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Kinyarwanda
Habineza Michel, a resident of Nyange Sector in Ngororero District, used to derive his passion in spending all his earnings on alcohol; he cared less about his wife and children’s survival. At times, he would return home to his hungry family and batter them.
Time came when Habineza’s wife, Pélagie Yankurije could not take it anymore; she had to separate with her husband and left him with their three children.
According to Habineza, 54, losing his wife did make him change; “I continued with my routine. Every time I got paid, my first priority was drinking; I could not stop until I ran out of money, then I could stagger home. At home, I had terrorized my family until the time my wife decided to leave.”
With the help of Rwanda National Police’s family reconciliation programme, Habineza has changed his life and reconciled with his wife.
“I have vowed to change my lifestyle and I am happy that my wife has promised to forget everything and return home,” said Habineza.
Habineza suddenly met with his wife at a town hall meeting called by RNP and National Women’s Council in Ngororero, to reconciled wrecked families.
The couple keenly followed lessons from Inspector of Police (AIP) Alexandre Minani, who encouraged them to reconcile and reunite.
“My husband now understands that it’s wrong to drink all his earnings, batter his partner and starve the family. I am going to return back to my family and live happily with my husband since he has promised to change,” Yankurije said.
She also thanks the police for its role in mending her family and also requested the force to continue assisting more families to settle wrangles amicably.
Habineza and Yankurije’s family is part of the 35 families that the police reconciled and reunited in Nyange Sector on Tuesday.
Police worked with the district coordinator of the National Women’s Council Julienne Nyirahabimana, and the sector’s Executive Secretary, Ernest Niyonsaba.
Authorities used the approach of making partners speak out about the root causes of their misunderstandings and used that as a basis to reconcile them.
