KARONGI / Rutsiro – The Social Democratic Party (PSD) Presidential candidate, Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, yesterday took his campaign to the Western Province and addressed residents of Karongi and Rutsiro districts where he promised to develop tourism.

Speaking in front of a cheering medium sized crowd, Ntawukuriryayo told his supporters that he would develop the tourism industry in the area which will in turn provide jobs, mainly to the youth from the two districts, once elected president in the fourth coming August 9 polls.

The PSD candidate also promised his voters that he would strive to add value to the products they export to the Democratic Republic of Congo so that they can yield more profits.

"I recently learnt that this area exports livestock products to the neighbouring DRC, I will strive to add value to the products to ensure that you export finished products,” Ntawukuriryayo told the cheering crowd.

He also promised to promote agriculture by encouraging the existing programme of land use consolidation and fighting soil erosion, which is the number one enemy of agriculture in the area.

On this, he singled out the banana crop which he said he would put much effort in improving to come up with a very good quality with greater value.

Ntawukuriryayo’s manifesto promises to allot 10 percent of the national budget to agriculture.

Ntawukuriryayo however encouraged the residents of the two districts to put much effort in planting trees which he cited as a source of income through timber selling, but as also one way of preserving the environment.

The PSD candidate also promised to tarmac the Rubengera – Rubavu – Rusizi road to facilitate trade between the three districts.

Speaking to The New Times after the Karongi rally, Enock Nsengimana, an area resident welcomed the candidate’s manifesto.

"His promises are good and encouraging, but that depends on whether the candidate will fulfill the promises once we elect him,” said, Nsengimana adding that all the programmes in his manifesto were developmental.

At the two rallies, Ntawukuriryayo was in company of PSD officials who included; Environment Minister Stanislas Kamanzi, the Permanent Secretary in the Internal Security Ministry Penelope Kantarama, and Western Province Governor, Celestin Kabahizi.

Ends