Richard Muliisa & Bonny Mukombozi
30 June 2007
Kigali — Protection of mountain gorillas and the promotion of tourism cannot be successful without full participation of the community.
This was disclosed yesterday by President Paul Kagame while officiating at Kwita Izina ceremony in Kinigi, Musanze District, Northern Province.
"There is need for every Rwandan to play a role in the promotion of tourism, in conserving environment and in promoting yourselves by providing items and services that you can sell to tourists so that they feel at home whenever they are in the country," noted the president.
Kagame added that tourism supports many people's livelihoods and as such called upon everyone to attach value to this noble asset. "You are charged with the responsibility to keep gorillas safe by offering the necessary security," he said.
Kwita Izina is a traditional ceremony among Banyarwanda where newborns are given names. It was adopted by the Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) in an effort to raise awareness and celebrate the birth of gorillas in their natural habitat.
The naming was also intended to confirm the successful conservation and protection programme with a principal objective of removing the mountain gorilla off the endangered species list.
Kagame added that though crafts can be used to represent the country, they are even an important source of income to the local community.
"The context of our presence here has significance beyond the recognition of these young national treasures," Kagame said. He mentioned factors including successful conservation and the post conflict resolutions that are development oriented.
President Kagame remarked that the country had began reaping peace and stability dividends and that tourism stood out as a vital economic driver of the country's economy. He advised that tourism and conservation should be treated with equal vigour.
The colourful ceremony attracted over 600 officials from the government, the private sector, regional and international organisations, and saw 23 baby gorillas receive names.
The ceremony was accentuated by many rich cultural dances, music, drumming but the highlight was a moving poem from a 13-year-old Marie Aline Uwayezu.
Under the theme "Caring for Wildlife Concerns us All," Chantal Rugamba, the Director General of ORTPN, attributed the successful conservation and Kwita Izina ceremony to the joint commitment by the local community, researchers and several partners.
This is the third year Rwanda is holding the gorilla naming ceremony, but the first time it is branded Kwita Izina and the number of gorillas which have been named have now risen to 65.
"Kwita izina seeks to put on record the milestone Rwanda has registered in conservation of wildlife and in particular the mountain gorilla," said Rugamba.
The previous gorilla naming ceremonies and fundraising raised $2 million (about Frw1.1 billion). From this fund, the community have been provided with schools, hospitals and water tanks.
This year's Kwita Izina ceremony was followed by a fundraising function at Kivu Sun Serena Hotel, projected to raise US$1.5million (about Frw825 million).
Rugamba said that this year's priority projects include installing an electric fence around Akagera Park and a community commercial complex in Kinigi for craft selling.
In addition to this, the resettlement of the community evicted from gazetted zone and tea planting around Nyungwe National Park are also among the priorities.
Last year, the tourism sector recorded US$33million (about Frw18.2 billion) as revenue against the target of US$31million ( about Frw 17 billion), which made the sector the country's third most foreign exchange earner.
This year, the target is US$42million (about Frw23.1 billion). Rugamba maintains that the tourism office still aims higher.
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