EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — In a bid to transform the image of the town, Nyagatare sector authorities last week closed over 72 commercial houses.

The authorities also gave express taxis and bus operators, garages, and motorcycles, March 10 [yesterday] as deadline to shift from the town centre to the taxi park.

Among the 72 houses closed, 47 were closed over sanitation and owners fined Frw5,000.

"We can’t defy the orders but the problem is that they gave us just few days to renovate the houses. Now the place where they are relocating us has no electricity, and public toilets which poses a sanitation problem, it makes us vulnerable to an epidemic like cholera. It would have been better if they had duly installed such basic things first."

Scores of traders criticized the sector’s move to close their premises without prior notice, but Geoffrey Mushaija, the sector executive secretary, said they had given notice to all owners of commercial buildings since 2005, to renovate or construct better houses.

"They just came and ordered us to close our shops till we renovate them to the minimum standards, but this decision has paralyzed a lot of things. If they don’t change their stance, let them listen to us and give us more time to set our things in order," one resident pleaded.

Commenting on the move, Mushaija, said: "the closure is all about renovations since many houses do not meet the standards of the town, the only option is to refurbish them."

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