Farmers cooperatives in Kirehe and Kayonza districts are counting losses after their leaders fled after allegedly embezzling funds. Members of Cooperative des agriculteurs des cereales de Musaza (COACMU) in Musaza Sector, Kirehe District, lost over Rwf60 million which was allegedly embezzled by their manager who is still at large. Cooperatives are central to the country’s national development and transformation of farmers’ livelihoods. Through cooperatives farmers have been able to negotiate better markets and credit from financial institutions. However, with such cases of embezzlement, the gains of the coop movement in poverty alleviation especially in the agriculture sector could be undone. There is need for the concerned authorities to move fast and nip the vice in the bud. Many of the cooperatives have bank loans, so when these managers misappropriate funds they leave them on the verge of collapsing since these banks sell the coop assets to recover the loans. Indeed Some of the cooperatives have started losing assets after failing to service bank loans. Cooperatives are a source of livelihood for millions of farmers, and are critical in achieving the country’s goals as stipulated in the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy 2. Over the years, many farmers have moved out of poverty-thanks to the deliberate efforts by government to support and rally farmers around cooperatives. Police should swing into action and bring these leaders to account for their actions. This will send a strong message to other coop leaders who may be planning to misappropriate the hard earned savings of farmers. Members of the cooperatives should also review the criteria used to elect their leaders. They should put in place a stringent vetting process to avoid leaders who are only interested in fleecing the farmers instead of helping them to grow and transform their lives.
