By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
The Zambian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting unity, peace, and accountability as the country joined the international community in commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Officiating at a commemorative event in Lusaka on Tuesday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Dr. Douty Chibamba described the occasion as both solemn and significant, marking over three decades since the 1994 tragic events in Rwanda that claimed more than one million lives.
Dr. Chibamba paid tribute to the victims while recognizing the resilience of survivors who have contributed to rebuilding Rwanda.
“As we look back in regret of this painful event in our history, we honor the memory of the innocent lives lost and at the same time acknowledge the remarkable resilience of the survivors of the 1994 Genocide, who despite their profound loss, have persevered to rebuild the country,” he said.
He noted that the anniversary also serves as a reminder of the failure of the international community to prevent the genocide, urging global leaders to draw lessons to avert future atrocities.
“As we commemorate this solemn anniversary, we must also acknowledge our failure as an international community to prevent and stop the Rwanda genocide. We must learn from the failures of the past, if we are to prevent such atrocities in the future,” Dr. Chibamba said.
The Permanent Secretary further highlighted Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery, citing significant progress in economic transformation, unity, and reconciliation.
“From the depths of devastation, Rwanda has risen as a nation firmly anchored on unity, reconciliation and inclusive development. Through visionary leadership of His Excellency President Paul Kagame, Rwanda has demonstrated that healing and rebuilding are indeed possible,” he added.
Dr. Chibamba also cautioned against the dangers of hate speech and division, emphasizing the role of media in either fostering peace or inciting conflict.
He called for renewed commitment to promoting tolerance and safeguarding human dignity.
“Let us also renew our commitment to building a world where every individual is valued, where diversity is celebrated. We cannot allow hate speech to go unchecked in our societies, both online or offline,” Dr. Chibamba urged.
The commemoration concluded with a moment of silence in honour of the victims of the genocide, described as one of the darkest chapters in human history.
