The government faces a daunting task of initiating new social integration programmes for the country’s Batwa people who remain socially isolated, undermining ongoing efforts to promote unity and reconciliation.

According to the 2017-2018 annual activity report presented before the senate last week by the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), a section of Rwandans, considered historically marginalised, is yet to embrace the Nd’umunyarwanda programme, which is anchored on promoting a common identity and unity among Rwandans.

For instance, according to the report, due to poor living conditions and resistance to change, the Batwa have remained disintegrated in Rwandan society, including avoiding intermarriages. As a result, they are forced to marry among themselves with some committing incest.

According to retired bishop John Rucyahana, the president of NURC, more effort is needed to integrate the Batwa in society because of extreme poverty, self-denial and illiteracy.

“Senators should push the government on the establishment of special programmes that can lift these people from extreme poverty, we want their children to go to school like others because many have been dropping out due to hunger,” said bishop Rucyahana.

The report, which was tabled before the upper house of parliament, said that unlike other vulnerable people in society like women, orphans and or children-headed households, the Batwa face a higher rate of stigma and discrimination from other communities and have been slow in embracing profit-led organisations.

“Many still prefer to be called Batwa, they live in isolated communities and in crowded houses and they rarely interact with other people,” reads part of the report.

Intervention

Some senators believe the issue needs stronger intervention from the government, which will need to redirect funds that support these groups from different donors.

“An ad hoc senatorial committee was created months ago with the aim of investigating the matter even more and has been carrying out field work, outreach programmes and compiling a report. We cannot disclose a lot of information on what we shall recommend to the government, because the report will be tabled in a few weeks, but I can tell you the issue is quite glaring,” said Senator Appolinaire Mushinzimana.

According to Mr Mushinzimana, part of the findings from the field studies show that some organisations, mostly non-governmental, have been pushing for these people to act marginalised or appear destitute in order for funding and aid to continue.

On the other hand, Senator Zephylin Kalimba said the priority will be to address the issue of hunger before they can think of other profitmaking businesses.

“Beside the issue of hunger, they are abused and this needs to be address,” he said.

Since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the government has eliminated anything that would lead Rwandans to identify themselves as an ethnic group, meaning ‘Tutsi’, ‘Hutu’ and ‘Twa’ and other ethnic references have been scrapped off from official documents.

A 2014 survey by Coporwa (a community of potters in Rwanda), the ‘Twa’ people (who make up 0,4 per cent of the population) are the most vulnerable; 77 per cent of them were illiterate; 30 per cent were unemployed and even those that were employed earn less than Rwf10,000 per month.