The Chamber of Deputies has requested the Auditor General to carry out a performance audit for Gako Integrated Beef Project, citing weaknesses in its implementation. Initiated by government in 2014, the project was designed to add value to the livestock industry and boost meat production for local and for export markets. Lawmakers say that the audit will assess whether the Bugesera based project is achieving its goals and providing value for money. The proposal is part of the resolutions that the Lower House’s Plenary Sitting made on Tuesday as it adopted the report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which assessed the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2019/2020. The project is now implemented through a public-private partnership between the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) and private investors. Major hotels in the country still rely on imports for their meat supplies, saying that locally produced meat products fall short of standards. Gako project is thus seen as a solution to this challenge. As of June 2020, at least Rwf14 billion had been invested into the project, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). “Weaknesses were identified in the implementation of the Gako Beef project in which billions of Rwandan francs had already been invested, yet it had not yet started sufficient production,” said Valens Muhakwa, Chairperson of PAC while presenting the Committee report to the Plenary. Auditor General’s report on RAB’s expenditure for the financial year ended June 30, 2020, showed that in the context of achieving the project goal, land of 5,919 ha was put aside at Gako in Bugesera District where infrastructures would be developed to provide an enabling environment for investment. A review of the status of the implementation of the project revealed gaps including a lack of a detailed project report. As a result, it said, there was lack of details on the responsibilities of each shareholder. It also highlighted the lack of proposed activities to be carried out for the implementation of the project, master plan, and building plan, including the site development, and names of likely subcontractors/vendors. Other aspects which lacked full information include detailed estimates, debt and equity arrangement, mobilization of finances, plans for marketing, and proposed arrangements for operating and managing the project. In absence of a detailed project report, it could not be possible to track the current progress of the project and compare it against the original plan, the report warned. In addition to that, lack of a detailed project report could imply that the roles and responsibilities of each shareholder are not clear therefore, either party or both parties may not fulfil their responsibilities, which may eventually lead to the failure of the project. Estimates from the ministry of agriculture suggest that there would be 13 blocks in the project, with a minimum of 1,200 cows expected to be slaughtered in one block per year, while each cow would produce some 160 kilogrammes of meat. The project was expected to be completed on December 30, 2019. The total project cost – on the side of the Government – was over Rwf11.9 billion. It is to note that, the Government had allocated Rwf13.8 billion through the financial year 2019/2020. The New Times understands that the business plan was later elaborated, estimating that the project would require a total of $63 million (about Rwf63 billion, currently) in investment. Also, the management and the implementation of the project was transferred to Gako Meat Company ltd in which the government possesses 52 per cent of shares, while Cattle Ville Ranchers owns 31 per cent and Gako Beef Company 17 per cent.
