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Infrastructure, transport
and telecommunication are essential to the development
of an economy. Before analysing in more details
those sectors, how do you see the role of your
Ministry in the transition process of your country
?
Infrastructure, transport and telecommunication
being essential in the development of a country's
economy, the Ministry of Publics Works, Transport
and telecommunications plays a very important
role in the ongoing transformation of Rwanda.
The vision 2020 policy paper that expounds on
the government policy and long term plans for
the socio-economic transformation of the country
emphasises on the critical role that is expected
to be played by information technology development.
Rwanda being a country without important reserves
of mineral wealth or natural resources, the
future lies in the development of its human
resources through the enhancement of their ICT
capabilities.
The PRSP-Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper which
is the main pillar of the national economic
policy also lists among its highest priority
areas , the roads, airports and urban infrastructure
development.
The Publics Works Ministry has plans that are
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.
The improvement of air transport is central
in Rwanda's economic development plans, which
is turned towards improving connections within
and outside Rwanda. To your opinion, what needs
to be achieved in priority and what are your
expectations in the short run ?
What needs to be achieved in the short run as
a priority and that is already underway is,
firstly, the rehabilitation of the airport runway
and equipment with a loan from the European
Investment Bank , a grant from the EU and own
resources, the work is expected to start before
next year.
Secondly, is the review of navigation regulations
and laws with the assistance of ICAO and UNDP
and thirdly, the feasibility study for the setting
up of a Civil Aviation Authority for an autonomous
and better funded air authority and to allow
the sector to be self funding and allow reinvestment
of its funds. At the same time, there is an
emergency project that caters for the rehabilitation
of certain equipment that need urgent repair
such as surveillance equipment.
Expanding Rwanda's ground connections is
also the order of the day. You have a long-term
project to develop road and railway networks
following the corridors that link Rwanda to
your neighbours. What are your main plans and
timeframe for those projects ?
Rwanda already has a good road network and the
highest road density in Africa and is in the
process of rehabilitating the existing network.
We have just completed a brand new road to Kibuye
(one of Rwanda's great tourist spots). The other
major long-term development projects 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 region 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.
Your Ministry intends to liberalize the telecommunications
sector soon. You are looking to privatise Rwandatel.
What is your timeframe for this privatisation
and when do you expect the sector ready to welcome
new competitors ?
The sale of Rwandatel is expected to be complete
by the end of next year. The recruitment of
a transactions advisor who will assist the Government
in this process is being finalised.
The two parallel actions in process are the
sale of Rwandatel and 28 % of its shares in
MTN Rwandacell . A South African Company (Stanchart)
has completed the valuation of MTN Rwandacell
to facilitate the sale of Rwandatel's stake.
The laws regarding telecommunications have been
repealed and a new telecommunications regulations
body has been established by parliament so,
legally, the market is already open.
For example, two license have just been approved
and awarded to Tele 10 and DIN, a South African
firm. Other licenses are in the process of being
awarded.
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In terms of public
road transport, ONATRACOM is the national bus carrier
and major service provider to the local population.
What are the major challenges in making the bus
transport more efficient ?
ONATRACOM having been badly affected by the war
and Genocide period in Rwanda, there is a need
to rebuild confidence in it and its fleet needs
to be renewed . ONATRACOM operates in a market
that most private investors do not find so attractive
especially on the rural road network.. Arrangements
are being made to secure funding for a new fleet
of about 80 buses with assistance from Rwanda
development partners.
New staff have been recruited, a new Director
appointed and modern ICT introduced. An other
programme is about to be launched to boost transport
services within the Kigali city.
Today, the Government is definitely motivated
to fulfil the Vision 2020 alongside the National
reconciliation. But in this context, what is your
feeling about the Rwandan people's ability to accept
the necessary measures and changes that will enable
the government implement all its projects ?
The Rwandan people are very supportive and understanding
due to the hardships they have had to go through
and the confidence they have in their Government.
Additionally the Government has used a participative
approach involving sensitisation and education to
the grass roots on whatever policies it intends
to put in place .
Despite a hard political past, the Rwandan community
has a certain degree of economic discipline that
the people are used to which makes them largely
receptive and, with the support of the international
community, they will get through.
Lastly, the big numbers of graduates show that
through manpower and human resource improvement
, there is hope for the country. The number of
graduates in the last 7 years has exceeded the
number of graduates from the Butare National University
since inception in 1963.
The success of any restructuring plan depends
not only on infrastructure but also on parameters
such as political and macroeconomic stability,
market size and labour flexibility and all the
necessary parameters for investment, the Minister
said that although most of the country's resources
are from abroad , Rwanda's economic discipline
is well known despite the effects of genocide
having been severe. The rural areas have been
made liveable so that there is no need for people
to leave the rural areas since all the necessary
infrastructures are being put in place there.
The PRSP referred to earlier has got a rural economy
component. An ICT community component has been
incorporated in the newly launched National Information
and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) Plan for
2001-2005. Institutions of learning have embraced
ICT. For example , Kigali Institute of Education
(KIE) already has upcountry centers for distance
learning which upcountry students can access and
study and enjoy town facilities from where they
are.
Ministries are developing their information and
communication infrastructure . The private sector
and human resource development components of the
NICI plan are also being developed.
As Minister of Publics Works, Transport and
Communications, what would be your personal expectations
and targets over the next few months ?
I expect the implementation of the national information
and communication infrastructure plan especially
in all Ministries to be successfully completed
(it is already in advanced stages of study for
cabling of all Ministries). The human resource
development process which now involves various
Ministries and higher institutions of learning
is also expected to provide the necessary support
for the successful implementation of the ICT programme.
The reconstruction of the telecommunication infrastructure
particularly in the rural areas is also expected
to move faster and the ICT means to be more efficient,
have more capacity and capability.
N.B : Winne shall not be held responsible
for unedited transcription past the 15-day delay
after remittance of the latter.
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