Bugesera: Traders appeal for working at 100 percent capacity of markets

By Jean Claude KUBWIMANA.

As the country moves to push economic recovery after the tough period of Covid-19 pandemic that hit many aspects of daily human activities, some traders in local markets of Bugesera District, Eastern Province, are complaining about losses caused by decline in sales as they are still rotating working at 50 percent capacity of their markets.

This is contrary to the recent cabinet resolutions of October 13, 2021 (2.e) which states that private businesses will continue at full capacity and must comply with COVID-19 preventive measures.

Testimonies with detailed information about how the issue hinders development of trade were gathered by The Inspirer in Nyamata local market in Nyamata sector of Bugesera district.

Jeanne Nyiraguhirwa, the mother of four children who sells clothes in this market said that the issue of working one day a week is hindering her financial development, yet she pays government’s taxes and work place.

“There is no progress in our businesses, I am here today working but next week the same day I will not come because  we are still ordered to rotate and work at 50 percent of the market saying it aims to comply with existing Covid-19 preventive measures. Our businesses can end in losses if no action is taken,” She said.

Xaverine Mukeshimana, a fruit vendor in Nyamata market echoes the same problem saying that it is leading their products to rot when they spend such time without selling.

“Our business requires us to attend the market every day because when I do not come today the next day fruits rot away and the mist of them go to waste. We wish that the government can help us to work at full capacity as we commit to continue abiding by Covid-19 prevention measures.” Mukeshimana said.

She added that her business is the sole source of income that helps her family to be financially sustained.

Nyamata town market is currently held twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday attracting traders and clients from across the district and some from neighbouring sectors.

Jeannette Mukaniyonsenga is the mother of three children who also sells fruits in this market.

She said that the issue has left her with low financial capacity to develop herself as she risks losing even the start-up capital.

She suggests that, if possible, traders can be allowed to operate at full capacity and the government sets the measures for clients to respect social distancing while buying from traders inside the market.

 “When we work at full capacity, it will be easy for clients to comply with physical distancing as they will be joining many traders on site, so the success of prevention is clear,” Mukaniyonsenga said.

Butcheries affected

Victoire Bazizane runs a business of selling beef in her butchery which is also located in Nyamata urban market.

 She started with Rwf2million seed capital before Covid-19 and she remains with only Rwf200,000 because many times the quantity of meat is wasted after spending days inside the butchery.

 She said this loss is due to the limited number of traders who come to work and they are the major clients who buy meat.

“I work on Wednesday and Saturday every week but we are not allowed to come the next week. If there is meat that remains unsold, they go to waste when I come back the following week. Before Covid-19 pandemic, my business was in good progress to the extent that I bought a car. Now I remain with only one cow start-up, I wish businesses can get the green light to work at normal capacity,” Bazizane said.

A fresh hope to recover

According to Richard Mutabazi, the mayor of Bugesera district, trade is being done by respecting the recent cabinet resolutions towards Covid-19 prevention and these are not allowing them to operate at hundred percent.

 

Mutabazi said that there are only 7 citizens who have tested Covid-19 positive.

“In the recent public mass testing of 1,500 tests that involved 100 samples in every sector, we found none positive, previously, we could find 10 positive people among 100 tests, meaning 100 positives from 1000 tests. This is a good sign that the nation is recovering from the pandemic,” he said.

He reminded the citizens to continue respecting the preventive measures against Covid-19.

Bugesera district has around 498,000 populations settled on 1,288 km². The district is being developed in terms of business growth in various perspectives.

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