The deadline for the eradication of thatched houses in Rubavu District passed without work being completed due to lack of enough iron sheets and other building materials, local leaders say.

The new deadline for the eradication of Nyakatsi in the district has been extended to September, from June.

"There are people who were mistakenly classified in category B meaning they would afford iron sheets but they failed to raise the money thus leading to the delay,” Rachael Nyirasafari Rusine, the vice mayor in charge of social affairs said.

The first phase, which aimed at building houses for the poor as categorised in group A and O completed with the construction of 1049 houses, she said.

The district is now reviewing category B, identifying families that failed to buy roofing materials so that they can help them.

"The government’s objective is to improve housing conditions for rural Rwandans by giving them habitable homes,” added Nyirasafari.

However, the other challenge included mindset of the residents towards building decent houses.

"In some sectors such as Busasamana, there are people who had iron sheets in their houses but didn’t want to use them, preferring the government to roof their houses,” explained Nyirasafari.

Delay in the completion was also attributed to lack of poles and other materials in the sectors of Bugeshi and Busasamana, where one truck of sand costs Rwf40, 000 which is not easily affordable.

"We have requested the forestry authority to allow us cut some trees in the nearby forests so that people can build, but they are yet to respond,” said Nyirasafari.

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