GISAGARA - Residents of Kinyinya cell, Mukindo Sector in Gisagara district, chanted and danced joyously to welcome a clean water project which was inaugurated in the area, bringing to an end the chronic shortage of clean drinking water.

The water project, commissioned on Monday, is expected to serve over 320 families in Kinyinya cell including pupils.
The water is piped from Akadahokwa swamp and channelled to a central collecting point by a solar powered machine.

The project which cost over Rwf55 million was built by a native of the area who resides in the USA, and was supported by Engineers without Borders, an organisation of construction engineers based in Quebec, Canada.

Speaking at the event, Jean Kamanzi, the initiator of the project said that as a native of the region, he felt the need to contribute to its development.

"I knew that residents in this area were short of clean water; which was a serious threat to the well-being of residents. So, as someone in the Diaspora who can be of assistance I considered it important to do something tangible to resolve the problem. I had that idea in mind for a long time,” Kamanzi said.

"I started by sensitizing my friends and we raised money for the construction of this plant. I hope it will benefit the residents.”

Kamanzi appealed to other Rwandans living outside the country to always be mindful of giving back to their society. Residents in Kinyinya cell said that the water plant would guarantee them good health.

"In the past, many people in the area have suffered from diseases caused by poor hygiene like diarrhoea; but today we can access clean water near us. For me, this is the end of such diseases,” said Caritas Mutumyinka of Taba village.

"We used to travel long distances looking for water, and unfortunately the water was not clean. But now we have clean water at a short distance, and at an affordable price. We have reason to be happy today,” Innocent Ndagijimana of Munyegeri village said.

According to David Ntiramira Muhire, the executive secretary of Mukindo sector, the facility will allow residents to concentrate on development initiatives instead of spending so much of their time looking for water.

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