[Rwanda] Governor Tells Mayors to Act On Poverty, Hunger

from All Africa

Provincial governor Eraste Kabera has urged all the district mayors to prioritise strategies like agriculture and income generating activities aimed at eradicating poverty and hunger. The governor made the call during a one-day meeting meant to evaluate the implementation process of performance contracts signed between the president and all district mayors early this year.

In his opening remarks, Kabera decried the poverty level in the Province, calling on the district leaders to come up with clear plans aimed at increasing income levels of residents in their areas through increased production in agriculture and other developmental activities.

"We must come up with clear strategies that will lead to a radical change of the economic status of our areas. You must mobilise residents, especially youths, on new methods of agriculture that will boost their quality and quantity output to generate more incomes. Residents should be mobilised to form associations into which financial assistance can be extended for income generating activities," Kabera told the mayors, pointing that the prolonged drought, which had made the area come to a standstill, should never get them unawares again, as residents must be sensitised on food security in case of such catastrophes.

The meeting took place at the provincial premises and was mainly attended among by district mayors who resolved to appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture and animal husbandry to start donating cows for restocking to residents as all procedures and required formalities have been finalised by the districts' authorities.