Rwanda-COVID 19: Citizens upbeat as Gov’t releases new directives for the Transport Sector

 

By Justin KAYIRANGA

Around 2 AM, on the 3^rd of June 2020, the office of Prime minister of Rwanda has announced new cabinet decisions on easing COVID 19 lockdown as well as new measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 especially in the Districts of Rusizi and Rubavu of the Western Province of Rwanda.

Among the measures taken at the cabinet meeting include easing ban in the transport sector.

The statement from the cabinet noted that Motorbikes are allowed to resume transport activities except in the above mentioned districts.

TOPAFRICANEWS reporter Justin Kayiranga travelled all the way around to collect the views on new transport measures after months the sector being on halt due to COVID 19.

A big number of people are happy for the new measures as now are allowed to rejoin their families which they have never met almost three months ago due the lockdown, while for commercial motorists are celebrating their back to work.

Gisele lives in Huye district but the lockdown got her when she was in eastern province and since then she stayed there until the time when transport between provinces resumed and she was really happy to find herself going back home to meet her family.

She said: “I’m really happy as I’m going back home. I have been dreaming this day for so long and today it turns into reality. Right now, I’m in Kigali heading to my home in Huye district.”

“On Monday, I was ready to come but failed due to interruption caused by new COVID-19 cases and later His Excellency Paul Kagame promised to find a way for this resumption. So we thank him and the whole government for listening to our concern.”

On another side, motorbike riders were among people who were also longing for a day like this which allows them to resume their business activities as motorbikes are considered as very important in the transport sector.

Some of them, who talked to us, have shown their feelings towards these decisions too.

Callixte, who operate in Gasabo district, said that they are really happy to come back in their daily job which they stopped almost three months, and they promise their role in avoiding the spread of the pandemic.

“Three months were gone when my motorbike was parked at home as we were not allowed to operate due to coronavirus issue. But today we are happy as we are back to work” Said Callixte.

He continued by saying: “We know that the issue is still there but we have been trained on how to prevent it in our job, so we will do all our best to avoid any mistake that can lead us back in the lockdown”

Though the lockdown measures were eased, people in Rusizi and Rubavu, two districts on border to Democratic Republic of Congo, are not allowed to go beyond their districts borders due the fact that on Sunday 31^st May 2020, the ministry of health of Rwanda has declared that they have found positive cases of COVID-19 to people who came from the neighboring.

The government of Rwanda has decided to keep the two districts locked up in order to avoid any spread of COVID 19 while tracing all possible active cases in the two districts is going on.

Rwanda has gradually eased the lockdown since April. However, public meetings, churches and mass gatherings are still prohibited.

The Government calls up on all citizens to use ICT wherever possible as part of avoiding physical contacts since it is still early to declare doing business as usual across all sectors of the country’s life.