MPs meet local authorities over Women’s Fund

NORTHERN PROVINCE MUSANZE — Members of Parliament on the Gender and Family Committee yesterday met district authorities and leaders of the National Women’s Council-CNF to discuss management of women’s funds. The meeting in Musanze was prompted by the June, 2008 report from CNF to the effect that that there had been mismanagement of cash from the women’s Fund at districts. The report revealed that people who obtained loans from the fund had not paid back yet some borrowed without security. It also revealed that there is a reasonable sum of money which had not been utilised. MP Samuel Nsabimana, who led the legislators, said that the commission would asses the challenges and make recommendations to revamp the operations of the women’s guarantee fund. Nsabimana, noted that some banks had not been cooperative in giving out loans to women, and others demand for collateral yet, the guarantee fund should serve that purpose. The government instituted the women’s guarantee fund to facilitate rural based women access credit to set up income generating activities. MP Aimably Nibishaka, asked districts to support women seeking loans in preparing and presenting their project proposals, and maintain a data base of those who have succeeded, and their challenges. Ends