Africa > East Africa > Rwanda > Traders in the main market of Musanze district in Rwanda

Rwanda: Traders in the main market of Musanze district in Rwanda

2014/02/11

Traders in the major market of Musanze district in the Northern Province are relocating to a nearby taxi park to pave way for renovation works that will turn the market into a modern structure worth Rwf6 billion.

Raymond Niyonzima, who leads KODUKUMU cooperative which comprises additional than 100 business owners in Musanze, said the co-op has commissioned the market's construction for a three-year period.

The new market will have four floors for its front building and three floors in the backside, hosting 1,000 stands for different businesses.

"Its construction will kick off in March. We have discussed with district officials and business owners in the old market and we agreed they will have relocated by February 20," Niyonzima said.

Traders are relocating to Musanze Taxi Park which is managed by Rwanda Federation of Transport Cooperative (RFTC).

RFTC officials told The New Times that they have space to host some business people and would as well build additional hangars to host additional traders.

The former market had remained undeveloped with poor infrastructure, a contradiction for the progressive design and vision of Musanze town, officials said.

Business people expressed excitement because they are going to get a modern market but as well have worries that RFTC is charging exorbitant rent fees per month. RFTC charges Rwf30,000 -Rwf45,000 for space inside and Rwf10,000 - Rwf15,000 outside the building.

Felix Nkurunziza, who sells cosmetics and cloth, said monthly rent fees at the new place are high. "The problem is not relocation but the high fees we were charged. We will be paying Rwf 15,000 additional than we are paying here. We will as well need additional time to get used to the place and inform our clients," he said.

Nonetheless, Peter Rugerinyanye, the president of business people in Musanze market, said they are ready to relocate. "We are ready to relocate; we will have moved by February 20 and we will start operations next 10 days because we will have to make some preparations such as paying rent fees at the new place with RFTC building," he said.

But RFTC officials said that fixing the fees was done in agreement with both business owners and district officials.

Related Articles
  • UNWTO: International tourism – strongest half-year results since 2010

    2017/09/09 Destinations worldwide welcomed 598 million international tourists in the initial six months of 2017, some 36 million additional than in the same period of 2016. At 6%, increase was well above the trend of recent years, making the current January-June period the strongest half-year since 2010. Visitor numbers reported by destinations around the world reflect strong request for international travel in the initial half of 2017, according to the new UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 6% compared to the same six-month period last year, well above the sustained and consistent trend of 4% or higher increase since 2010. This represents the strongest half-year in seven years.
  • H.E. President Alassane Ouattara and the theme of “Accelerating Africa’s Path to Prosperity

    2017/09/09 This year, under the leadership of H.E. President Alassane Ouattara and the theme of “Accelerating Africa’s Path to Prosperity: Growing Inclusive Economies and Jobs through Agriculture”, the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2017 is shaping up as a premier platform to showcase ongoing evolution in Africa’s agricultural transformation schedule and to scale up the political, policy, and financial commitments needed to achieve the Malabo Declaration and the world development schedule around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following the launch of the landmark annual Africa Agriculture Status Statement (ASSR) at the AGRF taking place in Cote d’Ivoire from 4-8 September 2017, the major conclusion centres around the power of entrepreneurs and the free market in driving Africa’s economic increase from food production. This is owing to the fact that a lot of businesses are waking up to opportunities of a rapidly growing food market in Africa that may be worth additional than $1 trillion each year by 2030 to substitute imports with high price food made in Africa.
  • International Arrivals To Africa Reach More Than 18 Million In 2017

    2017/09/09 Market Research Company Euromonitor International revealed before this week the key trends shaping travel and tourism in Africa at the 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. According to Euromonitor International’s new data, international arrivals to Africa grew by 6.5 % in 2017, to reach 18,550 million, up from 16,351 million in 2012. Key markets such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, Mauritius and Tanzania accounted for 70 % of international trips to the Sub-Saharan African region.
  • Rwanda police rearrests female critic of Kagame, her mom and sister

    2017/09/09 Diane Rwigara, a fierce critic of Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, has been rearrested by the police days next she was released. A relative confirmed to the BBC that the 35-year-old, her mother, Adeline and sister, Anne were picked up on Friday morning at their home in the capital, Kigali.
  • Rwigara has repeatedly accused Kagame of stifling dissent

    2017/09/05 Police in Rwanda have arrested Diane Shima Rwigara, a prominent government critic, charging her with forgery and tax evasion.