EASTERN PROVINCE

NGOMA — The Mayor of Ngoma district has called on the residents to work hard in order to develop the country saying that most people spent their time idle instead of doing productive work.

Francois Niyotwagira was addressing residents last week during Labour Day celebrations, the Mayor described work as key to development. The district celebrations were held at Cyasemakamba Stadium in Kibungo sector.

The function started with a procession of students from different schools, members of cooperative societies, bicycle and motorcycle taxis and different NGOs working in the district. Niyotwagira blamed poverty on people who don’t want to work. "Sitting and wishing does not yield anything," he said.

"To achieve development, there is need to work hard and it is in this way that poverty will be eradicated in homes, district and the entire country," he added:

The Mayor urged residents to join cooperative societies in order to easily access support from the district and the government.

"Agriculture alone can not bring development," he observed urging residents to create other ways of income generation besides agriculture. He stressed the importance of job creation to minimise unemployment.

On employee’s rights, the Mayor cautioned employers against harassing their staff when they demand for their wages and salary arrears.

Turning to parents, the mayor said it was important for them to cultivate the culture of hard work among their children and fulfil what is expected of them.

"To create good working conditions we must first fight the Genocide ideology because it hinders development. It is horrific that this vice is present among the students who are the future leaders of this country," he said, calling on collective responsibility to fight it.

Abdul Nkotanyi, the workers’ representative urged the district to always address the concern of workers who ‘are maliciously harassed by their employers.’

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