife, Grace, and close family members are reported to be at his bedside.
Rumours over Mugabe’s health have been widespread in recent weeks because of his frail appearance, it was said that due to his condition which has now deteriorated, there were claims that he has agreed to hand over power to his feared henchman and defense minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
There was heightened speculation when the Zimbabwe government postponed a cabinet meeting at the last minute as well as the actions of Zimbabwe’s vice president, Joice Mujuru, who reportedly cut short her trip to Asia to return home and prepare for the possibility of Mugabe’s death.
There was no comment on Mugabe’s health tonight from either his family or from the Zimbabwe government.
Mugabe’s aides have denied there is a medical emergency, claiming he is enjoying an Easter break in Asia with his family.
A woman is feared dead after drowning in water when a passenger boat she was travelling in capsized. Efforts to retrieve the body of Nyirantezilyayo are still ongoing.
Nine passengers were onboard from Boneza sector to Musasa sector in Rutsiro district in the morning hours on Monday.
Eight passengers were rescued by divers from the Marine Police unit while the body of one woman, Julienne Nyirantezilyayo, was still missing. She is presumed to have died after several hours of searching proved fruitless.
According to sources from the Marine Police Unit, the cause of the accident was due to heavy waves that upturned the boat. The sources further noted that passengers didn’t have any life jackets.
Though not common, such accidents do happen from time to time and Marine Police has through its outreach program to residents urged people to use certified water vessels.
The commanding officer of Marine Police unit Superintendent Eugene Mushayija has discouraged people from using banned boats such as canoes for transport and urged them to always wear life jackets.
“We would not have lost someone had all the passengers had their life jackets on,” Superintendent Mushayija said.
Rwanda National Police calls on people using water transport to abandon travelling in non certified water vessels but also demand to have life jackets distributed to them before embarking on their journeys.
Police in Nyagatare at Rwempasha sector have arrested two people in connection with promotion of genocide ideology.
According to police interrogation report, One of the suspects aged 22 allegedly on 7th April terrorized Eugenie Kawera a genocide survivor resident at Rwempasha.
The suspect allegedly said, “Bazakomeza Babice” (You (Tutsi) will continue to be killed).
This happened at the beginning of the national 18th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. About a million ethnic Tutsi were killed in the 1994 Genocide.
Police revealed that about four cases have been reported nationwide in connection with promotion of genocide ideology.
Another suspect arrested is aged about 37years resident of Nyagatare district.
He told local leaders, “Am tired of drinking Tutsi blood”. He said as local leaders were mobilising local residents to attend village meetings to discuss history of genocide.
During the commemoration week, citizens in every part of the country gather in their cells and discuss the country’s history especially that led to the genocide against the ethnic Tutsi.
However, Police is still investigating further about the suspects.
If found guilty, the suspects risk imprisonment between 20 and 25years and fine between Frw 2-Frw 5million subject to the law against Genocide Ideology of 18/2008.
Police spokesman Supt. Theos Badege urged citizens to provide timely information about such cases.