Unlike in the old days, today land, and not cattle, is the most precious commodity in Rwanda and the fact that the country has a small landmass makes it a source of most disputes countrywide

Smart people saw the demand for land coming and invested in plots whose value have jumped tenfold from ten years ago. So it is understandable that village Mediation Committees, who stand in for conventional courts in case of petty disputes, are overwhelmed.

Those committees usually deal with cases involving assets not more than Rwf3 million in value, and most plots exchanging hands in rural areas and on the outskirts of the city fall within that category.

Now, ever since the land registration exercise kicked off and the deadline is approaching, many people are in panic mode trying to beat the deadline and property is exchanging ownership at breakneck speed.

Many in rural areas are shedding off land to reduce the amount of property taxes, others are investing in land now when landowners are at their weakest negotiating point.

Luckily, new landlords have luck on their side, especially smallholders because the Government has heard their pleas concerning ownership transfer fees where the new owner is expected to pay Rwf30,000 to get a land title.

The fees do not take into account the size of the land, location and its value. Some of the rural new landowners have nothing left after buying the land and coming up with Rwf30,000 is no walk in the park.

It is therefore a welcome development that the Ministry of Environment has promised to address those concerns raised by citizens before parliament. The swift ministerial response is to be commended and it is hoped other government departments will follow suit.