 Transport
and communications sector |
Road network in Rwanda on top of being poorly
developed was severely affected by the 1994 civil
war. Portholes characterized a few tarmaced roads
while defeated soldiers had looted airport facilities.
The telecommunication sector only established
a year before the genocide after the formation
of Rwandatel in 1993 was left vulnerable.
The Ministry of Publics Works, Transport and
telecommunications has plans underway to improve
these key areas so that transformation in terms
of quality and quantity translate into cost effective
and efficient productivity for everyone in the
country.
Prime to the ministry is the transformation of
air transport. The rehabilitation of the airport
runway and equipment with a loan from the European
Investment Bank, a grant from the EU and government
contribution is expected to start before the start
of the year 2003. A review of navigation regulations
and laws is in place mainly bent on setting up
a Civil Aviation Authority and granting it autonomous
powers.
"We are looking at development of infrastructure
as a basis for attaining massive investment,"
remarked Mr. Silas Kanamugire Transport and Communications
minister.
Rwanda has embarked on a campaign of rehabilitating
and improving the road network. A Road Maintenance
Fund has been put in place to purposely embark on
a long-term program of upgrading its 14000-km road
network. The government has just completed a brand
new road to Kibuye town, which is one of Rwanda's
great tourist spots. Currently only 10% of Rwanda's
road network are tarmac. |
Key areas of concern
include the development of a railway link to Isaka
in Tanzania 350 km from the Rwandan border. A rail/lake
connection of the Great lakes region to the South
African through Kasama in Zambia which is 200 km
from the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika (in MPULUNGU,
Zambia). Lake Tanganyika is 115 km from the Rwandan
border; The extension of the Mombasa-Eldoret (Kenya)
pipeline link to Kampala (Uganda) and to Kigali
is also under feasibility study.
Although the telecommunication sector has improved,
the menu of products widened and the companies
continued their push to penetrate the countryside,
government officials say the sector is ripe other
for further reforms. Even with two telephone operators
serving the eight million people, Rwandan certainly
needs more investment in this sector.
Rwandatel, the national fixer line operator,
has 25,000 subscribers while the only cellular
operator MTN Rwandacell has close to 100,000 subscribers.
A new telecommunication law focusing on liberalisation,
has been adopted and officials say making the
telecom sector efficient and competitive will
contribute to bringing down the costs of doing
business in Rwanda. The major focus is now on
the privatization process of Rwandatel, which
should be finalised by 2003.
Sending and receiving of personal parcels, confidential
information, mail has been made easier with the
fully functioning National Post Office. The National
Postal Office has extended widely to all parts of
the country in addition to spreading its network
across the globe. |
