600 casual workers strike in Gicumbi

GICUMBI – A total of 629 residents who were employed to construct terraces in Rukomo Sector, Gicumbi district have downed their tools, over non payment of wages. In an interview with The New Times at Kinyami cell, the residents who claim to have constructed four hectares of terraces said that they have not been paid their wages for the last two weeks. “We have not been paid our money for the last two weeks yet the district agronomist [Dorothe Batamuliza] and sector authorities promised to pay each terrace constructor Rwf800 per day,” lamented one of the residents Alphonse Rwamakuba. Over 300 residents participated in terrace construction in Kinyami cell. Sources said other residents in Cyuru cell and Gitaba village have also not been paid. “Our children have been going hungry for the last two weeks,” said another resident Vedaste Bigezundinde of Cyuru trading center. The Rukomo Sector Executive Secretary, Olivier Munyurangabo acknowledged the problem, saying the district would address it. “We have communicated to the district authorities to speed up the payment of these residents,” he said. In contrast, the residents said their counterparts in Manyagiro and Rubaya sectors have been paid their wages. The coordinator of terrace construction in Manyagiro sector, Vincent Ntakobisa said the workers under his supervision are paid under the Vision Umurenge Project (VUP) arrangement. But he denied knowledge of the source of funding for the group in Rukomo sector. Efforts to contact the District Mayor Bonane Nyangezi over the matter were futile, as he was reported to be in the management meeting. Ends