BIRYOGO - A senior leader in the Anglican Church has called on Rwandans to repent of their sins saying that having a purified heart without repentance is useless. In his New Year’s sermon to hundreds of believers at St Etienne Cathedral in Biryogo yesterday, Pastor Amiel Balinda said that people should learn from the weaknesses in the past year and promote hard work, love and respect for God.

"Even the Bible in Luke 2: 15-21 says that we should have purified hearts as we mark these eight days after Jesus Christ was born,” he said
Amid songs of praises and worship to God, most churches on the New Year’s eve held night prayers to usher in 2008.

Meanwhile, business activities were low yesterday in Kigali City centre as most shops remained closed all the day. On the main commercial street (Quartier Commerciale), several city traders who opened their shops said that they had received few or no clients at all.

Eugene Sebukino, a retail trader from Muhanga district, Southern province said: "I have tried all places in Nyabugogo and Commercial Street but I have not found any of the shops where I buy the merchandise I need open.”

The desperate trader said that his shop (in Muhanga) had run out of stock through the Christmas season. He had travelled to city to have his restocked in time for the New Year’s festivities.

He added that even transport fees in most areas had doubled. For instance, from his home district (Muhanga) to Kigali fares were hiked from Frw700 to 1500.

Another businessman Shaban Nkundineza, who deals in season greetings’ cards, jewels and clothes, said that in the previous days customers were frequenting his shop especially for the elegant cards but yesterday none of them turned up.

"I got few customers yet I did not hike the prices. I think most of people are either poor or reserved their money for other things,” Mama Niyone, a businesswoman selling shoes on Commercial Street, said.
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