Passengers to and from Rubavu town were left stranded after transport operators went on strike yesterday, protesting a directive to shift to a new taxi park which they say is not appropriate for their operations.

The strike action is joint decision among all private transporters in the district, among them, Virunga, Belvedere lines and Kigali Safaris, and have all vowed to down their tools until the district authorities fulfil the promises they made.

The district has in the past tried to move the express agencies away from Rubavu town centre to Nyakabungo, which is 1.5 kilometres from the town, with little success, because the proposed parking space was not built.

"Our bosses refused us to work until the new park is made accessible since the district has failed to repair roads leading to the park,” said Clement Habiyaremye, head of Virunga Rubavu post.

Besides the bad roads leading to the new parking yard, taxi owners complain of lack of security lights and perimeter fence to ensure safety.

 "The new place has got only one toilet,” Habiyaremye added. 

"We have been discussing with the district about this problem but nothing has been done other than force us to relocate”.

Efforts to get a comment from Christian Dukuze, the Executive Secretary of Rubavu, were futile as his phone remained unanswered.

Agnes Mukamunana, a passenger who was stranded at Belvedere lines offices, complained about this standstill.

"This problem must be sorted out as soon as possible because we are victims for reasons we don’t know,” said Mukamunana, who also agrees with transporters about the lack of security at the new parking lot.

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