John S. Ruzibuka: The newly elected chairman of the Rwandan Diaspora in UK.
Coventry (UK): The Rwandan Community UK elected a new committee last week. Delegates from various communities gathered in Coventry, in West Midlands and for the first time delegates from different parts of the UK agreed on a such leadership, after many years of discussion.
John Shofel Ruzibuka from Leeds was voted chairman, while Alice Gaparayi from New Castle was elected Vice-president. Other positions included the representative of women (gender), the Secretary General, youth -culture and sports. Other posts include the treasurer, director of mobilisation, Director -communications and Public Relations, Director of Hospitality and Events Management. a director Business Innovations and Entrepreneurship, as well as one in charge of Education and knowledge transfer were also elected.
Some members of the UK diaspora with the newly elected leader.
One of the urgent task assigned to the new chairman is to mobilise Rwandan communities in different parts of the UK to actively work together to cement national unity and reconciliation and promote Rwandan values, especially among young generations.
The challenge facing the Rwandan diaspora in the UK is to mobilise the members to attend the forthcoming Rwanda Day slated for the beginning of October in The Hague, Netherlands.
This vote was a landmark for the Rwandese diaspora because for many years its members did not have such elected leadership.