The Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA), has so far registered over 4,600 cooperatives.RCA Deputy Director, Gilbert Habyarimana, yesterday told Sunday Times that the number is expected to rise in the near future.“We are now making sure that these cooperatives come up with proper work plans to serve the purpose for their establishment,” Habyarimana said.He pointed out that the agency has come up with mechanisms to strengthen them which include merging those dealing in the same economic activities.“Our aim is to make sure that members are benefiting from the cooperative and that, among others, members specify activities and expected returns,” he said.Habyarimana explained that in addition to capacity building to enable cooperatives engage in various business activities, RCA is also fighting ghost cooperatives.“Last month, we launched a campaign aimed at eliminating ghost and unprofessional cooperative unions which we identified as not being beneficial to their members, or are illegal,” he said.The first phase of the campaign exposed 150 cooperatives countrywide. Some were actually not even complying with the membership clause that requires a minimum of 15 members.According to RCA, some of these cooperatives are being directed towards becoming companies while those with interest of retaining their present status must adjust and suit the legal requirements.
