EDITORIAL: Review land transaction registration fees

A new survey has revealed that land transaction registration fees are a big problem for most ordinary Rwandans. The survey findings recommend that the government should eliminate exorbitant fixed fees in registration of land transactions to address the problem. The research on access to land tenure administration system in the country and its impact on ordinary citizens, carried out by INES Ruhengeri should be used as bench mark to review land related issues in the country. The findings which were presented to Rwanda Natural Resources Authority and other stakeholders last week, recommend that the transaction fee should be based on the size or value of the land in question as well as the owner’s income. This recommendation should be acted on by the relevant authorities because land is a critical resource in the development of the country. Any challenges in relation to land ownership, access or any land related problem affects the development of the country. The survey figures show that the fixed Rwf27,000 transactional fees is a burden to the majority of the citizens, who earn less than Rwf50,000 per month. On top of the affordability challenge, there is also need to take land services closer to the people. In some areas, according to the survey, people walk an average of two to three hours to nearest district land offices. The research findings are important inputs in policy formulation and implementation of land related matters. All concerned stakeholders should join hands to address the challenges advanced by this survey. The recommendations should be discussed and appropriate action should be taken to ensure that development is not stifled by these land related encumbrances. Land services should be decentralized at the sector level under well trained sector land managers.

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EDITORIAL: Review land transaction registration fees