Kigali notes: Kimironko’s carriers do their fair share of nation building

Rwanda’s economy currently stands on the pillars of the service sector. And in buying this newspaper, you did your bit. It is because of such transactions that simple people added up the Frw173 billion of last year’s GDP figures from the service sector.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Rwanda’s economy currently stands on the pillars of the service sector. And in buying this newspaper, you did your bit. It is because of such transactions that simple people added up the Frw173 billion of last year’s GDP figures from the service sector.

But you did more than buy a newspaper. It is likely that yesterday, you were in a restaurant, internet cafe, church fellowship, in a Twegerane, or your favourite market.

It is at the market place that one brings in their share of last year’s Frw173 billion. It is your duty to spend more this year such that together, Kigali’s blessed people can beat that figure by the end of this year.   

In Kimironko market you can find drivers, their bosses, taxi hires, salon operators, gate-men, each contributing their accorded share in nation building.

On the sidelines of the market are several young-men dressed in green or blue aprons with black numbers written on their backs.

When a vehicle comes into sight, they will run towards this blessing hoping whoever is inside is moving along with some sort of luggage for them to carry.

Running after a mini bus just arriving at the market, Tomas Uwambere, a porter, gets entangled with three other porters in a fight that would ultimately prove who among them saw the luggage first and therefore deserves the right to carry it.

Manfred Mondo, another passenger, bus observes the ensuing debate: 

Porter one: I saw this van first, It is me supposed to carry the luggage at the back. 

Porter two: No, you are lying, I saw it first and besides, you took the previous van, logically this one is my turn.

Porter three: You all look weak. This is too big for any of you to carry?

Robel Mupenzi, owner of the luggage: Don’t worry all of you; I can carry my own luggage.  

Mondo (upon emerging from the bus): The service sector is indeed very important to our economy.

Contact: donmuhinda@yahoo.com