KVCS emerges best demob organisation

Kigali Veteran Cooperative Society (KVCS), a cooperative of ex-combatants that deals in car security and parking management in Kigali, was Friday awarded $2,000 as the best performing cooperative at the national level. The competition attracted 104 cooperatives countrywide.Organised by Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), the competition aims at encouraging ex-combatants not only to join cooperatives but work hard and improve their lives. Two other cooperatives were also awarded; they include “Abahuza” that deals in public transport (taxi-moto) in Kicukiro district and COOTRARU, a cross-border cargo transportation at Rwanda-DRC border .The two received $1,800 and $1,200 respectively. “I knew that we are doing well but didn’t know we were performing far better than other cooperatives,” said Bossa Rwemarika, the Director General of KVCS.He explained that the cooperative has played a role in addressing the question of unemployment in the country.“Apart from members of the cooperative, we have managed to employ 400 people and the majority are youth within Kigali,” he said. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the head of COOTRARU, Innocent Ndagijimana, said their activities are facilitating trade across the border.“We are using the modern three wheel bicycles to ease the movement of goods at the border and according to our records, we are also contributing to national economic development through the taxes collected from goods crossing into the country,” Ndagijimana said. According to him, at least Rwf 1.5 million is collected on a daily basis.A Commissioner of RDRC, David Munyurangabo, promised that the commission will continue promoting the cooperatives through building their capacities.