KIREHE – Although Kirehe district is blessed with a number of lakes that provide various types of fish, poor roads are affecting fish business in some places, fish dealers say. The fishermen grouped under Nasho Cooperative in Nasho village; say they have no access to fish markets due to poor roads. The report came up at a meet with local authorities, who visited the cooperative on Monday. “We have a lot of fish caught every day in Lake Nasho, but the distance from the tarmac road, of over 70 kilometers is a great problem to us,” Jean Damascène Ndayizeye, one of the fishermen said. Benson Muhikira, the Kirehe district vice Mayor in charge of Economic Affairs acknowledged the problem to The New Times. He, however, downplayed the challenges being mentioned , saying buyers somehow find their way to the fishermen ‘especially during the dry season when fish is rare.’ “The problem is not unique to fishermen, milk sellers also face it. The feeder roads are almost impassable during wet seasons,” he said. “With time however, we shall have to upgrade the roads and extend electricity to areas like Nasho.” Perishable goods such as fish and milk remain affected by the long distance from the tarmac road, because drivers fear to risk their vehicles during the rainy season. Aimable Mutabaruka, a truck driver told The New Times that he used to transport fish from Nasho to Kigali, but later stopped after he realized that he was making losses. “The roads are bad and worsen when it rains... so, the long time one spends, and money to repair the vehicle after the journey, leaves you in losses,” he said. Ends
