Government has not yet handed over Imprimerie Scolaire (IMPRISCO)—a government printing press to the new investor, a statement from the Privatisation Secretariat says.

The statement follows reports by Umuseso, a local Kinyarwanda news paper of August 14th to 20th, 2008 that IMPRISCO was given out to a private investor by the Finance and Economic Planning Minister, James Musoni before payments.

The statement therefore refutes the claims saying; "The printing press (IMPRISCO) is still in the hands of the Government and there is no loss whatsoever. Umuseso news paper, so, was too quick to act before thinking twice,” the statement further says.

The delay to handover the printery, according to the statement, is because the investor has not yet cleared the money.

By press time, Angelique International, an Indian based firm had only cleared part of the Frw1.4 billion government asked the firm to pay for IMPRISCO.

Executive Secretary of the Privatisation Secretariat,   Manasseh Twahirwa described Angelique International as a firm with capacity to buy and run IMPRSICO.

"According to the contract, they delayed but their management told us (government) that they have a problem of transferring bulk money. It will be done in intervals. We expect 25 per cent to be here (paid) by the end of this month,” he said.

Twahirwa however warned that should the investor fail to abide with the sale agreement, "IMPRISCO can be reprivatised.”

"There is no doubt therefore, that the company will manage IMPRISCO,” the statement rebutting Umuseso’s claims says. Government has also paid the June and July, 2008 salaries for IMPRISCO staff.

"The Privatization Secretariat informed Angelique International Ltd that Frw20,121,159 has been paid to the staff after signing the agreement,” the statement says.

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