SOUTHERN PROVINCE

NYAMAGABE — The State Minister for Energy Engineer Albert Butare, Monday, inaugurated three water networks in the district that will benefit over 14,000 residents.

The inauguration that marked the start of the ‘Water Week’ in Rwanda was held in Cyanika and Mbazi Sectors. This year’s International Water Day that falls on March 22 is being marked under the theme ‘Shared water, shared opportunities’.

Butare also inaugurated eco-friendly toilets at the Groupe Scolaire de Cyanika.

A total of 282 ecofriendly toilet rooms have been constructed with funding from the European Union (EU).

Addressing Cyanika residents, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to provide clean water to all its citizens as indicated in its Vision 2020. And he pointed out that the inauguration of the three water networks is in line with the fulfilment of this vision.

Butare, disclosed that government had earmarked a further Rwf1.59 billion to finance the construction of four more water networks in the area, in addition to other water projects in other districts of the province.

Calling on residents’ role in sustaining the water networks, he urged them to make an agreed upon contributions towards the maintenance of the newly constructed water infrastructural facilities.

The representative of the European Commission at the function, Jean Pierre Dekens, said the commission is committed to its mission of reducing poverty and improving the quality of life.

He added that the EU, through the Water and Sanitation fund that brings together the government of Rwanda, and the Austrian Development Agency, has allotted Rwf.4 billion towards increasing sustainable water supply and sanitation in the two districts of Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe.

"This project will provide 200,000 people with water and 9,400 more will have proper sanitation facilities,” said Dekens.

The European Commission in partnership with governments of Belgium and Rwanda have earmarked Rwf.7.4bilion towards increasing water distribution in the two districts.

Nyamagabe has a population of 302,891. According to the district Mayor, Alphonse Munyentwari, 73 percent of the population have now access to clean water.

"We target 80 percent of our population to have access to clean water by 2010,” said Munyentwari.

The Southern Province has the biggest number of people in the country standing at more than two million.

At the function, the Provincial Governor Fidele Ndayisaba called upon residents to embrace family planning in order to check population growth that is not commensurate with the economy’s growth.

Ends