NORTHERN PROVINCE MUSANZE — As residents flocked the town for final shopping on the New Years Eve, police in Musanze foiled attempts to rob them of their hard-earned coins. Police wrestled with thugs arresting seven of them who are now being held pending investigations. However, the general atmosphere was calm as people were busy slaughtering all sorts of animals as they craved to taste what they had not tasted in the past one year.“This is the day that the lord has set, we have to enjoy it by eating special food, wearing special outfit which we bought specifically for this day,” Clementine Uwitonze, a pyrethrum farmer said. To the residents, it emerged that when one can’t afford meat, whatever the conditions, organised groups of villagers would contribute for him for this special day. Business men reaped much as many shops remained barely empty. J M V Nkurikiyeyezu, a seller of Nyirangarama products in the area had stocked all sorts of beverages including the local brew but by 9pm on the New Year’s Eve, they had sold almost everything. To the tourist from Kinigi, security was their main concern, as they moved to different drinking joints welcoming the New Year. The youth especially those in vacation had probably the best of the time, Silverback, the only dancing club in the area, opened gates as early as 7 pm to accommodate revellers. “Now that 2007 is gone, contemporary culture urges us to remember that life and prosperity comes not only from God but also from hardwork,” one of the local church pastors said in his end of year message.Ends
