As Rwanda marks 31 years since the genocide against the Tutsi, the East African nation continues to honour the memory of the victims, stand with survivors, and pay tribute to the heroes who brought an end to the massacres.
In Harare on Monday, the Rwandan Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency James Musoni, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to ensuring that the atrocities of 1994 are never repeated.
“On this day, April 7, the mass killings commenced. It is officially recognised by both the United Nations and the African Union as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda,” he stated.
“This year’s theme, ‘Remember, Unite and Renew,’ encapsulates our shared duty to reflect on our past. As we honour the victims, we stand in solidarity with survivors and remain committed to ensuring that such a tragedy is never repeated, whether in Rwanda or anywhere else.”
Ambassador Musoni also acknowledged the positive strides being made by regional blocs, praising the ongoing peace efforts.
“We commend the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community (EAC-SADC) for their collaborative peace initiative. This dialogue-based approach seeks to address the root causes of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We call upon the international community to fully support this process and to refrain from taking actions that fail to address the underlying issues.”
Zimbabwe joined Rwanda in commemorating the solemn occasion, paying homage to those who halted the genocide.
“The Government and people of Zimbabwe stand in solidarity with the people and Government of Rwanda in remembering the atrocities of 31 years ago, when over one million innocent lives—children, women, and men—were mercilessly taken,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira.
“Today, we honour the courage and resilience of the survivors, whose ability to forgive and rebuild a nation alongside former perpetrators stands as a powerful example to the world.”
Professor Murwira stressed the importance of remembrance as a safeguard against future tragedies.
“Annual commemoration of this tragic event ensures that the world never forgets what transpired in Rwanda. It serves as a stark reminder of the international community’s failure to intervene, and reinforces our collective responsibility to prevent history from repeating itself.”
He further echoed Rwanda’s theme, linking it to broader regional peace initiatives.
“This theme aligns with current efforts under the EAC and SADC frameworks to restore peace in the Great Lakes Region. We urge all parties involved in ongoing conflicts to cease hostilities and embrace dialogue. Rwanda’s path to peace after the genocide has proven that armed conflict is not a sustainable route to stability.”
Professor Murwira also raised critical questions about the origin of the weapons fueling conflicts in Africa.
“There is no factory producing bullets in the SADC or East African regions. We must ask ourselves: whose bullets are being used to fuel violence in these regions? Africa must refuse to be a battleground for foreign interests and must take ownership of its peace and stability.”
Bilateral cooperation between Zimbabwe and Rwanda has significantly strengthened in recent years. The two nations have signed several strategic memoranda of understanding across diverse sectors, including air transport, finance, education, media, energy, infrastructure development, and mining.
