NYARUGURU - Owners of business premises in the different trading centers in the Nyaruguru district have been given up to December to renovate their with a  new district  directive.

In a meeting with heads of different institutions and members of the private sector operating in the district on Monday, the district Mayor Felix Sibomana, said that the decision was taken because many structures were in a sorry state.

"This decision is crucial and important, we cannot watch as the lives of the people who frequent these premises are put to risk,” the Mayor said.

The move is also geared at improving the image of the district’s tourist town of Kibeho that attracts about 10,000 local and international pilgrims.

Kibeho is well-known for the reported apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ between 1981 and 1989. Thousands of pilgrims flock to the southern Rwanda district every month to visit the site of the reported apparition.

Alphonse Nkurunziza, the head of Private Sector Federation (PSF) in the district welcomed the move, promising to rally the business community to meet the December deadline.

"Despite the limited financial means of some of our members, we hope that in collaboration with banks we will be able to give our buildings the much needed facelift,” said Nkurunziza.

Some owners of business premises in the district, in an interview with The New Times welcomed the idea- but lamented the short period given for its implementation.

"The period for the implementation of this plan is very short considering the low level of business activity here, we need at least two years,” said one Patricia a landlord in Ruheru town centre.

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