Bugesera mayor ‘surprised’ by suspension

EASTERN PROVINCE The suspended district Mayor of Bugesera, Gaspard Musonera said he was surprised by the decision of his governing council since the shoddy construction work on classroom blocs that cost his district millions was exposed by him. 

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Bugesera Mayor Gaspard Musonera (R) and other Mayors during a recent function.

EASTERN PROVINCE

The suspended district Mayor of Bugesera, Gaspard Musonera said he was surprised by the decision of his governing council since the shoddy construction work on classroom blocs that cost his district millions was exposed by him. 

"The decision came as a surprise to me. They say we never followed Kingston Enterprise’s work on ground…but we did and actually established a team to evaluate its work,” said Mayor Gaspard Musonera. 

Musonera and one of his deputies were suspended for a period of one month to take responsibility for failure to manage the problem from onset.

But Musonera insists he carried out investigations and brought the problem to the attention of his governing council. 

Several of his officials were thrown behind bars for poor construction work of classroom blocs in the district that cost government close to Rwf 110 million.

"Kingston is just one of the five enterprises involved in different projects in the district. Other entrepreneurs who had made mistakes rectified them, but Kingston was a unique character,” he said.

"In fact the contractor’s actions prompted me to call a security meeting involving the police.”

He apportioned blame to two supervisors who were mandated to inspect the work done by the construction company but chose to connive with the construction company.

"They gave a report authorizing the payment to company, well knowing of the sham work he had done on ground,” Gaspard Musonera clarified.


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