Over 1,000 people who live on Mazane Island located in Lake Rweru in Bugesera District will be be relocated to the mainland starting July.

Speaking to The New Times yesterday, Emmanuel Nsanzumuhire, the Mayor of Bugesera District said the islanders will be relocated to ensure their safety and ease their access to infrastructure needed for their development.

He said, "Apart from lack of basic infrastructure, the island is a high risk area. We want to relocate them to the mainland to ensure access to infrastructure and also for their safety.”

According to the mayor, houses are being constructed in Batima Cell, Rweru Sector where they will be settled."We have also put in place basic infrastructure like water and electricity in the area,” he said.

He said once relocation is done, around 100 hectares of land will be distributed to them for agricultural activities.

Residents relieved

Samuel Harerimana, a 30-year old resident of Mazane Island, said the island was over populated, preventing them from starting new families because of land constraints.

"We are three boys in our family none among us was planning to marry because we do not have space to construct houses.

‘‘Once on the mainland, I will be able to work hard and buy a plot to build my own house, it is shameful that I still live with my family at this age,” said Harerimana.

"Our source of livelihood is also limited to fishing, which is insufficient. Once on the mainland, I hope we will be able to diversify our sources of livelihood and increase our income like other citizens,” said Patrice Byukusenge, another resident of the island.

The small fishing island of Mazane has a population of 1,109.

With a surface area of seven square kilometres, the island borders Burundi to the south and Ngoma District to the east.

Mazane Island comprises three villages and is one of the cells that make up Rweru Sector.

The residents say they have been isolated and most of their children are forced to drop out of school due to poor living conditions.

"We have only one primary school and few students’ complete secondary school. While the government has granted us free education, we cannot afford the high transport fare for our children to cross the lake and go to school on the mainland.

"I think relocating us will enable our children to benefit from free education, as others do,” said Alphonse Bimenyimana, another resident of the island

Currently, the island relies on insufficient solar energy which is installed at the only health centre in the area as a source of electricity while others who want to use electricity, pay Rwf200 to take the boat to the shore to charge mobile phones or have a haircut.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw