A delegation of officials from DR Congo ended a two-day technical meeting with their Rwandan counterparts in Kigali, yesterday, at which they discussed ways of improving a list of common trade products between the two countries that are eligible under the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime. 

The discussions were expected to come up with a list of acceptable non-taxable goods that can be traded by both countries at the border. They will also look at various mechanisms that can be used to ease trade barriers for small scale traders.

This is the kind of development that compels one to wonder why it took this long. Trade is always a way to generate revenue into the government’s coffers but for the common man, it is a livelihood.

The small scale traders at border points such as at Rubavu hardly have interest in political maneuvers, whether in Kigali or Kinshasa. All they care about is earning basic needs through their commercial engagements.

This makes it important that governments factor them in every aspect of relations between countries in a manner that the interests of the common traders are not affected. This is what makes the meeting between the Congolese delegation and their hosts in Uganda one of a kind.

With both Kigali and Kinshasa governments striving to have self-reliant citizens, facilitating the border residents is one way to curb the challenges such as paying to get goods across the border that small scale traders face.

Beyond the immediate impact, it would be worthwhile to sign a memorandum of understanding that would ensure that cross-border trade continues to flourish regardless of the political climates. This could be too much for asking knowing what politics can be, but when some efforts are put into providing an environment with sustained cross-border trade, the interest of the ‘peasants’ would be greatly fulfilled.

The two governments have started a golden opportunity that must be sustained for its impact to be felt.