Kigali City Mayor, Fidèle Ndayisaba, has said that the deadline to vacate a popular business neighbourhood in the city will not be extended.

Business operators in the old Quartier Mateus had been given until December 5 to relocate to pave way for the construction of modern buildings.

Talking to The New Times on phone, Ndayisaba said there would be no more extension of the deadline, as they had to implement the Kigali City Master Plan.

"Three months is enough for anyone willing to move. Every change brings claims and sometimes effects. They are free to move to any area they wish,” he said. 

Ndayisaba added that Quartier Mateus will be commercial area within modern commercial buildings.

On his part, Emmanuel Shumbusho, a trader in Quartier Mateus, said the city should reconsider its decision so they could recoup their losses.

"We need more time to prepare ourselves. The deadline is badly scheduled and will interfere with our business. December is our high season as it falls within the Christmas and New Year season when business is at its highest,” he explained.

Relocation comes with extra costs, the least they could do is to let us take advantage of the holiday season. It will take our customers time to know where we have relocated”.

Jane Teta, another trader, said owners of buildings were telling one thing and the City another.

"We are confused. We received letters from the City of Kigali three months ago giving us until December 5 to have vacated the area. But owners of building we operate from tell us that the deadline had been extended by one year. We need the City to make things clear,” Teta said.

"Why should the City of Kigali decide on a short deadline without consulting us traders of Quartier Mateus? We heard that some of our neighbours in Quartier Commerciale will remain, Why can’t be we relocated together? Some of us were given letters others not, why?” wondered a wholesaler who preferred to remain anonymous.

Reducing risks

"Relocation of Mateus is not a new decision, it has been there. People were waiting for the implementation. We have relocated many people and institutions to build modern and standardized buildings. And now it’s time for Quartier Mateus,” said the Mayor.

"Not only are we relocating the business district to meet the master plan, we also want to mitigate frequent risks like fires in the old buildings,” Ndayisaba said.

"They should respect the letters they got not what building owners told them. Those are rumours”.