Livelihoods in Rwanda improve under Belt and Road

As a homemaker, Louise Bizimana resides in the Gikondo area of Kigali, capital of Rwanda. Her daily routine includes a 2-kilometer trek to a distant well to fetch water. The wells, dug last century, have been the primary source of water for locals for many decades.

Water fetching is undoubtedly a challenging task for her. She must make three trips to the well each day to collect the water needed for cooking. The number of trips required increases if additional water is needed for daily chores such as laundry.

This situation will change next year, as China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) announced earlier this month that the Kigali water supply network upgrade and revamp project will be fully completed by the end of this year, providing "safe and convenient water" supplies to more than 1.3 million residents in Kigali, thanks to the tangible growth of the Belt and Road Initiative, closer business ties between China and Rwanda, and the African country's efforts to provide clean and safe drinking water to all Rwandan citizens with modern water supply facilities by 2024.