GICUMBI - The Gicumbi District Mayor, Bonane Nyangezi, has criticised Congolese refugees at Gihembe camp for sacking a Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) Primary and Nursery School headmistress.

Julie Mukantabara, was sacked last week for allegedly promoting ethnic divisions among pupils and teachers.
The Mayor said the refugees should have referred the matter to concerned authorities.

"Rwandan laws prohibit such acts. It must be pointed out that the refugees made a grave mistake by taking the law into their  hands to expel the head mistress,” said Nyangezi.

"You should have left the matter to the Police and JRS authorities to investigate and take action against Mukantabara.”

He was on Tuesday speaking at a meeting at the district conference hall. The meeting brought together 86 Gihembe Primary School teachers with JRS and district authorities, to find a lasting solution to the stand off between Mukantabara and the teachers.

The teachers’ accusations were contained in a letter written to the Refugees’ executive committee and copied to district authorities, JRS and the Police.

During the meeting, it was resolved that JRS and the Refugee executive committee sorts out the matter as soon as possible. In a separate interview with the New Times, the refugees’ chairman Jean Nsengiyera, said the refugee executive committee would heed the advice of the district authorities and settle the matter.

"We have no option, but to respect the laws of the land,” said Nsengiyera. On his part, the JRS Country Director, Father Gerard Clark, also pointed out the need to settle the teachers’ differences urgently, so as to enable pupils undertake their studies smoothly.

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