Implement the land sharing policy

A new report has accused district (leaders) of encouraging land wrangles involving Genocide survivors across the country because of poor or non-implementation of the land sharing policy initiated in 1996.  

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

A new report has accused district (leaders) of encouraging land wrangles involving Genocide survivors across the country because of poor or non-implementation of the land sharing policy initiated in 1996.  

The Special Justice Taskforce instituted by Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi to study the injustice meted out against Genocide survivors discovered that some districts have never implemented this policy or reserved some land for child survivors of the 1994 Genocide.

Interestingly, some districts have occupied the Genocide survivors land without compensating them, the committee report indicated.

This is quite ironic. Where will the affected people get justice if the institution expected to help them is also perpetrating the vice? It is no wonder some self-seekers formed groups and ‘stole’ the land in the name of development as the district leaders watched.

But this impunity should not be allowed to continue. Those districts that haven’t implemented the land sharing policy should be compelled to do so by the courts of law. They should also compensate handsomely all those affected by their injustice.

The central government should put down its feet and ensure that people repossess their land or are compensated according to market rates if the land has been used by districts or residents.

It is pointless to traumatise people for ages. Let’s stop those individuals that want to create unnecessary tensions in the population.

Remember, justice delayed is justice denied. Let’s act now and stop this injustice forthwith.