Lights are on and business is growing

STEPHEN TUMUSIIME discovers how electricity is transforming Kimironko market “Kimironko market, managed by Kigali Veteran Cooperative Society (KVCS), has been electrified to lengthen working hours and boost business,” says James Nsengiyumva, KVCS administrator. “We have entered the East African Community and we have to rhyme with other countries that operate at night. The government’s policies encourage a 24 hour working environment by year 2020. It’s therefore our objective to one day operate 24 hours,” says Nsengimana. After the market was handed over to KVCS, Nsengimana explains that they found it necessary to bring electricity and water to the market. “We have 1110 stands and every stand is owned by an individual. They all supported the move and are happy about it.” Silvian Habimfura who owns a stand that deals in shoes says that business is slowly gathering momentum with the new electricity supply. “We used to go home at 5pm before the market was electrified but now we are allowed to work until 9pm. This has improved business. There are customers who want to buy at night because it is the only time they get given the nature of their work. We are therefore serving their demands.” “Slowly customers will get used to the lights and come in big numbers. We are making some money when we have just started. I hope we are going to make more as more customers learn the benefits of the lights.” Still afraid of the dark Habimfura says that there is need to ensure the market has a stand-by generator that will light the market when power goes off. “Some people still fear to operate at night. Sometimes there are power cuts that occur in the middle of negotiation with a customer. It becomes dark and no one can easily notice each other. A person may pick up anything and move on unnoticed,” says Habimfura. Left in the shadows Tthere are some who are not satisfied with how the electricity supply. Augsta Mukazayire, a market vendor, says that her stand is dark compared to others. “When it rains my stand is darker and customers cannot see properly what they want, yet we pay Frw350 every month for electricity. We want the market authority to extend the installation everywhere so that we may be able to work at night too.” Fifi Musabyimana, another vendor, says that its good there is electricity but there is need to make the market brighter that it is. “Some people hang their products high, obstructing light from reaching some stands. There is need to add more lights otherwise we are paying but not enjoying the development,” says Musabyimana. Nsengimana refutes the allegation saying the whole market was installed according to plan. He said that those who want special installation to have more light should apply and agree to meet the expense. Ends