Irish potato traders are locked in a disagreement with City Hall over a directive by the authorities to relocate to Inzove sector in Nyarugenge District.

The City of Kigali ordered Irish potato suppliers to relocate from Mutangana Market in Nyabugogo to Inzove about nine months ago to decongest the area and create more space for retail businesses.

The authorities also say the area is a ‘risk zone’ and is gazetted as a retail area.

The April 2016 order directed the suppliers to relocate to Inzove by May 30 last year.

However, the potato traders accuse the city authorities of harassment and discrimination, saying their colleagues dealing in other items were not affected by the order.

They also argue that potato traders in Gatsata, Muhima and Gitega markets were never directed to relocate.

Decision not fair

They also say the new place is far and is not accessible because of poor roads. 

Ram Nyirazaninka, the leader of the business community in Nyabugogo, added that only 28 key potato suppliers have been targeted by the directive. The distributors claim the authorities are forcing them to become small retailers. She said the relocation has hurt businesses and affected their ability to service bank loans.

"City planners don’t care about us, they are not for the poor people or small traders. Where will we get the money to repay loans we got from banks?” she wondered, adding this was the third time they were being ‘forced’ to change places.

She noted the traders are not against city regulations, saying all they want is fairness and equal treatment.

"Why are we being forced to relocate to an industrial area?” "The government is promoting local investors and self-reliance, how will we achieve this goal with anti-business laws at City Hall?”

Josephina Tugizemahoro, one of the affected Irish potato dealers, questioned city authorities’ motive, asking why other foodstuff businesses in Nyabugogo have not been directed to relocate to Inzove.

Aline Nyinawase, another trader, said, "Why target only Irish potato supply businesses alone? The Government should intervene in this matter.”

What authorities say

However, Augustin Rwomushana, the director for urban economic development at City of Kigali, dismissed the claims, saying no one is being victimized or discriminated against.

He told The New Times that the Irish potato suppliers and traders are operating from a ‘risk zone’. He said since they refused to relocate by May 30, 2016 as directed, "now, is time to ‘apply’ regulations”.

Rwomushana explained that under Master Plan, the city is divided into zones according to activity. "Therefore, follow those guidelines… Besides, the move will reduce congestion in city, ease traffic flow and help keep Kigali clean”.

Inzove is divided into three zones, one for agro-produce, a warehouse section, and an industrial part, according to Rwomushana.

Francois Kanimba, the Minister for Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs, urged the traders to follow regulations of different local governments, including City of Kigali, while conducting business.

The minister added that Mutangana Market in Nyabugogo is gazetted as retail area. "Therefore, suppliers cannot be allowed to store their produce in the market…they should abide by the city guidelines,” he said in an interview with The New Times on Wednesday.

He said one of the reasons Regional Potatoes Trading Limited, a group of potato traders, was contracted to build a warehouse in Inzove was to address the challenge of storage dealers faced previously. Others are getting rid of middlemen, and helping streamline the potato business in the country, according to Kanimba.

He dismissed claims by traders accusing city authorities of limiting them to trade only one tonne of Irish potatoes in Kigali, saying they are free to distribute potatoes to other markets.

"However, Mutangana Market cannot be used as a distribution centre...That’s the law.”

Monique Mukaruliza, the City of Kigali mayor, said the area is meant for a modern park, gardens, shopping malls, ring roads, and Mutangana as a retail market.

"The decision to relocate foodstuff supply businesses from Nyabugugo to Inzove and Mulindi Market (for tomatoes traders) was reached together with Irish potato traders co-operative and other stakeholders,” Mukaruliza said yesterday.

She added that the authority would engage the group and chart a way forward. The group was expected to invest Rwf6.3 billion in the construction of warehouses and other needed infrastructures.

All its 446 shareholders are involved in potato value chain, including growing, trading, and transportation.