SOUTHERN PROVINCE

NYAMAGABE—Businesses in Nyaruguru district have expressed disappointment over the scarcity of cement in the district that has brought construction work to a standstill.

Expressing the concerns during a Provincial Private Sector Federation (PSF) general assembly held in Nyamagabe on Sunday, president of the group Alphonse Nkurunziza said that the district was not represented at the cement-producing factory CEMERWA.

"The fact that we are the only district in the province that does not have a representative means that we are forced to buy cement at high prices from neighboring districts,” said Nkurunziza.

"As traders in the district, we presented all the paperwork required to get a representative to the chairman of CEMERWA Tribert Rujugiro but nothing has come up.

I also met the President of PSF Robert Bayigamba. He promised to look into the issue; many months have gone by without a response.”

Nkurunziza added that a 50 kilogramme bag of cement, which goes for Frw6400 at the factory, is bought at Frw11000 from dealers in districts.

Provincial president of PSF Francois Rutayisire said that the federation had no hand in the operation of CEMERWA, saying that it was a private business and had the right to choose business people to deal with.

He promised to make consultations in a bid to find a solution to the problem.

During the assembly PSF leaders from the eight districts in the province made an evaluation of the achievements made in the year.

Notables included the holding of trade fairs in the districts of Muhanga and Nyamagabe, which greatly impacted businesses.

Businesses were advised to employ accountants to help book-keeping and also challenged to study English now that Rwanda has joined the largely Anglophone East African Community.

Business people were also urged to participate fully in the census for business operators that is on going.

According to Lucas Murenzi Provincial Business Development Service Manager the census will help the federation get statistics on all types and sizes of enterprises.

"Statistics on business operators will help in planning and policy formulation because we will be having a true picture of the nature of the business in the whole country,” he said.

Federation members also visited the Murambi Genocide memorial where they paid homage to the over 50,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide. Members donated Frw1 million for the upkeep of the memorial.

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