Official explains telecentres saga

GOOD Neighbours, the company that won the tender to operate telecentres privatised by the government last May, says it would soon end the problems which have for months rocked public telecentres in the Western Province.John Gatera, the company proprietor, told The New Times on Monday that he is in the process of making them fully operational.“Operations in some districts stalled due to difficulties in orienting new workers who meet our desired standards,” he said, responding to a story which said none of the seven districts of the Western Province has an operating telecentres published last Saturday.The story said more than 10 workers at the public telecentres have filed a case against Gatera over unpaid wages.Gatera admitted that he has not paid some of his former employees, including two security guards in Karongi district but noted that they have an understanding that he is in the process of resolving the matter before this month ends.He explained that the tele-centres in Karongi district in particular had closed down due to a power disconnection as a result of a pending debt before the telecentres were privatised.In Rubavu district, Gatera added, the tele-centre was not fully operational due to lack of internet while in Rutsiro the equipments had been destroyed by lightning.He disclosedthat the process of recruiting business advisors and competent centre administrators for Karongi and Nyamasheke was also underway.

National

Official explains telecentres saga