A delegation of greater than 20 workers from WHI Rwanda Cement Firm, the producer of Cheetah Cement, on Friday, July 10, visited Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide towards the Tutsi and study extra about Rwanda’s historical past.
The delegation toured the memorial museum, laid wreaths on the mass graves in honour of greater than 250,000 victims laid to relaxation on the website, and made a monetary contribution to help the preservation of Genocide historical past and memorial actions.
The go to introduced collectively workers from totally different departments and nationalities working on the Muhanga-based cement producer, together with Rwandans, Chinese language, Burundians, Congolese, Tanzanians and Kenyans.
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Mussa Mutsinzi, the corporate’s Assistant Managing Director in Cost of Individuals and Enterprise, mentioned the initiative had been deliberate because the firm started operations in 2023 and displays its dedication to serving to workers higher perceive Rwanda and the values which have formed the nation’s restoration.
“As a overseas funding working in Rwanda, we felt it was necessary for our workers to grasp the nation’s historical past firsthand,” he mentioned.
“We needed each Rwandans and overseas nationals working with us to study concerning the Genocide towards the Tutsi instantly from the memorial as a result of some folks come to Rwanda having heard totally different and generally inaccurate accounts of what occurred.”
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Mutsinzi noticed that understanding the nation’s previous would assist workers respect the inspiration of Rwanda’s unity, reconciliation and growth, whereas encouraging accountable conduct within the office.
“We hope they are going to be extra conscious of the language they use and keep away from expressions that may trivialise the Genocide or promote genocide ideology. We additionally imagine this expertise will strengthen values of unity, forgiveness and dealing collectively,” he mentioned.
Tang Shenghui, Managing Director of WHI Rwanda Cement Firm, described the go to as emotional and academic.
“After visiting the memorial, we really feel saddened by this historical past,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, he held, “you will need to bear in mind what occurred,” stating that the teachings from the memorial reinforce the necessity to promote unity and reconciliation.
“Historical past has already handed, however we should always concentrate on constructing the longer term collectively. We must always transfer ahead with reconciliation and prosperity alongside the folks of Rwanda,” he mentioned.
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Tang added that the expertise additionally carries necessary classes for the corporate’s operations.
“We must always deal with everybody equally and guarantee all our workers have good welfare and a superb working atmosphere,” he mentioned.
Explaining why the corporate organised the go to, he famous that understanding Rwanda’s historical past is important for any enterprise working within the nation.
“As an enterprise based mostly in Rwanda, we imagine everybody ought to promote love, unity and respect for each other,” he mentioned.
Supporting Rwanda’s development drive
WHI Rwanda Cement Firm was formally inaugurated in August 2023 at Muhanga Industrial Park, about 50 km southwest of Kigali, with an annual manufacturing capability of 1 million tonnes of cement.
The corporate, which manufactures Cheetah 32.5N and Cheetah 42.5N cement has change into one of many nation’s main cement producers since coming into the market.
Assistant Director of Provide and Gross sales Abbie Zhao Yan mentioned the $50 million funding firm is meant to help Rwanda’s rising infrastructure wants.
“Our function is to provide top-quality cement in Rwanda to assist the folks right here construct their properties and help the nation’s growth,” she mentioned.
Zhao famous that though Cheetah Cement has been on the Rwandan marketplace for solely three years, it has steadily gained clients’ confidence.
“Many finish customers at the moment are aware of the model. After utilizing it, they inform us Cheetah Cement is nice,” she mentioned.
