BUJUMBURA, November 8th (ABP) – The technical advisor in charge of development in Kabezi commune of Bujumbura province (west of the country), Mr. Ferdinand Ndikumana, affirms that the village cooperatives have worked at a loss.
He revealed this to a check by ABP that none of the twelve village cooperatives Sangwe in the Kabezi commune are able to repay the 20 million loans granted to them by the Communal Investment Fund. These loans were granted in two installments of 10 million each.
Mr. Ndikumana specified that in the first installment, all the cooperatives worked at a loss for several reasons. He explained that the members of the cooperatives raised pigs, most of which fell ill, others bought plots and construction materials for the pigsties and the budget vanished in that way.
He added that very few cooperatives have practiced agriculture since Kabezi does not have State land that could be lent to them and the pooling of land to total at least 2 hectares to cultivate together is not yet anchored in the minds of the people of that locality. With these losses, members were afraid to invest in livestock, except those who raise goats.
In the second installment, some of those cooperatives preferred to buy plots. The district council and FONIC have just asked them to sell them to invest in agriculture and livestock as agreed in advance. Nevertheless, he revealed the cooperatives in some villages which have benefited from the commune’s land, are trying to catch up. He cited in particular the villages of Migera, Rugembe, Kimina and Gitenga.
Concerning the cooperatives which have started to repay the loans to pay off the debt, Mr. Ndikumana replied that overall things are not looking good and none have started to repay.