Profile :Anatolia Mutumwinka: One of the women behind Kigali’s clean roads

Anatolia Mutumwinka who lives in Kimisagara started cleaning Kigali City on January 4, 2005 after she retired from working as a local security guard. She works with Cleaners Limited, an association that aims at maintaining cleanliness within Kigali City. Born on January 15th, 1962 in Nyamagabe District (former Gikongoro) in the Southern Province, she attended Kigeme Primary School. “I never attended Secondary School since I got married in 1979 to Dismansi Gahamanyi and we have four children; three daughters and a son. Two are married, one daughter is in Senior 2 and the last born is in Primary 2,” Mutumwinka said. “I make sure that most flower gardens and shades are clean and I also advise people not to drop rubbish around but to instead dump it in dustbins.” When asked how much she earns and how her day starts, Mutumwinka said, “I’m paid Rwf30,000 monthly in cash.”She loves shopping as well. “When I get the money, I immediately go shopping and I buy food stuffs such as; a sack of rice which can sustain my family over a longer period of time. I use the rest for transport.” Mutumwinka has formed a team of cleaners who help one another to save money and generate income in turns.“We formed a savings scheme with five of my workmates and every month Rwf10,000 goes to this scheme meaning that at least once a month one of us gets Rwf50,000. This money helps to improve our livelihood just incase one of us is faced with problems such as rent, medical bills and school fees for our children. Each of us has an account where this money is deposited when your turn to get the money.” Her schedule “My day starts as early as 6:00 a.m, since my contractor informs me a day in advance of the place I’m supposed to clean.” “My working equipment includes; a sack for collecting rubbish which is deposited in dustbins, a knife used for uprooting weeds and a broom for sweeping.” “I get a 30-minute lunch break daily. I usually carry packed lunch or I buy a drink and a snack. I finish work at about 4:00 p.m. This goes on from Monday till Saturday and my day-off is on Sunday.” She said she was recruited for the cleaning job even though she had no form of training. “Cleaning is something anyone can do; it does not require any training as the saying goes ‘Charity begins at home.’ All I have to do is uproot unwanted grass in gardens and this is how I participate in maintaining a beautiful and well-organized environment,” Mutumwika clarifies. Her Favorites Dish: - Rice and meat with beans asideColour: - BlueMusic: - Gospel music Ends