Cocomanya Berwa, a cooperative of 1,000 second-hand clothes dealers in Muhima market, has finalised plans to construct a shopping mall.

In an interview with The New Times yesterday, the president of the cooperative, Noah Ngiruwonsanga, said an eight-storied building, to be known as ‘Westgate Business Park’, will be constructed on two hectares of land at the current Muhima market premises.

He said the complex will cost between Rwf 25 and 30 billion and that its construction will begin in June this year and completed in one and a half years.

"Our idea is to construct this shopping mall in line with the Vision 2020. We are optimistic that upon its completion, it will help us to work in a more professional and productive manner,” Ngiruwonsanga observed.

He added that they have so far collected Rwf  1 billion from members and that they will obtain a loan from Kenya Commercial Bank to begin construction.

Cocomanya Berwa is also considering securing additional funding from other banks and micro-finance institutions.

According to Ngiruwonsanga, the building will have a parking space with a capacity to accommodate over 1,000 vehicles, and will have forex bureaus, pharmacies, restaurants and saloons.

"We want our shopping mall to be one of the largest and best shopping malls, not only in Rwanda but in the whole region. I encourage my fellow Rwandans to form cooperatives because it will help them easily acquire loans from banks,” Ngiruwonsanga advised.

He said the upper part of the complex would comprise apartments to accommodate members of the cooperatives and other traders within Nyabugogo area.