Claude (not real name) was picked up by his usual motorcyclist on Thursday morning. They started a conversation on COVID-19, as it has, by far, been the topical issue this week. “Despite the outbreak, I don’t have a problem transporting other people, but I can’t dare take a white person at any price. Some even hailed me yesterday, but I pretended not to have seen them,” he said. Claude’s taxi-moto operator is not the only one with the mentality that foreign nationals have COVID-19 and will infect them once they carry them on their motorcycles. The New Times talked to some taxi-moto riders, with the question “do you fear driving some people during this COVID-19 period”? “Except for Indians, I don’t fear riding with anyone,” said Bosco (not real name), a motorcyclist. “We think most Indians were somehow close to the other one (the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Rwanda). You know Indians are a very close society, so they must have been in contact with him.” The coronavirus patient zero who was diagnosed on Saturday, March 14, had a few days to the diagnosis arrived in the country from the Indian city of Mumbai. However, Bosco is aware that any other person could also be infected with the virus. “They have not asked for a ride yet, but I can’t take them.” However, the feeling is not shared by many, because some operators say they take everyone without any form of discrimination. There is also a misconception that since the outbreak was first reported in China, most Chinese could therefore be carriers. The New Times visited some shops owned by foreigners; Indians and Chinese, to ask if they are being discriminated in anyway. However, those interviewed said they have never faced discrimination from anyone over the COVID-19 outbreak. Speaking to The New Times, Tony Kuramba, the spokesperson of the public transport regulator in Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), said they didn’t know this was happening. He, however, hastened to add that if indeed it was the case, it was tantamount to a criminal offence. “Anyone can be a carrier of coronavirus, including us, Rwandans. What is important is to observe hygiene regulations, like wearing a piece of cloth under the helmet. If the passenger accepts to do it, there is no problem, and it has nothing to do with skin colour.” “But if there is specific discrimination based on the colour of skin, it is a criminal offence. If one refuses to take someone on account of colour, it is punishable by the law.” Kuramba added that they will sensitise motorcyclists to avoid such baseless stereotypes. “We usually carry out joint sensitisation campaigns with the police and FERWACOTAMO (motorcyclists’ federation) on hygiene…we are going to add that concern.” During an interview, Daniel Ngarambe, the president of FERWACOTAMO (Fédération Rwandaise des Conducteurs de Taxi Moto), said discrimination is wrong and that motorcyclists should be aware of that.
