Resettlement of TZ evictees continues

Rwandans evicted from Tanzania last year continued to arrive in their new resettlement places yesterday from Kiyanzi and Rukara transit centres in Kayonza and Kirehe districts, respectively.

Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Some of the evictees leave Rukara transit centre last Friday en route to respective districts. The New Times/ File.

Rwandans evicted from Tanzania last year continued to arrive in their new resettlement places yesterday from Kiyanzi and Rukara transit centres in Kayonza and Kirehe districts, respectively.Gaspard Murekezi, the refugee project manager in the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees Affairs (Midimar) said all the districts were ready to receive and resettle the evictees in identified settlement sites temporarily before local leaders integrate them into the communities.Nyarugenge, Kicukiro and Ngororero districts received the evictees last Friday while Gicumbi, Rwamagana and Gasabo received another group yesterday.  "We have already integrated people from camps in six districts and the resettlement is still ongoing,” said Murekezi.He said districts have devised ways to receive the new comers in their respective areas.Also meant to have been transferred yesterday were those destined for Burera and Rubavu districts.Theresa Mujawamariya, the Gicumbi District vice-mayor in charge of social affairs said the district will receive 114 people grouped in 34 families."They will temporarily stay in Kageyo centre for a few days as we construct houses for them on the district land.  The district plans to give them arable land and help others get employed under Vision Umurenge programme,” she said.She said Midmar has availed construction materials, including iron sheets and nails to build permanent houses for the evictees.In Burera District in Northern Province, Florence Uwambajemariya, the social affairs vice-mayor said they were ready to receive 80 people in 31 families."We will resettle them in various areas while working together with local leaders and residents to build for them houses. They will be entitled to health insurance and we will help their children go to school,” Uwambajemariya said.She said some of the evictees will be resettled in former police premises in Nemba sector.Emilienne Niwemwiza, the Rulindo vice-mayor in charge of social affairs said the district is ready to receive 28 families of about 85 members."The district has booked houses where they will stay for three months before we start constructing for them houses. We hope to finish these houses by March,”  Niwemwiza said.She said six families will live in Kisaro sector, four families in Tumba while other sectors will receive two families each.The government has welcomed the evictees, urging them to forget the past and has assured them of social welfare in the country.About 14,253 people returned to Rwanda following their controversial deportation from Tanzania in August last year.At least 5,830 evictees are expected to be reintegrated in the community by district authorities while 8,361 have already  reunited with their families in various parts of the country.