GICUMBI - Residents of Byumba town and Gicumbi District employees were on Tuesday morning amazed to see the person thought to be the district’s eldest woman, Veronica Ntandayaraba, 120, seeking the signature of the District Notary on her will.

Ntandayaraba, was carried on a traditional stretcher, commonly referred to as ‘Ingobyi’, by three men.
The old woman hails from Rwagihuro Cell of Nyankenke Sector, about 35 km from Byumba town.

"We set off at around 5 am on foot so as to arrive at the district as early as possible, for the document signing,” said one of the young men.

When they arrived at the district at about as 7.10 am, the old woman was placed at the door to the District Notary’s office, lying on her stretcher.

District employees and other visitors wondered why cases of the elderly are not settled at village level.

"Such old women should not make long risky distances to the district for mere signing of documents. This can be done at village level,” said one employee.

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