He made the remarks on April 10, 2025, during a visit by Airtel Rwanda staff and leadership to the Ntarama Genocide Memorial in Bugesera district.
Hamez emphasized that Rwanda's progress over the past 31 years must be protected to prevent a return to the horrors of the past.
'One of the reasons Rwanda has come this far is because it has never forgotten where it came from. Visiting memorials like this reminds Rwandans of their painful history, but it also gives them strength to never go backward,' he said.
'What Rwanda has achieved after such a terrible and painful past is difficult to fully grasp. But I believe the reason they've come this far is because they keep remembering. They return to places like every year, and that keeps the past present in their minds, and drives them to build a better future,' he added.
Hamez also reflected on similar patterns in other parts of Africa, noting that history has a way of repeating itself even in countries that didn't experience genocide on the scale of Rwanda.
'I once lived in Khartoum, a city has known dark times. After those events, there was peace, but then violence returned,' he revealed. The MD stressed that people must not become complacent by assuming past atrocities will not repeat themselves.
'We must remain committed to unity and reconciliation. We can't just say 'Never Again.' We must actively fight for it, because we know how easily a person can change,' he said.
Hamez addressed genocide denial, urging those who question or deny the Genocide against the Tutsi to visit memorial sites like Ntarama.
'To those who say the Genocide against the Tutsi never happened, they should come and see places like this. They are undeniable proof of what took place.'
IGIHE
