Earning from the streets

Jean Claude Hakizimana (Resident of Taba Village, Kicukiro District)Job description: Motorcyclist. Salary: Approximately Rwf2000 per day. Jean Claude Hakizimana is stationed at Kwarubangura stage in Kigali city. He started riding a motor bike four months ago when he was hired by its owner. He gained his skill from previously transporting people on a small and old bike (popularly known as ihene because of its sound). “I don’t own the motor bike and so on a daily basis, I take Rwf 5,000 to my employer. Any extra money made is mine,” Hakizimana said. He said that by 7:00 a.m, he stages at Kwarubagura to wait for the customers but when it clocks 6:00 p.m they are chased away from the stage as a result the grenade attacks. “We used to work till late in the night but with the grenade attacks which hit the same spot where we park created issues. For security purposes we are supposed to vacate the stage early hence it affects our earnings,” he said.Hakizimana is married and has two daughters and a son whom he educates from his earnings. Jonata NtakirutimanaJob description: Newspaper Vendor Salary: Approximately Rwf500 to Rwf2000 per day. The 23-year-old Ntakirutimana has been on the job for a week. “When I buy the papers, for instance Imvaho at Rwf300 I sell it at Rwf350. I again make more profits from selling The New Times paper because it’s on high demand yet it is scarce on the market. I buy a few copies of The New Times at Rwf350 per copy and sell it at Rwf500 therefore my earnings depend on the quantity sold,” Ntakirutimana said. He explained that at least on a daily basis he sells between 10 to 20 copies regardless. “The scorching sun is my biggest challenge because I have to stand all day under the hot sun so as to sell more copies,” Ntakirutimana said. Ends