MTN Rwanda, Wednesday, donated 50 second-hand generators worth US$500,000 (Approx Rwf 280m) to the ministries of Education (MINEDUC) and Health (MINISANTE).

20 of them will go to the MINEDUC while the rest were donated to MINISANTE for use in schools and health centres respectively.

According to the MTN Rwanda CEO, Themba Khumalo, the generators have only been used for less than a year and are in perfect working condition.

While announcing the donation, he explained that the increased capacity demands on networks required MTN to upgrade the power generation at base stations.

"This is why we have decided to give away the generators to these institutions given the power shortage currently characterized due to the current insufficient electricity supply,” Khumalo said.

He added that breaking from the tradition of disposing of used property through public auction, the company has shown commitment through its Corporate Social Responsibility Programme by donating the equipment.

Speaking at the ceremony, State Minister for Education Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, acknowledged the development and urged MTN to keep up the spirit.

"Many schools lack electric power and with the newly introduced ICT education on the curriculum, the generators will definitely have an impact,” Mutsindashyaka said.

Twenty head teachers from some of the remotest schools attended the ceremony and their schools will be among the beneficiaries.

On behalf of MINISANTE Steven Karengera commended the donation and accepted it was a life saved in case of danger.

"They will go along way to benefit health centres located in isolated regions,” Karengera observed.

Before announcing the donation, the telecoms company held a series of consultative meetings with the two ministries and agreed the modalities of the donation which are contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed at the handover ceremony.

The ministries on their part made the selection where best to allocate the generators.

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