About VENANT NKURUNZIZA

Venant Nkurunziza, the founder of CHEZ VENANT and VENANT MAGAZINE, is a young and dynamic Rwandan politician who has dedicated his life to serving his country and his people. Venant is also one of the leaders of the Ishema Party, a new generation political organization that is committed to promoting democracy, truth, intrepidness, and social justice in Rwanda.

Venant's journey to politics began in his hometown of Nyamagabe Gikongoro, where at his young age endeavoured to help his community by envolving himself in social and political activities at his village where he was born into a middle-class family. After completing his university studies, he worked as a court clerk at Nyarugenge Court and later as a researcher assistant at the African Institute for Migrant Workers. Over time, Venant became an expert consultant in law, and his passion for justice and human rights led him to become involved in politics.

As a young politician, Venant witnessed firsthand the boundless injustice and human rights violations that were taking place in Rwanda under Paul Kagame's regime. He saw how the political space had been closed off, and he knew that something had to be done. In 2009, Venant made the difficult decision to flee his homeland and seek refuge in Malawi.

Despite being in exile, Venant remained committed to his vision of a better Rwanda. In 2013, he founded the Ishema Party together with other young Rwandan activists and scholars. The party's main goal was to promote democracy, truth, intrepidness, and social justice in Rwanda, and it proposed a non-violent and peaceful way based on dialogue and consensus.

Venant has held many important positions in the Ishema Party, the roles that he took very seriously. These include: Executive Secretary, Legatus of Africa, and Deputy Secretary General in charge of Legal Affairs and Conflict Management. In 2014, the party convened its first congress and nominated Reverend Father Thomas Nahimana as its presidential candidate for the upcoming presidential elections of 2017. Venant was nominated as Candidate Campaign Manager to accompany the presidential candidate for the party registration and campaign procedures.

Despite their best efforts, Venant and his colleagues were unable to return to Rwanda due to the government's refusal to allow them to board any flight en route to Kigali. They went on a hunger strike and slept in transit for four days, hoping that the regime would recognize their rights and open borders and political space. However, their efforts were in vain, and they were forced to return to where they came from.

Undeterred, Venant and his colleagues decided to found the Government of Rwanda in Exile, a separate official government led by the president of the Republic Rev Father Thomas Nahimana. Venant became Minister of Justice in this government, which was established to replace the illegitimate government led by Paul Kagame and work for the people of Rwanda.