SOUTHERN PROVINCE

MUHANGA — Residents of Rongi Sector have formed a new cooperative society to fight poverty. The cooperative, Twitezimbere-Rongi Cooperative Society was launched at the weekend, by the sector Executive Secretary Clet Munyankindi, at a function attended by various local opinion leaders.

"Rongi is an isolated and distant sector. This cooperative is meant to respond to crosscutting issues which include: agricultural transformation, environmental protection, increasing business transactions and transport,” Munyankindi said.

Rongi sector is about 120kms north of Gitarama town bordering Ruhengeri town. The sector has a population of 268,833 residents, 6,087 families, 29 villages and five Cells.
At the function, members collected Frw10 million, as initial capital. Each member is entitled to one share (Frw1000) and its statute will be analyzed and approved by August 23 during the general meeting.

The sector leader residents resolved that they would buy a vehicle to simplify the transport problem in the area.

"The area has good climatic conditions and fertile soils with quality agricultural products but lacks means of transport which is a set back in socio-economic growth. Residents have constructed five bridges and the cooperative will purchase a commuter bus to ease the movement of traders,”one of the cooperative leaders revealed.

A resident walks a distance of about 35km to the nearest trading centre in Remera, Kiyumba, to board a bus to Gitarama. The other alternative is to spend Frw6,000 on a motorbike. The new development is expected to solve this problem.

Innocent Nvukiyehe, a district official, promised to support the cooperative to achieve its development goals and urged residents to use the cooperative as an engine to implement government decentralisation programmes.

Ends