Rwanda women and bank loans: Some fear, some misuse others enrich

Some of women in rural areas fear to get loans from banks, others misuse them. But those who manage to use loans properly get developed as well as the whole family, which contribute to the development of the country.

Fearing to get loans and using them in bad ways for some of women in the countryside, is one of many factors that keep some of them in poverty.

The ministry of gender and family promotions, MIGEPROF says there are many developmental opportunities waiting for these women, as long as they get loans and use them properly.

As some women are breadwinners in rural areas as well in cities, their development is meaningful to the whole family and the Rwandan society.

Such a development is possible as proven by the example of Christine Mukarusine. This woman grows banana in Gitoke sector, Gatsibo district, on a 4 hectare piece of land, in which one banana tree give bananas weight between 80 and 110 kilos.

To transport such a huge production, this woman got a loan from the Bank of Kigali (BK), to by a vehicle facilitating her. Twice a month the vehicle transports bananas from Gatsibo, in the eastern proving to Kigali.

“Seeing that my business is growing bigger I got a loan and am paying back very well.” She says

This business paid university fees for his husband, and their four children are in a good school.

Profitable though the project is, other women it took time for her to understand that she could get a loan from a bank.

“After getting so many advices from local government officials and church clerks I decided to take the risk.” She explains.

Pastor NGWABIJE Sylvester, who meets many women in different projects says that among those who don’t fear getting loans, some misuse them for certain reasons. “Some of these women are less educated. Some go to the market and buy a domestic animal worth 30 thousand francs regardless she has a project of growing cassava.”

Pastor NGWABIJE points out the shortage of money in some micro finances that operates in countryside as another handicap to women getting loans.

On the behalf of the ministry of gender and family promotion (MIGEPROF) Murangira Bosco in charge of women promotion refutes the issues of a shortage of money as a cause of not getting loans, but he rather admits that some women fear to get some.

“Certain women fear to get loans, but they should know that there is a fund providing them with a 75% mortgage and 15% support to good projects.” Says Murangira

Murangira advises all women to work with banks and micro finances especially UMURENGE SACCO. “We have agreements with some banks and micro finances, where we put the money of MIGEPROF to help those women develop.”

Christine MUKARUSINE, and some other government and non government organizations in charge of supporting women in rural areas say that once a woman get a loans and use them properly, they develop their families and the country in general.

Alain Joseph MBARUSHIMANA
UM– USEKE.RW