Rwandan Journalists Visit Genocide Widows in Nyanza, Reaffirm Commitment to Fighting Genocide Ideology

Members of Rwanda's media fraternity have visited elderly survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi living at the Impinganzima Home in Nyanza District, reaffirming their commitment to preserving the history of the Genocide and using journalism to combat genocide ideology.

The visit is part of ongoing national efforts to support survivors and ensure that their testimonies are preserved for future generations. More than 32 years after the Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda continues to invest in remembrance activities while caring for those who survived the atrocities.

During the visit, journalists spent time with the residents, listened to their testimonies and expressed solidarity with them. The elderly survivors said such visits give them hope and remind them that they are not forgotten.

Karekezi Eugene, one of the residents of the Impinganzima Home, said the visit brought them great joy.

He said, "As soon as we learned that you were coming to visit us, we were overwhelmed with joy because every visit gives us hope and reminds us that there are people who still think about us. None of us here walks with our heads bowed anymore; we have all regained our dignity thanks to the good leadership that provides us with the support and facilities we need. We lack nothing at all. What you see from the outside is good, but life inside is even better."

Although they endured painful experiences during the Genocide, the residents said they have chosen not to be defined by their past. Instead, they now contribute to their communities by supporting vulnerable families, helping people obtain community-based health insurance and participating in community savings groups and livestock support initiatives.

Karekezi added, "We do not simply sit here eating and drinking. We also play our part by helping children, paying community health insurance for vulnerable people every year, living peacefully with our neighbors, joining community savings groups and even giving livestock to our neighbors and others, just as people used to do in the past."

Speaking during the visit, Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) Chairperson Scovia Mutesi said journalists have a responsibility to ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated. She acknowledged that some media practitioners contributed to the Genocide and stressed that today's media must instead promote unity and peace.

She said, "Divisionism plunged this country into one of the darkest periods in its history, and you witnessed it yourselves. Sadly, some members of our profession also played a role. Today, we are fighting to ensure that no journalist ever again contributes, even in the slightest way, to conflicts between people or to any actions that could lead to crimes such as genocide."

Mutesi added that the country continues to face challenges from genocide denial and genocide ideology, emphasizing that journalists remain committed to confronting such threats.

She said, "Today we are facing people who deny and trivialize the Genocide. We are here as a voice for peace, stability and security, and we will continue to fight against those acts. We promise you that even when you are no longer with us, we will continue protecting our country and the unity of Rwandans through responsible journalism."

Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) Director General Cleophas Barore thanked the elderly survivors for restoring their trust in the media despite the role that some journalists and media organizations played during the Genocide against the Tutsi.

He said, "There were journalists and media organizations that participated in preparing and perpetrating the Genocide against the Tutsi. We came here to assure you that today's Rwandan media stands firmly against all forms of hatred and everything that could lead to genocide. We also came to thank you because, despite being betrayed by some people from our profession, you chose to trust us once again."

Acting Nyanza District Mayor Kajyambere Patrick described caring for elderly survivors as a shared responsibility and praised everyone who continues to stand with them.

He said, "These elderly women are our responsibility. Whenever we see people coming to join us in supporting and standing by them, we consider it a strong bond that encourages us to continue caring for them."

The Impinganzima Home in Nyanza currently accommodates 58 elderly genocide survivors, including six men, some of whom have lived there for more than 11 years. Rwanda has four Impinganzima homes located in Huye, Nyanza, Bugesera and Rusizi districts, where vulnerable survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi continue to receive long-term care and support.