The Ministry of Public Service and Labour will initiate more transit centres to act as temporary homes for street children.

Currently, there are three similar centres of this nature, with one in Gikondo and two others were recently opened in Gatagara and Rubavu, in the Southern and Western provinces respectively.

According to officials, another is also under construction in Huye District, also in the Southern Province.

This was disclosed during a press conference organised ahead of the ‘African Child’s Day’ and the International Day to Fight against Child Labour to be celebrated on June 16.

The Minister of Public Service and Labor, Anastase Murekezi, informed the media that although the number of street children and child labour cases had reduced, the fight is still on to eradicate them.

"Some children end up on the streets or become victims of child labour, poverty. and, ignorance. Some are orphans while others are mistreated by their parents or guardians and flee their homes.

"We are not only going to fight against child labour or get children off the streets, but we are trying to fight the causes as well,” said the minister.

He added that victimised children will be encouraged to go back to school and abandon the streets.

According to Murekezi, the various poverty alleviation programs currently spearheaded by the government, would also lead to a significant decrease in the cases.

Ends