Youth condemn parents’ role in the Genocide

RUSIZI – Youth in Kamembe Sector, Rusizi District, have censured their parents’ participation in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

On Tuesday, at a night vigil at the sector, all youth interviewed also criticised the then government for planning and implementing the massacres that left over a million innocent people dead.

“It’s still a paradox that our own parents killed innocent people without thinking twice! The whole idea of wiping out an ethnic group is even worse,” said Faustin Kitoko, whose father, Saleh Kibombo, is serving his sentence under the Community Service for Prisoners (TIG) programme for Genocide crimes.

20-year old Justine Mizero, whose father is also serving a prison sentence for Genocide, wondered why people resorted to killing fellow Rwandans.

The youth appealed to authorities to be watchful of parents who still harbour and teach their children the Genocide ideology and ethnic differences.

“If our parents have nothing good to tell us, let them keep silent with their Genocide ideology and die with it.
We saw the consequences of the Genocide, we lost people, while others are in prison due to their crimes,” said Roxanne Kirenga, 21.

The Executive Secretary for Kamembe Sector, Gilbert Rukazambuga, hailed the youth for their good work during the memorial week. He disclosed that fund-raising drives were underway among youth to raise money aimed at helping Genocide survivors.

“The youth have also participated in communal work to help renovate survivors’ houses,” he said.

Ends