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KICUKIRO: Women association in Kicukiro district say that local government institutions benefit at their expense but do not get financial support in return.
Uwajeneza Donatha
May 25, 2023 - 10:49
Women under the umbrella of association in this district expressed concerns that local government institutions have benefited on their expense but have waited in vain for financial support. This happens when the government encourages women to join cooperatives in order to develop themselves and get financial support where needed, Kicukiro sector authorities say that financial support is provided but focus is made to encourage cooperatives to find their own solutions.
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Some members of cooperative selling charcoal in Ziniya market known as
‘Abisunganye’ has been operational for 16 years and it has helped them achieve a
lot. However, they say that they haven’t yet attained their goals, They further
said that they only meet authorities when they need them, since 2007 the
cooperative has no financial support from officials stressing the need for support.
One member said“Over the past years, we have not been offered financial support
even a single day! We hear that banks provide financial support for women's
development, if by luck we get that money, we will buy a car, we need a car because
we have been asking for it since long ago.” We need a car, the type of fuso to be
able to transport charcoal where it is produced and supply to other markets, this
will lead our cooperative to significant progress.”
This cooperative ‘Abisunganye’ operates from Ziniya market in Kicukiro sector,
Kicukiro district. Local authorities say that they try to support they normally
support all cooperatives but if this one has a particular case they will be offered
support too.
MUKANDAHIRO Hidaya; the executive secretary of Kicukiro sector said” I
wouldn’t say that we should focus on providing them with financial support but rather
focus on building their capacity, for example, we train members of cooperatives
, we train at least 6 people in each cooperative .”
“We train them on financial management, working with financial institutions, they
should apply for loans I think they told you that they have a very big piece of
land in Bugesera district, you know that the value of land in Rwanda increases
day by day .”
“Today I told them to stop waiting for someone who will give them 200.000frw
or 500.000frw but rather go the bank and mortgage their land or their products
and start work .”
Regarding the issue of lack of enough information about mortgages, she said“That’s
why we are training them.”
Rwanda continues to be praised for the progress made in developing its population
without discriminating against any gender in order to help women reach the same level as
men.
The government of Rwanda has devised various measures, for supporting women
projects through cooperatives, among others.
The fact that there are some cooperatives which have not been offered financial
support, there is a need for other measures in order to avoid backsliding for those
who tried and ended up getting discouraged and giving up.
Written By Gabriel IMANIRIHO, Edited by Uwajeneza Donatha/translated by GAKUBA FELIX ABDULJABAR
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