The Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) has called on members of cooperatives across the country to fully understand and exercise the rights granted to them under the law, including the authority to elect or remove cooperative leaders who fail to act in the best interests of members.
The appeal follows complaints raised by some rice farmers belonging to COPRORIZ Kabogogo Cooperative, located in Mukindo Sector, Gisagara District. The farmers allege that poor leadership and governance have negatively affected their livelihoods and undermined the cooperative’s intended purpose.
Several cooperative members who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity said they have continued to face challenges that have prevented their farming activities from generating the expected benefits. Some said they are increasingly discouraged after suffering financial losses they attribute to the cooperative’s management.
“A cooperative is supposed to improve our livelihoods, but many members are now incurring losses instead. We are asking for our concerns to be addressed so that we can regain confidence in our cooperative. Some leaders practice favoritism and intimidation, making it difficult for members to raise concerns without facing serious consequences, including having their harvests rejected,” one member said.
Another member emphasized the need for transparent and accountable leadership that prioritizes the collective interests of all members.
“We want the relevant authorities to listen to our concerns. Our cooperative needs leadership founded on integrity, transparency, and accountability so that our produce can receive fair value. Unfortunately, leaders who are democratically elected by members are sometimes sidelined and replaced by individuals serving personal interests rather than those of the cooperative,” the member said.
Francis Kamanzi, The Director General of the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA), stressed that Rwanda’s cooperative law gives members full authority to choose their leaders and remove them whenever they fail to fulfill their responsibilities or no longer serve members’ interests.
He encouraged cooperative members to understand and actively exercise these legal rights instead of relying solely on external institutions to resolve governance challenges.
“Cooperative members are the true owners of their cooperatives. The law empowers them to elect their leaders and to remove them when they are no longer acting in members’ best interests. It is essential that members understand and exercise these rights to protect both the assets and the interests of their cooperative,” He said.
He further noted that good governance is the foundation of a successful cooperative. He urged members to play an active role in overseeing their leadership, demanding accountability, and ensuring transparency in the management of cooperative resources.
Rwanda’s Law No. 057/2024 of 20 June 2024 governing cooperatives was enacted to strengthen cooperative governance, promote professionalism, and safeguard members’ assets.
Among its key provisions, the law requires cooperative leaders and employees to declare their assets to the Rwanda Cooperative Agency and establishes continuous oversight of cooperative financial management to enhance accountability and transparency.
As members continue to call for solutions to the challenges facing COPRORIZ Kabogogo Cooperative, the RCA maintains that lasting reform begins with cooperative members themselves. By exercising the rights guaranteed under the law, members can build transparent, accountable leadership that genuinely serves their collective interests and promotes sustainable development.