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Operators plead with president to relax Covid-19 measures

Friday September 18 2020
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Bicycle transporters are struggling to get new source of livelihood after almost six months their services were suspended due to Covid-19 containment measures. PHOTO | FILE

By LEONCE MUVUNYI

Bicycle transporters are struggling to get new source of livelihood after almost six months their services were suspended due to Covid-19 containment measures.

As result, they have now written to President Paul Kagame to intervene.

In the letter received by the office of President on June 25, signed by representatives of the several co-operatives of the bicycle taxi operators, they implored the head of state to allow them resume operations to redeem their social welfare that has been badly affected by the pandemic.

“Bicycle taxi profession is the source of living for many people, mainly the youth. Those we represent have been desperately kept telling us that they are hungry.

While the government officials have been telling us that we are resuming the operations in 15 days, which has now turned into months, and we gave them all the savings we had, and they kept waiting for the time to resume the work,” said Theogene Hakizimana, head of NCA Nyamata Taxi- Vello Ltd and one of four signatories of the letter to the head of the state.

“We have turned to the president because our members are now desperate as not even the casual jobs in other sectors like construction are available for them to get the basic needs in their families,” Mr Hakizimana told Rwanda Today.

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“By allowing us to resume this work, under which we assure you that we will do our best to comply with the measures are taken by the health authorities to combat the Covid-19-19 epidemic, it will help us as well to survive the stricken poverty and hunger caused by stop working,” the letter to the head of state noted apart.

Moise Ngayabarezi, a bike taxi operator in Nyamata town of Bugesera district said over the past six months he is unemployed and has been struggling to provide basic needs for his family.

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