The Mayor of Rubavu in the Western Province, Pierre Celestin Twagirayezu, has handed in his resignation letter to the District Advisory Council citing "personal reasons”, The New Times has learnt.

A source within the council told this newspaper yesterday that the Mayor’s letter had been received and the district council was still "looking into the matter.”

The Governor of the Western Province, Celestin Kabahizi, said he had heard about the Mayor’s resignation but he had not yet received a formal communication.

Twagirayezu could not be reached by press time to give details as to why he was resigning. A meeting is scheduled today between the Governor and other senior officials to discuss the issue.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Mayor’s resignation was long overdue as he was criticized for mismanagement of district.

"This man did not put into practice last year’s decision by a Government retreat to clean up Gisenyi town. He was also involved in illegal sacking of local authorities and recently, survived being forced out by the advisory council over serious mismanaging of the district,” the source said.

Last week during a meeting with the Governor and the Resettlement Commission headed by Maj.Gen. Fred Ibingira, Twagirayezu was strongly criticized for failing to find a place for residents who were evacuated from Gishwati Forest.

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