We want to buy books on the streets

In 2006, I bought an interesting book, “Latin America & the Caribbean” from the precincts of the Nyabugogo Taxi Park. What’s interesting is not the content of the book, but its price of Rwf1500. Of course the book was not new and the seller had no idea of its real value since he was illiterate. I hit a jackpot by getting my hands on this valuable book at a very laughable price. I continued to pass by the same spot each time I got my salary but I was never as lucky. The bookseller and other vendors had been chased away by the Kigali City Council authorities. The city council authorities definitely prefer a clean and organised city where traders operate in permanent shops. This is clearly understandable and no one can doubt the results of having an organised city as Kigali. Even with an organised city, some services ought to exist if city dwellers are to have a quality life. For example, if newspaper vendors are allowed on the streets to provide vital media information, why not allow booksellers to operate. The city authorities should know the value that these people add to our society before they think of chasing them away. To illustrate their value one needs to see how they operate in other cities. For instance, in Kampala, just opposite the main Post Office, there is a sizeable street bookstore along the road. Used books and magazines are sold cheaply compared to what bookshops offer. Consequently, poor students and citizens can access reading materials at affordable rates. These booksellers also offer to buy old books from students who have finished school. A student who chooses to offer arts at ‘A’ level does not have to throw away his O’ Level biology textbook but exchange it for some money or another book. This system is similar to the ‘pawn shops’ that exist in the developed world. At the end of the day, society’s literary needs are taken care of since the rich can buy books from bookshops while the less fortunate can buy something to read from the streets at a cheaper price. Rwanda is determined to develop a knowledge-based economy by the year 2020 and access to literature is one way of achieving this. We should support the development of a reading culture at all costs if we want to educate the masses and achieve development. ssenyonga@gmail.com