Vendors in Kimisagara Market, in Kigali City, have complained of the many charges which, they said, makes their work unprofitable.

According to the traders, the market authority forces them to pay Rwf2,000 for cleaning every day and Rwf1,000 monthly, again for cleaning, which, they said wa paying twice for the same service.

One trader who spoke to The New Times, yesterday, said that the market’s administration connives with sector authorities to rip them off.

"They impose high charges and we end up taking home nothing. The market authority works with the sector and we need the government’s intervention,” said a 56 year-old trader.

When Minister of Commerce Monique Nsanzabaganwa visited the market around on Thursday, traders besieged her as everybody tried to air their complaint.

"We cannot tolerate this; for example I sell tomatoes that I get from far, spending a lot on transport. How do you expect me to benefit,” one trader told the minister.

Some traders were complaining that agricultural products have reduced in the market due to the hefty charges traders are forced to pay, and have moved to the nearby Nyabugogo market.

After discussions between Nsanzabaganwa and the traders, she told The New Times that she would convene a meeting with all concerned parties to come up with possible solutions.

"I have heard all the problems and there is lack of collaboration between retailers and the market’s management. We cannot allow this kind of multiple charges,” the minister said.

"I will meet all stakeholders today afternoon, both at city and district level, to discuss and assess how we can streamline the issue. I have seen it myself that the levied charges are too much”.

Jean Pierre Ngenzi, the chairman of Agrune Company that runs the market, said that they together with sector authorities agreed to increase after realizing that the sector was not meeting its target.

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